Posted on 06/18/2021 10:04:12 AM PDT by dayglored
Windows 7 users might finally decide to upgrade soon. Windows Latest today reported that a leaked build of Windows 11 suggests Microsoft plans to offer a free upgrade to the next significant update to the operating system when it debuts.
A caveat: This is based on a configuration package in a leaked build of an operating system that hasn't officially been announced yet. Microsoft's plans could have changed, or it may have planned for the upgrade to be paid all along.
Windows Latest said its claim was "based on the configuration keys found within Pkeyconfig (product key configuration package) in the leaked build of Windows 11." Those keys suggest Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 users will be able to upgrade at no cost.
That upgrade path would make sense. Microsoft offers a free update to Windows 10, too, and that promotion is still valid even though it was supposed to end in 2016. Anyone with a valid key for Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 can take advantage of that offer.
Microsoft continues to sell licenses for Windows 10, of course, but the free upgrade from a prior version of Windows reinforces the platform's status as an operating-system-as-a-service on top of which the company's real money-makers are built.
Charging for Windows 11 when Windows 10 was a free update would come as a surprise. So would requiring systems running Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 to install a free upgrade to Windows 10 before installing a free upgrade to Windows 11.
Windows 7 users have been on borrowed time—Microsoft officially dropped support for the operating system in January 2020. Windows 8.1 will follow suit in January 2023, and Microsoft plans to stop supporting Windows 10 in October 2025.
We should know more about how Windows users, from those relying on a version released over a decade ago to those running the most recent update, will be able to upgrade to Windows 11 after Microsoft's announcement on June 24.
I’ll give that a try first. I do have wi dows 10 on an old HD (I have several that were dying) but never really liked windows 10 so I went and put my 7 HD back on, maybe I can revert the windows 10 back to 7 on the old drive and then upgrade to 11 too, just to have an emergency backup drive incase my windows 7 machine goes down and I want to have a change for a bit. I have a couple fo older drives wit windows 7, so al. Won’t be lost if something ghappens,
Lol I have so. Many older drives I’m losing track of what is what 😆
I think I’ll write Joe Biden about this. He’s probably running Windows Me too.
I run Windoze 7 in a virtualbox on my Linux machine. I need it for my accounting software, otherwise I would have quit MS after XPsp2.
“You get what you pay for.”
Does Windows 11 require monthly licensing payments?
I upgraded to Apple thank you. 8.0 was the last straw. Bill Gates does not help either.
If it’s ‘free’ it’s probably worth every penny...................
I don’t think you can download from ms if you have just an oem serial key can you? (Well, I think you can down,old, but it won’t let you install and register if you have oem if I’m remembering right? Seems I ran into problems for so e reason because my version. Of windows is oem, but I can’t rerecall. Exactly what the problem was
My brother in law gave me a few old Dell small form factor desktops with windows 7 and I used the win 7 key on their sticker to upgrade them to win 10 so it should work for win 11 if win 11 can run on the computer
Yup me too. Best of the windows line in my opinion. There is supposedly an Independant site that has ongoing security updates for windows 7. Someone on fr posted a link awhile back. Not sure how legit the site is or not, didn’t look into it much at the time. Hopefully it’s, egitl
You can get the ISO from a lot of places. I have a 64-bit Windows 7 ISO stored in the cloud. I can give you a link privately if you want.
Ha! 😆 I Hated that version!
I don’t understand why MS continues to offer a lifeline to 7 users. MOST of whom are corporate users.
They should just walk away from 7 and let the chips fall where they may. That includes ALL support for 7.
Well over 90% of clients will make the shift. The others cost too much money to keep on the tit.
And [most of] the spyware, depending on how many “updates” you allow.
Bfl
Windows 7 is my favorite version...by far.
I have the iso for 7, but i don’t have a key to upgrade to another version. I can reinstall my home version, but that’s it. I can’t really recall now, but I also ran into problem when trying to get windows 10 too, after they went to pay. I can Install it, but can’t register it of course. But can still use it ‘limited, (just can’t customize 5hings like des,top , wallpaper etc, no big deal real.y. I just don’t, et it update)
Why should I compromise a perfectly running win7 pc?
“I run dual boot Kubuntu & Win 7 Pro because”
A lot of people like to treat their tools like toys.
Nothing wrong with that for those who have that interest.
But most folks just want a tool that is easily accessible, easy to use and requires as little thought as possible. Not unlike a hammer.
That’s me. After over 40yrs in the tech business the “toy” has worn off.
I upgraded from 7 to 10 by clicking “yes” about 2 years ago. That flawless upgrade is still running, without my intervention on auto update.
I have nothing to complain about whatsoever.
I use that too, great program. I have a number of windows 7 hds as backup incase my main drive fails, and I have backups of windows 7 in my. Macrium folder tools additional protection.
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