Think It Will Be Possible To Survive 6-8 Years On Windows 7?

You have another 3 years before WIN 7 security support ends. No OS is immune to malware, don't buy into this myth, so long as you are connected to the Web. If you're not intending to connect to the internet after 2020, than you can run WIN 7 as long as it continues to operate.

Personally, I've upgraded all my notebooks to WIN 10. My desktops are still running WIN 7 Pro, and intending to do so until 2020. Then upgrade to WIN 8.1 Pro, already have the licenses. Even building a new Intel i7 12-core Titan graphics workstation. Another AMD 8-core workstation. Both will be running WIN 7 Pro. The issue is that it would cost me thousands to upgrade my media/graphics software for WIN 10 compatibility. No hurry to do so.

I literally use WIN 7 Pro, MAC OS X, and Linux RHEL/CentOS at work everyday. So familiar with all three. A Linux distro such as Mint might be a good option after 2020, though have not used Mint personally. Especially, if you primarily need it to access the internet. Do like Linux GNOME desktop.

Little do people realize that Linux is everywhere. It's more ubiquitous than Windows. It's on our phones, cars, TV, refrigerators, satellite box even on several automated machining operations to man robots.
Manufacturers don't have to pay for licenses/ royalties to use Linux unlike Cisco or Microsoft.
Nothing can beat free.
_________
No one can be so deaf than someone who would not hear. (Jeremiah)

In the brief experience I've had 7 is better then even 8.1.
Our Granddaughter brought her Win 8.1 machine over so she and Grandma could scan photos but 8.1 has built-in drivers for wifi printing only. Brother has no wifi scanner drivers for 8.1.
Might be a workaround but why fight it.
Grandmas Win 7 laptop has wifi scanner drivers supplied by Brother and works just fine.
Myself, I've been on Linux since XP and it's going stay that way.

Ubuntu linux. I'll never go back to windows.

You sound like a good candidate for Linux. Zero-cost,free upgrade, long term support (LTS), malware (sort of) immune and works just like Windows.

I quit using Windows after the Millennium version even though I still hold a certification from Microsoft as Certified Systems Engineer.

PC users are intimidated by Unix-based Linux because of the command line that require some codes and extensive memorization of syntax. Well, that was more than seven years ago. You can (now) load Linux without having to sit in front of the monitor to load the OS.
I've been using it for almost twenty years for online purchases, banking and passport/visa etc even stock purchase.

I still use Windows for some government transactions like IRS and DMV. Linux is still quirky when using my HP printer with these agencies. It may be the way I had it set up. . .but it is the least of my worries. I don't want to mess with my DW's printer.
It's a poor man's OS with all the bells and whistle so why not take advantage of it.

If you ever decide to go With Linux get the UBUNTU distribution. . . it is written for PC users.

I HATE being forced to purchase a 500+ dollar laptop on Social Security to have a nightmare operating system jammed up my --- just to do email and online medicine checks in rural Mexico and Guatemala where they do not have Cell Phone access. It will be SKYPE calls to get my credit cards and driver license picked up and shipped down by DHL. To me 99.99999% of software today consists of fat bulk and insane amounts of confusion for basic internet and mail. This Samsung Galaxy is probably being used 1% of it's capability but I sure like the phone speaker and image resolution. Less Is More otherwise.

If you are not online, not upgrading hardware beyond what Win 7 serves, and not installing applications that need Windows 10 features, then the answer is "probably yes."

I have a couple of old XP machines used to locally run applications (games) that were disabled by Vista/7/8. I have other applications on Windows 7 using workarounds for some security features in Vista that "broke" the applications, and these will not migrate to 10 because the workarounds are disabled. So I may have at least one Win 7 machine indefinitely.

But if you don't have old applications that are critical to you, I suggest you bite the bullet and move on to Windows 10, if you need Windows at all.

For most of what work I was doing on Windows 7, I found I could do it just as well on Mac OS-X, some with the same applications, some with replacements. The occasion for this move was Microsoft installing an ill-advised security update that wiped out my boot-block, and in attempting to recover, Windows Recovery damaged the recovery partition.

FWIW, I've already survived 7 years on Windows 7. I got my first Windows 7 machine shortly after the general release in late 2009.

Interesting experiences!
I picked up a couple of 4 year old Win 7 computers from a school whose board considers it less expensive to keep new ones. I updated those two with new hard drives and to the free Win 10.

My family and I actually use older win XP systems, also discards. There are some minor problems showing up. I had to give up my old Eudoora email client due to security certificates for it being too old. And XP security is not good enough for downloading updates for my GPS or submitting my tax returns (there is a workaround for that). No doubt there will be other problems as other sites stop supporting XP.

I am still running XP-PRO on my Ham radio programs and some AUTOCAD type programs. XP still getting upgrades here for something...

I converted my two WIN7 and two 8.1 LAPTOPS over to WIN 10 when it first came out. Really haven't had any real bad things happen to me. I have gone back to last known save point on this machine two times now after I got a WIN10 upgrade. Then a few weeks later I get the same upgrade and both time it went through just fine... I still cringe however every it a upgrade comes in.

I use my highDell laptops here running dula 24-inch monitors on WIN 10. It is really fast. I do however do not use any of the WIN 10 programs to speak of... I am still running my 2007 MS OFFICE page I own and a bunch of other propgram from the WIN7/8.1 machines... The only thing that did not convert over was a few of my HAM RADIO programs and my ACAD type drawing programs... They are still working on my DELL M90 laptop running XP-PRO..

My screen here looks just like what the WIN 7 used. ICONs down the left side and TASKBAR across the bottom. I run NIGHTSCENEs for the background screen in screen saver mode.. I don't use any of thr cloud storage things. Thart scares me big time... Back-up to USB hard drive like before.. I also still use my 2007 MS OUTLOOK for email claint. Works the same as before for my four or five email different accounts using OUTLOOK..

I did not sign up for any of the WIN10 monthly subscriptions...

Was a good move for me to get the speed for all of my Internet Police Radio tabs...

I'm a happy camper win WIN 10...

Roy Ken

Originally had windows 7 and (supposedly) upgraded to windows 10. Hated windows 10 :M. Too complicated, too diverse and too many apps and just too much of everything-the majority of which I would never use. Finally got back to windows 7--so much easier. Windows 7 will remain, just that microsoft will not support it which basically means there will be no more updates or fixes from microsoft. Lars