SORTED :) Windows 7 Pro Sux big time.

[StainlessS]

Bugged KB4480960 & KB4480970 W7 updates,
There is a fix available for the W7 broken network shares thing here:- https://www.ghacks.net/2019/01/09/wi...etwork-issues/

Bugged KB971033 ,
Google links for KMS No longer Genuine Windows 7 feature:- https://www.google.com/search?biw=19...iz.3HncGQi-ZRs

[johnmeyer]

I've got at least a dozen computers. I have no anti-virus software, and I have updates turned off for everything, most especially Windows. When I find I need an update for Windows, I get that specific KB and install it.

The beauty of this system is that if my computer worked yesterday, it will work just the same today, and tomorrow (barring hardware failure).

I have the C: drive partitioned separately, and after eleven years on this XP computer (still my mainstay), with almost 100 programs installed, that partition is only 13.6 GB. I can back that up in under five minutes, so I back up frequently. If I ever were to get a virus or malware (hasn't happened yet), I could restore the partition in under ten minutes. I know this works because while the bad guys have never screwed up my system, and bad updates have never wrecked it, I manage to do this destruction just fine all on my own, and on a regular basis (well, once or twice a year).

So, especially now that all these "mature" programs and O/S are maintained by junior programmers who have no clue about UI, tight code, bugs, etc., I keep on trucking with the stuff that actually works and, by doing this, am actually able to get a lot of work done, instead of spending every waking hour in the care and feeding of the beast.

[StainlessS]

There are several Kiosk type softwares (every time it boots, is exactly the same as previous time, all modifications rolled back each time [unless made permanent by some means]).
M$ has one called SteadyState [freeware, XP32 amd Vista - Not W7+] ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_SteadyState), I have it but never as yet tried it.
At least one third party alternative Deep Freeze [trialware] ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Freeze_(software) ), I'm sure that there are probably other alternatives.

A decent Firewall is always a pretty good idea, even if you dont use an anti-virus.

EDIT: SteadyState is no longer available, since 2010, but probably available somewhere, (I still got it).

Also, Reboot Restore Rx [freeware]:- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reboot_Restore_Rx

and ToolWiz Time Machine :- http://www.toolwiz.com/lead/toolwiz_time_freeze/

[manolito]

I do agree with johnmeyer, I also got rid of all resident antivirus software (except for Threadfire which is purely based on behavior). My XP partition has never been reinstalled since XP entered the scene, it has lots and lots of software on it, and it's size is still below 10 GB.

Getting security updates even after the MS support ended looked like a good idea, so I installed the POSReady registry hack. It did work until early 2018, after this I got problems with some of my installed software, it was even impossible to reinstall it, so I disabled all updates for WinXP at this point.

As an experiment I attempted a fresh install of WinXP (of course after backing up my old installation). And I was really surprised about how much faster this fresh installation felt. Looks like all these accumulated security updates really slowed down my computer a lot.

For WinXP this case is closed for me, I am not sure how to proceed with Win7. Should I stop updating it even while MS is still providing security updates? The quality of MS updates has certainly deteriorated considerably after the company changed their philosophy and removed a lot of man power and expertise from their OS department. Confused...


Cheers
manolito

[StainlessS]

Dear Confused,

I habitually re-install XP every 3 to 6 months, (multiple systems from ghost images), I like to keep a virgin setup image with new admin user config type stuff, eg default Red Tiles Wallpaper (From Windows 95 originally maybe),
disable ThumbNails, Show files extension and details, switch off all fancy animated translucent blue menus (appear immediately instead of allowing you to appreciate their majestic sliding effect), ie get rid
of all of the crap. Disable Admin & guest accounts, install SysAdmin tools from server 2003, maybe setup some stuff in GPEdit.msc (Group Policy, eg switch off System Restore & File Indexing),
delete temp files, defrag registry and hard drive, then make ghost Image.

Stage 2, add all recent drivers, + install current updates via Wsus Offline Update (LigH is a main man for that stuff), add some stuff like 7zip, Acrobat Reader + quite a few imperatives.
delete temp files, Defrag harddrive again, and image.

Stage 3, add all changeable apps eg Avisynth, Visual Studio, codecs, + much more (incl system updates via Wsus Offline). Delete temp files, defrag and image.

I usually then just go back and use the Stage 3 image, and update with eg current Avisynth, etc, and re-image (after maybe Wsus offline updates, defrag).

Every now and again, go back and update Stage 2, and also Stage 3 images with any updated apps, eg 7zip, java etc, delete temp files, defrag and re-image.
Also, keep note of any addition imperative apps that you have added/updated, so they can be re-installed to the various stage images.

Updates are occasionally added even now for XP (usually only for windows global stuff, eg DotNet or VS CPP runtimes, rather than XP specific).

Have currently got similar setup for W7 (with an additional total virgin stage 0, I dont have setup ISO for W7, was pre-installed).

Re-installing one of the images takes only a few minutes (except for final stage with Visual Studio etc, takes maybe 10 to 15 minutes with about 10 or 12GB high compressed size).

Methinks one of the slow down reasons for an old instalation is maybe the many superceded hotfixes leaving crap behind, re-target image every 3 to 6 months always feels pretty good to me.

EDIT: Delete TEMP files, & Defrag of hard drive is good idea pre ghosting image (for NTFS, dont matter for FAT32 as both FAT's are created on the fly on image targetting & result is that of being defragged).

EDIT: For both XP and W7, I like to have WinPatrol installed (I actually use an old version from 2012, 24.6), keeps me informed of rubbish added to the Run on startup registry
and Startup folders, also can disable them, eg Java Update, or Acrobat update + many more that starts up rubbish on boot.


EDIT: For W10, I now use Macrium Reflect Free Ed, for imaging, pretty nifty and runs fine from USB. (real good idea to image before W10 major update)

[chros]

Originally Posted by johnmeyer

I've got at least a dozen computers. I have no anti-virus software, and I have updates turned off for everything, most especially Windows. When I find I need an update for Windows, I get that specific KB and install it.

The beauty of this system is that if my computer worked yesterday, it will work just the same today, and tomorrow (barring hardware failure).

I have the C: drive partitioned separately, and after eleven years on this XP computer (still my mainstay), with almost 100 programs installed, that partition is only 13.6 GB. I can back that up in under five minutes, so I back up frequently. If I ever were to get a virus or malware (hasn't happened yet), I could restore the partition in under ten minutes. I know this works because while the bad guys have never screwed up my system, and bad updates have never wrecked it, I manage to do this destruction just fine all on my own, and on a regular basis (well, once or twice a year).

So, especially now that all these "mature" programs and O/S are maintained by junior programmers who have no clue about UI, tight code, bugs, etc., I keep on trucking with the stuff that actually works and, by doing this, am actually able to get a lot of work done, instead of spending every waking hour in the care and feeding of the beast.

Agreed with every single word!

Originally Posted by manolito

For WinXP this case is closed for me, I am not sure how to proceed with Win7. Should I stop updating it even while MS is still providing security updates? The quality of MS updates has certainly deteriorated considerably after the company changed their philosophy and removed a lot of man power and expertise from their OS department. Confused...

Give Win10 LTSB (!) 1607 a chance ...

[StainlessS]

Chros,
I liked 1709 best of the ones since then (1st new updated version since I got it, and where I used Macrium Reflect to do 1st image), is 1607 a better bet, you tried both ?

I believe I can get (download) the original ISO (hopefully is early one and not current).

[chros]

Originally Posted by StainlessS

is 1607 a better bet, you tried both ?

I've only tried 1607.

[StainlessS]

Thanx for your answer.
Good idea to image 1607, maybe give others a try and revert if you dont like. (I think I preferred 1709 to previous one, but since then gotten somewhat more gigantic in size).

I believe I can get (download) the original ISO (hopefully is early one and not current).

Actually I did download the ISO, but the x64 one, and Ive got an x86 EFI so would not install (x64 processor, Atom Z3735F, Linx 1010B):- https://www.google.com/search?source...31.K2v0Oj2GFsc
Guess I'll havta down the 32 bit one soon (just incase they surplant it with current version W10 image).
.

EDIT: Keep note of all serial number etc if you do go for reinstall, and defo use Macrium Reflect first.
EDIT: Also, I found that trying to resize partitions caused W10 to be Non authorized version, where I reverted via Macrium, maybe could have just tried to authorize again.

[chros]

Originally Posted by StainlessS

Actually I did download the ISO

Do you have a public url for it? Thanks

[StainlessS]

Do you have a public url for it?

This is easy to remember, google "windows 10 media creation tool":- https://www.google.com/search?source...31.JX8ENiPa0p8

EDIT: I believe I saw somewhere in W7 OS a link for similar Media Creation tool for W7, guess I need to get that too (somehwere in the control panel/programs & features merry-go-round, I think).

[wonkey_monkey]

Originally Posted by johnmeyer

If I ever were to get a virus or malware (hasn't happened yet)

That you know of...

[StainlessS]

About 15 years ago, was talking to a woman who told me that she had been having toubles with her OS [severe slowdown], she got a friend to look at it with Anti-virus s/w, and it showed that she had ~4,500 viruses,
no wonder it had slowed down the OS a tad.

[Groucho2004]

Originally Posted by StainlessS

About 15 years ago, was talking to a woman who told me that she had been having toubles with her OS [severe slowdown], she got a friend to look at it with Anti-virus s/w, and it showed that she had ~4,500 viruses

That's because there's no driver's license required to operate a computer.

[StainlessS]

That's because there's no driver's license required to operate a computer.

Well not required, but there is a driver's license for driving a computer [my mother has one, and I aint no spring chicken]

https://www.google.com/search?source....0.VUuphHDjd0o

http://ecdl.org/


And W7 Media Creation thing:- https://www.google.com/search?source.......1..gws-wiz.