Clarification regarding "End of Support" detail please...

[Clouseau]

Newbie-grade Greetings to all from Down Under!


Forgive me if this has been covered before folks, but further to the whole subject of the coming 7pocalypse, I am hoping one of you might be able to categorically set the record straight on the following (seemingly) simple question:


Does Microsoft's "End of Support" for Windows 7 on January 14 next year mean:


A) That they will no longer issue any new updates from that day on, but that the whole catalogue of their previous updates will nonetheless still remain available for download (on a free basis) from their website for some time to come... (and if so, for how long?)


OR:


B) That not even the existing updates will be available for download from that day on...
(In which case, the critical question becomes - Has Microsoft declared any particular date yet as being the day on which they will issue their very last update prior to the final plug-pull?)


I very much suspect the correct answer is unfortunately going to be "B", but there has been no specific wording amongst everything I have read so far on the subject that categorically rules out "A" as being the actual case.


Whatever the answer, it seems that several of the ingredients are gradually tetris-ing into place for some type of monumental download-gridlock (images of the highway traffic-jam scene in "Deep Impact" come to mind, with 14th Jan. 2020 being the date that the comet hits in this instance...) All that will be needed to trigger the final mayhem will be a round of stories about the looming crisis on the nightly news channels...


Anyhow, on a more positive note, I know from occasional and useful lurks over the years that these forums have been around for quite a while now and are obviously very active and incredibly helpful. Of equal importance is the impression that they appear to remain a thoroughly civil place to communicate in (in spite of the trend towards the opposite in the majority of forums nowadays...) So genuine congratulations (newb-grade though they may be) to all and sundry are therefore most definitely in order!


Best Wishes, and Many Thanks in advance,
Clouseau.

 

[samuria]

Welcome to the forum. As far as we know old updates should still be available after January. It would be a good idea to ensure your fully updated before then and to use disk imaging to make an image. You can still update to ten for free and sooner or later you will have to get ten as all new PC's come with it and drivers for 7 won't be made

 

[wither 2]

As I understand it, since 2016 you can't upgrade from Win 7 to Win 10 for free. You have to buy a key.

 

[Brink]

Currently, if you have a legally activated Windows 7, you can still upgrade to Windows 10 for free.

:ar: Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free | Tutorials

 

[Megahertz07]

I'm preparing myself to the end of support.
- After a clean install without any program, I did an update using Simplix. Simplix is a single file with all the updates. Then I ran WU to see what could be missing and then I manually downloaded and installed those KB files. It's activate and up to date. Then I made disk image of the disk.
- I have the so called SP2 and all the security only updates on my computer, Visual C++ and Net framework 4.8 and 3.5
- There is also wsusoffline that searches MS catalog for windows and office updates (WSUS Offline Update - Update Microsoft Windows and Office without an Internet connection)

MS releases SP2 for Windows 7

 

[Skeys]

Also the HeiDoc download of Windows 7 is updated to August 2018. These have worked good on my systems and have been stable.

 

[Clouseau]

Dear Gents,

Thank-you to all respondents thus far.

Welcome to the forum. As far as we know old updates should still be available after January. It would be a good idea to ensure your fully updated before then and to use disk imaging to make an image.

My appreciation for the welcome Samuria. It's somewhat reassuring to hear your thoughts regarding the update-availability question. In accordance with your recommendation, however, I am nonetheless endeavouring to equip myself with a fully updated ISO by the time the meteor hits...

I'm preparing myself to the end of support.
- After a clean install without any program, I did an update using Simplix. Simplix is a single file with all the updates. Then I ran WU to see what could be missing and then I manually downloaded and installed those KB files. It's activate and up to date. Then I made disk image of the disk.
- I have the so called SP2 and all the security only updates on my computer, Visual C++ and Net framework 4.8 and 3.5
- There is also wsusoffline that searches MS catalog for windows and office updates (WSUS Offline Update - Update Microsoft Windows and Office without an Internet connection)

MS releases SP2 for Windows 7

Good post Megahertz. I will definitely look up that Simplix and wsusoffline that you speak of. So much to sniff out, so little time (after subtracting the day-to-day requirements of life...) Some of the amazing tools that have been talked about recently on this site give one a good chance of survival, though.

Also the HeiDoc download of Windows 7 is updated to August 2018. These have worked good on my systems and have been stable.

Thanks Skeys. I was contemplating starting another thread in due course regarding the MS August 2018 ISO that you speak of (because some of the HeiDoc gents don't seem to rate it too highly over on their forum, compared to the presently-unavailable plain-vanilla SP1 ISO), so it's excellent to hear of your own positive experience with it. To me (and doubtless many others I'm sure), it seems wise to procure more than one of these alternative ISO's, and then simply update them all.

Any more comments - especially regarding my original "A or B" question - would be most welcome. I honestly don't think the "A or B" matter has been properly covered anywhere before, and at the very least some coverage of it could bring a lot of lurkers (and thus a few more registrations) in this direction.

Best Wishes for now,
Clouseau.

 

[chuckhig]

Sorry if I missed something, but can I install Windows 10 on a flash drive and use it from there? Not so good at these compuiters. Thank you.

 

[SIW2]

Does Microsoft's "End of Support" for Windows 7 on January 14 next year mean:


A) That they will no longer issue any new updates from that day on, but that the whole catalogue of their previous updates will nonetheless still remain available for download (on a free basis) from their website for some time to come... (and if so, for how long?)

Yes, they will still be available for download. We don't know for how long, but it will be for a considerable time. Vista updates are still available, for example.

Simplix is very good way to do this. Dism++ is also useful
Update your Win 7 installation media.


More important is how long will antivirus and browsers, etc continue to support. On past experiencce, at least a couple of years.

 

[samuria]

If you use the media creation tool then you can download the iso and at the end it gives an option to write a dvd or usb its best to let ms create the usb for you

 

[wither 2]

Currently, if you have a legally activated Windows 7, you can still upgrade to Windows 10 for free.

:ar: Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free | Tutorials

My source was a computer magazine (which I'm not allowed to quote and can't identify it) which mentioned the GWX tool was removed in 2016. It went so far as to provide specifics on how to download the ISO you mentioned to a flash drive and install it. However, it also mentions that if you want to upgrade to the activated version, you'll need to buy a key. Maybe that's where the confusion arises since I don't know exactly what they mean by "upgrade to the activated version."

 

[Brink]

My source was a computer magazine (which I'm not allowed to quote and can't identify it) which mentioned the GWX tool was removed in 2016. It went so far as to provide specifics on how to download the ISO you mentioned to a flash drive and install it. However, it also mentions that if you want to upgrade to the activated version, you'll need to buy a key. Maybe that's where the confusion arises since I don't know exactly what they mean by "upgrade to the activated version."

It's true the official GWX tool Microsoft recommended to upgrade for free was removed.

However, you can still use the "Create Windows Installation Media" tool to directly upgrade from W7 to W10 for free.

I tested it on the date the tutorial was created (9/2/2019), and can verify it works.

While Microsoft doesn't advertise this method, it does use an official method to upgrade for free for now.

 

[wither 2]

I just took a look at the article I mentioned and they used the media creation tool at the Microsoft website. They did say you can run Win 10 but you'll need to buy a key if you decide to activate it. Of course, they mention the downsides of not activating. It also goes on to say that some Win 7 keys will actually work to activate it but offers no guarantees. It does mention you won't be able to dual boot Win 7 and Win 10 if you use the Win 7 key for activation.

I better quit paraphrasing.

Thanks for correcting me.

 

[Clouseau]

Yes, they will still be available for download. We don't know for how long, but it will be for a considerable time. Vista updates are still available, for example.

Simplix is very good way to do this. Dism++ is also useful
Update your Win 7 installation media.


More important is how long will antivirus and browsers, etc continue to support. On past experiencce, at least a couple of years.

Thanks very much for your reinforcement of the situation SIW2 (just in time too, before the dreaded "drift" got a death-hold of the thread )

At any rate, that updater of yours was one of the amazing tools that I referred to earlier, and was definitely on my list of good things that warranted further investigation


Best Wishes for now,
Clouseau

 

[chuckhig]

Understood, thank you.

 

[Bree]

...
B) That not even the existing updates will be available for download from that day on...

I very much suspect the correct answer is unfortunately going to be "B"...

I very much doubt that it will be "B". Even XP security updates are still available in the update catalog.
Microsoft Update Catalog - search = XP securty update

 

[patroz]

Does Microsoft's "End of Support" for Windows 7 on January 14 next year mean:
I very much suspect the correct answer is unfortunately going to be "B", but there has been no specific wording amongst everything I have read so far on the subject that categorically rules out "A" as being the actual case.
Whatever the answer, it seems that several of the ingredients are gradually tetris-ing into place for some type of monumental download-gridlock (images of the highway traffic-jam scene in "Deep Impact" come to mind, with 14th Jan. 2020 being the date that the comet hits in this instance...) All that will be needed to trigger the final mayhem will be a round of stories about the looming crisis on the nightly news channels...

I also see dns related problems on my computer. While pinging I see the error ping request could not find host and please check the name and try again. I followed some steps motioned in this guide. Ping Request Could not Find Host. Please Check the Name and Try again. But it returns in next day.

I also checked the steps mentioned on this page. I hope this ping failure to find the host is just a temporary dns issue.

Anyhow, on a more positive note, I know from occasional and useful lurks over the years that these forums have been around for quite a while now and are obviously very active and incredibly helpful. Of equal importance is the impression that they appear to remain a thoroughly civil place to communicate in (in spite of the trend towards the opposite in the majority of forums nowadays...) So genuine congratulations (newb-grade though they may be) to all and sundry are therefore most definitely in order!

They will not give anymore Windows 7 updates after the end of support. However, We will be able to download the older updates for a limited time from the Microsoft website.

But the best practice is to upgrade to Windows 10 before the end of Windows 7 support.

We will face issues with getting Apps and drivers which support Windows 7 after that day.

No more bug fixing for Windows 7 after the end of support.

 

[Megahertz07]

They will not give anymore Windows 7 updates after the end of support. However, We will be able to download the older updates for a limited time from the Microsoft website.

But the best practice is to upgrade to Windows 10 before the end of Windows 7 support.
Win 10 isn't an upgrade, it's a downgrade. Go to General Support - Windows 10 Forums and you will see how many people is facing stability issues.

We will face issues with getting Apps and drivers which support Windows 7 after that day.
Win 7 will work as it does today, nothing will change.

No more bug fixing for Windows 7 after the end of support.
The only bugs are from non security updates. That is why most of us now only install the Security only updates or don't install any at all.

Win 10 is much more problematic and unstable than Win 7

 

[Clouseau]

Understood, thank you.

Sorry Chuckhig - I should have put the "Winking" smilie after the "Rolling Eyes". I meant it very much tongue-in-cheek...

I very much doubt that it will be "B". Even XP security updates are still available in the update catalog.
Microsoft Update Catalog - search = XP securty update

Gosh, that's amazing Breelander! I had no idea they were still there...
Why do the buggers hide those non-current-OS updates so meticulously? (As if they don't actually want you to find them... But that can't be true of course...:sarc

Okay, well, given that those Vista updates are still there, I guess the answer is looking much more likely as being "A", which is great. There might not be a traffic jam when the comet hits after all...

I'm very tempted to mark the thread as "solved". The only thing missing is a written statement from Microsoft. I wonder if they've got a good ol'fashioned email address that I can write to, that wont result in an interminable stream of non-opt-outable promotional messages and 10-upgrade-related nags coming back, after not getting a proper answer out of them anyway...? (Heck, I think I better split for now. I'm obviously in the grips of cynical'osis...)

Best Wishes for now,
Clouseau.

 

[townsbg]

There will (likely) be no more updates for the OS itself but there might be definition updates for defender as well as MSE, if you have that. Based on how they handled Vista I would say that they will release a version for MSE that contains a warning about their end of support. They will eventually stop releasing updates for MSE but continue to provide definition updates and then later on stop the definition updates. They will probably continue junk email filter updates for Windows mail for awhile and likely leave manual downloads on the website as well as well as offer the older updates through WU. However, we aren't M$ nor are we affiliated with them so we don't know what they will do for sure. They still have old updates available for XP and Vista though. Considering 7's popularity my guess is that they will likely keep the updates for quite awhile. Just a note, within the last few years M$ did release a few important update on XP for a big vulnerability so who's to say that they won't eventually have to do so with 7.

Pertaining what to do, that's really up to you. You have to determine what's best for you. If you feel safe staying with 7 and have safe practices on the net you can do certainly do so. Or you might determine that if you should go with 10 or an alternative like Linux. There are already numerous ongoing threads debating the issue so I won't go any further on that. You might want to read several of the threads and maybe even participate. As has happened on Vista eventually browsers and third party antivirus software will stop being updated. However consider how much more popular 7 is than Vista ever was that'll likely take longer than with Vista but again we aren't with these companies so we don't know for sure. All we can do here is provide an educated guess. My educated guess is that careful users with antivirus software and updated browsers (other than IE) will be able to maintain 7 for a few years after end of support but they should really be concerned about privacy on the net when third party manufacturers of browsers and AVS's stop supporting 7. Until then continue using 7 if you want. No one will force you to upgrade to 10 although they might make it more difficult and riskier to stay on it.