Windows 7 & new Calibre updates

BeartoothBronsky · 02-21-2020, 03:03 PM

I use Windows 7 SP 1 & refuse to upgrade to that abomination, Windows 10. Whenever I get a message to update Calibre (I use 64-bit version 4.11.1), it warns me not to upgrade, but to back off to an old version of Calibre - 3.48. I ignore this & continue to download Calibre new releases & updated third-party anti-DRM plug-ins. It still works fine for me. Is there something I am missing by not going back to 3.48? As long as the newest Calibre works seamlessly with Windows 7 SP 1, why should I revert to an antique version?

DNSB · 02-21-2020, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeartoothBronsky

I use Windows 7 SP 1 & refuse to upgrade to that abomination, Windows 10. Whenever I get a message to update Calibre (I use 64-bit version 4.11.1), it warns me not to upgrade, but to back off to an old version of Calibre - 3.48. I ignore this & continue to download Calibre new releases & updated third-party anti-DRM plug-ins. It still works fine for me. Is there something I am missing by not going back to 3.48? As long as the newest Calibre works seamlessly with Windows 7 SP 1, why should I revert to an antique version?

The issue that has come up is that QT has issues with some video cards/drivers. The most common symptom is that when you open a book in either the viewer or editor, you see blank pages. The fun in this is that as calibre incorporates newer releases of QT, there is a chance that your video card will be on the blacklist.

My advice is if it is working for you, don't worry about it. Just make sure that you keep the installer for your working version around until after you are satisfied that calibre is happy after installing the latest and greatest so you can back out of an update that breaks your system.

BeartoothBronsky · 02-21-2020, 10:30 PM

Thanks, David. Qt doesn't seem to be an issue for me. I've been designing & programming this stuff as a consultant for 45 years, so I'm not a newbie at it. I've even programmed a proprietary metalanguage system to convert book formats back & forth, so I know a thing or two about how a system like Calibre works. I was even contracted by Microsoft at one point to tune up their Windows Media Player & strengthen it's DRM. I have been doing just as you advised (I always keep around at least two older installers in case I have to back out a new installer gone bad).

I was just checking to make sure that the message on the new install page was about some internal change that would be defeated by Windows 7 without me detecting it - like some subtle loss of conversion capabilities that aren't obvious.

TTFN

binaryhermit · 02-21-2020, 10:49 PM

You do know Windows 7 isn't getting security updates anymore. I'd consider "upgrading" to something like Ubuntu at this point if Windows 10 isn't an option for you.

(Although personally I'm not a fan of Ubuntu for various reasons.)

02-21-2020, 03:03 PM	#1
BeartoothBronsky Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2013 Device: Kindle	Windows 7 & new Calibre updates I use Windows 7 SP 1 & refuse to upgrade to that abomination, Windows 10. Whenever I get a message to update Calibre (I use 64-bit version 4.11.1), it warns me not to upgrade, but to back off to an old version of Calibre - 3.48. I ignore this & continue to download Calibre new releases & updated third-party anti-DRM plug-ins. It still works fine for me. Is there something I am missing by not going back to 3.48? As long as the newest Calibre works seamlessly with Windows 7 SP 1, why should I revert to an antique version?

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02-21-2020, 10:30 PM	#3
BeartoothBronsky Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2013 Device: Kindle	Thanks, David. Qt doesn't seem to be an issue for me. I've been designing & programming this stuff as a consultant for 45 years, so I'm not a newbie at it. I've even programmed a proprietary metalanguage system to convert book formats back & forth, so I know a thing or two about how a system like Calibre works. I was even contracted by Microsoft at one point to tune up their Windows Media Player & strengthen it's DRM. I have been doing just as you advised (I always keep around at least two older installers in case I have to back out a new installer gone bad). I was just checking to make sure that the message on the new install page was about some internal change that would be defeated by Windows 7 without me detecting it - like some subtle loss of conversion capabilities that aren't obvious. TTFN

02-21-2020, 10:49 PM	#4
binaryhermit Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,732 Karma: 20469902 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Lockport, IL Device: Kindle PW4, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	You do know Windows 7 isn't getting security updates anymore. I'd consider "upgrading" to something like Ubuntu at this point if Windows 10 isn't an option for you. (Although personally I'm not a fan of Ubuntu for various reasons.)

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