Windows 7 End Support - Making transition to Windows 10 and Office 365

Brink · Mar 12, 2019

After 10 years, support for Windows 7 is coming to an end on January 14, 2020, with Office 2010 following shortly thereafter. We are here to help you with recommendations for what to do next and answer questions that you may have about end of support.

End of support means that your Windows 7 or Office 2010 software will no longer receive updates, including security updates. But, there’s good news – Windows 10 is the most secure Windows ever and Office 365 delivers the latest in personal productivity. Together they make a perfect pair to help you do everything you were doing before – safer, faster and easier.

To help our customers get advanced notice of this change, we are reaching out with information and resources. Beginning next month, if you are a Windows 7 customer, you can expect to see a notification appear on your Windows 7 PC. This is a courtesy reminder that you can expect to see a handful of times in 2019. By starting the reminders now, our hope is that you have time to plan and prepare for this transition. These notifications are designed to help provide information only and if you would prefer not to receive them again, you’ll be able to select an option for “do not notify me again,” and we will not send you any further reminders. Just as software has changed over the years, so has hardware. To learn more about the latest line-up of modern PCs and information for moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10, just click on the “learn more” button on the notification.

If you want to get started today, you can visit www.microsoft.com/windows7 to find out more. The transition to Windows 10 and Office 365 has never been simpler and this site is designed to help you along that journey. The content available will help you with data transfer to easily get your photos and documents onto a new PC. It will also show you tips for choosing a new device and getting up to speed quickly with the familiar but newer versions of Windows and Office. Once you have started with a new device, online support is always a single click away – whenever you’re ready, we’re here to help. You can also visit a physical Microsoft Store for help with any technology issue no matter where you purchased the device.

For commercial customers, you’ve been on this journey for a while now. Check out this blog post from January or go here to learn more about the shift to a modern desktop with Microsoft 365 – including Windows 10 and Office 365 – for your business.

Thank you to all of you who have loved Windows 7 and Office 2010 and for letting us serve you and be part of your lives. We’re grateful for your loyalty and we’re here to help you through this transition.

Thanks,
Matt

Source: Making the transition to Windows 10 and Office 365 | Windows Experience Blog

See also:

:tip: Windows 10 Help Forums

Lady Fitzgerald · Mar 12, 2019

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

Brds7t7 · Mar 12, 2019

"These notifications are designed to help provide information only and if you would prefer not to receive them again, you’ll be able to select an option for do not notify me again, and we will not send you any further reminders."

That's what they should've added to the Windows 10 GWX update!

townsbg · Mar 12, 2019

Still trying to sucker in a billion users so they can start renting it out or something even more dastardly.

svnfrms2r · Mar 13, 2019

Where is the list of all the things that do not work anymore in windows 10 compared to windows 7 or windows xp? And was windows 10 not also forcing users to upgrade to a certain hardware, and once on it, the old 7 and xp would not work on it anymore? Someone called it "update rape" or "upgrade rape", either way, it is worse than deceitful medieval landlords who come smiling to invite into a new home while moving costs hundreds of hours of installing, adjustments, fixing, etc to get a system with dozens (or much more) programs to work smoothly (again!), and that is not even speaking of the significant investments made over the years into software and hardware that is being made obsolete by greedy, uninspired, dishonest digital robber barons and electronic highwaymen!

LevelBest · Mar 15, 2019

I have reluctantly started to think about this. It irritates me no end that I am in this position as I bought my first laptop with Win 7 and MS Office 2007 in 2012 and all have served me well. I don't want to change. OK, so now I've got the grumbles out of the way, what to do?

Do I upgrade to Win 10 when there seems to be much negativity about it? If I upgrade will my documents, music, photos be preserved?

And software, I have Office 2007 and no wish to change it. It works perfectly for my needs.

I have had a look at Linux which seems tempting in some areas, no telemetry for instance, but not sure if my lack of computer knowledge is going to be up to it.

Also, could I keep using Windows 7 and get the premium version of MalwareBytes to protect me?

At the moment, it all feels like too much hard work to replace something which doesn't need replacing.

LevelBest

Paul Black · Mar 15, 2019

As I have said in previous threads, there is no reason to stop using Win 7. As long as you have a system image [preferably 2] and backup your data and files on a regular basis, if the OS gets corrupted etc you can restore the system image, data and files and you are back to square one in next to no time at all!

Brds7t7 · Mar 15, 2019

The best thing to do is try it out for yourself. You can only know if it suits your needs if you try it out.
Try setting it up in a Virtual Machine, install it for 30 days, you don't need a key to do that. Play around with it, and see what you think.

I'm personally not a fan of 10 myself, at least how it is in it's current form. But, I would never tell people not to use it, that's down to personal choice.

I will continue to use 7 and 8.1 for a while. I'm sure there will be many using 7 for a while, as it's still on around 40% of PCs worldwide.
Linux could be an option, I've gradually started to use it a lot more over the past 12 months.

I did use Office 2007 for a while, but I've found myself using LibreOffice a lot more now. I don't know if it would meet advanced users needs, but for everything I do in Office 2007, I can do just the same in LibreOffice. Again, try it out and see what you think.

I've found myself moving away from a lot of MS consumer products these days. I don't use any of their services now, besides Windows of course. I don't use any of their music services or apps from their store. In fact, I don't even have the store installed on 8.1, I stripped all the metro stuff out. I don't even use OneDrive now.

I'm a long time PlayStation guy since the PS1, so I don't have an XBox and have never owned one.

LevelBest · Mar 15, 2019

Thank you, both.

Paul: I do all of that in any case as good practice.

I have had a look at Linux and how to have a look at it via the key to see if it meets my needs.

The other option, as you say 40% of users still have Win7, if I paid for the premium version of MalwareBytes, would that protect the computer? I don't do a huge amount of buying online, but I would not want to be at risk.

LB

Brds7t7 · Mar 15, 2019

LevelBest said:
Thank you, both.

Paul: I do all of that in any case as good practice.

I have had a look at Linux and how to have a look at it via the key to see if it meets my needs.

The other option, as you say 40% of users still have Win7, if I paid for the premium version of MalwareBytes, would that protect the computer? I don't do a huge amount of buying online, but I would not want to be at risk.

LB

I haven't used any MalwareBytes version past 3.4.4 as every version after that seems to slow my PC to a crawl. Could be just a conflict with something else I have installed, but I've never had the patience to look into it. I don't tinker around with PCs as much as I used to, and just want things that work these days - wishful thinking, I know!

I think MalwareBytes do a trial version though, so you could try that out too. There are plenty of ways to protect your PC and good online common sense also helps a lot. Just be careful what you're browsing and downloading.

There are still people using XP after its support ended in 2014. I did have it running in a VM still until last year, when I finally decided I just didn't use it much anymore.

LevelBest · Mar 15, 2019

I have MB free version running for several years without problems, so upgrading to a premium version shouldn't be too much of a difficulty.

Interesting that people are still using XP without updates. I guess there will be many people who will choose to continue with Win7 and implement other things to stay safe, which is what I'm thinking of doing with MB.

Maybe there's a lot of fear driven stuff out there saying you won't be safe unless you upgrade to Win10, so it's difficult to know how true or not this is. I guess the only way will be to try it and see.

svnfrms2r · Mar 15, 2019

townsbg said:
Still trying to sucker in a billion users so they can start renting it out or something even more dastardly.

agreed

LevelBest said:
I have reluctantly started to think about this. It irritates me no end that I am in this position as I bought my first laptop with Win 7 and MS Office 2007 in 2012 and all have served me well. I don't want to change. OK, so now I've got the grumbles out of the way, what to do?

Do I upgrade to Win 10 when there seems to be much negativity about it? If I upgrade will my documents, music, photos be preserved?

And software, I have Office 2007 and no wish to change it. It works perfectly for my needs.

I have had a look at Linux which seems tempting in some areas, no telemetry for instance, but not sure if my lack of computer knowledge is going to be up to it.

Also, could I keep using Windows 7 and get the premium version of MalwareBytes to protect me?

At the moment, it all feels like too much hard work to replace something which doesn't need replacing.

LevelBest

yes, never change a well-running system

Paul Black said:
As I have said in previous threads, there is no reason to stop using Win 7. As long as you have a system image [preferably 2] and backup your data and files on a regular basis, if the OS gets corrupted etc you can restore the system image, data and files and you are back to square one in next to no time at all!

good point!

Brds7t7 said:
The best thing to do is try it out for yourself. You can only know if it suits your needs if you try it out.
Try setting it up in a Virtual Machine, install it for 30 days, you don't need a key to do that. Play around with it, and see what you think.

I'm personally not a fan of 10 myself, at least how it is in it's current form. But, I would never tell people not to use it, that's down to personal choice.

I will continue to use 7 and 8.1 for a while. I'm sure there will be many using 7 for a while, as it's still on around 40% of PCs worldwide.
Linux could be an option, I've gradually started to use it a lot more over the past 12 months.

I did use Office 2007 for a while, but I've found myself using LibreOffice a lot more now. I don't know if it would meet advanced users needs, but for everything I do in Office 2007, I can do just the same in LibreOffice. Again, try it out and see what you think.

I've found myself moving away from a lot of MS consumer products these days. I don't use any of their services now, besides Windows of course. I don't use any of their music services or apps from their store. In fact, I don't even have the store installed on 8.1, I stripped all the metro stuff out. I don't even use OneDrive now.

I'm a long time PlayStation guy since the PS1, so I don't have an XBox and have never owned one.

makes sense

Had the same feelings re XP which was good for me 2001-2018, holy!
Already started experimenting with linux and w7 since 2012, but having seen the info on w10, this will never happen.
Linux with various windows in various VMs, and no problems with any crazy updates.
Even crapple hackintosh walled gardens run in VMs!

AFAIK, mso2007 will not work properly in w10.
Agree that LibreOffice is good for most stuff and makes updates easy.
And if you want the very nice mso2000 deluxe dev in w10, forget it.
Even tried w10, but it does a bit what it wants, and without OpenShell it is to much of a change GUIwise.
True, one should try and be fair, let folks decide. But how freely do they decide if a forced upgrade is upon them even without their knowledge it happened to some?!

Re long-term security of non-updated w7: kaspersky, bitdefender, or some other top virusscanner, then a top internet and execution firewall, and a top vpn, and being vigilant, then it should be quite safe, and especially if within a VM!
FUD is the key behind most (upgrade) politics

And if that is not enough, some ugly threats are created to keep the wheel turning...

Does anyone know how to turn a normal w7 license (home, pro, ultimate) into an enterprise one to digest the coming years of updates for w7enterprise?

townsbg · Mar 16, 2019

svnfrms2r said:
Does anyone know how to turn a normal w7 license (home, pro, ultimate) into an enterprise one to digest the coming years of updates for w7enterprise?

Legally, you have to purchase one from M$ using their multi-volume license agreement which is also required for the extended support.

michael diemer · Mar 16, 2019

svnfrms2r said:
Where is the list of all the things that do not work anymore in windows 10 compared to windows 7 or windows xp? And was windows 10 not also forcing users to upgrade to a certain hardware, and once on it, the old 7 and xp would not work on it anymore? Someone called it "update rape" or "upgrade rape", either way, it is worse than deceitful medieval landlords who come smiling to invite into a new home while moving costs hundreds of hours of installing, adjustments, fixing, etc to get a system with dozens (or much more) programs to work smoothly (again!), and that is not even speaking of the significant investments made over the years into software and hardware that is being made obsolete by greedy, uninspired, dishonest digital robber barons and electronic highwaymen!

As a user of Cakewalk music creation software, I can confirm from their forum that Windows 10, that state of the art operating system, frequently breaks Cakewalk following updates. fortunately, I still use Windows 7. i also use an earlier version of the new Cakewalk, which works fine. If it ain't broke...Most others rabidly install every new monthly update, then spend precious time figuring out why it doesn't work with W10. you have to be smarter than that. Of course, most people aren't.

torchwood · Mar 17, 2019

The biggest problem i can see is that IE11 will not be updated.
you can bet there's gonna be attacks on it

My advice turn it OFF - under Programs & Features >> Features on/off ( top left)
Use another browser.

Roy

svnfrms2r · Mar 18, 2019

townsbg said:
Legally, you have to purchase one from M$ using their multi-volume license agreement which is also required for the extended support.

Ayes, thanks, and feature-wise, is enterprise like w7pro or like w7ultimate?

townsbg · Mar 18, 2019

Windows 7 editions - Wikipedia

AK6DN · Mar 19, 2019

If there were an in-place upgrade from Win 7 to Win 10 (like from XP to Vista to Win7) I might consider Win 10. Else I am fine on Win 7. Just transferring data is NOT enough. I am not going to reinstall all the software I have installed over time.

Brds7t7 · Mar 19, 2019

AK6DN said:
If there were an in-place upgrade from Win 7 to Win 10 (like from XP to Vista to Win7) I might consider Win 10. Else I am fine on Win 7. Just transferring data is NOT enough. I am not going to reinstall all the software I have installed over time.

I only tried an-inplace upgrade once many years ago, and it didn't go too well at all. Actually, it was a PITA and caused more issues than it was worth. I ended up just clean installing. Fortunately (or unfortunately), I'm OCD when it comes to backing up files, settings, etc.

Took a while longer, but at least it didn't bring all the crap from the older OS with it.
Other users here probably had better luck than I did. The popular consensus here though is that it's better to do a clean install.

As far as I'm aware, Windows 10 will still accept Windows 7 licence keys when doing a clean install with 10 media, and that will automatically upgrade the licence to 10 once activated. I don't think MS has ever changed that, even though the free upgrade promotion has long gone.

LevelBest · Mar 19, 2019

torchwood said:
The biggest problem i can see is that IE11 will not be updated.
you can bet there's gonna be attacks on it

My advice turn it OFF - under Programs & Features >> Features on/off ( top left)
Use another browser.

Roy

Good point. I installed Chrome a while back and prefer it to IE11 anyway.

Windows 7 End Support - Making transition to Windows 10 and Office 365

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