The 2026 Operating System Thread

[Per Hansson]

You know the drill if you've been here a while: it's that time of the year again when we ask what is the operating system on your main rig?
As for me I'll just quote last years reply, it still holds true, though maybe I'll have to start using my new Win11 work laptop next month since now really is the final month for Win7 security updates

Windows 7 on my main system and work laptop.
It is still possible to install security updates intended for Server 2008 R2 x64 on Win7 x64: it has extended support contract via premium assurance till January 2026

[stj]

2026,
you use Linux,
or the o.s. uses you!

and android users need to learn about Shizuku

[lti]

What about FreeBSD?

I've been using EndeavourOS for the past year, but I'm thinking about switching distros to something that isn't Arch-based. EndeavourOS is one of those Arch variants that's supposed to be easier, but it still takes a lot of fiddling around to make it work and keep it running. I've had a strange trend of network problems, regardless of hardware. My initial screwing around with Fedora looks good, but I'd have to run it daily for a while to see how well it runs. For old computers, I'm still using Lubuntu. I even got my mom on Lubuntu after the Windows 10 EOL, and I haven't had my ass kicked yet. My laptop has become a dedicated Windows box with all the latest bullshit for the remaining few things that don't work in Linux.

My work computer is a corporate IT-managed system, so I have no choice but to run Windows 11.

[TechGeek]

Servers and critical workstations run Debian 12/13, main workstation runs Debian Testing.

[eccerr0r]

i haven't changed my response to these yearly OS polls for over a decade now, and still won't change my response...

[sam_sam_sam]

I have had to use Windows 7 to troubleshoot an issue with an UGreen NAS storage device
Forget about Windows 11 this operating is the biggest bunch of the worst kind it does not show the folder created can not access them dose not know that thet they exist shit what the hell is this crap

Now Windows 7 not only can I see the folders I was able to create folder that the UGreen NAS storage device has an issue doing and is more complicated than it needs to be

Now would I recommend buying a UGreen NAS storage system Unit yes however do not think that the way you setup Windows operating system on Windows 7 is going to be the same way that you setup premises it is NOT it follows different rules and will have issues setting up this device and getting it to work correctly

One note do NOT use a Comcast email account to set this NAS storage unit to setup because there sever is extremely slow getting back the response from the UGreen server that you cannot get it to work correctly

Because you have only ten minutes from the time it send you a token code to use it setup the device up

This is on reason I love to use Windows 7 operating system to troubleshoot computer issues with

One note I would prefer to use Windows XP however I do not have any device that I can operate any device other than my battery testing machine but I do not have a reliable computer that I can trust to use it with

How this started was I had bought a new Western Digital MY Cloud storage system device but I thought that it was the version iso 5 version that Western Digital has for there devices but there is a catch they have two versions of it and I did not realize that at the time I bought it that it could only use ISO version 3 so I basically have a storage device that can only be used on a closed network that okay but I did want to use a 2 or 3 terabyte hard drive so decided to buy the UGreen NAS storage device and use the hard drives out of them and buy two one terabyte hard drives instead used ones

One final note I was going to make a post about this until I saw this post and decided it to do it on this post because I wanted to share why I chose Windows 7 for my operating system that I prefer and why

UGreen NAS storage device DS2300 two bay hard drive capacity storage drives
Yes the drive are not the same capacity but I am not using it in raid mode

One feature this device has sleep mode that after a certain amount of non use it basically is in sleep mode
and it has an ON OFF button that can also be used to save hard drive running time usage

One issue I have with this storage device is that I can not get the Shield streaming device that I have to work correctly on the NAS storage device I have it only works about half way right and I am going to call there tech support line about this issue and I have another issue with the Plex server to connect completely the way it should work

Yes I like to watch How it’s made How they do that Mystery Marvel the PBS channel and certain types of movies and past tv shows that I watch many years ago and with streaming box service I can do this better than a Comcast cable box service and it cheaper than the cable box service that I was using there is an upfront cost at first but who care about that

[stj]

word is, m$ is going to block offline installs and maybe even offline-logins on win11 soon

[TurcoLoco]

word is, m$ is going to block offline installs and maybe even offline-logins on win11 soon

Would only help people migrate elsewhere faster!

Btw, Shizuku seemed like an app not an Android OS replacement which I'd love to be able to do.
I have been following the eFoundation's deGoogled/unGoogled Android phones with their own OS but haven't really had the time to try it.
Since I am not really a phone phreak and quite content with my 4+ yo Motorola Moto G Power, I even considered getting one of the Androids they sell when mine craps out.
Any thought on that?

[Agent24]

Every time I see a news article about Windows or Microsoft in general these days, I'm glad I switched to Linux.

[TurcoLoco]

Every time I see a news article about Windows or Microsoft in general these days, I'm glad I switched to Linux.

Personal curiosity, what part of NZ do you live in and how do you like it?
And, what Linux distro are you using?

Honestly, GNU/Linux just makes sense, free of BS, more stable, more robust, etc.
Again, the main reason I am still on Windows is mainly due to the games I play.
IMHO, from a UI perspective, ZorinOS is probably one of the best distros for those wanting to switch from Windows to Linux

[stj]

Would only help people migrate elsewhere faster!

Btw, Shizuku seemed like an app not an Android OS replacement which I'd love to be able to do.

shizuku is a tool to temporary-bypass the security if you cant install custom firmware.
if you combine shizuku, a root app and something like CANTA you can delete / replace system apps that cant be trusted.
like google services framework - the core of the spying.
and the google keylogger - i mean "keyboard"

ideally you unlock your bootloader so you can install any firmware, but each company has different attitudes to that.
i only buy XIAOMI phones for that reason.

is this your moto?
https://xdaforums.com/f/moto-g-power-2021.12069/

[Topcat]

Thanks Per Hansson for picking up my slack this year with this thread....I usually do these on/around new years day.....but I've been busy and time got away form me

My main rig still has S2K16; which is the W10 GUI....so that's how I voted. Everything else is linux now that isn't a retro gamer or has some need for Windows.

[TurcoLoco]

shizuku is a tool to temporary-bypass thes ecurity if you cant install custom firmware.
if you combine shizuku, a root app and something like CANTA you can delete / replace system apps that cant be trusted.
like google services framework - the core of the spying.
and the google keylogger - i mean "keyboard"

ideally you unlock your bootloader so you can install any firmware, but each company has different attitudes to that.
i only buy XIAOMI phones for that reason.

OK, now that makes sense. No idea how to go about using either tool but I could search to see if someone documented the procedure.
Have you personally used either tool? If yes, how likely is doing this would turn the phone into a brick?

I will look into Xiaomi phones if I need one. I was able to get the Motorola back in 2021 for $200 on Amazon which is about how much I could spend on a phone.

is this your moto?
https://xdaforums.com/f/moto-g-power-2021.12069/

Yup.

PS. Any idea when the annoying image verification thing will stop?
This was my 78th post!

[stj]

i have used lots of tools,
my main phone is unlocked but running factory o.s.
BUT has all spyware and google shit stripped out and replaced.
so it has the best of both - tuning of factory o.s. and security(my security) of a custom firmware.

you should look at that forum link for unlocking your bootloader first - thats essential.
i think you apply for some type of unlock code on motorola's website.

[eccerr0r]

Will I ever switch to another distribution of Linux after using the same one for around 2 decades without reinstalling?
Source based rolling releases are fun...

[stj]

you better not be doing that on an ssd - not now the price has skyrocketed.
i boot from an ssd but all my compiling and temp-downloads are done on a spinning drive to save the ssd from early death!

[TurcoLoco]

i have used lots of tools,
my main phone is unlocked but running factory o.s.
BUT has all spyware and google shit stripped out and replaced.
so it has the best of both - tuning of factory o.s. and security(my security) of a custom firmware.

Yeah, definitely sounds like an "involved" process but I will look into it.

you should look at that forum link for unlocking your bootloader first - thats essential.
i think you apply for some type of unlock code on motorola's website.

I didn't realize there is a related sub forum on this site. I will check it out, thanks!
Yeah, I believe when it comes to unlocking the bootloader, eFoundation's documentation referred to Motorola's site.
Motorola seemed to have provided the related info but they also wrote a few paragraphs of warnings trying to scare people from messing with it.

[eccerr0r]

My oldest Linux boxes still have HDD rootdisks.
My newer ones that have SSDs build on tmpfs.
I don't have too many new SSDs anyway, the 2BPC "MLC" SSDs have fairly good endurance...

[stj]

Motorola seemed to have provided the related info but they also wrote a few paragraphs of warnings trying to scare people from messing with it.

unlocking the bootloader usually resets the settings and apps - so back shit up.
other than that - no real risk.

enable the extra developer menu's first.

[TurcoLoco]

unlocking the bootloader usually resets the settings and apps - so back shit up.
other than that - no real risk.

Yeah, I have seen that warning all over. Good thing, I don't have anything to backup!
As long as the phone still works, I am cool with whatever apps I won't be able to get but I only kinda use/need a few apps anyway.

enable the extra developer menu's first.

Done! Also enabled the "Bootloader" related setting under Dev settings.
Is there anything else?

I asked this before but perhaps you missed it: Why am I still forced to use image verification when posting? When will it stop?