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Windows 7 professional support ends free. Windows 7 End of Life: everything you need to know about the death of Windows 7 |
Windows 7 professional support ends free.Microsoft warns Windows 7 Pro users about end of support
For most Windows 7 apps, compatibility shouldn't be an issue. For enterprises that are paying for Microsoft subscriptions, a Microsoft initiative called Desktop App Assure offers free application remediation services. Microsoft says its engineers will "help remediate custom line-of-business apps, engage 3rd party software vendors to help with Windows 10 apps and address issues with Office ProPlus macros and add-ins.
If your business depends on specialized hardware or line-of-business software that absolutely will not run on Windows 10, you might be able to make a case for paying to extend the support deadline. But that just delays the inevitable by a year or two, or at most three.
Your search for a replacement should be well under way by now. Because I know that at least a dozen people will offer one particular suggestion in the comments to this post, let me bring it up right at the top of the list. Something tells me that most businesses that have stuck with Windows 7 until nearly the bitter end have already considered and rejected this option.
That's especially the case for those businesses that are constrained by compatibility issues related to a mission-critical Windows app. But sure, if you're willing to completely replace your desktop infrastructure and switch out every productivity app you use, that's a preferable alternative to the next option on the list.
On January 15, , Windows 7 won't stop working. In fact, you're unlikely to notice any changes. If you feel lucky, this is certainly an option. You might even consider the lack of monthly updates a welcome feature. Spoiler alert: This is a very bad idea, one that exposes you to all manner of possible bad outcomes. If you absolutely must keep one or more Windows 7 PCs in operation, perhaps because they're running a critical app or controlling a piece of old but essential hardware, the best advice I can offer is to completely disconnect that machine from the network and lock it down so that it only runs that one irreplaceable app.
But those contracts didn't come cheap. Only very large enterprise customers could even qualify for one, and then the cost was literally millions of dollars, as my colleague Mary Jo Foley discovered. For Windows 7, the extended support option is far more democratic. In September , Microsoft announced its plan to offer paid Windows 7 Extended Security Updates ESUs , and in October the company announced that it was extending this support to businesses of all sizes.
That escalating price schedule is intended to serve as a disincentive to Windows 7 users who might otherwise be tempted to kick the can a little further down the road.
You'll also need to find a reseller that is a member of the Cloud Solution Provider program and can deliver the ESU licenses you require. As I discovered when I tried to do just that , this isn't as easy as it might sound.
Customers who have paid for Windows Software Assurance contracts or who have Windows 10 Enterprise or Education subscriptions will get a discount but will still be subject to significant price hikes in years 2 and 3. You can eliminate the extra cost of Windows 7 Extended Security Updates completely if you move your workloads to virtual machines in Microsoft's Azure cloud.
That option will be available using the new Windows Virtual Desktop option , which should be available as a preview soon. For businesses that only need to virtualize individual line-of-business applications, this could be a cost-effective option.
If you don't have any compatibility issues that need to be addressed first, the simplest and most straightforward route is to put together a deployment plan and begin executing it.
But the details of that plan matter, especially if you want to avoid the headaches of the "Windows as a service" model. As always, of course, the easiest upgrade path is via hardware replacement. Any device that's five years old or more is an obvious candidate for recycling.
For systems that were sold between and with Windows 8 licenses and then downgraded to Windows 7, you might be able to save some money by installing Windows 8.
Doing this gets you three years of no-cost additional support, good until January 10, For businesses that choose a Windows 10 upgrade, one not-so-obvious factor to consider is which Windows 10 edition to deploy. The Windows 10 free upgrade offer ended on July 29, To upgrade to Windows 10, you will need to have a compatible PC and purchase a full version of the software.
If you continue to use Windows 7 now that support has ended, your PC will still work, but it will be more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. Your PC will continue to start and run, but will no longer receive software updates, including security updates, from Microsoft. Windows 7 can still be installed and activated after end of support; however, it will be more vulnerable to security risks and viruses due to the lack of security updates. After January 14, , Microsoft strongly recommends that you use a newer version of Windows instead of Windows 7.
Support for Internet Explorer on a Windows 7 device was also discontinued on January 14, We recommend you use Microsoft Edge. Microsoft Edge was built to bring you the best of the web, with more control and more privacy as you browse.
However, the MSE platform is no longer being updated. Click here to learn more about learn more about Microsoft Security Essentials. If you are using Windows as part of a work environment, we recommend you check first with your IT department or see Windows 10 deployment support to learn more.
Windows for embedded devices such as ATMs or gas pumps have lifecycle dates that sometimes differ from versions of Windows that are used on PC devices. For the best possible experience, we recommend doing a fresh installation of your programs and apps on your new Windows 11 PC. Microsoft Store has a variety of third-party apps that can be easily downloaded and installed.
On your Windows 11 PC, you can open Microsoft Store by selecting the icon on the taskbar or by searching for "Microsoft Store" in the search box on the taskbar. For any software not currently available in Microsoft Store, we recommend going to that company's official website and downloading the Windows 11 version from there. In limited circumstances, some older software may not have an updated version that's compatible with Windows Your experience may be different depending on the Office version you're running.
To learn more, see Windows 7 end of support and Office. It's important to note that Windows 7 itself no longer receives security updates, leaving your device vulnerable to security threats.
Support for Windows 7 came to an end on January 14, You are receiving notifications as a Windows 7 customer to remind you that your device is no longer supported and no longer receiving security updates.
We recommend moving to a new PC with Windows More information on the notification is available here. Windows 7 More How will Windows 7 end of support affect my Microsoft Office apps? Need more help? Join the discussion. Was this information helpful? Yes No.
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