Microsoft Windows 7 Support Ending - Reformatting Query?

SaberX on 08/11/2019 - 03:48

Hi all,

WIth the Jan 2020 end of support for windows 7 coming I figured I had better clear my old laptop,and reboot to factory settings windows 7. I have previously had a second spare that I did a year or so back and just reinstalled updates etc. and it was sparkling new for sale. The only issue is I've read that whilst the Jan 2020 end support date is to come, those that don't install a certain update by July 2019 will lose support/updates.

Which begs the question - does this mean I am stuck and cannot reset to factory settings the laptop? As I would not be able to access windows update and as I haven't got this required update I do not get access to the Jan 2020 deadline?

It is discussed here:

https://www.techradar.com/au/news/if-you-miss-this-vital-win…

Something about SHA-2. Am I pretty much stuffed in that a reset would mean this patch isn't available so I cannot access any updates and I will be stuck on a factory 2011 style win 7 setup?

If so then the only thing left would be to completely delete all apps and files and use CCcleaner to write 0's over the empty space (I would prefer to reset to factory and wipe all windows settings etc. that one cannot see buried deep in the laptop).

Would appreciate any advice on anyone who knows?

Computing Microsoft Operating System

Comments

  • apsilon on 08/11/2019 - 06:11
    +1

    AFAIK it'll still be able to receive existing updates. The real issue is no new security updates will be created for it opening it to new vulnerabilities and attacks. If it's an isolated machine with no outside connection and you never use removeable storage with it that might be OK but for most people you'd be better off upgrading to Win10.

    • wiipantz on 08/11/2019 - 09:36

      Air-gapping could in theory be possible

    • SaberX on 09/11/2019 - 01:53

      I'm merely trying to factory reset and update it to the recent windows updates prior to selling. So it is up to date and clean/faster. So it isn't so much a future proofing issue. My issue is I am currently with a 6-8 year old cluttered windows installation that has never been factory reset. I would like to do it but my worry is while my support doesn't end until Jan 2020, by reseting it I reset to a time where I haven't installed the July 2019 update for SHA1 and by definition/the linked article that means I am straight away locked down and unable to install windows updates anymore? I don't know if this means any windows updates or if im locked down to installing up to July 2019 only (say 2011 from laptop's first year of life to July 2019)?

      Hence why I was worried/wondered if I should try and sell the laptop without factory resetting as such incase I'm stuck with an old outdated windows 7 and unable to update.

  • garetz on 08/11/2019 - 06:30
    +2

    Look at what happened with windows XP when support was stopped, deleting all apps and writing 0s over the empty space seems abit extreme.

    • SaberX on 09/11/2019 - 01:51

      Sorry I am not familiar - what happened?

      Writing 0s was just for personal data.. i assume the average joe would buy the laptop but just for comfort? A factory reset seemed best therefore to also boost performance for any buyer i figured.

  • endotherm on 08/11/2019 - 06:56

    I hadn't heard about this, but it might explain why my Windows Update monthly security updates since July have failed to configure and it has to roll back and restore the system after each attempt. Seems I missed an important one. Trying to install the latest normally would work and cover the previous missed ones, but it straight out refuses to work.

    • SaberX on 09/11/2019 - 01:50

      Can you not install the July update that you require to extend to the Jan 2020 end date? THis is what I can't wrap my head around. THe normal method of end of support makes sense but i am not sure if other responders here have considered that if I factory reset then I factory reset to a time where I haven't yet installed the July 2019 patch, so I would assume i would then be blocked from installing all my windows update up until today even though my current installation continues until the Jan 2020 end of support date?

  • Skramit on 08/11/2019 - 08:17
    +2

    Which begs the question - does this mean I am stuck and cannot reset to factory settings the laptop?

    No it just means MS stop putting out NEW updates. You'll be fine.

    • SaberX on 09/11/2019 - 01:43

      Understand no new updates, but the article does state if you didn't have the july19 update your period of support ceases? By that I assumed it meant you couldn't update at all? So I took it that reseting to factory meant you boot up a windows that has not installed the july 19 update thereby your straight away barred from using windows update to catch up on 2012 to 2019 year updates (laptop was bought around 2011-12). Or have i misunderstood how the 'end of support' concept works?

      • Skramit on 09/11/2019 - 08:47

        Yea you have misunderstood the end of support. Don’t panic. Your machine will not become un updatable.

  • the Unforgiven on 08/11/2019 - 08:28

    Hey OP, ask your question on this forum:-
    https://www.askwoody.com/forums/

    • SaberX on 09/11/2019 - 01:41

      any issue with here? I haven't got an account there and so it seems logical to just post using my existing ozb?

      • the Unforgiven on 09/11/2019 - 02:19

        It is free to join there, did you even have a look at the site?
        Your question is right up their alley, so to speak, and ozBargains is more for, what for it, bargains
        Horses for courses

  • chasis on 08/11/2019 - 09:12

    As apsilon said it will only really be an issue if you've opened it up to the internet and are running services on it.

    While you can't rely on it, Microsoft does seem to write security patches for critical vulnerabilities in Windows even past its End of Life period. BlueKeep and Eternal Blue were patched on Windows XP well past their EOL.

    Always keep backups of any of your critical data but I wouldn't be overly concerned with the approaching end of support.

    With regards to SHA-2. SHA-2 is a hashing (like encryption for digital signing) type. It is and has been available on Windows7 for years. The article just says the newest update will remove SHA-1 a less secure hash. Removing it just forces your connections to use SHA-2 rather than SHA-1. YOu can also remove SHA-1 manually, you don't need an update to do this. For more info you can google "cipher suites".

    • SaberX on 09/11/2019 - 01:41
      +1

      I'm not so much worried about getting future updates. My main question was I wanted to factory reset and then update it to the latest updates i.e. today, so it was fresh and 'up to date' so I could sell the laptop. If that makes sense?

      my worry was that if you factory rset then you reset windows to a time before the june/july 19 deadline of having installed the windows update for the SHA-2 thing, in which case your deadline is no longer Jan 2020 but ceases. So in essence i thought that meant that as soon as I factory reset I won't have windows update access from the 2011/12 period of the laptops manufacture until 2019?

      Or as someone mentioned can I still access all the updates even upon factory resetting windows?

      • chasis on 09/11/2019 - 15:58

        Yep, you can update at any time. It's just that there will be no new up dates.

  • Clear on 08/11/2019 - 09:45
    +1

    The free upgrade to Windows 10 never actually ended. I've run it on thousands of computers since it supposedly ended without issue. Some computers will even start to receive notifications about it so it's a good time to upgrade!

    • SaberX on 09/11/2019 - 01:38

      This is a 2nd generation core i7 though? the 2630QM, 2011 based laptop… so while it has a 8gb ram and decent for its time my worry is won't windows 10 be much slower than running windows 7 which was its built in? What will be the effects of upgrading given the factory reset is windows 7? Does it wipe your laptop's factory reset once upgrading?

      Can you only install windows 10 through the impaired vision workaround i'd heard about a yr or so ago?

      • Clear on 09/11/2019 - 09:23

        I've had it running on older hardware than that. Windows 10 is so much better optimised and if you have an SSD it'll run so much better than Win7.

        Windows 10 has a native factory reset built in so it'll factory reset back to Windows 10. There is a rollback to Windows 7 feature after upgrading which IIRC ii's available for 10 days.

        Microsoft continued the upgrade so need for workarounds. You just use the Media Creation Tool they provided.

  • StrayfireX on 08/11/2019 - 11:06

    https://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/417827-integr…

    Just use the script and make a Windows 7 DVD with all the updates in it.

    • SaberX on 09/11/2019 - 02:13

      Abit above my tech level though, and not sure I even have the DVD burning software anymore…. being such an old laptop I really haven't bothered burning things for at last 6-7 years …

      • the Unforgiven on 09/11/2019 - 02:24

        What have you been using your computer for the last 7 years?

        • SaberX on 09/11/2019 - 04:11

          this one phased out around 2018'ish as i got more busy ( more phone), but largely browsing, ms office, games - dota, steam: cs etc, movies, all that sort of university through to early work etc.

          • the Unforgiven on 09/11/2019 - 04:30

            @SaberX: If you use your laptop for work,
            buy a new one & claim it back at tax time as a work expense

            How big is the HDD?
            Can you get a HDD caddie for it to put in another HDD?
            An SSD would life performance
            How much RAM has it got?
            Download Speccy, it will tell you a few of those questions.

            But if it is that old,
            take your personal stuff off it and give it to your son or daughter,
            and buy yourself a new one.
            You could get a decent one for $1200 or less,
            other people on here will point you in the direction for bargains,
            I am more of an old techie

            • SaberX on 09/11/2019 - 14:47

              @the Unforgiven: hi @the Unforgiven: may have not been very clear. This is an old 2011 laptop to 2012. I sold an identical version albeit with 16gb for $340 so I figured this version with 8gm ram could be a good $250-260 in spare decluttering cash. It wasn't so much for passing down to anyone (I have no kids anyway) but more of looking to do a factory reset for resale. Hence why I wanted to know if I could still windows update given I would be resetting it to before the July 2019 deadline.

              It is a 2nd gen intel core i7 2630QM, has a 2gb GeForce GT540M nvidia gfx card, 8gb ram, win 7 premium, 750 GB HDD (normal, not SSD). 15.6" so it's pretty heavy.

              I actually bought a late 2018 model I believe Hp spectre x360 in March-April 2019. It is pretty flash as the 2019 version came out with a nicer shell and some slight improvements (latest models come with 9th gen), and boots up instantly. So I am using this. Hence the need to keep the 2011 laptop seemed dated.

              It is an Asus n53sv-sx581v laptop. Funnily enough I bought it after I saw it on sale for $1k down from $1500'ish from an ozbargain post here (if you search it up you can even see it haha).

              • the Unforgiven on 09/11/2019 - 14:58

                @SaberX: I recently had 2 laptops to do,
                they were oldish as well,
                so I installed modified Windows 10 OS's;
                but Linux will also be fast on it.

                To your main question,
                I pointed you to a site that would help you better than the help here
                (I wrote previously - horses for courses)
                Or you can ask the question on tps://www.sevenforums.com/
                I am pretty sure it is free to join,
                I joined yonks ago

                Why are you worried about Windows update for W7 when support will end in 2 months?

                Don't you think you got a thousand dollars use out of it?

                How long ago did you sell a similar laptop?

  • the Unforgiven on 09/11/2019 - 15:50

    Deep Freeze software can make your PC or Mac computer indestructible. It does this by 'freezing' your hard drive, so your computer's software and settings can be returned to a pristine state every time you start it up

    https://askbobrankin.com/heres_how_to_make_your_computer_ind…

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