Windows 7 Machine DOA

[Bailey Guns]

I have an older HP computer that I really like. I resisted updating to Windows 10 but finally relented. Naturally the update didn't work and now I need a Windows 7 boot disk to get it back up and running. I don't have one. Somehow lost it in the move up here. Any suggestions on what to do?

ETA: I'll be go to hell. I've been looking for my Win 7 product key for over a year and couldn't find it. I took the side panel off the machine I need to make work again and there it is inside the computer. Never seen it inside a computer.

Never mind.

[mattiooo]

You can get those discs on Amazon and on Ebay if nobody here has one. I do not. Sorry.

[thedave1164]

If you still need a HP factory win 7 dvd, let me know

[Bailey Guns]

Thanks...I think I have it resolved.

[TheGrey]

Well now, that was damn lucky.

Windows 10 is positively shitful. Maintain your resistance! And write that key down somewhere, in case you're not able to get to it like that.

[spqrzilla]

There are also tools available that read off the Windows product key for you, of course you have to use them in advance.

[Zundfolge]

NEVER switch to Windows 10. If you find that Windows 7 is no longer doing it for you its time to learn how to use Linux (or start taking your chances with pirated/cracked versions of Windows).

The problem with Win10 is that you no longer own your copy of the OS, you're simply "renting" it. So you're not allowed to opt out of "updates" that break things and at some point Microsoft will find a way to force you to re-buy their OS or start making monthly rent payments to keep your computer running and not lose all your data.

Went through this crap with Adobe in the last couple years (Creative Suite is gone and now its Creative Cloud ... which you have to pay a monthly fee to keep using and its constant "updates" are always breaking the expensive third party plug-ins I rely on to do my job so we keep having to re-buy those every so often too).

This cloud crap ("software as a service" ie rent not own) is the future of computing. I really recommend everyone start exploring open source operating systems like one of the myriad flavors of Linux because there will come a day when Apple, Microsoft and Google will screw each and every one of us real hard.

The days of "install it and use it as long as you like" are rapidly coming to an end.

[Bailey Guns]

I may have to look into learning how to use Linux.

[Zundfolge]

I may have to look into learning how to use Linux.

I recommend Linux Mint, its very user friendly (especially for someone that's an old hat at Windows).

All you really have to learn is that the file structure is slightly different, and you generally install software through Synaptic (or some other "app store" type application ... which used to be very alien to people, but since smart phones most folk are pretty used to that now) instead of downloading an .exe and running that.

If you use a computer for basic surfing, email, and light Excel/Word type office use you'll find Linux alternatives to do all that just fine (I actually like Libre Office more than the newer versions of MS office because I'm old and don't like change and its much more like MS Office of a decade ago).

But Windows 7 will be viable for at least the next few years, so no rush.

[CS1983]

With a lot of the new Desktop varieties (Mint, Ubuntu, etc.) it's really no different day to day than Windows for basic usage. The exception being it doesn't just do stuff like updates, you have to notice the icon and then run the updates you choose. If you have a specific Windows-based program you NEED to use, you can emulate in WINE (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_(software)). It's got a few bugs and I've never used it, but others do. However, because it brings Windows style emulation, it can bring in Windows style viruses as well -- one of the glories of Linux is that its market share is so low, its usage as an attack vector for most end-user viruses is low. It's like a Scandinavian getting AIDS -- could happen, but rare.

I use Linux Mint as my daily driver at home. All pics taken at home get run through a metadata scrubber program before uploading, via a BASH script I wrote.

My Windows usage is at work, and I have a Windows laptop for school work, since I have to be able to run programs the school provides for study. Honestly... once I'm done with school, I'll likely go full time Linux.

There is a slight learning curve with Linux as far as mere basic usage, but it's no worse than the next time Windows is updated to some wacky thing.

Your potential of getting a virus *which runs* is lower, since most end-user viruses target Windows OS. That's not to say Linux is immune, just that there is a lower chance of a received virus *running*. (https://www.linux.com/learn/myth-bus...immune-viruses)

Plenty of us here have various levels of Linux knowledge. If you go with Linux of any variety, we can assist if you run into any issues. There's a wealth of knowledge online as well.

Last but not least:

Convert or face the wrath.


(taken at the Citadel mall... Linux will kill us all).