I keep seeing stories about Microsoft

It very much depends on what you use the computer for, and how well you can protect it and your files.


Microsoft did more than push notifications to "upgrade" - I call it "update" because "upgrade" implies improvement.

I bought my present computer three years ago with WIN-10 loaded: I wanted extra power and the latest OS to run certain third-party software. At some point since, Gates Towers became fed up with my not installing WIN-11, and did it for me without my permission.

The result? I was now presented with a mess, many surplus, gimmick "apps" to "uninstall", and a poor version of its long-established filing system. My carefully-organised photograph folders were all reduced to a single folder MS calls "Pictures" (for users who can't handle long words). I spent ages re-setting them all but in my own directory, not one MS dictates. The "Pictures" directory lies empty.

WIN-11 also refuses to recognise my two external hard-drives, which work fine on XP and 7, and to install drivers for them.


It did something else odd, too; showing just how much Microsoft 11 interferes with your computer data.

It puts a little weather symbol on the corner of the screen. This opens a lot of random news stories from many different sources, all mixed up together with MSN's appalling childish, messy, patronising presentation. Among it is a box called "Photos". This takes random examples of[i] your[/i] photographs from [i]your[/i] folders, mixes them with unidentified images from elsewhere and presents them to you - without your permission or prior knowledge.

Since this is in this MSN link are the photos published by MS and MSN without your permission, let alone any acknowledgements? I found the "Photos" listed among the installed "Apps" (sloppy word) and uninstalled it, but now see Microsoft has re-installed it!


Having used MS systems since the last days of its original DOS, I think Microsoft has run out of ideas so just tinkers round the edges, changing things needlessly, adding guff and gimmicks. It also though has a vested interest in data-harvesting and I do not trust it at all.

Like many others, I think WINs XP and 7 were the zenith and it has declined since. I suspect it sees its most profitable trade being entertainments and "smart"-phone based social-media. Not serious computer use like spreadsheets, databases, word-processing, etc.

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You can continue to use an older OS but Microsoft will not support it, including installing security patches, so you will need be very careful to keep separate "back up" archives, and to maintain good security software and practices.

Also, up-to-date editions of large-scale third-party software like photo-editors and CAD will likely need WIN-10 or 11, and not operate on earlier systems, although extending the memory may solve that.

[quote]Does that mean I would need to move to a different OS when support ends October 2025?[/quote]

No. Your computer will continue to work after support ends. It just won't get many updates.

I have a Win98 machine running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at home. It works perfectly and hasn't been updated in twenty years.

Support ending doesn't mean it won't work anymore. I still use xp on a few things at work

Use Linux or Unix

They can do every Windows does and they don't need to spy on you like Microsoft does. They are forcing you like they do for cellphones

They have a work around to by the way

Microsoft seems hell bent on permanently attaching itself to your credit card :(