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Microsoft stops selling Windows 7


RonC

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Windows 7 is being withdrawn by MS !! So only Win 8.1 will be available until Win 10 comes out next year!! I think that's disgusting considering how many people use and rely on it!! Pity there is not an alternative  or a competitor ! I can see MS turning into 'Sky Net' at this rate with no one to stop them!!


 


Ron


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dont panic - you still will be able to get copies of win 7 and support for a good time yet.


 


New kit may not have win 7 option but you will still be able to but 7 - as long as the new kit has device drivers for win 7. The orig announcement about Win 7 sales was in Dec 2013 


 


Its nothing new MS have done this since WFWG (Thats Windows for Work groups).


 


If it bothers you that much buy a full blown retail copy of Win 7 (not OEM) - these  licenses are not tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on and so can be transferred and/or upgraded.


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Win 8.1 was so bad with astro stuff (needing old drivers etc) that I bought a reconditioned laptop with Win 7, running OK now!


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Guest Tweedledum

This is fairly typical MSoft with W10 on the horizon, there are still some downgrade paths available from W8 (pro). However removing W8 and re-installing W7 is not for the faint hearted.  So keep your original cd's dvd's. Also it is worthwhile downloading all the windows updates and keeping a backup.


 


You will also be fighting against the manufacturers who will be turning out new graphics cards, cpu's and mobo's that will be latest release only!.


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If you can make a set of dentures you can install win 7   :D and the win 7 updates/patches are not going to disappear over night - hell XP service packs are still on the MS site.


 


If you get stuck my previous offer is still open - exchange for set of dentures  :D


 


As stated before so long as win 7 drivers exist for "new" laptops etc you will have no problem. But refurbished Win 7 laptops are going to be around for a while(2yrs or so). As MS found out people are no longer just going to jump and as these tend to be corporate users who have a lot invested in Windows 7 and they carry a lot of clout - e.g. Windows 8(any version) was a disaster for MS as corporate users didn't move or just bought tablets.


 


As for down grading its not that bad if you take the chicken path and buy a new hard drive and keep the original with windows 8 hard drive - in fact it gives you a back up - which you have right ?  :o


 


Maybe an email to the software suppliers of the whatever you use to voice your concerns might get a "good" reply saying they have a path mapped out. By which you will have bought at least six more telescopes/mounts  :D


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I was thinking of the future Clive, I don't have a problem with the software, I have a problem with the software makers, ie MS !! 


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Join the club - but MS ain't going to change they have worked this way since the year dot.


 


MS only make the operating system it's up to the application software/device writers to keep up and unfortunately the "free" lot don't have the incentive (i.e. money),manpower unlike the "paid for" crowd. Slightly different on Linux.


 


MS don't write the software you use so you are being a bit hard on MS.


 


There has always been an extra problem with hardware interfaces either specialist types or ones not adhering to the "standards".


 


Any way I rant on.

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Guest Kheldar

I've only encountered one problem with Windows 8 (or 8.1) ... and that's HiTech products - all the rest have been fine driver wise


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I've only encountered one problem with Windows 8 (or 8.1) ... and that's HiTech products - all the rest have been fine driver wise

 

 

was that not more to do with USB 3???  or am i confused :wacko:

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Guest Kheldar

was that not more to do with USB 3???  or am i confused :wacko:

 

You're not confused, but the problem is HiTech components, not USB protocols else nothing else would work  :)

 

I do actually need to change the previous statement though ...

 

I've only encountered TWO problems with Windows 8 (or 8.1) ... and that's HiTech products - all the rest have been fine driver wise

Edited by Kheldar
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It was my HiTech focuser that caused me to find a Win 7 laptop now you come to mention it Stephen!  ;)


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