[Lurch]

I wanted to post this under NEWS but for some reason I can't make a New Topic there. Maybe someone can move this to it for me?

Anyway I was online a few days ago and a window popped up on my screen from Microsoft. Idk if any of you who use Windows 7 as I do received one or not but here is what they said:

As of January 2020, Microsoft is cancelling Windows 7. They have carried it for 10 years now and we will no longer receive anymore updates, or anything else from them. They say we can continue to use Windows 7 BUT we take a risk of getting viruses and/or malware. They are wanting everyone to use Windows 10 now.

I tried out windows 10 when it first came out. I didn't care much for it and it had certain bugs. Maybe those issues have been corrected by now.

Anyway I just wanted all to know what was coming. Take care and have fun

[Elsecaller]

Yes, I Use Windows 7 And It Is Being Canceled At The End Of This Year. Sadly Windows 7 ,In My Opinion, Is Much Better Than Windows 10.

[Lurch]

I agree 7 is way better. But IMO I think XP was the best OS Microsoft made. I miss it

[Fluffy]

Windows 2000 <3

[jawfin]

I have to use Windows 10, latest version, as I have to be sure the software I develop will work on it for my customers.

For it to behave as I need it to though, I have also installed these applications - and this is for the user interface only. (i.e. not security, development IDEs, utilities, text & graphic editors, video players etc., just what I run for the UI.)

NonStickMouse (by guess whom) http://jawfin.net/nsm - to avoid the mouse jamming in the corners of multiple monitors.
f.lux https://justgetflux.com - for brightness / blue light.
KatMouse http://ehiti.de/katmouse/ - so the mouse wheel works on windows which the mouse is over, whether it's top-most or not.
Classic Shell http://www.classicshell.net - so the Start Menu is Windows 7 style, removes the crappy tile thing, and customizes explorer.
Xyplorer https://www.xyplorer.com - a file explorer to replace the Windows ones (which is complete crap).
Agent Ransack https://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/ - a file search utility. It could be argued this isn't replacing UI, but an extra feature - but, old windows search used to work, specifically for contains text searches.
On that note, I also have WinRar & 7Zip, but I would say they are extras, as Windows never did offer what these do (Windows can zip & unzip, which is about it).
Ok, back on track: -
Google Chrome https://www.google.com/chrome/ - to replace Edge.
Process Hacker https://processhacker.sourceforge.io - to replace Task Manager.
StrokeIt https://www.tcbmi.com/strokeit/ - not so much a replacement but providing a glaringly missing UI feature. This allows mouse gesture drawing to perform any operation (even sending an API message to a window's handle). It could be argued that AutoHotKey https://www.autohotkey.com also fills a needed requirement, but I won't bother!

And some obvious ones, like Dropbox to replace OneDrive (again this doesn't really count as Dropbox existed long before Microsoft came up with its solution).
Mouse Without Borders https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/downloa ... x?id=35460 - an actual Microsoft garage utility allowing you to control multiple computers side by side with the one mouse & keyboard. I mention this one as it's a Microsoft product, therefore no excuse for not making it a Windows Feature (which can be turned or off)
Notepad++ https://notepad-plus-plus.org - as the built in notepad is beyond useless. The only good thing about Notepad is that it is on every Windows version, therefore it's the number 1 goto utility for hackers to compromise, so thank MS for that.

There is also a ton of registry hacks to disable/enable features - I just forget the list, only I notice when I start breaking in a new computer!! And it's, "how do i fix this again??!?" (Usually found in apps such as Winaero Tweaker and 7+ Taskbar Tweaker).

A quick count shows I am running 4 separate applications just to make the mouse work as it should (and that's not counting the driver & utility for my Zowie FK2 gaming mouse).

Again, this not including apps which significantly change the UI for the better, like Stardock's WindowBlinds & WindowFx (right click the window caption to get the process information). But I don't run this anymore anyway.

And yes, I seriously do run and use all those apps to replace / install features so it behaves like previous versions of Windows, or to handle critical bugs, or to replace a glaringly missing feature.
Thanks Microsoft....

[Akimoto]

I have to use Windows 10, latest version, as I have to be sure the software I develop will work on it for my customers.

For it to behave as I need it to though, I have also installed these applications - and this is for the user interface only. (i.e. not security, development IDEs, utilities, text & graphic editors, video players etc., just what I run for the UI.)

NonStickMouse (by guess whom) http://jawfin.net/nsm - to avoid the mouse jamming in the corners of multiple monitors.
f.lux https://justgetflux.com - for brightness / blue light.
KatMouse http://ehiti.de/katmouse/ - so the mouse wheel works on windows which the mouse is over, whether it's top-most or not.
Classic Shell http://www.classicshell.net - so the Start Menu is Windows 7 style, removes the crappy tile thing, and customizes explorer.
Xyplorer https://www.xyplorer.com - a file explorer to replace the Windows ones (which is complete crap).
Agent Ransack https://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/ - a file search utility. It could be argued this isn't replacing UI, but an extra feature - but, old windows search used to work, specifically for contains text searches.
On that note, I also have WinRar & 7Zip, but I would say they are extras, as Windows never did offer what these do (Windows can zip & unzip, which is about it).
Ok, back on track: -
Google Chrome https://www.google.com/chrome/ - to replace Edge.
Process Hacker https://processhacker.sourceforge.io - to replace Task Manager.
StrokeIt https://www.tcbmi.com/strokeit/ - not so much a replacement but providing a glaringly missing UI feature. This allows mouse gesture drawing to perform any operation (even sending an API message to a window's handle). It could be argued that AutoHotKey https://www.autohotkey.com also fills a needed requirement, but I won't bother!

And some obvious ones, like Dropbox to replace OneDrive (again this doesn't really count as Dropbox existed long before Microsoft came up with its solution).
Mouse Without Borders https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/downloa ... x?id=35460 - an actual Microsoft garage utility allowing you to control multiple computers side by side with the one mouse & keyboard. I mention this one as it's a Microsoft product, therefore no excuse for not making it a Windows Feature (which can be turned or off)
Notepad++ https://notepad-plus-plus.org - as the built in notepad is beyond useless. The only good thing about Notepad is that it is on every Windows version, therefore it's the number 1 goto utility for hackers to compromise, so thank MS for that.

There is also a ton of registry hacks to disable/enable features - I just forget the list, only I notice when I start breaking in a new computer!! And it's, "how do i fix this again??!?" (Usually found in apps such as Winaero Tweaker and 7+ Taskbar Tweaker).

A quick count shows I am running 4 separate applications just to make the mouse work as it should (and that's not counting the driver & utility for my Zowie FK2 gaming mouse).

Again, this not including apps which significantly change the UI for the better, like Stardock's WindowBlinds & WindowFx (right click the window caption to get the process information). But I don't run this anymore anyway.

And yes, I seriously do run and use all those apps to replace / install features so it behaves like previous versions of Windows, or to handle critical bugs, or to replace a glaringly missing feature.
Thanks Microsoft....

I now know what I will be checking out later... never got around to find an alternative to the default file explorer.

Still waiting for Windows Terminal though... I'd rather not install VS and compile it myself...

[jawfin]

Yea, a Linux command interface. There's already Powershell which has some uses - at least for hackers, I don't know any legitimate uses for it! Well, except for this: Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux

And one more app I forgot to mention: HTGBack which makes the backspace goes up a folder, and not back through the breadcrumbs. From: https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/8955/ma ... ke-xp-did/ Except their download link is broken :\

[HolyWarrior]

Windows 7 is going to be over yes but they will carry a subscription services if you wanna continue to keep updates which means it's for Pro and Enterprises, here is a link to help you out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFHBBN0CqXk If you want that is. I like Windows 10. I had to tweak tons of crap because it comes with bloatware and crap. I disabled APPS and much more. It runs like butter. I still don't like Windows 10 but it'll grow on me. I even shot a message to Microsoft begging them to make a GAMER OS instead of a fully operated system for everyone else out there. Just strictly for gaming without all the nonsense and crap installed we don't need like Candy games or whatever the crap it comes with!

[Syzyx]

Holy Warrior Said:

I even shot a message to Microsoft begging them to make a GAMER OS instead of a fully operated system for everyone else out there. Just strictly for gaming without all the nonsense and crap installed we don't need like Candy games or whatever the crap it comes with!

Isn't that the X-Box?