Windows 7 still OS choice of more than a quarter of Windows users

[HEXUS]

Microsoft sees this is an 'opportunity' but blames Covid-19 and Intel for stalling upgrade rate.

Read more.

[ik9000]

still my first choice! Just reinstalled it at the weekend. Also running win10 on another drive so I can remote work and do unavoidable stuff that needs 10. But for a lot of things the software on win7 is far more reliable.

[Ttaskmaster]

Have to say, I've had fewer problems (ie, none that I am aware of) using Win10 than Win7.
Only difficulty really is in finding where stuff is in the new layout, and the hassle of re-customising layouts and removing bits you don't want.

Was debating trying 32-bit 7 on my Netbook, or something.
Not sure about the security, though.

[simonpreston]

So, basically, this is a rerun of the issue Microsoft had, when Windows 7 came out, where users were steadfastly sticking with XP.

If Microsoft didn't dramatically change things, in each OS release, maybe people wouldn't so reluctant to upgrade. But, of course, a OS being pretty much the same as the last isn't going to be easy to sell, either. MacOS and Linux don't have this problem as they can evolve, since they are free (asterisk next to MacOS as you have to buy the hardware).

MS is a prisoner of its own business model.

[Ttaskmaster]

Linux has a billion-and-one different releases though and you have to have some idea of what you're doing with them.
MacOS is not (intended) for PCs, but for Mac people with Macs, who run MacOS on their Mac, because they're Mac people who have Macs.....

Windows is intended for PCs in general, capable of being installed by almost anyone. In some regard, that holds it back because they must cater to a wide variety of people with varying degrees of handholding required... even if it's just laziness.

But following in MS's footsteps, I wonder if I can similarly blame my lack of work progress on Covid-19.....?

[philehidiot]

So Windows 10 adoption started how many years ago and it's clearly a bug that has been going around for the past couple of months that is the problem. CLEARLY.

The simple fact is that if a business runs just fine with a product, they won't upgrade as there is absolutely no benefit and a huge outlay and potential disruption. Why would they upgrade? The only way to get them to do it is to make the old product not work properly anymore by stopping updates, etc. But they'll still be reluctant as there is no real payback from upgrading. It's an OS. It allow their other software to work. If this is happening, there is no need to upgrade.

I've had endless problem with Windows 10 - the lastest being that it outright refused to install, claiming my drive wasn't GPT (it was, I checked before hand). It forced me to find all the stuff that Windows setup is supposed to do to the drive pre-install (partitions, etc) and do it myself from the command prompt. There was no problem executing any of the commands and once it was done, Windows installed just fine.... all I did was do what Windows setup is supposed to do. I gave the same commands in the same order and it just worked.

Maybe it's a sign. I'm seriously debating dual booting with Linux and gradually switching over.

[Ttaskmaster]

The only way to get them to do it is to make the old product not work properly anymore by stopping updates, etc.

Nope.
Ours sat firmly on XP until long after 10 had come out, before switching to 7 because the CEO wanted to use some comms software that wouldn't work on XP.... and we only just got 10 because no IT support contractor would touch us without it.

If stuff doesn't work, it doesn't work and we certainly can't afford to fix it. As is, our version of 10 is so janky and laggy from being admin locked down, it's really not worth it... and it's still not compatible with our really old '90s databases and apps!!

[[GSV]Trig]

10 was boosted when it was a free upgrade from Win7, now it's not people don't want to go and drop £80 or whatever the going rate is for an OS..

[DanceswithUnix]

Windows is intended for PCs in general, capable of being installed by almost anyone

People say that and yet...

I've had endless problem with Windows 10 - the latest being that it outright refused to install, claiming my drive wasn't GPT (it was, I checked before hand).

It fails repeatedly, and that isn't a Windows 10 thing I've been swearing at Windows installs since 3.1 running over DOS.

Maybe it's a sign. I'm seriously debating dual booting with Linux and gradually switching over.

I would recommend getting a second SSD for that. I'm typing this on a Fedora machine. It also has Windows 10 Pro on it, used for playing some games and the one program I can't run under Linux which is Fusion 360 (though that does run happily on a Windows VM so I don't really need to reboot). But be pragmatic, you won't ever lose Windows entirely, there is just too much stuff that is Windows only or optimised to escape.

[DanceswithUnix]

10 was boosted when it was a free upgrade from Win7, now it's not people don't want to go and drop £80 or whatever the going rate is for an OS..

I suspect the people who are left wouldn't swap to Windows 10 if MS paid *them* £80 to swap. Even if it isn't official or advertised you can still do the free upgrade, but it isn't about cost at this point.

The change from XP to 7 was I think largely forced by the upgrade to 64 bits and the need for more than 4GB of ram. Looking up the limits on 7, it looks like even 7 Home can use 16GB of ram which is still enough for most people. 7 Pro allows 192GB which is good for a few years yet.

For me, I historically found it isn't worth the aggro of trying to get drivers etc working on out of date Windows versions. Stick with the crowd where things are tested heavily, so I switched to 10 at the end of the official free update period (I know... which he says from the comfort of Linux.)

[souper]

I've got win10 but i keep an active copy of win7 on another drive for gaming...

[3dcandy]

So Windows 10 adoption started how many years ago and it's clearly a bug that has been going around for the past couple of months that is the problem. CLEARLY.

The simple fact is that if a business runs just fine with a product, they won't upgrade as there is absolutely no benefit and a huge outlay and potential disruption. Why would they upgrade? The only way to get them to do it is to make the old product not work properly anymore by stopping updates, etc. But they'll still be reluctant as there is no real payback from upgrading. It's an OS. It allow their other software to work. If this is happening, there is no need to upgrade.

I've had endless problem with Windows 10 - the lastest being that it outright refused to install, claiming my drive wasn't GPT (it was, I checked before hand). It forced me to find all the stuff that Windows setup is supposed to do to the drive pre-install (partitions, etc) and do it myself from the command prompt. There was no problem executing any of the commands and once it was done, Windows installed just fine.... all I did was do what Windows setup is supposed to do. I gave the same commands in the same order and it just worked.

Maybe it's a sign. I'm seriously debating dual booting with Linux and gradually switching over.

I did lol. Microsoft says that you should delete all active partitions using the Win 10 installer and then recreate them using the installer for maximum reliability...

I know that's alien to power users but the documentation does say it if you can be arsed to read it.... Also it's there to stop people having bootloaders to bypass Win 10 activation

[3dcandy]

Trig;304]10 was boosted when it was a free upgrade from Win7, now it's not people don't want to go and drop £80 or whatever the going rate is for an OS..

It still is....
Try it and it works fine. In fact did a "free" upgrade for someone last week

[ik9000]

Free for the sale of only your privacy

[[GSV]Trig]

Free for the sale of only your privacy

Meh privacy is a myth, vs convenience, convenience wins...

[simonpreston]

Maybe it's a sign. I'm seriously debating dual booting with Linux and gradually switching over.

I did this with Kubuntu, last year. For the most part I can do everything I need in it. But there's still some applications I need to keep Windows round for. That and gaming. But, for me, the whole Linux experience is a lot better than Windows. Reminds me of when I had an Amiga and the machine felt like it worked with you, rather than against you.