Trust and Deprecating Hardware and Software

I still run a lot of OLD software (and hardware) that has met my needs for 40+ years.
For example my Office-97 works for me (other than Microsoft eliminated MACROs, HLP file access, and the use of the VB Editor ALL of which I would like to use). There is no over ride that I know of,even for those of us who work Offline as Win-10 is in control.

Newer software and hardware added TRUST. Whether this was for security purposes, OR whether it was done as a round about way to deprecated old software/hardware one may never know for sure.

With Win-11, my understanding is it requires a TRUST-II module (now built into most MOBO's.). If this is in fact correct
will NOT this one fact --. ANY Upgrade to Win-11 won't work unless TRUST-II capable -- deprecate ALL hardware and software??

dw85745 said:

If this is in fact correct ... will NOT this one fact --. ANY Upgrade to Win-11 won't work unless TRUST-II capable -- deprecate ALL hardware and software??

I don't think it really matters ... because every new release of Windows is meant for new computers.

Yes, people load up the new Windows onto their old computers.
But why? There's little or nothing to be gained, even for people who actually want new application software.
The new Windows is just the old Windows with more worthless fluff, more bugs, and more spying.

So ... for you, given that you like your old stuff, Windows 11 is utterly moot. Stay with what you have. S'good.

Thank you both for responding.

Ghot: Went to Win=11 Forum. Saw GHacks had an upgrade to Office 21 at a very reasonable price. So may upgrade at that price. HOWEVER, never dealt with digital software so a bit confused.. Obviously one does NOT get any disks. QUESTIONS I have are:
1) Is the file automatically installed or am I getting msi file which can be saved?
2) If my MOBO gives out, and the msi file is saved to disk, will it work so I can reload the software?
3) If a new MOBO, is that considered one PC, or is one PC only the current system and OS (ie. if I need to upgrade to Win-11, will the software work?
Thanks

margrave55: I did plan to stay until I saw the cheap offer for Office-21 UNLESS there are all these caveats. (see questions above).

To ensure access to installed third-party programmes,without discs,consider using Macrium Reflect,free or paid,in both the clone and image modes.
External hdd's are relatively inexpensive,as are Sata hdd enclosures for them.
Backups are digital sanity and life-savers.

Thanks both for responding.
joeandmarg0
I've been cloning HD for over 40+ years so hardily agree with you. The problem is that if a new OS is installed for whatever reason (bad MOBO), then one must reinstall the software. A clone doesn't help.

Berton:

As for the .hlp files there are converters or work-arounds on the internet to get them to .chm or something similar

It's NOT as simple as one would think. Can't just grab the HLP file, press button and get CHM. Lot of work involved.

simply economics

Planned obsolescence. I get it. MS$ has been gradually moving to the old mainframe (1960's) software concept of RENT Not Buy. Good for MS$, bad for the consumer.

dw85745 said:

Thanks both for responding.
joeandmarg0
I've been cloning HD for over 40+ years so hardily agree with you. The problem is that if a new OS is installed for whatever reason (bad MOBO), then one must reinstall the software. A clone doesn't help.

(snip)

If you've been around that long, you may have had an issue with software that required a real DOS mode, which was last available in Windows ME.

If you don't like being forced to pay for SW updates, open source may be the way to go. Perhaps a FOSS operating system as well. I have no idea whether there is any equivalent to help files in Linux, though.

margrave55 said:

I don't think it really matters ... because every new release of Windows is meant for new computers.

Yes, people load up the new Windows onto their old computers.
But why? There's little or nothing to be gained, even for people who actually want new application software.
The new Windows is just the old Windows with more worthless fluff, more bugs, and more spying.

So ... for you, given that you like your old stuff, Windows 11 is utterly moot. Stay with what you have. S'good.

Well, last year I tried to do my taxes using TurboTax on my Windows 7 box as I had done since about 2008 or so.
No go. Starting for TY2020 TurboxTax would ONLY install on Windows 10.
There is absolutely no reason for this (Intuit says 'security...').
But this is an example of why upgrading existing H/W to the latest O/S is sometimes necessary.
My 8 CPU core / 64GB memory XEON box ran Win 7 64b perfectly fine.
And now it runs Win 10 64b perfectly fine too.
But it appears it will NOT run Windows 11 because it does not have TPM capability.