Is there anyone currently running Windows 7? Yes, I am still using it.
Is there anyone currently running Windows 7? Yes, I am still using it.
I run Linux and Windows 7 and 10. I only use 10 for specific needs, such as certain games and Chromium development. I created a Chromium fork for Windows 7 and built a website focused on it, providing useful information, links, and downloads, all styled to match the OS. Despite everything being open source and free of charge, the last time I referenced it, it was removed because it was used for self-promotion. I’m looking for feedback and would be happy to share the link if someone requests it, just by responding directly.
I used it until about a year or two ago. Mainly because my old PC couldn’t support installing Windows 10. Even though I really wanted to keep using it, switching back and forth would be a hassle when I needed certain features that only worked with Windows 10. Plus, it meant dealing with very old drivers or being unable to use new software at all.
Windows 7 supports drivers for recently released hardware. Official versions cover chipsets like X470 and Ryzen 3000 series, as well as Intel Z170, 8th gen Coffee Lake, and the 9th gen refresh CPUs. Custom drivers or Windows ISO updates have been shared by users to enable compatibility with Ryzen 5000 and 11th gen Intel processors. I can switch between multiple boot options and partitions, though this isn't ideal for everyone. Additionally, there are free ESU updates available until the end of January, helping keep the system secure compared to outdated versions from 2020.
I prefer not to rely on community support. I've experienced this with AMD before and wouldn't want to repeat it. My setup is around 5900x, B550, 3080. I wasn't bothered even when switching PCs or running two systems simultaneously with different operating systems (tried it but still mostly use the older one for browsing after getting the new one). Multibooting isn't something I need right now. This comes from someone who once played an MMORPG with 2-3 characters on two PCs because they were too lazy to join a group. (By the way, in my defense, finding a group in that game could take up to two hours, and hopefully the players would be good rather than reckless killers). And honestly, games and software will also be an issue. I might consider installing it (Win7) inside a VM if I need to run very old programs that don't work with Windows 10 or newer. But so far, I don't feel the need for that.
In my view, those who cling to version 7 are even less valuable than those who stick with XP, since XP had far fewer demands on the system. Most of the machines I own, except for the one I keep on 7 just for nostalgia, have been upgraded to 10 or newer because they use less resources. I personally enjoyed working with 7 and experimenting with it. I was part of the group that heavily relied on theme patchers, where my PC consumed a noticeable amount of CPU power—partly intentional, since my GPU would shut down if it had to overheat. However, I’ve moved on from that time. Now I prefer using theme patchers directly on Windows, which has reduced the system load significantly. The overhead on modern systems like 10 or 11 is minimal, making older machines like Windows 7 feel surprisingly practical again. There’s nothing retro about needing a 7 machine anymore; I have games ready for XP and even some content that works perfectly on Win98SE. Even with emulators, the real choice is now a modern setup.
Some organizations chose to provide drivers for Windows 7 on certain new devices, but many other peripherals remain unsupported. For example, graphics cards, printers/MFPs, adapters, webcams, microphones, sound cards, and serial chips are often left without updates. The browser I used most for Windows 7 was Firefox ESR; I wouldn’t risk using unofficial Chromium versions because official support is dropping from major sites like banks, governments, and public services. In the coming years, digital certificates will likely lose value for Windows 7. Running Windows 7 outside a secure environment is a major security risk. Over time, this could change: with only a small share of global computers running Windows 7, attackers may stop targeting it in favor of more popular systems like Windows 10.
I still rely on W7 as my testing environment but also have a W10 LTS version. Officially I favor W7, though I still choose W10 LTS because of compatibility and since it doesn’t feel overly bloated compared to stock W10. I can use certain tools to restore the old Windows menu and other W7 features, and it seems support will last until around 2028 or 2032. W11 looks unlikely unless a LTS version becomes available online like W10 LTS, which would be easier to fix with software fixes instead of upgrading.
I maintain an operating system until I find one that supports the latest requirements. I tested it on a 7 until the hardware stopped working; originally it was a ME/98SE OEM that moved to a prebuilt Windows 10 soon after release because the original model finally failed. It jumped straight to a DDR4 setup from whatever prebuilt units were available in that older OEM line, which still functions but I recently upgraded to a newer system.
I've only tested Windows 7 on work and family computers, not personal ones. It's hard to grasp why it feels better than Vista—it seems more polished. For me, Windows 10 looks nicer and runs smoother. Between XP and 10, I used Linux too... I'm eager to hear someone clarify what makes 7 stand out.