Win 95, Win7, Win 8, Win 10...

[legendCNCD]

i will not use win11 by any means. the ms rule still works since 3.11. there are no two good win versions back to back.
win3.11 bad
win95 good
win98 bad
win2000good
win me bad
win xp good
win vista bad
win 7 good
win 8 bad
win 10 good
win 11 bad
win...linux
parallel developed were the win nt versions which were also good

In real usage it did not go like that - but this is what is being parroted a lot. Win98SE was good - as good as the non NT could be, ME was released before Win2000. XP was horrible until SP2. Vista was released too early, ready by SP2. Win8 was actually very light on resources and 10 built on it. Win11 seems to be ok, cannot say much yet, but if I'll be getting 12th or 13th gen CPU's it'll be the OS for it has also the scheduler understanding P+E cores. Not sure if Win10 is going to get it. In basic usage I dont really miss Win10, except it has less explorer bugs

I was IT-Admin during 3.11 - 7 and numerous *NIXes, etc.

[Akora]

I'm on Windows 10, have not had any problems so far. I usually wait quite a long time before I make an upgrade, so bugs can be worked out on a new version

[anttimaatteri]

i will not use win11 by any means. the ms rule still works since 3.11. there are no two good win versions back to back.
win3.11 bad
win95 good
win98 bad
win2000good
win me bad
win xp good
win vista bad
win 7 good
win 8 bad
win 10 good
win 11 bad
win...linux
parallel developed were the win nt versions which were also good

In real usage it did not go like that - but this is what is being parroted a lot. Win98SE was good - as good as the non NT could be, ME was released before Win2000. XP was horrible until SP2. Vista was released too early, ready by SP2. Win8 was actually very light on resources and 10 built on it. Win11 seems to be ok, cannot say much yet, but if I'll be getting 12th or 13th gen CPU's it'll be the OS for it has also the scheduler understanding P+E cores. Not sure if Win10 is going to get it. In basic usage I dont really miss Win10, except it has less explorer bugs

I was IT-Admin during 3.11 - 7 and numerous *NIXes, etc.

thats the long version

i guess that if win11 will be developed further on, like they did with the very unpopular win8, theyll sale it as win12 or so ^^

[dellboy]

I use win 11 because music is my hobby, and my machine gets used for real world purposes as well, and I want it to be as secure as possible. So I guess Win 7 users are just using there machine as a dedicated music tool and nothing else as it is very insecure in that regard?

So what do you win 7 people use for things that need security like banking? Is it all done on your smartphone now? Linux? A separate Windows or Mac laptop or something else?

[chk071]

I use win 11 because music is my hobby, and my machine gets used for real world purposes as well, and I want it to be as secure as possible. So I guess Win 7 users are just using there machine as a dedicated music tool and nothing else as it is very insecure in that regard?

Can only use old software on it then though.

[legendCNCD]

Yeah I cannot update some plugins, I have Win7 because my 2001 pci audiocard. I use this machine for almost everything, though there are some security measures in place for this machines IP for banking and buying plugins etc. I use my win11 laptop or phone.

[DNnX]

I'm using 4 different OS / computers in local network in the studio.

XP x86 (Core 3rd Gen, using legacy hardware and classic PCI card)
7 x86 (VEP7 Host for x86 plugins)
10 x64 (VEP7 Host for x64 plugins)
11 x64 (Main Studio PC, Core 12th Gen)

What I have learnt in decades -

• XP x86 is the best choice to work with legacy hardware and 32bit plugins. Find Core 3rd Gen. If board has PCI slots (not - PCIe), you can have more fun.
• Replace old PSU before it kills others.
• Replace capacitors of old hardware and computer's mother board.
• Backup any drivers while you can. Old drivers are being hard to find on the internet.

I'm considering buying Win 10 x86 license which seems to be the last 32bit OS.
ASRock has MB with classic PCI slots for Core 12th Gen CPU.
https://www.asrockind.com/en-gb/IMB-1712
Isn't it fun too check how many legacy hardware can Win 10 x86 handle?

[Stirkoff]

I have been using my workhorse Windows 7 64bit system (intel i7-3770, 16GB RAM, 1GB GPU) for over 10 years now and I'm very happy with it. It is reliable and with the configuration I have very powerful.

[Kevin63101]

I have been using my workhorse Windows 7 64bit system for over 10 years now and I'm very happy with it. It is reliable and with the configuration I have very powerful.

+1

Can I / Should I upgrade from Win 7 to Win11??
I purchased my system in 2012. I'm contemplating upgrading to win11.

1. Any reason I should stay on Win7??
2. Is my hardware compatible with Win11?

Currrent SPECIFICATIONS:
· Intel i7 2600k @ 4.5GHz (Sandy Bridge)
· P67a (rev B3) motherboard

EDIT:
I got my answer elsewhere. Not recommended.
The motherboard doesn’t have TPM-2.0 which is necessary for Windows 11.

However I am considering Win 10 pro this late in the game.

[Kevin63101]

So I upgraded my 10 yr old I7 (with excellent consultation services from Purrrfect Audio) from Win 7 home to Win 10 pro.

Works well. Here's a few thoughts:

+++ was able to increase my RAM from 16gb to 32 gb.

+++ most software instantly worked. Spectrasonics required me to reauthorization licenses. Steinberg Cubase required admin permissions to get old elicenser to work.

+++ Great news: Camel Audio Alchemy 1.5 (for PC) works in Win 10. Yeah, I love it.

- - - Bad consequence: my old M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcard only partially functioned (Audio Inputs did not work). No Win10 compatible driver available for the 2496. MIDI still works so I'll use that, but need new A/D interface (which I wanted a better 8in /8 out anyways).

Was it worth updating old Win7 to old Win10 pro? Short term: yes it was cost effective with little initial cash outlay and kept me from moving reauthorizating / moving piles (hundreds) of of vst titles.
Long term: ??? I intend to upgrade PC hardware in future (few more years), so I hope waiting was a good plan.

Yeah it's a dinosaur I7 quad core with lipstick, but still looks pretty to me. And I hate moving.

[legendCNCD]

- - - Bad consequence: my old M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcard only partially functioned (Audio Inputs did not work). No Win10 compatible driver available for the 2496. MIDI still works so I'll use that, but need new A/D interface (which I wanted a better 8in /8 out anyways).

Yeah it's a dinosaur I7 quad core with lipstick, but still looks pretty to me. And I hate moving.

Yep I'm in the same boat. No way to install some of "Win10 only" plugins (feels like Apple here ) but some of them work, no problem.

I have the same soundcard. Will buy a new RME

[T-CM11]

Can I / Should I upgrade from Win 7 to Win11??
I purchased my system in 2012. I'm contemplating upgrading to win11.

1. Any reason I should stay on Win7??
2. Is my hardware compatible with Win11?

Currrent SPECIFICATIONS:
· Intel i7 2600k @ 4.5GHz (Sandy Bridge)
· P67a (rev B3) motherboard

EDIT:
I got my answer elsewhere. Not recommended.
The motherboard doesn’t have TPM-2.0 which is necessary for Windows 11.

However I am considering Win 10 pro this late in the game.

I'm thinking: if you have to ask (here) then don't.

e.g. Win11 runs fine without TPM2.0 (or MS approved CPU). Maybe you won't get automatic (security) updates in the future - maybe you will... if (possibly) finding workarounds scares you -> don't.

You could always make a system drive image, update your OS to 10 or 11, and roll back if you have (too many) issues.

[T-CM11]

I'm considering buying Win 10 x86 license which seems to be the last 32bit OS.

I know of only 3 reasons to buy*/install a 32 bit OS (these days):
- Your CPU is 32 bit (seems a bit unlikely)
- You still use 16 bit software or installers (though you could still install via a VM)
- Your system has between 2-4 GB of RAM

*AFAIK, both 32 and 64 bit installation is included in each Win10 license.

[DNnX]

*AFAIK, both 32 and 64 bit installation is included in each Win10 license.

Many 90s hardware has a driver for Win2K, which possibly work on the latest 32bit OS.

*AFAIK, both 32 and 64 bit installation is included in each Win10 license.

I thought OEM / DSP license does not allow changing 32 or 64 after purchasing.
Buying full packaged version should be hybrid

[mixyguy2]

i will not use win11 by any means. the ms rule still works since 3.11. there are no two good win versions back to back.
win3.11 good
win95 bad
win98 good
win me bad
win xp good
win vista bad
win 7 good
win 8 bad
win 10 bad
win 11 bad

FTFY