Re: Should I upgrade.
Anyone who values their W7 system and doesn't ever want Microsoft to ever be able to bugger about with it, should simply DISABLE WINDOWS UPDATES completely.
We have already seen in the past the nefarious methods Microsoft are prepared to use when they sent an update down the line to everybody which forced their PCs into a W10 updgrade process with a clock ticking down telling them in how many days/hours it would happen. Absolutely shocking and arrogant mentality.
Microsoft want everyone onto their new W10 system because THEY control your PC when that happens. They can then dictate the updates and what you see on your screen. I will not go there.
I have had W7 for years and I totally disabled Windows Updates the day I bought the machines. Yes that's right, my laptops have never had a single Windows Update and do you know what? It's never once proven to be a problem, I've never been hacked, never had a virus that caused any issue.
I don't use Microsoft/Windows security stuff, I ALWAYS use a well established and free antivirus and internet security package like Avast, Comodo and so on. I also occasionally use Malwarebytes to do a malware scan.
Like everything else things are marketed to you using a "Campaign of Fear". It's largely BS.
I would personally stay with W7 for as long as you can but to do that you MUST disable Windows Updates completely otherwise you can be sure they will send something down the line which effectively makes you upgrade to W10 (doesn't have to be an actual upgrade update, they could just send an update down the line that causes your browser to have lots of problems with websites until you go to W10).
The large corporations are imho all working together. I used to be able to use Google Maps absolutely fine with W7 and my old IE browser. In the last 1 to 2 years Google have now started simply blocking my access to Maps. They just pop up a message about version of browser etc. I know they are simply blocking people because if I went on the website of THE AA and went to route finder/planner that would pop up a map (which states in the corner it is Google maps) and it works just fine. Thus there is no question that Google have simply decided to look at what browser you are using and if THEY don't like it they simply block you from using Google Maps. It's all a bit pathetic but the typical result of giving companies too much power imo.
My advice would be to always keep at least 1 W7 laptop or PC even if you decide to buy a newer W10 or above machine. But to be able to keep that W7 machine and preserve it you MUST disable Windows Updates completely.