Posted on 11/24/2019 9:12:44 AM PST by dayglored
Windows 7 support lifecycle
Microsoft made a commitment to provide 10 years of product support for Windows 7 when it was released on October 22, 2009. When this 10-year period ends, Microsoft will discontinue Windows 7 support so that we can focus our investment on supporting newer technologies and great new experiences. The specific end of support day for Windows 7 will be January 14, 2020. After that, technical assistance and software updates from Windows Update that help protect your PC will no longer be available for the product. Microsoft strongly recommends that you move to Windows 10 sometime before January 2020 to avoid a situation where you need service or support that is no longer available.
Dayglored's note: This site page has lots of Question And Answers regarding the upcoming Windows 7 end-of-life, including:
What does end of support mean for me?
What should I do?
Can I upgrade my existing PC to Windows 10?
How can I upgrade to Windows 10 for free?
What happens if I continue to use Windows 7?
Can Windows 7 still be activated after January 14, 2020?
Will Internet Explorer still be supported on Windows 7?
Will Microsoft Security Essentials continue to protect my PC after end of support?
What if I'm running Windows 7 Enterprise?
What about Windows 7 Embedded?
Can I move my existing programs to a new Windows 10 PC?
How will Windows 7 end of support affect my Microsoft Office apps?
support ending? so what ...
A lot of older computers cannot run win 10.
Consider Ubuntu Linux.
You must be happy.
Home users don’t necessarily need an OS to be “in support”, especially if they are satisfied with their present apps and browser. The last big breakthrough was mainstream 64 bit OS (I don’t count the poorly supported Windows XP 64 bit)
Currently trying to figure this out now. Been on Windows since 3.1. We’re both retired, so there isn’t the need to try and keep up with whatever OS was in use at work. Plan to use one spare desktop PC to try out Linux, but I suspect a Win 10 PC will be ordered soon. Not pleased about this.
No security updates, app/programs will no longer run. Newer feature programs wont run.
The end of the world? No, but functionality will diminish over time.
If you need a PC in order to access online bank and investment accounts, makes sense to use an OS that has lapsed in security support.
*hasn’t
I will still be using Win7 on mine. I used XP for several years after support ended.
Not really. I'm a Win7 die-hard, too.
IMO Win7 was the high point in Microsoft's operating system history.
I will continue to run Win7, in a protected non-internet-connected environment, for many years to come. I run Win10 for those Windows-only programs that require internet access to function.
Everything else (most of my work) is either Linux or Mac.
I think you can download windows 10 for free.
I am still using a VISTA. Works well for what I do.
I reset my computer to original factory condition and turned off updates after it updated itself into disability twice.
Works great.
Meh. I keep on Win 7 computer operational on my office desk because I like the Skype feature and it doesn’t work on my main Linux Mint computer I’m typing this on. I just happened to do an update on Win 7 box the other day which required something like 500 MB. Sheesh. Anything that needs that amount of updating is probably not that great for home use anyway. Microsoft has the business world in a near monopoly. Not the home use market though unless certain functions, like Skype, are needed.
I’m thinking 10 years from now that same Win 7 box will still be there on those few times I need it but otherwise fuggetabout it. Linux just works and works well without having to constantly update it or restart it. I can go a month between restarts normally and it works very similar to Windows so it wasn’t like there was a steep learning curve.
I see Microsoft is adopting the Linux architecture due to its solid reliability. ‘Bout time. I wouldn’t switch back to Windows if they made it free like Linux is.
No free upgrade anymore.
True, but after you've downloaded and installed it, you can't run it without activating it, which you must pay for.
Wow, now THAT is a DIE-HARD! :-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.