Convert laptop to Windows 7

I have a Dell Latitude 7350 touch screen laptop with Windows 10. I
really hate Windows 10. Can it be converted to Windows 7? Will I be
able to get the touch screen working? I've tried to make it look like
Windows 7, but there are many things that just don't work well. Am I
nuts to do something like this? I appreciate any comments.

Art Todesco wrote:
I have a Dell Latitude 7350 touch screen laptop with Windows 10. I
really hate Windows 10. Can it be converted to Windows 7? Will I be
able to get the touch screen working? I've tried to make it look like
Windows 7, but there are many things that just don't work well. Am I
nuts to do something like this? I appreciate any comments.

If you right-click Start, there is a "Device Manager".
Otherwise known as "devmgmt.msc".

A touchscreen, I would hope there'd be at least an
"unknown device" if it hasn't been discovered yet.

When you first install Windows 10, it takes a while for
the drivers to get downloaded and installed. One thing I
find annoying, is my chipset drivers take their sweet sweet
time showing up.

The video driver is reasonably aggressively pursued. You
usually see a "Notification" that the system is "searching
for a video driver". It's less ambitious and won't say
something like "searching for touchscreen driver". Any of the
Mickey Mouse stuff might not have a notation.

You can check the manufacturer site for a touchscreen driver.

*******

The OS is likely to have tablet and desktop modes.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

I did an experiment once with that (on a system not intended
for switching!) and it was not a pretty sight. I would think
you'd want some proof the touchscreen was running before going further.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

Windows 7 would likely only have a desktop mode.

You could get slightly more of a Windows 7 look, with a menu replacement
software. Maybe Start10 is still under development by its owner.

https://www.infoworld.com/article/29...sic-shell.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_Shell

"Development by Ivo Beltchev has ceased, and the projects
source code has been released. A team has picked up development
on GitHub, where the project can now be found."

I think part of the reason the original developer dropped Classic Shell,
is it's pretty expensive for any developer to track changes
in Windows 10. I know there was one furious burst of activity
on VirtualBox, due to Microsoft fooling around with some
kernel or similar files. And Microsoft broke my webcam under
Win10, which I won't forgive them for. Only my ****ty $10
640x480 webcam still works (it has no microphone). Microsoft
added "frameserve" to the webcam hardware stack, but busted
some stuff for fun. To keep an impressive project like
Classic Shell running, when Microsoft is removing legacy support,
would be a daunting task.

The hardware/software ecosystem today is pretty fractured.
Old equipment pushed towards the bin, by less than reasonable
web browser design. Microsoft not supporting Windows Update on
Win7, when it detects the presence of a newer processor.
You don't have quite the same amount of freedom to experiment
as you once did. Intel doesn't write drivers for Windows 7 any
more as far as I know (even though officially Windows 7 is
still in Extended Support). Microsoft hasn't put as much
work as they should have, into making AMD processors work well.
It means end-users are kinda stuck. "In a W10 cross-hairs".

Paul

Art Todesco wrote:
I have a Dell Latitude 7350 touch screen laptop with Windows 10.Â* I
really hate Windows 10.Â* Can it be converted to Windows 7?Â* Will I be
able to get the touch screen working?Â* I've tried to make it look like
Windows 7, but there are many things that just don't work well.Â* Am I
nuts to do something like this?Â* I appreciate any comments.

www.linuxmint.com

On Sun, 03 Feb 2019 07:15:07 -0700, KenW wrote:

On Sun, 3 Feb 2019 08:42:39 -0500, Art Todesco
wrote:

I have a Dell Latitude 7350 touch screen laptop with Windows 10. I
really hate Windows 10. Can it be converted to Windows 7? Will I be
able to get the touch screen working? I've tried to make it look like
Windows 7, but there are many things that just don't work well. Am I
nuts to do something like this? I appreciate any comments.

Yes. Read and learn Win 10.


Ditto. But he might also want to download, install, and use a tool
like Classic Shell (free) or even better, Smart10 (not free, but only
$4.99 and it comes with a 30-day free trial).

On Sun, 3 Feb 2019 08:42:39 -0500
Art Todesco wrote:

I have a Dell Latitude 7350 touch screen laptop with Windows 10. I
really hate Windows 10. Can it be converted to Windows 7? Will I be
able to get the touch screen working? I've tried to make it look
like Windows 7, but there are many things that just don't work well.
Am I nuts to do something like this? I appreciate any comments.

I don't use Ubuntu, but from what I have read it's the best operating
system for touch screen laptops. You can install it along side Windows
10, and use the Grub Menu to boot into either operating system, or you
can just use the whole hard drive when you install it.

I hate Windows 10 too, and Windows 7 is not going to be supported.

https://www.ubuntu.com/desktop

I have a Dell Latitude 7350 touch screen laptop with Windows 10. I really
hate Windows 10. Can it be converted to Windows 7? Will I be able to get
the touch screen working? I've tried to make it look like Windows 7, but
there are many things that just don't work well. Am I nuts to do something
like this? I appreciate any comments.

I felt the same for a long time, and tried to avoid W10 as much as possible. I
did replace it with W7Pro on a few laptops until they started with the Kaby
Lake chipset/motherboard config and newer hardware that has no support for any
OS earlier than W10. You can use a KBL motherboard in a desktop box running W7
because you can pick&choose what hardware you plug into its sockets; - not the
case with a laptop.

so...

I started on a journey to accept W10 if I wanted to take advantage of the newer
hardware/technologies being built into laptops. The focus of my journey was to
make W10 look/feel/work as much like W7 as possible, paying specific attention
to its spying and loss of control over updates. So far so good after reworking
a half dozen systems for others along the way. All are running reliably without
issue so I know you can get to the same place if you just persist your efforts
to make it happen. Here's what my configs include:

To better manage Windows Update and spying:

Win Update Stop
This provides the ability to enable/disable Windows Update at your
preference instead of W10's settings. It simplifies the otherwise very
difficult process involved with manually toggling the Windows Update
service on/off to get updates at a time you prefer. Just remember to
toggle this service *on to use, then off to disable* after the updates
have been installed!

You should run Windows Update at least once a month;

Spybot Anti-Beacon
This offers choices to automatically immunize Win10 from spying to your
preferences at every boot or on demand. The free version offers a fair
amount of basic protection only.

The paid version is a better choice as it gives a more aggressive level of
protection! (more than double the immunization as the freeby) *However*
this may prevent some apps from working properly so make sure you fully
understand how its setting work *before* using it.

MS Office Updates do work if your settings are set to allow it.

You can easily transfer your settings/data by just moving your profile to
another computer after installation there.

Destroy Windows Spying
This offers more advanced tools to automate immunizing W10 from spying to
your preferences. It also has switches to enable/disable Windows Update.

*WARNING: This* is a really aggressive tool that *should not be used* in
conjunction *with Win Update Stop*!

You can easily transfer your settings/data by just moving your profile to
another computer after installation there.


Install Windows enhancement Utilities/Softwa

Start Menu 10
This replaces the Start menu with one you can fully customize to your
preferences. It also allows retaining/using the default menu via a
keyboard combo that is configurable.

While the free version doesn't have the 'extras' included with the full
version, I do fully support making a donation for this excellent product
by buying the 'full' version as it is very much worth the pittance cost!

You can easily transfer your settings/data by just moving your profile to
another computer after installation there.

Avanquest PowerDesk Pro
This is a paid app (with 30 day free trial) that replaces Windows Explorer.
- a better, customizable alternative File Manager for any Win OS with so
useable features it will 'blow-your-mind'!

You can easily transfer your settings/data by just moving your profile to
another computer after installation there.

Mozilla Firefox Web Browser
This is a free (self-updating) app to replace the W10 Edge and/or Internet
Explorer spyware.

You can easily transfer your settings/data by just moving your profile to
another computer after installation there.

Mozilla Thunderbird
This is a free (self-updating) Mail and Newsreader to replace Windows Mail
and/or Live Mail spyware.

You can easily transfer your settings/data by just moving your profile to
another computer after installation there.

HTH...

--
Garry

Free usenet access at http://www.eternal-september.org
Classic VB Users Regroup!
comp.lang.basic.visual.misc
microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion

Art Todesco wrote:

I have a Dell Latitude 7350 touch screen laptop with Windows 10. I
really hate Windows 10. Can it be converted to Windows 7? Will I be
able to get the touch screen working? I've tried to make it look like
Windows 7, but there are many things that just don't work well. Am I
nuts to do something like this? I appreciate any comments.

Go to Dell's web site and lookup your model or service tag. Then check
what drivers they provide. If Windows isn't listed, you're on your own
regarding compatibility of drivers. Laptops and netbooks are usually
restricted to a limited number of OS versions that the manufacturer will
support, and sometimes they only support one OS version.

While I can look on the model number you gave, using the service tag to
identify your laptop is more accurate. When I searched dell.com's
support pages on just 7350, the earliest version of Windows that they
list as what they support is Windows 8.1 x64. Windows 7 was not listed.
The only other OS version listed was Windows 10 x64. Dell only supports
those 2 OS versions for the drivers they supply for the 7350 model.

You could save an image backup of all partitions on the disk(s) in your
laptop and then test if you can get Windows 7 working on that laptop.
If the test fails, you can restore from the image backup(s). Give
yourself an escape route before the test.

On Sun, 03 Feb 2019 15:24:54 -0500, GS wrote:

I have a Dell Latitude 7350 touch screen laptop with Windows 10. I really
hate Windows 10. Can it be converted to Windows 7? Will I be able to get
the touch screen working? I've tried to make it look like Windows 7, but
there are many things that just don't work well. Am I nuts to do something
like this? I appreciate any comments.

I felt the same for a long time, and tried to avoid W10 as much as possible. I
did replace it with W7Pro on a few laptops until they started with the Kaby
Lake chipset/motherboard config and newer hardware that has no support for any
OS earlier than W10. You can use a KBL motherboard in a desktop box running W7
because you can pick&choose what hardware you plug into its sockets; - not the
case with a laptop.

so...

I started on a journey to accept W10 if I wanted to take advantage of the newer
hardware/technologies being built into laptops. The focus of my journey was to
make W10 look/feel/work as much like W7 as possible, paying specific attention
to its spying and loss of control over updates. So far so good after reworking
a half dozen systems for others along the way. All are running reliably without
issue so I know you can get to the same place if you just persist your efforts
to make it happen. Here's what my configs include:


....

Avanquest PowerDesk Pro
This is a paid app (with 30 day free trial) that replaces Windows Explorer.
- a better, customizable alternative File Manager for any Win OS with so
useable features it will 'blow-your-mind'!


I agree with several of the software choices you mention, but I also
disagree with several others. Of those I disagree with, I'll just
comment on this one:

PowerDesk *is* a good choice (I used to use it), but to me it's not
the best one. The one I recommend is Directory Opus.

I recommend that you try Directory Opus and decide for yourself
whether or not you like it better than PowerDesk.

On Sun, 03 Feb 2019 15:24:54 -0500, GS wrote:

I have a Dell Latitude 7350 touch screen laptop with Windows 10. I really
hate Windows 10. Can it be converted to Windows 7? Will I be able to get
the touch screen working? I've tried to make it look like Windows 7, but
there are many things that just don't work well. Am I nuts to do something
like this? I appreciate any comments.

I felt the same for a long time, and tried to avoid W10 as much as possible.
I did replace it with W7Pro on a few laptops until they started with the
Kaby Lake chipset/motherboard config and newer hardware that has no support
for any OS earlier than W10. You can use a KBL motherboard in a desktop box
running W7 because you can pick&choose what hardware you plug into its
sockets; - not the case with a laptop.

so...

I started on a journey to accept W10 if I wanted to take advantage of the
newer hardware/technologies being built into laptops. The focus of my
journey was to make W10 look/feel/work as much like W7 as possible, paying
specific attention to its spying and loss of control over updates. So far
so good after reworking a half dozen systems for others along the way. All
are running reliably without issue so I know you can get to the same place
if you just persist your efforts to make it happen. Here's what my configs
include:


...

Avanquest PowerDesk Pro
This is a paid app (with 30 day free trial) that replaces Windows
Explorer. - a better, customizable alternative File Manager for any Win
OS with so useable features it will 'blow-your-mind'!


I agree with several of the software choices you mention, but I also
disagree with several others. Of those I disagree with, I'll just
comment on this one:

PowerDesk *is* a good choice (I used to use it), but to me it's not
the best one. The one I recommend is Directory Opus.

I recommend that you try Directory Opus and decide for yourself
whether or not you like it better than PowerDesk.

Thanks for the recommendation!
It's just that I've been using PDP for some years and quite content. I also
have/use my own files explorer, but I will definitely give DO a test drive to
see if it's worth installing on new systems for owners to choose to continue
beyond the trial period!

--
Garry

Free usenet access at http://www.eternal-september.org
Classic VB Users Regroup!
comp.lang.basic.visual.misc
microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion

On Sun, 03 Feb 2019 17:15:43 -0500, GS wrote:

On Sun, 03 Feb 2019 15:24:54 -0500, GS wrote:

I have a Dell Latitude 7350 touch screen laptop with Windows 10. I really
hate Windows 10. Can it be converted to Windows 7? Will I be able to get
the touch screen working? I've tried to make it look like Windows 7, but
there are many things that just don't work well. Am I nuts to do something
like this? I appreciate any comments.

I felt the same for a long time, and tried to avoid W10 as much as possible.
I did replace it with W7Pro on a few laptops until they started with the
Kaby Lake chipset/motherboard config and newer hardware that has no support
for any OS earlier than W10. You can use a KBL motherboard in a desktop box
running W7 because you can pick&choose what hardware you plug into its
sockets; - not the case with a laptop.

so...

I started on a journey to accept W10 if I wanted to take advantage of the
newer hardware/technologies being built into laptops. The focus of my
journey was to make W10 look/feel/work as much like W7 as possible, paying
specific attention to its spying and loss of control over updates. So far
so good after reworking a half dozen systems for others along the way. All
are running reliably without issue so I know you can get to the same place
if you just persist your efforts to make it happen. Here's what my configs
include:


...

Avanquest PowerDesk Pro
This is a paid app (with 30 day free trial) that replaces Windows
Explorer. - a better, customizable alternative File Manager for any Win
OS with so useable features it will 'blow-your-mind'!


I agree with several of the software choices you mention, but I also
disagree with several others. Of those I disagree with, I'll just
comment on this one:

PowerDesk *is* a good choice (I used to use it), but to me it's not
the best one. The one I recommend is Directory Opus.

I recommend that you try Directory Opus and decide for yourself
whether or not you like it better than PowerDesk.

Thanks for the recommendation!
It's just that I've been using PDP for some years and quite content. I also
have/use my own files explorer, but I will definitely give DO a test drive to
see if it's worth installing on new systems for owners to choose to continue
beyond the trial period!


I was also quite content with PDP, but that didn't mean I couldn't
find something I liked even more. I did.

If you try it, report back on what you think of it.

Wow, downloaded the manual and scoured through it! Impressive features worth
consideration by those needing/using them.

I forget all the features in PDP because my needs aren't as extensive as the
feature set it offers. I should revisit and see what's new while test driving
DO!

One of the features I often use in my own files explorer is the SaveAs...
menuitem on its context menu. This allows me to copy and rename at the same
time; - haven't seen that in any of the file explorers I've tested.

Another feature I gave it is to be able to randomly select/choose a default
startup folder. This is great for working on projects; - I can also run
multiple instances and set their respective 'Root' folder to each project path
and only display subfolders under it. The treeview pane is programmed to
automatically expand list items when you select a folder, collapsing the
previous expanded folder in the process. The fileview pane only lists files.

I also put the currently selected path into its Window Title bar, allowing me
to cascade them on the desktop when not minimized, or collapse them to just be
the Title bars.

As a software developer I don't need all the bells&whistles; - just the stuff
to get-the-job-done without all the periferal distractions. I built my own
files explorer as a task-specific solution for industries using cnc technology
as a cnc files management app that also has built-in editing capabilities and
industry-specific metadata embedding inside the cnc program files so they can
be viewed on cnc machine controllers. This is why the fileview pane doesn't
list folders; - it toggles with the Files Editor pane for working with the
embed metadata. Either pane (fileview/FilesEditor) has a context menu to open
the file for program editing as well.

The whole point of the explorer is so cnc programmers can sit at a desk when
doing file work instead of standing at the machine the files are loaded onto.
If the machine is plugged into their network, files can be
transferred/opened/edited/created from my power wheelchair from anywhere I have
wifi access!

Cost is CA$79 for a 2 seat license if used beyond the default (extendable on
request) 30 day trial period. A standard license can be converted to a volume
license for CA$15 per (seat locked) activation key. Site licensing is also
available under a volume discount structure over 15 seats; - any number of
installs is allowed but concurrent running seats cannot exceed the license
'MaxUsers' property.

--
Garry

Free usenet access at http://www.eternal-september.org
Classic VB Users Regroup!
comp.lang.basic.visual.misc
microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion

I was also quite content with PDP, but that didn't mean I couldn't
find something I liked even more. I did.

Yep, that's my attitude too! (Even though I can make my own, but is it worth
the time/energy it will steal from me to do so?)

If you try it, report back on what you think of it.

Will do!

--
Garry

Free usenet access at http://www.eternal-september.org
Classic VB Users Regroup!
comp.lang.basic.visual.misc
microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion

If you try it, report back on what you think of it.

I will definitely recommend it and will include it with pre-installed stuff on
systems I setup for others. As for me using it, not likely because it still
doesn't support the single-click feature I need. (I have Lou Gehrig's; - can't
double-click anymore and have no desire to use lengthy context menus where Open
is at the very top!g)

--
Garry

Free usenet access at http://www.eternal-september.org
Classic VB Users Regroup!
comp.lang.basic.visual.misc
microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion

"KenW" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 3 Feb 2019 08:42:39 -0500, Art Todesco
wrote:

I have a Dell Latitude 7350 touch screen laptop with Windows 10. I
really hate Windows 10. Can it be converted to Windows 7? Will I be
able to get the touch screen working? I've tried to make it look like
Windows 7, but there are many things that just don't work well. Am I
nuts to do something like this? I appreciate any comments.

Yes. Read and learn Win 10.

I would say that you should become *reasonably* familiar with Windows 10 in
case you need to revert to that UI temporarily, even if you install Classic
Shell etc to give a UI that you are more familiar with because that's how
all previous versions of Windows have looked (with the exception of small
incremental changes from one version of Windows to another).

Unfortunately Microsoft tried to force a new UI on people, in the misguided
belief that desktop PC users should get used to something that was
simplified for use by touch screens instead of having two different UIs that
the user can select. Not surprisingly, the people who were familiar with
pre-Win8 and could "drive" that instinctively, rebelled at the gross changes
to the start menu - especially the "mess of tiles" interface where an icon
for a given program changes place from day to day, instead of being in a
fixed location on the desktop.

For me, Win10 is perfectly usable providing you install Classic Shell and as
long as you take the trouble to become vaguely familiar with the Modern
interface in case you ever have to use it.

Maybe I'm a luddite but I strongly believe that once you've designed a UI,
you stick with it through thick and thin, *adding* new features and ways of
doing things, but *never, never, never* removing the old "deprecated" way of
doing it. Make all the changes and improvements that you want "under the
hood", but keep the controls in the place that you are used to. Changing
from Windows 7 to 8 to 10 should have been no more difficult than getting
used to driving a new car: the controls may be in slightly different places,
but they should be substantially the same so there is as little
getting-used-to-it as possible. In car terms, the pedals should still be in
the same order, the gear lever and handbrake should still be between the
seats, the indicator switch should still be on the left and the wipers on
the right.

[snip]

I hate Windows 10 too, and Windows 7 is not going to be supported.

https://www.ubuntu.com/desktop

At one time Windows 2000 was the best version ever. I kept using it for
about 3 years after that "end of life", which doesn't really mean much.
If you are worried about security patches, use Firefox for a browser (it
does more of the security stuff itself).

Eventually, you get to a point where incompatibility becomes too much of
a problem, but that is NOT what MS calls "end of life".

I expect Windows 7 to be like that too, you can use it safely as long as
Firefox supports it.

Most of the time, there's only a few programs I use that require
Windows, and those are very tolerant of old versions. They should
continue to work fine on W7 (I won't use anything later).

Johnny's alternative should work fine for mot things.

--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"Heresy is only another word for freedom of thought." [Graham Greene,
1981]