When Microsoft introduced Windows 7 to the general public on October 22, 2009, it made a commitment for product support of Windows 7 for 10 years. On January 14, 2020 the product support for Windows 7 will end, this will include both updates and technical support.
What does this mean for you if are still using Windows 7 after January 14, 2020. For starter it may be a good idea to move to Windows 10 as soon as possible. When product support ends there will no longer be updates for Windows 7. You can continue to use Windows 7, but you will be taking a risk with no updates your computer will be vulnerable to security risks and viruses, there will no longer be security updates from Microsoft.
How to prepare for Windows 7 end of life: Microsoft highly recommends an upgrade to Windows 10. When upgrading make sure the Windows 7 PC is compatible with the Windows 10 software. The minimal requirements for upgrade:
- Processor: 1 giga hertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC.
- RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB or 64-bit.
- Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS, 20 GB for 64-bit OS.
- Graphic card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
- Display: 800×600
For those that have a Windows 7 PC that isn’t compatible with Windows 10 software, it is highly recommended that they purchase a PC with Windows 10. PCs today are much faster and lighter than when Windows 7 first come on to the scene, and less expensive also then they were. It maybe time for an entire PC replacement.
If you run a business that still uses Windows 7, then you have a dilemma. Upgrading all your PCs to Windows 10, and retraining staff, might prove tricky before Windows 7’s End of Life on January 14 2020.
However, you don’t want to risk running an operating system that doesn’t get security patches. The good news is that Microsoft will be offering Windows 7 Extended Security Updates, which will continue to deliver updates and patches for Windows 7 business users after January 2020.
However, the updates will come at a price on a per device basis, just how much it will cost for support for Windows Enterprise users using Windows 7: For the first year after the End of Life date (January 2020 – January 2021), the cost is $25 per device. This rises to $50 per device for year two (January 2021 – January 2022), For year three $100 per device (January 2022 to January 2023).
It appears that at the moment Microsoft is hoping by 2023, Windows 7 use will be small enough to stop offering the extended security updates.
No matter which route you take it is advised that you safely back up your documents. Whether you are upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10 or moving to a Linux or a Mac make sure you have your documents backed up to transfer to your new operating system.
Customized Computer Services, Inc. (CCSI) has been serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Area for 29 years. We have helped our business clients to migrate to Windows 10 seamlessly, as we move towards the end of life for Windows 7. Contact us to help your business upgrade to Windows 10.