Jan. 13 marks the end of mainstream support for Windows 7

Page 1 of 17 12311 ... LastLast

    Jan. 13 marks the end of mainstream support for Windows 7


    Posted: 11 Jan 2015
    It might be difficult to believe, but on Jan. 13 we begin the final countdown for Windows 7.

    On that date, one of Microsoft’s best and most successful versions of Windows hits its official “end of mainstream support.” Here’s what that means for all Win7 users.
    Source

    A Guy
    A Guy's Avatar Posted By: A Guy
    11 Jan 2015



  1. Posts : 90
    windows 7 pro 64bit sp1
       #1

    Thanks for the post i think microsoft is really going down hill. I mean how long was xp out before they stopped supporting it. It even outlasted vista but not they are already dropping 7 i think its getting to be a big money scandal
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 127
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #2

    Here's to hoping they extend Extended support beyond 2020 - similar to the extendeded life cycle of XP. I plan on running Win 7 as long as possible. My favorite OS so far :)
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2,465
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #3

    Irrelevant for the user. Windows 7 (and actually any software) will live for as long as people use it. The fact that MS wants to kill it to buy newer versions is irrelevant for the use of the already deployed OS.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8,135
    Windows 10 64 bit
       #4

    Here is the info from the latest Windows Secrets newsletter. Obviously Win 7 is not dead, just that mainstream support ends.

    It might be difficult to believe, but on Jan. 13 we begin the final countdown for Windows 7.
    On that date, one of Microsoft's best and most successful versions of Windows hits its official "end of mainstream support." Here's what that means for all Win7 users.
    Windows 7 enters its extended-support phase
    Most major Microsoft products have a formal life cycle that includes two key end-of-life dates. For Windows, those dates are listed on Microsoft's "Windows lifecycle fact sheet" webpage. The first date — End of mainstream support — effectively means that Microsoft will no longer offer free updates to the operating system.
    Once mainstream support ends for a specific version of Windows, it then enters its Extended support phase, during which Microsoft offers only essential fixes and security updates. (Companies can also pay for specific nonsecurity updates.) When an OS reaches its End of extended support milestone, all official support ends. Windows XP, as many Windows Secrets readers know, passed its "End of extended support" date on April 8, 2014. It has not had official updates of any kind since. (For more specifics on MS product life cycles, see the online "Microsoft support lifecycle policy FAQ.")
    As noted in the "Windows lifecycle fact sheet," Jan. 13 marks the end of mainstream support for all versions of Windows 7 SP1. What does that mean for the millions of us doing our daily computing on Win7 systems? Very soon, our operating systems will be essentially frozen — we'll no longer receive any enhancements or nonessential fixes. We will, however, receive monthly security updates until Jan. 14, 2020, Win7's official "End of extended support" date (at which point, Microsoft will want us on Windows 13 — or whatever it's then called).
    Just as with XP this past April, Win7 systems should no longer receive updates of any kind after January 2020. And just as XP is now, Windows 7 will then become extremely vulnerable to new malware and exploits. Win7 will continue to work well after 2020 (there's no deadline for your Win7 license), but I wouldn't use it to go online. (I hope all XP users have heeded my advice and are now using some other device for their Internet activities.)
    Bottom line: Windows 7 is far from dead, but it is entering its final phase of official life. It's time to plan for that change.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 53,363
    Windows 10 Home x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    fireberd said:
    Here is the info from the latest Windows Secrets newsletter. Obviously Win 7 is not dead, just that mainstream support ends.
    That's the article I linked to in my post

    A Guy
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 5,956
    Win 7 Pro x64, Win 10 Pro x64, Linux Light x86
       #6

    I think I will be using Win 7 for as long as I can .. thank you Bill .. and happy new year honey
      My Computer


  7. Arc
    Posts : 35,373
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview 64-bit
       #7

    Long live windows 7, the best OS ever.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5,941
    Linux CENTOS 7 / various Windows OS'es and servers
       #8

    Hi there

    Some of you long time users really SHOULD have a look at W10 -- it unlike W8/8.1 will be almost identical to W7 in use for desktop users, has some very decent features not available in W7 and will run in general a lot faster and with a lot more security even on older hardware.

    I could see a reason for people NOT wanting W8 but I can't really see ANY reason whatsoever to avoid the upgrade to W10 as and when it appears in due course -- always assuming that the price is right.

    I challenge a lot of W7 users to tell me what they CAN'T do in W10 that they CAN do in W7 (apart possibly from some really old legacy programs).

    Even on the previews I haven't found stuff that won't work on W10 that works on W7 -- Even things like SAPGUI which isn't officially supported even on Windows 8 works fine on W10 preview.

    I'm not saying W7 is rubbish --far from it - probably one of the best OS's ever to be developed for mass use - but it's time to move on - especially with newer hardware.

    The only previso is cost of course -- and also always remember that you can continue to run the OS as a VM for as long as you want irrespective of support dates.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       #9

    10 up until now is not a viable upgrade it's more an annoyance than an upgrade,
    Look forward to 1/21/15 for the new version but I'm not too optimistic any real changes will be made

    The only os 10 will replace is 8... and that's no prize or accomplishment
      My Computer


 
Page 1 of 17 12311 ... LastLast

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 16:37.
Find Us