Windows 7 Support Ended Officially January 14, 2020

Windows 7 has now reached its End of Life (EOL) on 14 January 2020, but a large number of the world's computers systems, most in home, business and corporate environments, are still running the nine-year-old operating system.

Microsoft actually ended their mainstream support for Windows 7 in January 2015, but with extended support from the manufacturer running till 14 January 2020. Users and businesses who fail to migrate in time will be saddled with high fees for further support from Microsoft.

This End of Life support means no more bug-fixes, security patches or new added functionality, making any user – whether personal or enterprise - significantly more susceptible to problems and malware attacks. Just as it did with Windows XP, Microsoft will continue to offer support for those Windows 7 users still reluctant to upgrade to its Windows 10 Home/Pro/Education/Enterprise OS, but it'll cost you.

Millions of Workstations are Still Running on Windows 7

Now that Microsoft has ceased issuing free updates and patches for Windows 7, millions of workstations are still running the legacy OS, leaving them exposed to vulnerabilities and lack of support.

Even Microsoft strongly recommends that you upgrade to Windows 10 in order to avoid a sticky situation where you end up needing service or support that is no longer available.

Some of the reasons behind the slow migration process for Windows 7 PCs vary depending on the existing software applications in place. This is applicable to finance, law, offices and all types of business and home users including students. Another possibility is that some older applications may be unable to run on the newest OS versions, or depending on the Windows 10 minimum hardware requirements for your computer or laptop. You can run the Windows 10 Readiness checker to check if the PCs in your network can handle Windows 10.

Upgrade your Windows 7 to 10

Now that Windows 7 EOL has arrived, you can choose to migrate from Windows 7 to 10 using your existing settings. You can upgrade by doing a fresh installation or upgrade using the Windows setup by using the media creation tool. 32- and 64-bit support is available on the newer OS as well as a host of new features.

How Big is the Security Threat?

Software Base has seen security threads coming from outdated Operating Systems, unpatched vulnerabilities and so forth. The longer you or your company waits with updating their computer systems, the risk increases for a potentially costly attack. We advise you not to wait any longer, prevail and start upgrading all the devices in your home or business network.

What about my Office package?

The below versions of Office have been fully tested with the new OS and are supported on Windows 10. They will still need be installed on your computer after the upgrade to Windows 10 is complete if you have done a fresh install. Otherwise the application should still be available if you upgrade and keep files/settings.

• Office 365 (Version 16)
• Office 2019 (Version 16)
• Office 2016 (Version 16)
• Office 2013 (Version 15)
• Office 2010 (Version 14)

According to the manufacturer, Office 2007 (Version 12) is no longer part of their mainstream support and hasn't been tested on Windows 10. However, we tried and did a Windows 7 to Windows 10 upgrade on our own PCs, Office 2007 will install and run on Windows 10.

How to Upgrade Windows 7 to 10?

Microsoft has made the upgrade process very easy for users.

Firstly, all you need to do is get the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to get your upgrade started. Head over to the Windows 10 download page and select Download tool now.

Once it’s downloaded, launch the app (it’s a small file) and agree to all of the various terms and conditions that it will throw at you. Simply select “Upgrade This PC” when the option is displayed. You’ll need have some good free space on your hard drive, so you might find that you’ll need to free up some space – or if you are an advanced user you may want to run the installation from an external drive.

Next up, the application will ask if you want to keep your existing files and programs, or you wish start afresh with none of the baggage from your previous software installation. We recommend that if your system has been working away slowly for the last few months (and you’ve got all your important data like applications and media saved on an external drive or using a cloud storage solution), you might see huge performance gains from a completely clean installation. But for most people, keeping all of your files and apps intact is probably the best option.

You have successfully upgraded from Windows 7 to 10. We stock Windows 10 and Office software license keys for activation if needs must. See our wide range of products and get your code to activate your latest software today.

As of recent years, despite Microsoft ending support for Windows 7 in January 2020, some industries continue to use it due to various reasons such as compatibility with legacy systems, cost considerations, and specific industry requirements. These industries include:

1. Healthcare: Hospitals and medical facilities often have specialized software and equipment that were originally designed to work with Windows 7. Upgrading these systems can be costly and complex, requiring thorough testing to ensure compatibility and patient safety.
2. Manufacturing: Many manufacturing facilities use machinery and control systems that rely on software compatible with Windows 7. Upgrading these systems might require significant investment in new hardware and software, which can be prohibitively expensive.
3. Banking and Finance: Some financial institutions use legacy systems for ATMs, transaction processing, and other critical operations that were built for Windows 7. These systems are often highly customized and can be difficult to upgrade without disrupting services.
4. Government: Various government agencies and institutions may still use Windows 7 due to the extensive bureaucratic processes involved in approving and implementing upgrades. These organizations often have legacy applications that require thorough vetting and testing before transitioning to newer operating systems.
5. Education: Schools and educational institutions, particularly those with limited budgets, may still use Windows 7 on older computers. The cost of upgrading to newer systems can be a significant barrier, especially in underfunded districts.
6. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): Many SMEs continue to use Windows 7 due to the cost of upgrading hardware and software. These businesses often prioritise other investments over IT upgrades unless absolutely necessary.
7. Embedded Systems: Devices with embedded systems, such as point-of-sale terminals, kiosks, and industrial control systems, often run Windows 7 due to the specific requirements and long lifecycles of these devices.

While these industries may still use Windows 7, there is a growing recognition of the security risks and limitations of running an unsupported operating system. Many organisations are gradually transitioning to newer versions of Windows or alternative operating systems to ensure better security, support, and functionality.