Mainstream Support For Windows 7 Is Over, OS Enters Extended Support
For those who still use Windows 7, today is the day that Microsoft begins its five-year goodbye. Last July, Microsoft reminded users that the end of mainstream support for Windows 7 is coming, and it's finally here. Support for Windows 7 ends today, with extended support ending on January 4, 2020.
The huge lineup of Windows 7 versions in the cut-off include Enterprise, Enterprise N, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Professional N, Starter, Starter N, Ultimate and Ultimate N. Windows 7 users won't get the full suite of updates, but the company isn't leaving them completely empty-handed. Security updates are still available for users, as well as paid support.
Windows 7 joins its predecessor, Windows Vista, in the realm of Extended Support, but unlike Windows 7, Vista has a little over two years until Microsoft completely stops supporting the operating system on April 11, 2017.
Windows 7 diehards now have three options: stick with Windows 7, upgrade to Windows 8.1, or wait until Windows 10 arrives. Last month, Windows 8.1 became the second most-used operating system on the Internet with 10.95 percent of the market, according to StatCounter. However, the support for Windows 7 remained strong as it held 50.34 percent of the overall market, so it's unclear how the end of mainstream support will affect Windows 7 fans.
Those who decide to switch to Windows 8.1 will have full support from Microsoft until January 9, 2018, and extended support until January 10, 2023. If anything, the continued dominance of Windows 7 even five years after its initial release shows that users really love the operating system. (Or dislike Windows 8/8.1, perhaps.) During its pre-order window, The Guardian reported that it was the biggest grossing pre-order item on Amazon.
At the moment, Microsoft is focused on developing Windows 10, which as we saw in October includes a whole set of new features that seems to combine the best parts of Windows 7 and Windows 8 to make an entirely new operating system. Additionally, the company is also working on a new browser codenamed "Spartan," which will ship alongside Internet Explorer 11 when the final version of Windows 10 is finished, which is expected to release sometime in Q2 or Q3 2015. More news about Windows 10 and perhaps the Spartan browser is expected to come next week, when more consumer-focused features will be discussed.
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Rexly Peñaflorida is a freelance writer for Tom's Hardware covering topics such as computer hardware, video games, and general technology news.
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Christopher1 You know, I would LOVE to upgrade to Windows 10.... except that my father likes WMC and since they removed WMC from the baseline version of Windows 8 and 10...... Yeah, see my problem here?Reply
Personally, I think that Windows 7 is going to be in 'extended support' for at least the next 20 years, judging from Windows XP. -
LostFate ReplyYou know, I would LOVE to upgrade to Windows 10.... except that my father likes WMC and since they removed WMC from the baseline version of Windows 8 and 10...... Yeah, see my problem here?
Personally, I think that Windows 7 is going to be in 'extended support' for at least the next 20 years, judging from Windows XP.
XBMC. Plex Home Theater.
You know, I would LOVE to upgrade to Windows 10.... except that my father likes WMC and since they removed WMC from the baseline version of Windows 8 and 10...... Yeah, see my problem here?
Personally, I think that Windows 7 is going to be in 'extended support' for at least the next 20 years, judging from Windows XP.
XBMC. Plex Home Theater. -
eklipz330 ReplyPersonally, I think that Windows 7 is going to be in 'extended support' for at least the next 20 years, judging from Windows XP.
Support for xp lasted 12. windows 7 support for 11. where are you getting this 20 years from -
bit_user I'll stick with Win7 until I have some hardware it can't support. I still have a copy of Pro I haven't even installed!Reply
I mostly use ubuntu (with KDE), anyhow.
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wishmaster12 I bought windows 8 upgrade the first day it came out for 50 bucks. it was full of bugs, and still doesn't have ,almost any driver support. 8.1 was a bit better but only a bit? windows 10 better be completely stable, with full driver support or extended support will be no more.........???????????????don't know!Reply -
Urzu1000 I've been using the Windows 10 technical preview since it's release. I'm pretty sure people aren't going to be as stubborn about this once they've given 10 a try. It's shaping up to be excellent.Reply
They're doing a good thing with it, and it will likely be their best operating system ever. Assuming they don't do something completely stupid to mess up the whole thing, like a subscription model. -
wishmaster12 Reply15049534 said:I've been using the Windows 10 technical preview since it's release. I'm pretty sure people aren't going to be as stubborn about this once they've given 10 a try. It's shaping up to be excellent.
They're doing a good thing with it, and it will likely be their best operating system ever. Assuming they don't do something completely stupid to mess up the whole thing, like a subscription model.