The day has come

msalton1 · 26 May 2021

My QuickBooks Pro is about to sunset, and I found out that QB 2021 doesn't support win 7, so my dedicated accounting machine will have to run Win 10.

This machine is exclusively dedicated to doing the books. The only web surfing is to my bank sites for downloading transactions, etc. That being the case, I'd like to set up Win 10 to be as unobtrusive and secure as possible.

I've been doing some research and find that Win Home, amongst other things, doesn't include GPEdit. I've also come to understand that eliminating Telemetry entirely on Pro or home isn't possible, but I'd like to dump as much of it as possible for security and performance purposes.

So my question is, is going with Win 10 pro worth the extra money for my use? My intent in doing so would be to secure and tighten down windows as much as is possible, including Telemetry.

Also, any guides to that end would be much appreciated. If I have my druthers, I would uninstall all apps, programs except those which are absolutely necessary to windows. I hope to have an install that is trouble free and secure.

I'm not installing onto the existing machine, rather I'm building another machine on which I'll install 10, QB & Quicken, probably Firefox and a few utilities. Nothing else.

Thanks for any help.

Megahertz · 26 May 2021

If the reason to buy it with Pro is GPedit, there are ways to install on home without a crack.
How To Enable Gpedit.msc In Windows 10 Home Edition
and there are some programs, like O&O ShutUp10 -Free antispy tool for Windows 10 that is a Free antispy tool.

Why do you think that your win 7 QuickBook Pro is near sunset?

msalton1 · 26 May 2021

Megahertz said:

If the reason to buy it with Pro is GPedit, there are ways to install on home without a crack.
How To Enable Gpedit.msc In Windows 10 Home Edition

I've seen that it's possible, but also read that GPE in Home lacks some settings found in Pro GPE? I'm not really sure if there are any other 'pro' features I might need.

and there are some programs, like O&O ShutUp10 -Free antispy tool for Windows 10 that is a Free antispy tool.

Why do you think that your win 7 QuickBook Pro is near sunset?

Yes, I've also stumbled across the mention of Shutup10, which I'll definitely install. I'll likely install 10 and take my time to set it up right, since it's a new machine (not in service).

As to QB pro, it's ability to download transactions expires every 3 yrs, a real moneymaker. When I ordered 2021, I found out they had gone to a subscription model at triple the price. They still have the Desktop version that lasts 3 yrs, but it's double the price.

Berton · 26 May 2021

I used to use QB 2016 as treasurer for our church but we didn't do the investment features but if I were to use such a program myself I'd look at SAGE, used to be Peachtree.

msalton1 · 26 May 2021

Berton said:

I used to use QB 2016 as treasurer for our church but we didn't do the investment features but if I were to use such a program myself I'd look at SAGE, used to be Peachtree.

I'll have to look into sage, but too late for this time around, given that QB expires at the end of this month. I'm entering my busy season and don't really have the time to research sage.

I've been using QB since the late 90s. I'm not sure QB has any investment templates...probably something that would have to be 'mimicked'. I track investments in Quicken, who also increased their price to about 3x.

Berton · 26 May 2021

I've helped a couple clients with the Microsoft Money from Works but using the free Money Sunset version and by using a template from Office.com for Excel for simple check register functions.

msalton1 · 26 May 2021

Berton said:

I've helped a couple clients with the Microsoft Money from Works but using the free Money Sunset version and by using a template from Office.com for Excel for simple check register functions.

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately, I think I'm with QB for the foreseeable future. I really have no complaints about the software itself, but they are getting up there in price. At least I can deduct it as a business expense. I could also continue using QB 2018, but I just wouldn't be able to connect to the bank and DL transactions, which is the point. No way I could keep my own books without it.

Try3 · 27 May 2021

msalton1 said:

… Win Home, amongst other things, doesn't include GPEdit.

1 You do not need GPEdit
2 The methods that put GPEdit onto a Windows Home computer do not bother telling you that it will merely be a viewer - it will not 'do' anything. Several TenForums users have reported adding GPEdit to their Windows Home & not one of them has reported being able to get it to function as anything other than a viewer.

msalton1 said:

… I'm not installing onto the existing machine, rather I'm building another machine ...

If you are building a machine with modern hardware, you will not have any performance concerns whatever you do or don't do about telemetry or any other over-hyped performance 'improvements'.

msalton1 said:

… I've also come to understand that eliminating Telemetry entirely on Pro or home isn't possible, but I'd like to dump as much of it as possible for security and performance purposes. ...

Telemetry is not a security issue.

msalton1 said:

… So my question is, is going with Win 10 pro worth the extra money for my use? My intent in doing so would be to secure and tighten down windows as much as is possible, including Telemetry. ...

No.

msalton1 said:

… Firefox ...

You might already know this but I have only recently learnt how vulnerable Firefox login username-password lists are to theft in the blink of an eye unless you add a Firefox 'Primary password' or use Firefox account syncing.
Use a Primary Password to protect stored logins and passwords - Firefox Help

All the best,
Denis

dalchina · 27 May 2021

Group Policy? Try Policy Plus (free) - said to work on all editions, although there's no guarantee that all policies available on Pro will be fully effective.
Note that the tutorials, where possible, give registry alternatives for Home for things implemented by Group Policy.

You can (probably) still get a Pro license validly for around £40 should you wish. There are a couple of threads referring to what was a long-running offer.

You can also upgrade to Pro based on a non-upgraded valid retail Win 7 or 8 license of appropriate type.

I've also come to understand that eliminating Telemetry entirely on Pro or home isn't possible, but I'd like to dump as much of it as possible for security and performance purposes.

a. There's no risk to security- only a perceived one.
b. Evaluate and demonstrate the performance hit due to telemetry. How much data is actually being transmitted when your internet is not being used for any other purposes?

How do you think MS developes its Safeguard policy- by which it seeks to protect users from upgrades or updates which might cause a problem on their particular PC? Partly through... telemetry.

If you fear the security impact of that you will never
- use an email service
- use a cloud service
- sync your devices

And you must uninstall Onedrive.

These are far bigger risks than telemetry.

Plus some people encounter difficulty having used such tools and post here asking for help.

I hope to have an install that is trouble free and secure.

I stayed on 1903 for about 2 years- no trouble!

As soon as I upgraded, I lost useful functionality, and had 4 small problems to solve.

Upgrading is a far greater risk than 'telemetry'. Invasive actions hacking the O/S can cause problems and instability. Uninstalling some apps is fine of course.

Matthew Wai · 27 May 2021

msalton1 said:

I've been doing some research and find that Win Home, amongst other things, doesn't include GPEdit.

I have been using Home for years and cannot think of a situation where I need gpedit.msc.