It's official: Microsoft confirms the end of Windows 7 and 8

TechRadar Pro ^ | Mike Moore

[TChad]

After years of anticipation, today officially marks the end of Windows 7 and 8/8.1, Microsoft has confirmed.

The aged operating systems will no longer receive Microsoft security updates from today, January 10, 2023, marking the end of their official lifespan.

Anyone using the software will now be at risk of cyberattacks from criminals exploiting current and future security flaws and vulnerabilities, and is urged to update to newer Windows versions - particularly Windows 11 - immediately in order to stay safe.

[Paul R.]

Somebody should post a thread: Who on FR has the oldest working computer? :-)

[dayglored]

> Even though Windows 7 is no longer supported, we've decided to continue to provide you with security updates for Microsoft 365 for the next 3 years, until January 2023.

As you're aware, the operating system "Windows 7" and the application suite "Microsoft 365" (nee "Office 365") are completely separate entities. Of course there's nothing stopping a software vendor from continuing to support their application on OSes that are past EOL. But that is entirely different from offering support for the OS.

That said, if you had deep pockets and a large Volume License contract with Microsoft, you could continue to get security updates for Win7 past the Jan 2020 EOL date, but that option was only available to very large corporate accounts, and was extremely costly.

[null and void]

End-Of-Life for Windows 7 was actually three years ago, January 2020. But who’s counting?

It was pushed back because of COVID...

[rockrr]

I’m partially there and would be 100% if I could ever get a bead on network file sharing in Linux. My current Windows private network works like a champ but my efforts to create a Linux file server that functions even 10% as reliably have all failed.

Until then I have to use SD cards to move files between my Linux internet browser laptops and my Windows file server.

[dayglored]

> Somebody should post a thread: Who on FR has the oldest working computer? :-)

I have an original 1976 MOS Technology 6502-based "KIM-1" that still runs fine.

So unless somebody has a working ALTAIR 8800, I think I've got a winner. :-)

[dayglored]

>> End-Of-Life for Windows 7 was actually three years ago, January 2020. But who’s counting?

> It was pushed back because of COVID...

Not sure whether you're being serious... do you have a link for that claim? I don't recall that.

[rockrr]

Define “working” LoL.

I have an Osborne C/PM that dates to 1983 and a Compaq luggable that dates to 1984.

[Dalberg-Acton]

Win 7 was the last MS OS I will ever own. I found Win 7 had a USB device detection bug where a flatbed scanner would work on one port but not another.

Then the installed a "Security Update" (that was actually prepping the OS for upgrade to ver 10) which caused Corel Video Studio to not work. I turned off all updates because of that, but decided a non updated OS wasn't a great idea either.

So, I wiped the hard drive and installed Linux Mint 17, which was the current version then. Now the only Windows only application I use is Family Tree Maker, which I run in a Win 7 virtual machine. That's a lot of storage for one program, but nothing I can do about that at this time.

[null and void]

Mine is nearly 70 years old. It’s slowed down a bit and has some memory problems...

[null and void]

Serious? Me? You jest!

[dennisw]

I still have my free TShirt from the Windows 7 launch party I went to. 2009 I think. I wore it yesterday for good luck.

[dayglored]

> Mine is nearly 70 years old. It’s slowed down a bit and has some memory problems...

I hear ya there, FRiend. Although not well, my audio input devices are shot from years of loud music. :-)

I turn 71 in a week, and it's getting noticeable. Sigh.

[Fai Mao]

I had a Frankenstein machine on Guam. I made it from parts of computers left by dumpsters when people.threw them away. It cost me nothing. I ran Unbuntu on it at first but managed get an old Windows 8 disk from somebody who didn’t want it so I could run some old games on it.

I used a motherboard with burned out onboard graphics and added a video card from another computer without a power supply but that had an older motherboard. I used it to access the internet. On a non smart TV.

It actually worked.well for simple stuff

[Dr. Sivana]

I have had Windows 2.0, 2.1/286, 3.1, 3.11 WFW, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98se, Windows NT 3.5, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 Pro, Windows XP, Windows XP 64, Windows 7, Windows 10.

Windows 2000 Pro was my favorite.

[GOPJ]

Do you know which ones those are?

[Paal Gulli]

"Anyone using the software will now be at risk of cyberattacks from criminals exploiting current and future security flaws and vulnerabilities, ..."

Horse puckey and scare-mongering. There are still more than 25 million Windows XP PCs visible on the Internet (a little more than 1% of all users).

Time has proved that MS is incapable of killing off its own OSes. What does finally kill them is the withdrawal of supporting technologies, particularly browsers, Java, and (formerly) Shockwave.

[GOPJ]

Windows 7 is my favorite too. I have no idea why microsoft can’t just charge us a monthly fee.

[Dr. Sivana]

Kind of like leaving two Cleveland Browns' tickets on your dashboard.

You are still at risk if a fan of the opponent happens upon them.

[algore]

Yes windows RT.

Windows for ARM.

I might even have win2k running on Alpha in a closet somewhere.

[Dr. Sivana]

Time has proved that MS is incapable of killing off its own OSes. What does finally kill them is the withdrawal of supporting technologies, particularly browsers, Java, and (formerly) Shockwave.

It took Apple 10 years to kill off Flash, and they REALLY tried. Of course, QuickTime itself was its own special world of hurt.