Seeking opinions: w7u/p or w8pp with Linux alongside w10p

Pavl · 09 Apr 2021

After an electrical "event" I am in the following situation.

Laptop_1 has w10p with digital license and is fully functional.
Laptop_2 has w7p on primary drive and Linux Leap 15 on second internal drive with dual boot. This machine is damaged (wont charge) but if given a fresh charged battery (from Laptop_1) will function as if there is nothing wrong.
Cost of repair (motherboard) and lack of charge ability renders this machine unfit for use. But there is still full access to both OSs and all files.
So am waiting for arrival of Laptop_3 with w10p fresh install currently not registered to a person but with a digital license to the machine.
All three machines are same make / different models and are 2nd hand business refurbs.

Additional items in stock ..
W7 Ultimate dvd boxed but as "Upgrade" version.
W8.1 ProPlus usb boxed as full retail version.

And making the assumption that the old w7p is no use to me as the OS is likely to linked to the motherboard of Laptop_2.

I would 'prefer' to return to w7p/u on dual boot with Linux but recognise there may be issues ..... and I see no reason to just throw away the newer w10p installation on Laptop_3.

The newest Laptop_3 has the 'official' capability to support two internal drives whereas the Laptop_2 had been functioning well with an 'Unofficial' internal second drive.

Previous advice from this forum suggested no point in going to w8.1pp. I have no experience with w8.1pp and am 'assuming' it operates in a fashion closer to w7 than w10 (but of course dont actually know).
If w8.1pp is closer to w7p then this would be preferable for me .... but would welcome advice.

And I dont want to just throw away the w10p clean install on Laptop_3 so would want to do all new installs on a second drive ... which brings me to the next bit ... if installing w8.1pp from a usb stick will I be able to choose the second drive (sata) for the w8.1pp to preserve the existing w10p on primary drive (nvme)?

I also assume that once I have w8.1pp on second drive the Linux Grub boot loader will be able to cope and I can adjust the Laptop_3 bios F12 boot so prefer the second drive and configure Grub to default to Windows as I have been able to before.

I also realise that my w7u dvd requires a pre-existing OS and so would need w7h/s or even XPp... before I could use it to put w7p/u on Laptop_3.

So I think it boils down to ..... either
w10p on primary drive with w8.1pp and Linux on second drive as dual Grub boot (after F12 boot to 2nd drive ... or
Just have the w10p on primary drive and Linux on second drive with dual boot from Grub ...
Unless there is a reasonable way to get w7p on to the second drive with what I have available?

Asking on tenforum because I assume (again) that you wizards were young once and have experience with the older OS versions.
Would welcome views from this forum.

joeandmarg0 · 10 Apr 2021

Why not keep Win 10 on one drive only and make a bootable version of Linux on a suitably sized usb or a Virtual Machine?
Dual booting is messy and problematical.
The use of Win 7 & 8 is puzzling.

MisterEd · 10 Apr 2021

Despite what is commonly thought Windows 7 Upgrade actually lets you install it without a prior operating system.

I built a new computer mid 2009 with 4GB RAM. While I was waiting for Windows 7 to be released in October I ran the Windows 7 beta. After Windows 7 was released I went to buy a copy at Best Buy. The only copies available were upgrade versions. I took a chance and bought Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade. I did a clean install of Windows 7 Ultimate. Not once did it complain about there being no prior version of Windows already on the computer.

Seeking opinions: w7u/p or w8pp with Linux alongside w10p-2021_04_10_06_35_091.jpg

BTW, Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade included both 32-bit and 64-bit DVDs. I ran the 32-bit version for several years. When I was ready I upgraded the RAM to 8GB and used the 64-bit DVD to reinstall Windows 7 Ultimate.

There a number of theories why the upgrade versions of Windows 7 did not require an existing operating system. Only Microsoft knows for sure. It seems that people were on the honor system as to whether they bought the full or upgrade version.

Back in 2013 I bought a copy of Windows 8 Pro from a Microsoft volume license distributor. It also said upgrade but I took a chance and instead of replacing the existing Windows 7 Pro I installed it as a dual-boot. I got the free upgrade to Windows 8.1 Pro when it came out. I took another chance and did a free upgrade to Windows 10. That laptop now has a dual-boot of Windows 7 and Windows 10.

Note that I downloaded Windows 8 Pro and 8.1 Pro from the Microsoft Volume License Center. The free upgrade to Windows 10 was the same as retail versions of Windows was using. Also note that Windows 8 Pro and 8.1 Pro used volume MAK keys while Windows 10 has a digital key.

Pavl · 10 Apr 2021

Thank you joeandmarg0.

The usb Linux is indeed a good idea but I never had problems with previous dual boot versions (XPp with OpenSuse, then w7p with OpenSuse then Leap). Even when I tried too hard and started messing, it was the Linux dual boot that got me out of trouble and allowed read/write access to my Windows files.

And I was very happy with w7p, it worked, and let me get on with using it instead of needing the bonnet up on the ramp. My current good version of w10p 1919 is 'ok' but there is nothing in it that is helping me at the moment and it has taken more effort just to be able to keep this build version (I am bracing for unleashing the hounds of newer builds).
Just have more faith in w7p.

Most frequent use is MS Access (daily) with the intention of learning more html, css and Python. So these machines are just cruising and not put under load as if I were gaming or video editing. Calm reliability is what I seek and w7p did just that.

But do like the usb idea ...

- - - Updated - - -

Thank you MisterEd

That is very interesting information and so it appears I have more options that I first thought.
Might need to return to this later when machine is available to me .... as to details of getting w7p on the second internal drive.
But for now, thanks.

Megahertz · 10 Apr 2021

Win 7, in my opinion is still a better OS.
Win 10 is a better Win 8.x. Between the two, stay with Win 10

Win 7 installation iso or disk has ALL Win 7 versions (HB, HP, Pro and Ultimate). Full Win 7 and Upgrade version only difference is sources\ei.cfg. All you need to do is to remove sources\ei.cfg and it will ask what version you want to install.

If the laptop 1 and 3 came with Win 7 you can reinstall it using their own license. There are many ways to do it (Legacy or EFI, single or dual boot).
For Win 7 installation assistance, please post a thread on Installation & Setup - Windows 7 Help Forums

Berton · 10 Apr 2021

I keep the Bootable Linux LiveDVD and Bootable Linux LiveUSB media on hand, Mint and Ubuntu, been playing with Kubuntu, Xunbutu and Lubuntu. I also have a Linux Mint Desktop with a drive dock, useful with the installed GPARTED app. I have also installed Linux Mint on a couple of small Notebooks that have the unchangeable 32GB SSD drives which is not enough for the last few Upgrades of Win10, keeps them usable instead of going to the landfill.

Pavl · 10 Apr 2021

Thank you Berton and Megahertz.
As w8 seems to be the underdog I will probably put it aside.
And when ready to do the install (need to confirm internal connections and get a decent ssd) will post on seven for guidance.
Will read as much as I can find to prepare first.
Current favourite therefore is keep w10p on primary drive and install w7p to second drive then either Linux as dual boot or on usb.
And that turns out as my original favourite anyway ... so happy with that.
Paul

Berton · 10 Apr 2021

Pavl said:

Thank you Berton and Megahertz.
As w8 seems to be the underdog I will probably put it aside.
And when ready to do the install (need to confirm internal connections and get a decent ssd) will post on seven for guidance.
Will read as much as I can find to prepare first.
Current favourite therefore is keep w10p on primary drive and install w7p to second drive then either Linux as dual boot or on usb.
And that turns out as my original favourite anyway ... so happy with that.
Paul

It can be fun having old computers, I have WinXP Desktop, WinVista Notebook, Win7 Desktop, Win8.1 Notebook available for answering questions and a couple weeks ago came across a Win3.1 Notebook in my storage shed I had stashed away several years ago, still works. Fortunately these cost me nothing, saved from going to the landfill.

NavyLCDR · 10 Apr 2021

Don't even think about Windows 8.1. It was absolutely horrible.

Bree · 10 Apr 2021

NavyLCDR said:

Don't even think about Windows 8.1. It was absolutely horrible.

I avoided W8 like the plague, even to the extent of buying a used W7 laptop when my XP one died, rather than a new W8 one (the only OS available at the time).

Funny thing is, now that I'm completely familiar with Win10, Win8.1 has become quite useable. I still don't like it that much, but I keep one as a VM to help when answering questions.