Microsoft announces "end of life" date for Windows XP - Page 8

scrubjaysnest · 11-15-2015, 01:16 PM

XP based machines.......the win 7 machine has died.......no wifi and the hdd runs constantly and the win 8.1 has no wifi either; won't even run a usb wifi stick anymore.

At this rate we'll be back to pencil and paper

Padgett · 11-15-2015, 02:04 PM

Can use the Win 7 license to upgrade to Win 10 on a new machine.

**wbmiller3** · 11-15-2015, 04:39 PM

Since we spoke last, I've converted DW to the righteous path of Linux. If anyone else is considering it, I learned that the Lubuntu distribution of Linux is a great choice for people moving from XP. It runs well on old PCs and it features a start button/menu based interface that was quite easy for DW to get used to. I also converted my print/file server, so only my son is holding out, at this writing.

**Bill** · 11-15-2015, 06:13 PM

Bill -

How well does the File Finder (Search) work on your new setup? The File Finder on XP was wonderful. I absolutely despise the File Finder on Win 7, mainly because I can't figure out how to make it do what a File Finder should do. Internet searches have revealed that many people share my problem, but I find no useful hints or fixes.

Second issue with Win 7? I use Word and Powerpoint on a daily basis, and I hate the ribbon interface in the 2010 version of these applications. I got around this problem by installing Word 2003 and Powerpoint 2003 right beside the 2010 versions. With this setup, I can use 2010 when I absolutely have to, but for all normal uses I fire up the 2003 versions. The "experts" say you can't do this, but I find it works well.

Bill

Padgett · 11-15-2015, 06:28 PM

I use Linux (and think you meant Ubuntu though I mostly use Fedora) and with the new graphical interfaces it can work well. For those needing Ofiice, Apache Open Office is a good alternative that can read most documents created by Microsoft Office and verse the vice.

It is a little different with a lot of dropdown selections but not hard to learn. It can be as simple as a smart phone.

Unix is the basis for Andriod, iOS, and OS/X so are many users but few go down to the code level.

BrucePerens · 11-15-2015, 06:28 PM

Try Libreoffice, it works on Windows and Linux. Don't use OpenOffice, that project has fallen behind in development and LibreOffice is the replacement for it. It doesn't render everything exactly the same as Microsoft Office, but it's good enough and the price is right. I use it for all presentations and word processing of Algoram.com and LegalEngineering.com and it's never a problem.

I am not a good person to ask about file managers, as I've been using the command line shell since 1981. But Linux actually has many file managers, so you might find one you like more than the default one in Ubuntu.

Of course I am using Debian. Ubuntu is sort of commercial frosting on top of Debian, you might try Debian when you get good at it.

**wbmiller3** · 11-15-2015, 07:29 PM

Bruce, I've only been using Linux a year but that was long enough to have heard of you, so I yield to your judgement in all such matters! I'm open to trying other versions of Linux, Ubuntu was an easy intro.

Padgett, Lubuntu is correct, it's a light variant of Ubuntu that runs well on old hardware; coincidentally it features an XP-like user experience that was very easy for DW to transition to.

Bill, the file managers in both Ubuntu and Lubuntu work well for me when searching for files that you know all or part of the names. I actually prefer the file manager in Lubuntu because it seems more functional to me and less slick looking. If I need to search for something that's inside of a file whose name I do not know, I use command line tools, as Bruce mentioned. I am not very familiar with the dreaded "ribbon" because I started using the open source office suites before that (yes, you can use Libreoffice in windows, I did for years). I've attached a shot of the Writer interface so you can judge if it's a "ribbon" or not. You can download LibreOffice for windows at https://www.libreoffice.org/

Padgett · 11-15-2015, 08:07 PM

Interesting. Must admit for the last few years have been working mainly with ventless tablets and last I looked the thermal management drivers were a Windows-only thing.

Now that I'm retired, Windows is not as necessary but I have a few licenses so have no reason to change.

When I first got a PC, there was Wordstar, 1-2-3, and Harvard Graphics but that was a while ago. No GUIs yet.

So mainly working with tabs and smart phones/watches (have had a Sony since '12) now. Can connect to a 27" 1080 monitor in the TM though.

scrubjaysnest · 11-16-2015, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill

Bill -

How well does the File Finder (Search) work on your new setup? The File Finder on XP was wonderful. I absolutely despise the File Finder on Win 7, mainly because I can't figure out how to make it do what a File Finder should do. Internet searches have revealed that many people share my problem, but I find no useful hints or fixes.

Second issue with Win 7? I use Word and Powerpoint on a daily basis, and I hate the ribbon interface in the 2010 version of these applications. I got around this problem by installing Word 2003 and Powerpoint 2003 right beside the 2010 versions. With this setup, I can use 2010 when I absolutely have to, but for all normal uses I fire up the 2003 versions. The "experts" say you can't do this, but I find it works well.

Bill

For file management I use total commander. It's search works great. Has a built in decompression utility for zip files and you can add a few programs to it's menu bar and launch them directly. It works well with XP, Win 7 and 8.1. Haven't looked to see if the is a Linux version.

I agree on the 2010 Office interface.

Dropped off the win 7 machine with a friend to get a 2nd opinion of the hard drive. If its going bad I'll clone it to one of the new SSD's; accept the Win 10 upgrade and see what happens there. One thing that may be an issue with Win 10 is you may not be able to force all updates off which means a huge amount of data over the hot spot. Ran into this a bit with Win 7 until I got updates turned off still had one or two that were forced through unless they were quayed up before I got updates turned off.

scrubjaysnest · 02-07-2016, 04:08 AM

DW got the win 10 free upgrade yesterday and so far it works. She likes it better then 8.1. Got the notification for the win 7 machine but it won't down load it.