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Its official. Microsoft is no longer offering any support for Windows 7. Support ended on Jan. 14, 2020.

This means Windows 7 will no longer have support specialists backing it up or updating, and in order to have a safe computer, youll need to upgrade your OS to Windows 10. Tap or click here to learn how to get Windows 10 for free.

But what if you really like the look of Windows 7, and Windows 10 has features you dont want? Well, if youre willing to learn a few tech tricks, we can help you make your computer look and act like it still has Windows 7, starting with the Start menu.

The Windows 10 Start menu introduces a new tile format in addition to the traditional, alphabetical, menu list. If you hate this layout, you can get the Windows 7 style back in two ways.

The first involves the removal of pinned apps. Its not a perfect recreation of Windows 7, but its the simpler way to get the idea of the old Start menu back. It also serves as a great visual transition from 7 to 10.

To unpin applications from the Start menu:

The second way to get Windows 7 is to download the third-party app Open Shell, once known as Classic Shell. This way is much more technical, but itll get you the exact Windows 7 Start menu look you want.

To get and use Open Shell:

If you miss the aesthetic of Windows 7, as well as the Start menu functionality, we recommend learning how to use Open Shell. If you just want a simpler menu thats similar to Windows 7, the unpinning method should do the trick.

File Explorer is only slightly different in Windows 10, but there are still new features like the Ribbon. As above, theres a way to get the idea of the Windows 7 version back, and a way to make things look exactly the same with a third party program.

To get the basic Windows 7 File Explorer structure:

If you hate the ribbon from the Windows 10 File Explorer, and want the Windows 7 look back entirely:

Note: Ribbon Disabler makes a backup of the original File Explorer program files, but also replaces them. Meaning this app affects your computers core programming and should be downloaded with extreme caution.

Windows 10 really pushes Cortana, (its built-in AI helper), its bottom search bar and OneDrive, its cloud storage system. Tap or click here to learn about other great cloud storage programs.

If you have no interest in these new features, you can get them out of your way pretty easily, and this time you can do it without third-party software. Lets start with clearing up your view.

To hide things in the task bar:

If you have a Cortana menu instead of Search, click Hidden to make that button go away, and just deselect Show Task View button to make that disappear.

To disable Cortana, and not just hide her, do the following:

To hide OneDrive:

To disable OneDrive:

So to all the Windows 7 lovers: Youre going to be OK. You can get back more of the classic aesthetic by downloading Windows 7 wallpapers and playing with Open Shell skins.

Updating your OS is important for your computers health. Tap or click here to learn more about why that is. It doesnt mean losing your favorite features though, so long as youre a little tech savvy.

Excerpt from:
Miss the look of Windows 7? Change these settings - Komando