Windows 7 End of Support - What to Do Next

Even though Windows 10 has been officially released for just over six years now, there is a huge number of systems that still run Windows 7. This is evidenced both by cyber attacks that target only Windows 7 systems and by statistical information showing that nearly a quarter of all Windows users still run Windows 7.

Microsoft officially ended support for the Windows 7 OS in the middle of January 2020, a year and a half ago. This means that the Windows 7 platform will not be receiving any sort of support, updates or future patches. This has a number of implications for users.

First and foremost, staying on Windows 7 means you are not using the most up-to-date, best patches and best protected version of your operating system. Microsoft release regular updates that include both quality of life features and security fixes for Windows 10. The same sort of patching was done for Windows 7 before its official support ended.

Switching to Windows 10 is definitely a step in the right direction, for a number of reasons. The new operating system comes with an integrated anti-malware tool called Windows Defender. A similar tool existed in Windows 7 but did not protect against the same range of threats that the Windows 10 version does, specifically it primarily targeted spyware, while the new version protects against all types of malware.

Another benefit if you decide to upgrade to Windows 10 would be access to Microsoft's DirectX 12 technology. If you play games on your home PC, you will benefit greatly from the upgrade, as more and more games embrace the DX12 API because it offers performance gains and streamlines development. In the foreseeable future, a lot more games will use the DX12 framework, especially after Microsoft's acquisition of a number of massive, multi-studio publishers and developers.

Finally, Windows 10 also offers a number of new features that have to do with ease of access and quality of life.

If you missed the free upgrade window, during which you could update your OS from Windows 7 to Windows 10 without purchasing a new license, you will need to purchase a license for Windows 10. There are multiple editions and versions of the Windows 10 OS available for purchase from Microsoft and licensed retailers, so there is likely an option for any scenario and specific case.

August 27, 2021
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