Microsoft rolls out Windows 7 end of support notifications

[Shawn Knight]

The big picture: According to StatCounter, Windows 7 is still used on 33.89 percent of desktop Windows machines worldwide. That figure is expected to drop considerably as the OS reaches the end of support and users upgrade to Windows 10 which has a current Windows market share of 54.78 percent.

Microsoft earlier this month said that beginning in April, it would start informing Windows 7 users about the impending end of support date. The update that’ll enable these friendly notifications has already started rolling out according to Microsoft.

The aforementioned notification, set to start making its presence known on April 18, informs users that after 10 years, Microsoft is ending support for Windows 7.

The official end-of-life date is January 14, 2020, so you’ve still got some time to back up your files and plan your move to Windows 10, macOS or whichever platform you aim to adopt in the future. For many, the route forward will indeed be Windows 10 and in all likelihood, updated hardware will also be in order.

Learning from previous missteps, Microsoft’s reminder will arrive with the ability to silence future notifications. The tech giant, if you recall, went a bit overboard with its Windows 10 upgrade campaign, with some classifying its nagging approach as borderline malware-like.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/79302-microsoft-rolls-out-windows-7-end-support-notifications.html

 

[seeprime]

With nine months to go until Windows 7 support ends, I think the notifications are a bit premature. I also expect that when you select not to show the notice again, it'll only hold true until Microsoft puts out a new update. Eventually, they'll probably bundle the notice within a security update, as January 2020 draws closer. It'll be annoying for many.

We still have a couple of customers running Windows XP. With Sandboxie installed, they've learned that when a nasty thing takes over the sandboxed web browser, to simply hard shut down the computer and reboot. It's clean again. Sandboxie's sandboxed browser will continue to work on Windows 7 also. It just has to be used every time one browses the web to keep it clean.

 

[Teko03]

With nine months to go until Windows 7 support ends, I think the notifications are a bit premature. I also expect that when you select not to show the notice again, it'll only hold true until Microsoft puts out a new update. Eventually, they'll probably bundle the notice within a security update, as January 2020 draws closer. It'll be annoying for many.

We still have a couple of customers running Windows XP. With Sandboxie installed, they've learned that when a nasty thing takes over the sandboxed web browser, to simply hard shut down the computer and reboot. It's clean again. Sandboxie's sandboxed browser will continue to work on Windows 7 also. It just has to be used every time one browses the web to keep it clean.

Premature? Regular everyday people may not have the money to just up and go get a new PC at the end of the year. Questioning a do not show again box? Never mind...you're just another person looking to make anything Microsoft does into something negative.

 

[Evernessince]

With nine months to go until Windows 7 support ends, I think the notifications are a bit premature. I also expect that when you select not to show the notice again, it'll only hold true until Microsoft puts out a new update. Eventually, they'll probably bundle the notice within a security update, as January 2020 draws closer. It'll be annoying for many.

We still have a couple of customers running Windows XP. With Sandboxie installed, they've learned that when a nasty thing takes over the sandboxed web browser, to simply hard shut down the computer and reboot. It's clean again. Sandboxie's sandboxed browser will continue to work on Windows 7 also. It just has to be used every time one browses the web to keep it clean.

Premature? Regular everyday people may not have the money to just up and go get a new PC at the end of the year. Questioning a do not show again box? Never mind...you're just another person looking to make anything Microsoft does into something negative.

Given that the person can still use the PC after Microsoft stops issuing security patches, I don't see your point. They aren't forced to buy a whole new PC as you seem to suggest and someone who can't afford that likely won't care that their PC won't have the latest security patches.

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

...you're just another person looking to make anything Microsoft does into something negative.

Perhaps he is, but there is an unfortunate merit to the comment. M$FT has more than once reverted user settings or options after an update. I too wouldn't be surprised if users continue to get notified even if they check the box. At least they aren't shoving Windows 10 down everyone's throat... yet.

 

[arrowflash]

If you are running Windows 7 on a potato, or use it for gaming on a low-end or mid-end machine, I don't recommend applying any updates past december 2017 anyways. Since then, many updates have been making Windows 7 performance progressively worse. It started with the Spectre hotfix, but didn't end with it.

Anyone can see it for themselves, do a clean install of Windows 7 SP1 on a toaster PC, apply all updates until 12/2017, measure performance, then start applying later updates and observe as the machine gets increasingly more sluggish and unresponsive after each reboot from a new batch of updates, even for simple tasks. So, unless security is of critical importance, don't update.

By the way, same applies to Windows Server 2008R2, Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012R2. Conspiracy theories say it's another sleazy move by Microsoft to press people into Windows 10 and give the false impression that Windows 10 is faster than it actually is.

 

[tuber]

Since the past decades of being a Windows user, I deeply realize that the Microsoft shows its very lack of knowlodge of how to improve convenience and efficiency for everyday use and management for PC, they even remove the START menu in Win8. What the hell are they thinking? oh, mybe the answer is pretty simple, they just think they made a "new" "good" "modern" OS for both PC and mobile device, and then you should upgrade and PAY FOR IT, that is the point whatever you f*cking really need. stop waste our mind to telling the marketshare, why don't we never talk about what a modern PC should be like ? are we nuts ?

 

[Bullwinkle M]

We still have a couple of customers running Windows XP. With Sandboxie installed, they've learned that when a nasty thing takes over the sandboxed web browser, to simply hard shut down the computer and reboot. It's clean again. Sandboxie's sandboxed browser will continue to work on Windows 7 also. It just has to be used every time one browses the web to keep it clean.

I've never used Sandboxie

I boot directly to XP-SP2 without any Microsoft security updates and go online with an outdated browser and an Antivirus that expired in 2015

I have no problems with malware and have not had a bluescreen in more than 10 years

I was online during and after the wannacry outbreak and I was the one who discovered that it does not affect SP2

I can also simply reboot to remove any malware from XP and do not have a problem with persistent threats inside my machine

Most of the persistent threats are "Online" threats, unless I boot to Windows 10 which is the number one persistent threat to any computer

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

Since the past decades of being a Windows user, I deeply realize that the Microsoft shows its very lack of knowlodge of how to improve convenience and efficiency for everyday use and management for PC, they even remove the START menu in Win8. What the hell are they thinking? oh, mybe the answer is pretty simple, they just think they made a "new" "good" "modern" OS for both PC and mobile device, and then you should upgrade and PAY FOR IT, that is the point whatever you f*cking really need. stop waste our mind to telling the marketshare, why don't we never talk about what a modern PC should be like ? are we nuts ?

Don't forget Windows Server 2012 TABLET EDITION! What a bloody joke.

Windows 10 is slowly getting better but there are still a lot of crappy things about it. Features and capabilities that were standard are now missing or difficult to get to. They claim they are trying to make it easier to use, but they've dumbified it so much to the point where I might as well just use an Android tablet or iPad if I wanted an OS that simplified and restrictive. And don't even get me started on the Microsoft store. That is a travesty in itself...

 

[EClyde]

I like 7, I liked Vista, XP was great, 10 is fine as long as I use Classic shell. Linux pretty much stinks

 

[dualkelly]

With nine months to go until Windows 7 support ends, I think the notifications are a bit premature. I also expect that when you select not to show the notice again, it'll only hold true until Microsoft puts out a new update. Eventually, they'll probably bundle the notice within a security update, as January 2020 draws closer. It'll be annoying for many.

We still have a couple of customers running Windows XP. With Sandboxie installed, they've learned that when a nasty thing takes over the sandboxed web browser, to simply hard shut down the computer and reboot. It's clean again. Sandboxie's sandboxed browser will continue to work on Windows 7 also. It just has to be used every time one browses the web to keep it clean.

Those over at MSFN and MDGX have win 98 running at a almost windows 7 feature set. Mostly those in 3rd world countries at this point but likewise xp is patched to about win 7 functionality. It will be a cold day in hell before I put windows 10 on anything I own. I have win 7 patched to install on any USB 3.0 and M2 Drive so far have taken win 10 off 18 laptops between friends and family. win 10 is complete trash.

 

[treetops]

I'll stay away from the window 10 tablet OS until DX12 becomes relevant in a game that I actually want to play. I use programs not apps.

It's so bad they tried to give it away for free, then they forced it in pop ups\updates lol.

 

[arrowflash]

Those over at MSFN and MDGX have win 98 running at a almost windows 7 feature set. Mostly those in 3rd world countries at this point but likewise xp is patched to about win 7 functionality. It will be a cold day in hell before I put windows 10 on anything I own. I have win 7 patched to install on any USB 3.0 and M2 Drive so far have taken win 10 off 18 laptops between friends and family. win 10 is complete trash.

I don't see the point to go through hoops to keep Windows 98 and Windows XP unless you're using something like a Pentium 3 with 1 GB of ram or less, or use lots of legacy software that don't work on newer versions. With disabling of proper services, registry optimizations and GPO optimizations, you can have Windows 7 SP1 or even Windows 8.1 running relatively well on a Pentium 4 or Athlon XP machine with 2 GB of ram - I have a HP laptop from 2006 with a 1.6 GHz Pentium Dual Core and 2 GB of ram running Windows 8.1 Pro x64 (with Classic Shell ofc), and it runs surprisingly well.

Anyways, no matter what legacy OS you're using - Windows 7, XP or 98, if you use a Pentium 4, Athlon XP or older machine to browse modern web sites, you'll need to disable javascript to make them usable without bringing the PC to its knees. It's pretty bad how modern web became so bloated that you need a gaming PC to browse some web sites smoothly.

 

[Jim Grove]

Windows 10 runs better for me everywhere Iv'e tested it so far? Resistance will be futile.

 

[TheDevopsGuy]

I like 7, I liked Vista, XP was great, 10 is fine as long as I use Classic shell. Linux pretty much stinks

Hmm am I missing some sarcasm or what has made you hate linux if you don't mind me asking?

 

[EClyde]

Hmm am I missing some sarcasm or what has made you hate linux if you don't mind me asking?

I don't hate linux. I just think it stinks. It stinks because of too many flavors and when asking for help in a forum it's rare to get an answer. That is based on 25 years of using it and asking questions. Currently I use Zorin but even then...this works this doesn't not only from distro to distro but from version to version...and Games ? Not really but if all ya wanna do is surf the net! OK I do use OSMC but that is merely to slideshow on an extra monitor with a pi. No sarcasm

 

[TheDevopsGuy]

I don't hate linux. I just think it stinks. It stinks because of too many flavors and when asking for help in a forum it's rare to get an answer. That is based on 25 years of using it and asking questions. Currently I use Zorin but even then...this works this doesn't not only from distro to distro but from version to version...and Games ? Not really but if all ya wanna do is surf the net! OK I do use OSMC but that is merely to slideshow on an extra monitor with a pi. No sarcasm

Understood, honestly it is a pain to just get some drivers running on linux sometimes and the gaming issue has been a problem for years.. What I absolutely love about the system is just the ability to be able to do w/e you want inside the OS which windows fails to provide this. That plus I'll ship open source all day long.

 

[kmo911]

R.I.P WIN xp 7 Tanks for youre time with US. still some computer /s cant run higher then win 98 se others has a limit to win 7. so getting win 10 on older computer not possible. unbutu up nxt txt please remove bugs and make it a oldies but goodies. win 7 has dx12 support in wow so it not that bad. GOG OS s(I)o ill will still be using win 7 forever offline DOH win me was lovely unthil some one trolled it on net

Andy Sprouse didnt understand any of that. youre better off running linux on an old machine if you cant afford a new one. FB comment from ...
tanks from ANDY S

answer no the motherboard does not support some instructions on that motherboard. o.c I run latest x370 z390 mb. unbutu live dvd. it dont tutch the hd and youre up surfing and what so ever. ejeting dvd and youre booting to youre favorite OS mac win and so on.you must not missunderstand. im up running latest win 10 1809. have you not like to memo/mimerice a little. usein old pc and having fun with w95 98 se. ??? so if you want to help me running win 10 on that computer even you have to give up.

 

[seeprime]

Given that the person can still use the PC after Microsoft stops issuing security patches, I don't see your point. They aren't forced to buy a whole new PC as you seem to suggest and someone who can't afford that likely won't care that their PC won't have the latest security patches.

Read it again. I state that our computer shop has customers still using Windows XP, with Sandboxie installed. Sandboxie, properly used, prevents dive by takeovers.

 

[Evernessince]

Read it again. I state that our computer shop has customers still using Windows XP, with Sandboxie installed. Sandboxie, properly used, prevents dive by takeovers.

You are responding to the wrong person. Teko03 is the one who replied to your comment.

 

[seeprime]

You are responding to the wrong person. Teko03 is the one who replied to your comment.

Apologies. Reading is hard.

 

[Teko03]

I'll stay away from the window 10 tablet OS until DX12 becomes relevant in a game that I actually want to play. I use programs not apps.

It's so bad they tried to give it away for free, then they forced it in pop ups\updates lol.

There's nothing tablet-friendly about Windows 10.

 

[lazer]

I like Win7. Had my computer stolen so bought new one with win8; terrible! so installed win7 and love it. Would never go to win10, don't want Mico$lop to have my personal data.

As for updates never update but do use antivirus.

Also have old laptop with with XP, still works fine....

Update? NEVER!!

 

[electriac]

Okay I have fewer prejudices about OS's as my machines have many as either a dedicated OS drive or a virtual version and presently I run:

Win10 = Dedicated SSD drive in removable Dataport – I have only one need for this: Android Studio64 requires it. Otherwise I prefer anything other than Win10. Sony Vegas 11.0 wont run there and all versions since “Magix” took over from “Sony” are useless for me and I find wont do the work I previously did without problem. This alone sends me to Win7 numerous times daily. There is no alternative!

Win7 = Dedicated SSD drive installed internally two machines – With backup copy on shelf – updates disabled – My preferred work environment. I have two identical machines using the same copy of Win7 with one machine seldom connected to the internet. I use no virus protection because if I have a problem it is easily solved by removing and replacing the drive with a new copy from the non-internet machine. And please no Updates lets not fix what ain’t' broke.

WinXP = Virtual Drive – I only use this to run Aldus Photo Styler – still remains My favorite generic paint program.

Linux Mint = Virtual Drive – I test android stuff here.

At various times I use all of these but I must admit I use Win7 probably 80% of the time out of necessity..

 

[captaincranky]

Apologies. Reading is hard.

Don't they have a version of Alexa that can do it for you yet?