So, what will you use after W7 support is done?

[Tomaso]

Maybe you can add this just here on the forum as attachment?

Done.

[lyceus]

Since the bug for CYMK in GIMP has been open since 2009 and nobody cares, maybe I will stay until 2020 in windows 7 and then move to Windows 8.1 with Classic Shell. After that no idea... maybe some Linux distro that let me run Windows in some VM and support drivers for common printers.

Off-topic:
^{Or if finally the hackers at Captain Sparrow INC release some 4in1 Windows 10 DVD without the telemetry and cortana, maybe I try that version. Even hackers seem like angels behind Microsoft.}

[dark_moon]

@Tomaso: I don't have Win8 but only want to check if any setting is useful for my Win7

Off-topic:
^{Or if finally the hackers at Captain Sparrow INC release some 4in1 Windows 10 DVD without the telemetry and cortana, maybe I try that version. Even hackers seem like angels behind Microsoft.}

Off-topic:
Hacked Windows version are always untrusted. It exist enough websites which show how to remove the telemetry & stuff but the problem is: it can't be realy disabled in Win10. Not even if you use the enterprise edition.

[Isengrim]

I'll probably stick with Win7 until 2020, possibly Win8.1 until 2023. Then I'll see if Win10 is... palatable.
I'd love to completely move to Linux (specifically Linux Mint, with the Cinnamon desktop), but I'm too attached to three things to completely make the switch:

1) My music player, MusicBee
2) Steam games that only run on Windows
3) Visual Studio and .NET, including WPF

[NorrinRadd]

I'd thought I'd have 'til 2020 to decide, but with the recent MS announcement about restricting our Windows Update options, I'll have to disable updates at the end of this month, and start trying in earnest to find a non-MS alternative. So far, I've not been able to find a tolerable Linux solution.

*sigh*

[Joel Cairo]

I'd thought I'd have 'til 2020 to decide, but with the recent MS announcement about restricting our Windows Update options, I'll have to disable updates at the end of this month, and start trying in earnest to find a non-MS alternative. So far, I've not been able to find a tolerable Linux solution.

*sigh*

Yes. And to add to that: one example, Eset NOD32, the AV I've used for a decade; always very high detection rates, always compact and unobtrusive, a marvel in Windows Anti-malware. Version 9 looks like a dumbed down smartphone, Windows 10-inspired GUI. And, on version 8, a GWX-style pop-up appears every week or so touting version 9. There are two buttons: Upgrade Now, and Not Now. Disabling product updates and product upgrades does not stop it. Deleting 'Upgrade.exe' (from another OS boot) doesn't stop it (it reappeared this morning).

This was one of the most trusted software companies, in my experience, in the Windows ecosystem.

If you're staying on 7 for the remaining 3 ^1/2 years, rather than switch to 10, because you don't like the total implementation of Windows 10, staying on 7 looks like maybe being a lot less pleasant than it was before Nadella took the helm

[Gary5]

I don't remember deselecting any security updates. Is there something wrong with this option?

there will be another option as Microsoft is planning to release a single monthly security-only update. This will contain all of the security patches for that particular month (none from previous months). Unlike the Monthly Rollup, this won’t be available through Windows Update -- you’ll need to get it from WSUS, SCCM, or the Microsoft Update Catalog.

[JodyThornton]

If you're staying on 7 for the remaining 3 ^1/2 years, rather than switch to 10, because you don't like the total implementation of Windows 10, staying on 7 looks like maybe being a lot less pleasant than it was before Nadella took the helm

Windows 8 people .... Windows 8. You can manually get updates and no telemetry.

[Tomaso]

Windows 8 people .... Windows 8. You can manually get updates and no telemetry.

..and in case you missed my post:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=12743#p90179

[JodyThornton]

Windows 8 people .... Windows 8. You can manually get updates and no telemetry.

..and in case you missed my post:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=12743#p90179

I did, but remember I specifically mean Windows 8 - NOT 8.1

[Tomaso]

I specifically mean Windows 8 - NOT 8.1

Telemetry can still be prevented in Win8.1, and you can still get updates manually.
It just takes a bit more work to disable the telemetry, like you can tell from my notes.
Besides, Win8.0 support has ended, and you need to upgrade to Win8.1 in order to continue receiving updates.

[JodyThornton]

I specifically mean Windows 8 - NOT 8.1

Telemetry can still be prevented in Win8.1, and you can still get updates manually.
It just takes a bit more work to disable the telemetry, like you can tell from my notes.
Besides, Win8.0 support has ended, and you need to upgrade to Win8.1 in order to continue receiving updates.

Last line - You are buzzed out sir with that "Microsoft-ish" answer...lol: (regarding support that is )
You can use the updates from Server 2012 (original release) from the Microsoft Catalog. They are identical to Windows 8. They even are named Windows8-RT-KBxxxxx.exe.
I have been doing this since February 2016 with great success. Lookie here:

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/175105- ... windows-8/
And no weeding out telemetry updates. I just grab the relevant security, IE 10 and .NET updates, and I'm done.

[Tomaso]

You can use the updates from Server 2012 (original release) from the Microsoft Catalog. They are identical to Windows 8.

Cool!
I didn't know that. :)
But regardless, I don't see the point of staying with 8.0, when 8.1 still can be configured properly.
Also, I predict potential compatibility issues with 8.0, as time moves along.

[JodyThornton]

You can use the updates from Server 2012 (original release) from the Microsoft Catalog. They are identical to Windows 8.

Cool!
I didn't know that.
But regardless, I don't see the point of staying with 8.0, when 8.1 still can be configured properly.
Also, I predict potential compatibility issues with 8.0, as time moves along.

Well because I find the underpinnings of Windows 8 to be more stable than Windows 7. Windows 8.1 shows little improvement if at all where the Explorer-based portions of Windows are concerned. Most of Windows 8.1's improvements were to do with Metro-fied areas of Windows (eg. caption buttons on apps, a Facebook app, loading to the desktop directly, and a start button - the latter two I get back with Classic Shell). I conceal all of the modern UI and delete all of the app packages.

As long as I can run Pale Moon, my tax software, a decent mail client and Softmaker Office up until January 2023, I'm good ...lol. Although EVEN if I am successful in that regard, I have no idea where I'd go next.

[Tomaso]

Most of Windows 8.1's improvements were to do with Metro-fied areas of Windows (eg. caption buttons on apps, a Facebook app, loading to the desktop directly, and a start button - the latter two I get back with Classic Shell).

Yeah, I use Classic Shell too (couldn't be without it!), and I never touch any of that "modern" crap.
In fact, I've configered Windows 8.1 to look as close to the classic gray look as possible.
Also, as I'm sure that you're aware, disabling UAC actually disables all "apps" too, as they're depending on it! :)

[Gary5]

Telemetry can still be prevented in Win8.1, and you can still get updates manually.

How can you manually select updates if MS is only going to release rollups? Sorry if I'm asking dumb questions. I didn't expect to have to think about this until 2020.

[Tomaso]

How can you manually select updates if MS is only going to release rollups?

By running Windows Update manually, rollups can still be unchecked and put into your ignore/hidden list.
You'll also be able to download a rollup manually, as a MSU file, only not as individual files.
Unfortunately, this means that if a rollup contains something that you don't want, you'll have to avoid the whole damn package! :(

[Gary5]

Thanks. I guess I'll do what I was vaguely planning for 2020. I'll install some kind of linux on my old box with Pale Moon, another browser or two, and a torrent app, and I'll disconnect my win7 box from the internet and use it for my windows apps like Photoshop and Office. So I need to figure out the right way to connect the boxes. They can both plug into the same router, and my monitors have enough inputs and switches to make that part easy enough.

[moon convert]

Hey guys, I know this is an older thread, but I just started wrestling with this question. I'm currently running a Dell studio 1749 laptop, with a 500 GB hard Drive. I have Windows 7 as my primary "workhorse OS," and a 60 GB partition with Linux Mint Cinnamon 18, as a "learning OS". My ultimate goal is to transition to a Linux distro as my primary "workhorse OS," and a small partition with Windows 10, for compatibility purposes. My gut tells me that 2020 might be a good year to upgrade from my 2010 era laptop. This leads me to my first question, if I want Windows 10 and the Linux distro both to work out of the box, should I stick with Dell, or move to a ThinkPenguin laptop? Secondly, I'm currently trapped in Windows land, because I need assistive technology to work effectively on the computer. In order to use Linux as my primary OS, I need a screen reader that's compatible with PDFs, a word processor, and the web. I'd also need a speech to text application. Trisquel 7 has an intuitive desktop, and the best screenreader compatibility I've found, but the distro is not compatible with Simon ( for speech to text), or Palemoon. The current version of Linux Mint Cinnamon is intuitive, but Orca (the screenreader), has really patchy integration. Also, although I can install Simon, I have an unresolved audio issue that currently renders the application useless. Sonar Linux, has a Gnome addition that seems well behaved, but the desktop environment feels very alien to me. On the other hand, there's a Mate addition, but last time I tried it it seemed very buggy. Any advice? Is there a distro/desktop environment combination I'm missing? I've also tried Lubuntu, Ubuntu (Mate and Unity), and Vinux. I Really want to make this work by 2020, but I feel like I'm looking for a needle in a haystack, from an assistive tech perspective.

[Thehandyman1957]

My gut tells me that 2020 might be a good year to upgrade from my 2010 era laptop.

If your thinking of using a brand new laptop with Linux you might want to think again. I have been through many many Linux
forum's and one of the biggest issues for them is keeping up with new hardware. It takes them time to work out all the bugs
of open source drivers and such. Your much better to use a 5 or 8 year old Laptop. If it can handle W10 then Linux is no problem.

As for the other stuff. I think it's going to be hard for you to find a decent replacement in Linux for what your needing.
Linux is still wild west in some places. Text to speech and such is definitely in that realm.