In a recent blog post titled “Helping customers shift to a modern desktop”, Microsoft has confirmed that from 14 January 2020, when the extended support for Windows 7 ends, they will only keep pushing security updates to Windows 7 users who have signed up to a monthly paid subscription. Microsoft also says that the subscription fee will increase every year.

Today we are announcing that we will offer paid Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) through January 2023. The Windows 7 ESU will be sold on a per-device basis and the price will increase each year.

The pricing has not yet been revealed and Microsoft is only making this offer to Windows 7 Professional users. Seems like if you want to keep your devices safe, you will soon have to upgrade to Windows 8 or 10.

Helping customers shift to a modern desktop
Source

 

[Canna]

Just FYI, you can still activate Windows 10 with a 7 or 8 key if you have one. The only time this didn't work I contacted tech support and after verifying the key was legit gave me a new one.

I get that but i said before shutting it down , and i meant just before then .. but thanks for your reply

 

[codezer0]

I still have a PC for the express purpose of running Windows XP. And Windows 7 still is a pleasure to use. Pretty sure that there will be a network in place to distribute these post-support updates accordingly, if groups like RyanVM were able to keep Windows XP viable for so long.

 

[kuwanger]

Well, it's only reasonable. I mean, how can you expect Microsoft to fund the continued fixing of a product they sold? They've only got ~$133 billion in short term assets and cash/cash equivalents. How can you expect Microsoft to produce a product that isn't fundamentally broken and open to exploit? Obviously, after a decade they have every right to just call it a lost cause and...continue using the same base code base for another version of the same product which they continue to sell. I mean, that's how capitalism works, right?

 

[Slartibartfast42]

No, both laptops have 4 gb

That's your fault for using an ancient computer. Computers need 8GB these days. 16GB or more is preferable for anyone who does real work.

 

[Deleted User]

That's your fault for using an ancient computer. Computers need 8GB these days. 16GB or more is preferable for anyone who does real work.

I agree, using 4 nowadays most likely limits any new computer/os ability.

 

[dAVID_]

The only real advantage of Win 10 over 7 is that it's still being updated.
Other than that Win 10 is a reskin of 7 with a slightly different interface.
Oh and say goodbye to disabling Windows Update, because that fucker will keep popping up on Win 10 no matter what.

 

[Deleted User]

Even if you disable Windows Update, MS re-enable it after every major feature update. I can see why as not having updates on is kind of risky in a connected internet like today.

 

[Dvdxploitr]

Microsoft already charges for a license key, they shouldn't be charging for updates because someone's computer is running an older OS. Ubuntu and other Linux distributions are free. Apple hasn't charged for their OS in years (Granted people consider the high price of buying an Apple computer a "tax" or "fee" itself) but I guess when you dominate the computer industry, you can do shady things like charge for updates....got people into the ecosystem, now rob 'em blind. Maybe the reason they are using an older version of Windows is because they don't have the money to buy a new computer? I know computers these days can be bought as cheap as a game console, but there are folks out there that cannot afford it...

 

[FAST6191]

OS's don't evolve like that, you can't just make a baby out of XP and 7 because Vista is XP with those edges smoothed and 7 is Vista with more edges smoothed.

Agreed for the way you are thinking, however I was thinking more XP's ability to get out of my way and allow me to do what I want to do. While the first push probably came with nerfing raw sockets in XP SP2 by 7 such a mindset had become endemic.

If the design philosophy with regards to allowing end users to do what they want from XP could be combined with the polish of 7 it would be the best of both worlds for me.

I know how this sounds, but if you're a home user and your hardware cannot support Windows 10 optimally then you really should upgrade already.

Basic browser, email, video playback, office and IM is a solved problem (give or take all the popular instant messengers all regressing in recent years into proprietary junk), has been for many years. Worse still many are content with phones for a lot of that as well. The benefits of upgrading a PC then become hard to justify if that is all you care to do. More computing power is not going to make any of those markedly better in the short term, be it in end user capabilities or security really.

 

[Slartibartfast42]

Microsoft already charges for a license key, they shouldn't be charging for updates because someone's computer is running an older OS. Ubuntu and other Linux distributions are free. Apple hasn't charged for their OS in years (Granted people consider the high price of buying an Apple computer a "tax" or "fee" itself) but I guess when you dominate the computer industry, you can do shady things like charge for updates....got people into the ecosystem, now rob 'em blind. Maybe the reason they are using an older version of Windows is because they don't have the money to buy a new computer? I know computers these days can be bought as cheap as a game console, but there are folks out there that cannot afford it...

We are talking about big businesses, not poor people.

 

[Sakitoshi]

Well, it's only reasonable. I mean, how can you expect Microsoft to fund the continued fixing of a product they sold? They've only got ~$133 billion in short term assets and cash/cash equivalents. How can you expect Microsoft to produce a product that isn't fundamentally broken and open to exploit? Obviously, after a decade they have every right to just call it a lost cause and...continue using the same base code base for another version of the same product which they continue to sell. I mean, that's how capitalism works, right?

"I payed full for my NES, why did Nintendo stopped making new games for it? only 33 years have passed!"

 

[tech3475]

They did this with XP so it's not really a surprise.

I just wonder how long before x vulnerability cripples y organisation.

 

[hamohamo]

There's not one reason to use windows 7 except having 2gb of ram or less.

 

[tech3475]

There's not one reason to use windows 7 except having 2gb of ram or less.

Software compatibility will always be one reason why I keep a copy on stand by.

Businesses will also likely continue to use W7 because of the cost of licensing, testing, hardware/software upgrades, etc. We still use XP on some of our systems at work but they're restricted to certain tasks.

 

[Deleted User]

Windows as a whole is garbage, I couldn't image having that OS as my daily driver.

 

[Lacius]

The offer to "get windows x" did end 2 years ago, yes some tools still work... But then again you are risking getting your legal win 7 license banned if Microsoft one day wants to take action against those who abused the tools. Which i doubt.

If you know what you're doing, there's no risk to your legal Windows 7 license. In addition, Microsoft cannot currently discern between a Windows 10 upgrade done now and a Windows 10 upgrade done two years ago.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

What a absolute joke,, charging people who purchased there license to own a copy of windows with promised updates and feature support just to Kick it to the curb, but like other releases support ends.. how about you give windows users on 7 a free update to 10 before you shut it down... Like you offered to us in the beginning...

Then there windows 10 which i am using ,
But its full of Microsoft spyware... Sending your private data to them..
Check out your privacy settings, block everything... and please use a tool called spybot anti beacon, as your still sending telemetry data to them and what programs you are using such and so forth...
Microsoft did the sneaky with 10 but can be avoided.. as i am now on lock down and they dont get sht from me ...

So yeah check out ya privacy and the app i recommend spybot anti beacon..
Other then that 10 seems to work fine, a big difference to 7...Some nice features some bad.
But there is nothing wrong with 7 either... well between 10/7....

As for the windows between 7 and 10 there absolute dog..

I have worked with computers since i was a young boy that was over 15 years now, i passed my A+ certification to become a IT technician, all tho this was mainly hardware side, i still was taught the software side also,the networking blah blah .... Always make sure you have a good antivirus and malware application, try to use a vpn if and were possible... Microsoft and windows defender sux balls and is about as much use as a chocolate teapot...

Sorry i wont go on haha god damn it why did i become interested in Personal computers/technology i dont know.

Dude, you've had 3 years to do the upgrade, and as far as I'm aware the accessibility upgrade method still nets you a free copy of Windows 10. If you haven't upgraded yet that's on you, not Microsoft

 

[slaphappygamer]

My laptop is so old, I can’t run Windows 10 well. My laptop hasnt been “approved” for Windows 10. Remember when windows10 had a “compatibility check”. Yes, I’m not on the list. My laptop runs great with windows7. Since I can’t use windows10 and windows7 will no longer be supported, am I just supposed to go out and get a new computer? Software kills hardware......again. Ffff u, I’m keeping my machine.

 

[nolimits59]

i've a Q6600 (Its from 2007 if some doesnt know) with HDD and 4gb of RAM using Windows 10 for my living room, smooth af, i've a friend who got a laptop with a old dualcore from like 2007-2008, 2-4gb of ram, W10 work flawlessly, i'm really getting tired of theses "pseudo computer ingeneers" who can't use a PC and state that their voice/opinion make law...

 

[Deleted User]

Windows10 is a lot more stable than it was in 2015. I used to tell people not to upgrade.