Windows 7 Entering Extended Support in January 2015

This week, Microsoft issued a reminder to consumers that Windows 7 will exit Mainstream Support and enter the Extended Support phase on January 13, 2015. That means Windows 7 customers will still obtain security fixes until 2020, but the platform will no longer receive cool new features. This change affects all ten versions of the Windows 7 platform.

"Extended Support lasts for 5 years and includes security updates at no cost, and paid hotfix support. Additionally, Microsoft will not accept requests for design changes or new features during the Extended Support phase," states the support page.

Versions of Windows 7 going into Extended Support include Enterprise, Enterprise N, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Professional N, Starter, Starter N, Ultimate and Ultimate N. Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 will also enter Extended Support on January 13, 2015.

Windows 7 isn't the only operating system going into the "Extended" realm. The 12 versions of Windows Server 2008 have only six months left of Mainstream Support, as does Windows Storage Server 2008, Dynamics C5 2010/NAV 2009/Nav 2009 R2, and Exchange Server 2010 Enterprise/Standard.

Customers who are still holding on to Windows 7 may want to take the next six months to determine if Windows 8.1 is the way to go, to hold off until Windows 9 "Threshold" makes an appearance, or to keep using the same platform despite the lack of new features. Given that Mainstream Support for Windows 8 ends on January 9, 2018 and the Extended Support ends on January 10, 2023, Windows 8.1 may be the way to go for customers looking to acquire the latest features.

As of June 2014, Windows 7 held 50.55 percent of the operating system market share, followed by Windows XP at 25.31 percent, Windows 8.1 at 6.61 percent, and Windows 8.0 at 5.93 percent. With Windows 8.1 and Windows 8 combined, they hold 12.54 percent of the OS market, which isn't bad considering the age of the two platforms.

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  • applegetsmelaid
    When was the last time Win 7 offered any cool new features? I've been using it since launch and I haven't noticed anything. Either way, it's the new old faithful in my book.
    Reply
  • dstarr3
    Really, it's a shame Windows 8's gotten such bad press. My wife just picked up a new laptop with 8 on it, and we gave it a fair chance at being a usable OS, and it honestly is. It took tinkering, but most OS's do. Disable the touchscreen and all the Metro gubbins, and it's really quite nice. It's just an enhanced, more efficient Windows 7, really. We'll see what Windows 9 has to offer, though.
    Reply
  • SteelCity1981
    the vast majority of users are perfectly fine with windows 7 the way it is and wouldn't notice any extra add on features anyhow. I mean look at xp it stop having mainstream support for new features a long time ago and people were still perfectly fine with it. I mean the only users that would be effected is your gaming enthusiast that utilize features like Direct X. hopefully windows 9 or windows 8.2 or whatever they are going to call it will be a good upgrade.
    Reply
  • yoji
    "Disable the touchscreen and all the Metro gubbins, and it's really quite nice.".. LOL.. so basically win 7 without the start button features. MS REALLY dropped the ball with WIn 8 for desktop users who want use mouse/key... and that is inexcusable. They look to be trying fix for threshold.. lets hope so .. or I will be on Win 7 for a while yet!
    Reply
  • HomeSkillenSlice
    I'll be good until 2020 lol
    Reply
  • dstarr3
    "Disable the touchscreen and all the Metro gubbins, and it's really quite nice.".. LOL.. so basically win 7 without the start button features. MS REALLY dropped the ball with WIn 8 for desktop users who want use mouse/key... and that is inexcusable. They look to be trying fix for threshold.. lets hope so .. or I will be on Win 7 for a while yet!

    Windows 8's biggest problem has been that people are being dissuaded from it by the criticisms of people who've never actually used it.
    Reply
  • schwatzz
    The Metro design does not work with a non touch screen laptop. For a tablet it is fine. Windows 9 should return back to the Windows 7 layout but obviously with a contemporary UI and graphics.
    Reply
  • yoji
    13684633 said:
    "Disable the touchscreen and all the Metro gubbins, and it's really quite nice.".. LOL.. so basically win 7 without the start button features. MS REALLY dropped the ball with WIn 8 for desktop users who want use mouse/key... and that is inexcusable. They look to be trying fix for threshold.. lets hope so .. or I will be on Win 7 for a while yet!

    Windows 8's biggest problem has been that people are being dissuaded from it by the criticisms of people who've never actually used it.

    Hope you not including me in that.. I upgraded my desktop for a short while hated it..
    Ran it on a work machine for a while.. it was a tablet device.. and while in tablet/touch mode was OK/good.. but when docked and used connected to mouse/key.. hated it.
    When used in Mouse/key mode.. its a kludge.. I know it.. and MS know it.. which is why they looking to fix it.
    Cheers
    Reply
  • erick81
    Ubuntu already has my work computer with Steam OS and Mantle progressing every month Ms isn't long from total banishment in my home.
    Reply
  • ddpruitt
    "Disable the touchscreen and all the Metro gubbins, and it's really quite nice.".. LOL.. so basically win 7 without the start button features. MS REALLY dropped the ball with WIn 8 for desktop users who want use mouse/key... and that is inexcusable. They look to be trying fix for threshold.. lets hope so .. or I will be on Win 7 for a while yet!

    Windows 8's biggest problem has been that people are being dissuaded from it by the criticisms of people who've never actually used it.

    Windows 8's biggest problem is that it broke all the rules of proper design in a single fell swoop. I put some serious effort into trying to like Windows 8. But the fact that Microsoft decided to hide all the features that those of use who actually use a computer use just made it too painful (almost reminds me of learning emacs). Windows 7 works well with some minor customization, Windows 8 needs a triple bypass to be usable.
    Reply