Windows Vista and XP no longer supported

[1oldman2]

I don't understand, if you have an upgrade disc, it should be able to install Win 7, assuming it's actually Win 7 install on that disc and not just a link to some Microsoft update side. Doing a web search, it seems you can still download a Win 7 ISO file from Microsoft, then you could install from that. I assume the activation key is the same as the Vista key, or that you can get an activation key using your Vista key. I see a Vista SP1 update ISO (for CD), but I don't know if there's a Vista ISO image at Microsoft download center.

I have to apologize for the confusion I must have caused with the post you were quoting from. Somehow I managed to post an incomplete paragraph so there was noway for anyone to get the full context of what I was saying , once again sorry about that. The 7 upgrade disc came with the machine but wasn't available to me until 7 was released several months after purchase of the notebook. The upgrade installed and reinstalled through several formatting's over the years working great each time. Where I was going with the post was that being an upgrade from Vista I always had the earlier OS as the core with 7 layered over it. (not quite the same as full version of 7). Lately I have found the only updates it will let me install is the win10 and I'm wondering if that's because of my original Vista OS and its current borderline status in the update support fiasco. I have been taking great pains to avoid loosing my beloved Win7 OS but I am afraid I'm soon going to end up with 10 on all three machines I currently run (Feels like ). I guess the post was really a "please say it ain't so" cry for help and I'm hoping there is someway to continue updating my 7 system but our friends at MS seem bound and determined to have everyone using 10 ASAP. On a side note I wonder what would happen if I were to format and reinstall again since Vista has to be fully up to date before the 7 upgrade will install?. My hunch is I would be down to 2 machines, anyone have any thoughts on that?.

 

[rcgldr]

On a side note I wonder what would happen if I were to format and reinstall again since Vista has to be fully up to date before the 7 upgrade will install?. My hunch is I would be down to 2 machines, anyone have any thoughts on that?.

You should be able to do a custom (clean) install of Windows 7 from the disk.

What's annoying is apparently you can't simply install Win 7 and use your Vista activation key, as Microsoft wants to make sure your existing version of Vista is wiped out during the process.

First backup all of your files to an external hard drive, and make sure you can re-install the programs you use.

Next, since your system is a branded (HP) system, there's most likely a hidden partition that can restore the primary partition back to it's "factory" state, which means all your files and any programs you installed will be gone. This is enabled during the BIOS boot process, usually by pressing F11 for HP systems. The choose to restore to original state. The end result is the original image without all the stuff you changed or later added.

Then do a windows 7 custom install, which should format the Vista partition and end up with a clean install of Win 7.

It may be possible to add a new hard drive to your system, and do a custom (clean) install Win 7 to the new hard drive. While running from Vista, for the second drive, create one extended partition, and then create and quick format one or more logical partitions within the extended partition. If you don't want Win 7 to reletter it's partition to C, then before installing, boot into Vista, and start the Win 7 install from Vista, selecting the partition to install on by letter. This will preserve the current partition lettering of your system.

After that, you may want to clone your primary hard drive. If you can burn cd-roms on Vista, there are freeware utilities to do this from a website like "ultimate boot cd". Some of these let you clone partitions instead of entire drives, in which case you could make use of a hard drive with more than 160GB of space.

Another possiblity would be to do an upgrade install to the second hard drive, then replace the primary hard drive with a new hard drive, and then boot from the Win 7 dvd and do a repair to partition and format the first hard drive with a primary C: partition so that the system can boot. You can then add extended and logical drives to the primary hard drive after the repair.

 

[Pianorak]

I don't care for the default user interface on Win 8 or Win 8.1, with all those silly boxes.

I didn't either. My computer expert installed Classic Shell which made it look more like the old XP interface.

 

[pyroartist]

Don't bother with Win 8 or 10. They are made for touch-screen tablets more so than old desktops.
Your computer will accept Windows 7. The MS store probably just wanted to sell you something as usual.
When preparing for the switch search Google for any questions you may have. Don't bother with Microsoft help.
They write such poor help info I wonder how they are staying afloat. I always find much better explanations elsewhere.
So my suggestion for a list is
1. Back up all your files on a small Toshiba USB harddrive or large capacity memory stick.
2. Load Win7.
3. Load Firefox or Chrome as your browser. I prefer Firefox.
4. Forget Malware Bytes. I use AVG Free version. (Google that and load it.) You don't need any of those
constant Microsoft updates if you have a quality anti-virus program like AVG. It scans everything that comes into
your system and silently updates it at least once a day. I never accepted any MS updates for the 10 years I owned my
Windows XP machine and AVG caught everything bad for me. All those thousands of updates suck up memory
and processing time.
Best of luck.

 

[rude man]

I still run my two xp laptops. I refuse to buckle under uSoft's tyranny of dumping it in favor of mickey-mouse 7, 8 or 10. I run firefox fine. updates are still pouring in. I liked IE a LOT better than firefox but had to abandon it since many websites won't run on it at all. I would urge using good anti-virus though, I like my webroot a whole lot after trying several alternatives, all bogging down my pc to high-viscosity molasses.

 

[alw34]

I would urge using good anti-virus though

How many anti virus do we need.

FIOS, my IP, says it has one.
Windows has one.
I also run Malware Bytes...
good grief.

I can one GPS system to find my location.
I don't need three types of oil in my car.
I don't need multiple voltages to run my fridge.

Can't PC software designers do better?

 

[rude man]

They probably can, but they make more money making our lives difficult!
Seriously, if you plan on maintaining XP or vista, realize that uSoft no longer supports them, meaning you can't depend on their firewall, updates (mostly nonexistent) etc. Also, if your ISP anti-virus is as crummy as mine (McAfee), ditch it in favor of Webroot secureAnywhere. Yeah, costs $40/year but unless you go to W7 you need good protection.
Malwarebytes is not anti-virus but don't expect me to explain the difference. Have no clue myself. Basically I have Malwarebytes but never run it. I have had great luck with webroot which has caught a number of latent malware.

 

[krater]

How many anti virus do we need.
...
I don't need three types of oil in my car.
I don't need multiple voltages to run my fridge.
...

I can almost guarantee there are at least three types of petroleum lubricant somewhere in your car.
If one were to pick enough nits I bet you could easily find a dozen or more.

If your fridge is old enough there may only exist one voltage inside the case. But most every modern kitchen appliance has some mix of microprocessors and/or sensors operating maybe in ranges of millivolts to a couple dozen volts in addition to any components running mains voltage.

You didn't need antivirus or even a battery with your first solar calculator either. Well, it probably DID have a battery in it somewhere, too. Might still work too.

One thing you have to consider is that with a rapidly diminishing user base of a depreciated software comes a diminishing incentive to develop or deploy new exploits to hack into the shrinking number of outdated computers. When do you suppose the last WinNuke95 packets have floated through many routers?

 

[rude man]

One thing you have to consider is that with a rapidly diminishing user base of a depreciated software comes a diminishing incentive to develop or deploy new exploits to hack into the shrinking number of outdated computers. When do you suppose the last WinNuke95 packets have floated through many routers?

I think this is a good point. Folks have dissuaded me from continuing to use XP, claiming it will become increasingly vulnerable to malware since it's no longer supported. But the above is an equally, or I think more than equally, persuasive argument why it's OK to continue to use XP. Anyway, I am, and boo to the 7, 8 & 10 gang.

 

[krater]

I realize that I should probably qualify my previous remark.

A decision to go forward with an unsupported OS should not be taken lightly. This thread helps to point that out. Sticking with XP can to a degree paint a bullseye on you. As user base goes so does development of countermeasures to any new widespread attacks.

If you are worried about up-to-date security you should probably consider an up-to-date OS. Windows or otherwise there is also functionality to be considered as well.

XP might actually be strong enough in its dedicated user base that threat protection could concieveably go "open source" maybe even to the point of writing MS-hotfix style solutions if enough effort manages to get put behind it. Pure speculation of course but its a big world.