Posts by Keith Sanchez6

Larry Ortiz5 said:I wouldn't go so far as to say Windows 8.1 is more stable than 7. In fact, I’d venture to say that Windows 7 is easily the most stable operating system Microsoft has ever released... especially considering it still holds over a 50% market share on computers, particularly within corporate offices.

Some people are still clinging to Windows XP, but that doesn't mean the newer versions aren't solid. I could be wrong, and maybe Windows 7 actually is more stable than 8... I’m just speaking from my own limited experience since I haven't touched Windows in about six years. I moved away from it entirely. Now, I only see it on other people's machines, though I do have Windows 8.1 running on an old laptop because Windows 7 just wouldn't perform properly on it. That's why I feel like 8.1 is the more stable choice. Ever since Service Pack 1 was released for Windows 7, it's been perfectly fine, and I'll give you that. I'm not disputing how widespread the issues were; Windows 8 was a headache, much like Vista was. And when things went south with 8, Microsoft blamed the hardware manufacturers instead of taking responsibility themselves. Honestly, most people didn't jump over to 8 or 8.1 right away simply because they were stuck in their ways and had zero desire to deal with that new interface...

driftingbadger17 Asks:
That’s the truth.
Let's be real... Windows 10 isn't exactly the most stable system out there.
Even today, massive corporations across America are still running Windows 7 on their workstations... they just refuse to make the jump to Windows 8.1 or Windows 10.

Windows 10 certainly isn't the most stable OS out there, mostly because it's still the new kid on the block... No version of Windows has ever been particularly rock-solid until they roll out a massive patch or something similar. Even back in the day, Windows 98 didn't really start behaving itself until the Second Edition arrived. As for those people refusing to make the jump to 10, that won't last much longer because Microsoft is eventually going to force their hand, especially when it comes to major corporations. Either that, or they'll be forced to switch to some alternative that doesn't even carry the Windows name.

driftingbadger17 said:Upgrading isn't exactly my priority. Sometimes I run it, sometimes I don't bother for six months at a time because I just forget. As long as Windows 7 works, I'm fine 🙂
Speed is its main advantage.
I find Windows 10 somewhat inaccessible. It runs, sure, but it’s just not fluid.

Upgrading might not be your top concern, but believe me, in certain environments, staying current is absolutely critical. I run a business where more than half the workstations are still stuck on Windows XP. People just let whatever software they want run. On top of that, they act completely irresponsible. Not to mention they won't even be able to access government contracts because the software required for those bids has to be up to date. So, you decide if an upgrade is necessary or not. Of course, at home, if you have a PC acting as a media center, you aren't going to jump to Windows 10, and you probably won't care about having the latest OS patches. While it's not impossible for that machine to become a target, in principle, you don't need anything from Microsoft to keep it running. There are certain professional environments that strictly require Microsoft's support.

As for how much faster it is than ten... I honestly can't say. I don't use Windows much, but based on what I've seen, I wouldn't bet my life on Windows 7 being faster. Besides, when I was using 8.1, I never had any complaints regarding speed. I was just "annoyed" by the deceptive claim that it shuts down faster 🤣 But generally speaking, 8.1 was far more stable than Windows 7, no matter where I had to maintain it. I doubt Windows 10 could possibly be worse in that regard. Plus, with Windows 10, you get full cloud integration, though you probably don't need that. So, by all means, keep cruising along on Windows 7 if it satisfies you 😁

@Gregory Johnson41/">@@Gregory Johnson41... I have to admit, I have no idea what you would change in the BIOS? If you have at least 2GB of RAM, there shouldn't be any issues regarding the processor.

During a technical training session for Windows 10 held at Microsoft, they mentioned support would last until 2017. However, looking at the linked articles, it says: "This should last until July 17, 2017, after which those computers will only receive notifications for the most critical security updates. Microsoft will support Windows 7 on machines with older processors until January 14, 2020." This means computers running older processors—and they'll be the ones deciding what counts as "older," not us—will still have support until 2020. After that, you're basically on your own. I also assume "support" refers to getting actual help over the phone or via email regarding software upgrades and new features. They’ll just ask for your configuration and then brush you off, much like how they used to ditch people on Windows XP once Service Pack 2 was out and everyone moved to Service Pack 3... they simply won't bother helping you unless you've already installed Service Pack 3. As far as security patches go, they might patch a hole if they feel like it, but software upgrades or non-security vulnerabilities? Forget about it. It isn't profitable for them to juggle and support so many different operating systems. They are going to force everyone onto Windows 10, and they'll do it in a very clever way. I don't know if I mentioned this, but even upgrading a pirated version of Windows 7 should work without any issues...

It depends on how you define "every little while." It’s been common knowledge for quite some time now that Windows 7 would receive support through 2017... so what is an extra year really going to matter? If someone is out there buying brand-new hardware and looking for an operating system, it makes absolutely zero sense to opt for Windows 7 when Windows 10 is right there. As for Microsoft itself, they're simply cutting off the supply because maintaining so many different OS versions is just too expensive for them. If you aren't interested in using Windows 10 the way most people do, you could always grab a version that mimics the feel of Windows 7—you wouldn't get any feature updates besides security patches, and older apps should theoretically still run. Those are the key points, but until someone actually tries it, we won't know for sure... though it’s hardly surprising that Microsoft is pushing Windows 10 so hard.

There hasn't been any suspicious activity on the OS because these people just use their computers for email or running business software... maybe they watch some YouTube or occasionally stumble onto adult sites, but I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary. In this specific case, I was replacing a modem that had been fried by a lightning strike. Basically, his VoIP service was trashed. As soon as I swapped in the new modem and turned my back for one second to grab some paperwork, it immediately auto-connected to an unknown "public network"... When I put the old modem back in—since the guy insisted on proving I was at fault—the exact same thing happened. The WiFi works perfectly fine, but the wired connection won't connect... Then there's this one laptop at his office that refuses to connect to the WiFi, even though it works flawlessly at my place, but then again, I made sure to set up the corporate network ahead of time. Out on vacation, he can connect to any access point, provided he's careful about what credentials he enters... At home, he's getting zero connectivity. 🤷

So, has nobody else noticed anything like this lately?

I’ve got a problem. Actually, five problems rolled into one. Over the last ten days, I've had five different people unable to get online. It doesn't matter if they're connecting via WiFi to the router or through an Ethernet cable—though that was only one specific case. The issue is that the connection is immediately categorized as a "public network." Even when I manually switch it to "work," the description above "work" still claims the network is unknown (it doesn't even say Network). If I try switching it to "home," everything just falls apart... I can't even switch it back to "work" at all. The system simply won't allow it. I know you can enable network discovery so it always sticks to one profile, but that's turned off. So, the choice is left up to the user. In the case of the guy on the cable, nobody made a choice; the OS decided on its own. Now I'm wondering... is this happening because these are pirated versions of Windows, or is it just a coincidence and some malicious software has crawled in? If anyone else has run into this, did you manage to fix it? Maybe through Group Policy or something similar?

How is it possible that on every single computer I've ever worked on, if the network is set to "public," the machine can't access the internet when it absolutely should be able to? As far as I'm aware, you'd just need to disable file sharing... 🤷

Kyle Martin67 said:Those inspectors were incredibly difficult about everything. Before we even went through the process of incorporating our business, we did our due diligence and asked exactly how things worked because we wanted to bring our own personal computers into the office environment. It wasn't allowed, obviously... they insisted we provide official purchase receipts for every single device, blah blah blah... So, my partner and I were essentially forced to go out and buy two brand-new machines—one laptop for field work and one desktop for the office.
And that’s exactly what they promised us regarding Windows...
Honestly, it seems like most people just don't grasp the nuances of that law...

Of course they’re screwing us over. Now every single person trying to start a new business is forced to buy brand-new licenses for Windows... as if that isn't enough... 😁 I’d personally tell them exactly where to shove it. Honestly, before you even consider taking any kind of action, you should probably just reach out to Microsoft or someone who actually understands licensing better than those inspectors do... It’s a shame that most people don't grasp the law or the specific licensing rules, though I suspect those inspectors are just as clueless as everyone else. Besides, things often change on the fly while you're operating... When Windows 7 first launched, we were told at a seminar that only the Pro version was legal for businesses or small firms. But then it turned out last year around this time that Home Premium is technically allowed too, provided you don't try to join a domain. I only figured that out by pure accident because I went out of my way to ask Microsoft directly...

Just an update on that issue I posted about a few days ago—since nobody seems to have any answers... I honestly ran out of both time and patience to keep poking around waiting for a fix. I just went ahead and reinstalled the OS. Now we’ll see if and when this exact same headache decides to show up again. From here on out, I’m keeping a strict log of every single piece of software installed on this junker... date and name included. Hardware passed all the diagnostics perfectly fine, so everything is technically functioning. For now, the problem is solved by a clean reinstall...

Kyle Martin67 said:Here is a vital heads-up if you're buying Windows 7 and want to be 100% compliant...

When the federal inspectors came to our office to audit our Windows installations, they demanded:

- The original purchase receipt for the Windows license
- The physical box the software came in, ensuring the serial number on the box matched the receipt
- The sticker on the PC itself, verifying that the CD-key matches what's installed in Windows

So, we also thought it would be easy to just grab a sticker from eBay, but all that is just nonsense...

For more specific details, you can call Microsoft at 1-800-MICROSOFT
or contact the IRS or local regulatory authorities

Federal inspectors pull this stuff out of thin air sometimes. Your best bet is to call Microsoft directly, and if an inspector starts giving you grief about what Microsoft told you, you can just point to their word. You can absolutely buy Windows without the retail box; you just need the keys and/or the licensing agreements. I've seen plenty of cases where the inspector had no clue what they were even looking at. Honestly, this whole obsession with receipts is ridiculous because you could have received a computer as a gift, started a business, and put it into service, yet the stickers and the keys in Windows still match up perfectly. There's zero issue regarding actual licensing. It seems like these guys just make things up to slap you with a fine. Besides, you can throw the box away. What if your wife accidentally stepped on it or tossed it against a wall during an argument? Are you suddenly non-compliant because of her?

Hey everyone. I see there are some real pros in here, so I have a quick question. One of my rigs is stuck on a black screen where you can only see the cursor moving around... I try a System Restore and it works fine for a few days before the problem crawls back. I tried performing a System Restore and disabling Windows Update entirely. It holds up for a bit, then fails again. Then I tried a System Restore, confirmed Windows Update was definitely turned off, and manually installed a newer Intel driver for the 2000 graphics card. After resetting the PC, it’s the exact same story. I even did a System Restore back to May, and it worked perfectly until I shut the thing down; once I powered it back up, I was right back to the black screen and the cursor. Currently, I'm in Safe Mode running `checkdisk /F /R` and it's grinding away, but if it comes up clean and doesn't find any hardware errors, does anyone have any other ideas? I'm honestly pulling my hair out over this one... It was connected via DVI, but now I've switched to standard VGA, so that shouldn't be the issue, though I know it's been a factor for some people.

Thanks in advance 🙂