Sales of Windows 7 and 8.1 licenses to OEMs has ended

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    Sales of Windows 7 and 8.1 licenses to OEMs has ended


    Posted: 02 Nov 2016
    Just a few months after Microsoft celebrated the first anniversary of its latest operating system with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, the company has finally stopped selling Windows 7 Professional and Windows 8.1 licenses to PC OEMs as of yesterday, October 31 (via VentureBeat). While some retailers may still have stock of these old machines, Windows 10 has now become the only way to go for PC manufacturers.

    As a reminder, Microsoft already stopped selling Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 licenses to consumers back in October 2013 and September 2015, respectively:



    Read more: Microsoft's sales of Windows 7 and 8.1 licenses to OEMs has ended ? WinBeta

    See also: Windows lifecycle fact sheet
    Brink's Avatar Posted By: Brink
    02 Nov 2016



  1. Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       #1

    Hi,
    BYOB was always known as Bring your own beer
    Now it's bring your own build
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 Ultimate x86
       #2

    Brink said:
    Just a few months after Microsoft celebrated the first anniversary of its latest operating system with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, the company has finally stopped selling Windows 7 Professional and Windows 8.1 licenses to PC OEMs as of yesterday, October 31 (via VentureBeat). While some retailers may still have stock of these old machines, Windows 10 has now become the only way to go for PC manufacturers.

    As a reminder, Microsoft already stopped selling Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 licenses to consumers back in October 2013 and September 2015, respectively:



    Read more: Microsoft's sales of Windows 7 and 8.1 licenses to OEMs has ended ? WinBeta

    See also: Windows lifecycle fact sheet
    I don't want Windows 7 to go out of support in the next 5 years... like XP they should add 2 more years..
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 31,249
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #3

    Of course if you decide to run Windows 7 Post 2020 when Free Extended Support ends then there will very likely be other options - Either Paid services from Microsoft themselves, As available fro XP after the end of free support, or from private companies. This a good possibility as the Business world, (for many reasons), are only now going over to Windows 7 completely so will need support for several years yet, and they are prepared to pay to receive it
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #4

    Their is also a possibility by 2020 W10 will be very desirable by those of us still hanging onto Windows 7.
    Their is also a possibility that another operating system will be created by somebody.
    I guess I will just wait and see.

    Jack
      My Computer


  5. NoN
    Posts : 4,166
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 - x64 [Non-UEFI Boot]
       #5

    As Jack said let's hope (this is not a very nice way to think...but) Windows 10 "code name xxx" will be the ultimate OS by that end of cycle for Windows 7.

    Those that have bought this year and earlier have some time to prepare themselves for the upgrade. By next year it will not be the same. This is the end my friend!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       #6

    Hi,
    Not over till the fat lady sings :)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       #7

    The same discussion comes up at each end of support. The only exception may be Windows 8/8.1? It seems most of those users either went back to 7 or on to 10? I moved on to 10, but see why some prefer 7. I did at first.
    Large Corporations can afford to pay for extended extended support. Legacy, proprietary software usually dictates what they do.
    Joe consumer doesn't have much choice though. Take your chances or move on.
    Eventually, Microsoft will only have the one, continuously evolving, consumer version of Windows to support. The writings on the wall. The current (Windows 10) mandatory Windows update means your always current. Eventually, when extended support for Windows 8.1 ends, there will only be one version of Windows supported. Assuming your PC updates OK,
    Even in Enterprise there will only be Enterprise or Enterprise LTSB.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #8

    A good read. All versions of W-10 should have options for LTSB.


    Windows 10 Without the Cruft: Windows 10 LTSB (Long Term Servicing Branch), Explained

    LTSB fixes many of the problems that many people like me have been looking for.
    Why Microsoft doesn't offer this option to small business and home users is not answered.
    My Tin Foil Hat belief would be no telemetry. The user chooses what to download and install not Microsoft. What a novel idea. As a home user I would buy Enterprise LTSB if I could get it just to stay away from Microsoft garbage.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       #9

    You don't get any new features with LTSB. Your build is basically frozen. And I do believe you still need access to Windows Update for Business or WUS to control what updates get delivered. I can get it via MSDN but haven't tried it as of yet. I've run Enterprise here at Home and it updates like my regular version of Pro does. I don't have access to Windows Update for Business, I basically have to take what Windows Update gives me just like everybody else. I'm no expert on this but my understanding is what updates are delivered are determined by what settings are done on that companies WUS server. The IT guy decides not the individual user. Same deal with Windows Update for Business. The IT guy sets it up and choses what updates get pushed to the PC's that use it for updates. There are also some options you can configure on the PC's via Group Policy.
      My Computer


 
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