- 12
- Apr 2016
Windows 7 Pain Management
Windows 7 is still a viable operating system for many businesses, but as more users and software application publishers migrate to Windows 10, using the older system can be very painful. Managing that pain isn’t easy, especially when you have a large, highly customized application package that simply can’t be upgraded to work with Windows 10.
The problem comes when you need to reinstall your Windows 7 operating system. There is just no easy way for this OS, which is 11 years old. In technology terms, that’s more than just a ripe old age. In real-time terms, that old age creates a lot of problems.
The re-installation problem requires you to follow these steps:
- Install Windows 7 using your valid installation disk. That’s pretty easy, but don’t get overconfident.
- The installation process will ask – really, require – you to download and install Service Pack 1. It’s the only service pack that Windows ever issued for Windows 7. Nor has Microsoft ever released a “roll-up,” which would be a compilation of all updates since Service Pack 1.
- So, after you have downloaded and installed Service Pack 1, you’ll need to run Windows Update to get all the critical security upgrades and patches.
Windows Update has more than 200 important updates. You need to start the sequence, and then, you need to pay attention. There are numerous points along the way where you need to reboot your computer to complete the installation of an update. Then, you need to continue Windows Update.
We have reinstalled Windows 7, and it has taken us two to three hours with a fast Internet connection. If you have a slow connection, it can be like riding a bicycle on the New Jersey Turnpike.
If a re-installation is something you must do, we can walk you through the steps. However, you must be asking why all of your application software can’t just run on Windows 10?
For highly customized software, such as a Sage accounting program that one of our clients uses, there is a compatibility issue as well as a financial consideration. Windows 10 has a number of security features that will not work with a Windows 7-based application program. They are not issues you can solve simply by not using all the features. The application software must be compatible with the OS. The financial consideration is that an upgrade to the accounting package would be $15,000. The cost of the time to reinstall Windows 7 is nowhere near that, and that’s probably the pain-management equivalent of taking aspirin until the pain goes away.
If you are fortunate to have some planning time, you can manage the pain more effectively by talking with the app publisher about updates. Those are always difficult for the app publisher because customized programs take a lot more of their time. They need to write the upgrades into their basic package and then to several steps farther to add your customization. Customized software packages have a lot of moving parts.
Some other factors to consider as you migrate is how much you need to keep everyone together. If you have a senior executive moving to Windows 10 ahead of most of the people in the department, how will that affect everyone’s ability to use the same applications. Windows 10 and Windows 7 versions may be quite different.
In addition to the application aspects of the software, will there be major security gaps between the older and newer versions? As we are harping, security is extremely critical in today’s business-computing world. When you leave certain doors open to get the work done, you may leave an opening for an outsider to come in and compromise your system’s integrity.
If you see your business coming to a crossroads, contact us as early as possible by email or telephone – 973-433-6676. The more time we have to look at your options, the better your probability of having the best possible outcome in managing the pain of transitioning your OS and application software to a more stable, efficient and secure system.
Categories
Comments
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- D. J. Hawkins on Health Wearables in Style at CES
- Allan Berger on Tech Preps for Trips
- Stan Schnitzer on We’re Not Neutral on Net Neutrality
- Allan Berger on Equifax and Protecting Your Identity
- Michael L. on Brave New Wireless World
Archives
- September 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012