I think 7 was the best.

Brand new notebook that I kept putting off using until last fall running 7.

Tech friend said support ending which it just did. He upgraded to 10 for me but I hate the interface 🤭 which can be remedied. I like the looks of XP which I was happy with on an older laptop. 😃

that my Windows 7 will no longer be supported, which will mean other software on it will cease to provide updates in the coming months.

I hate the process of changing over to a new machine at my age, but hopefully this will be the last (I started out with DOS 5.1 in the early 90s).

This one is too damn slow any way, so getting a faster one will be a plus. The Dell laptop I got my son last year for his college work has Win 8.1. He likes it and the machine is fast as lightning.

KY..........

intend to keep OFF the internet--just as backup storage and to use some software that won't work on Win10.

I have to say that I really hated WIN10 when it came out. It was so unlike win 7 and all the predecessors, but it has grown on me. The only thing that really gets me is how bloated it has become. Every time it updates (as well as my other major software, especially security packages), I hold my breath for no conflicts. Mostly things go smoothly. In November, that was not the case and it took me four full days to get things working again. I came close to ending up with a bricked laptop. I'm no Luddite and I'm fully able to troubleshoot most issues, but that episode left me reeling. (It was a full security package update that set off the problems, btw and I have since removed it totally and gone with a competitor).

The one thing EVERYONE should learn to do (besides backing up their major files) is to create SETPOINTS at least once a week and before letting Windows do updates. Just in case.

Honestly, if I was scared of technology and/or unwilling to spend the time learning what to do when things go wrong, I think I'd try to establish some kind of tech support contract with a trusted person or group that specializes in that. Just make damned sure you can trust them if you keep secured info on your computers.

Learning at any age keeps you young. Maybe the best advice is to seek some classes or focused training to help build self-confidence in dealing with the problems as they come up.

and click on it to search for new updates. I came home and did so as soon as the alert hit my cell phone.