On an older computer, I am currently running Win 7 and Win 10 in dual mode. Now when I start it in Win 7 mode, I get the warning about no more support for Win 7. So that got me to thinking.

I still need access to Win 7. So is it better/safer to leave my dual mode configuration (therein I use both Security Essentials and MBAM), or should I run Win 7 in virtual mode within my Win 10 configuration?

FYI, on my primary Win 10 computer, I am currently running Win XP in virtual mode (using Avast), and that is working well for me.

Thanks in advance.......

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BB
http://barrypatch.net

I do not get that warning in my Windows 7 virtual machine.

Strictly from a safety viewpoint I'd have to figure that a VM would be better.

If you stick with dual booting there 'SHOULD' be (I believe) an option on the nag screen to not remind you again. If correct this should prevent the alert in the future.

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As an add-on to the above I just checked the Windows 7 side of my laptop's dual boot and saw no nag. It is possible that I got it and turned off but don't remember that happening.

A more likely possibility is that both my VM and dual boot of Windows 7 flatly refuses to install some of the last batch of Windows 7 updates. I suspect that one of these updates is the cause of the nag screen.

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If you are going to be surfing the Net in your Windows 7, I can't help but believe that doing it inside of a VM would be safer even without all of the security updates. But I would never go to a financial site for investing purposes or use my credit card to purchase anything, I would do that on Windows 10 using Sandboxie and my other security. Even if just general surfing, I would install an antivirus like you did for your Win XP.
Acadia

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The blazing evidence of immortality is our dissatisfaction with any other solution. -- Emerson

Thanks for the input Acadia and I agree that a virtual machine is probably safer.

As to an anti-virus for Windows 7 Security Essentials is still active until sometime in 2023 as to signatures for the bad stuff. Still... It may be possible that Avast may be better as, while Security Essentials still does signature updates, there will be no actual software updates. I really just don't know if that is a major factor.

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Jay & Bill - Thanks for the input. I will take all your wisdom under advisement. So why am I keeping Win 7 around at all? Primarily because some of my elderly neighbors call me with questions and/or for help, as they haven't yet converted to Win 10. My sister was one of those Win 7 holdouts, but she has a new Dell Win 10 computer waiting at my house as soon as she feels safe traveling from Georgia.

@Jay - As to the Win 7 nag screen, it can be turned off.....I left it on as a reminder.

@Bill - I hear what you say about no financial activity on Win 7. I do all that on my newer Win 10 computer; in fact, I seldom surf the internet using Win 7 anymore.

EDIT: Acadia, I called you Bill. Which do you prefer?

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BB
http://barrypatch.net

If the sole purpose of your Windows 7 install is mostly for helping others a VM MAY be best. The reason is that you just make a copy of the virtual hard drive before testing a friend's issue. If you bork the system you just go back to the copy of the virtual hard drive. It is like having a system image on your physical machines.

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Good point, Jay. I have been known to bork the system a time or two. The only reason I wouldn't go to a VM is simply because I'm lazy......dual mode Win 7 is already up and running. And I'm slowly trying to get my friends to convert to Win 10, at which point I really wouldn't need Win 7.

Which brings me to another question. How easy is it to get out of dual mode? If I wanted to go the VM route on this older computer, I assume I would first have to get out of dual mode and leave that computer only running Win 10. At that point, I could re-install Win 7 as a VM. I took good notes when you helped me install XP as a VM, so I think I could do it again. If not, as always you are there to help..........

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BB
http://barrypatch.net

Not hard to get rid of the Win 7 side of a dual boot. The question is what you do with the partition that held Win 7. It could require third party software to take care of this.

Please keep in mind my standard of not fixing what isn't broken. What you have seems to work for you so why fix what already works?

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Bill is just fine.

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The blazing evidence of immortality is our dissatisfaction with any other solution. -- Emerson

Jay, I use EaseUS Partition Master, which I assume would take care of the partition issue. But my current thinking is to leave things as they are on my dual mode computer. Like you said, it's not broken and I can always turn off the Win 7 nag screen.

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BB
http://barrypatch.net

Yes, EaseUS would probably be needed if you are partitioned as I would guess. I would assume that you initially had Windows 7 installed then partitioned to add Windows 10 which would mean that Windows 10 would be on the right hand partition if looked at in Disk Management. Since Disk Management can only extend a partition to the right you would need Partition Master which allows expanding a partition in either direction.

<edit>
If you ever do decide to drop the Windows 7 partition you would also need a package called EasyBCD. There is a free version. It wants you to give a name and email to send you a download link but that is not actually needed; just click download. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
https://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

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