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.

[dayglored]

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

[poinq]

Microsoft has been saying this for decades. I have no idea why anyone uses Win &. It was crawling with viruses. No Windows platform is safe. And win NT was the simplest so had had the least crap in it. There isn’t a version that good. But it runs the software I need.

[dayglored]

> I’ve had/have W95,W98,XP,W7 and W10. Windows 7 is,by far,my favorite.

Having used Win2,3.1,3.11(WfW),95,98,2000,XP,Vista,7,8,8.1,and 10, I agree -- Win7 was the high point, the sweet spot.

Win10 is more secure, but otherwise it can't hold a candle to 7.

My MacOS and Linux boxes have VMware VMs of Win7 and Win10 for those times when only Windows will do. The Win7 never goes on the internet, however. If for some reason I must use Windows on the internet, I use the Win10.

[jdt1138]

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

You are SO SMART! How do you stand the comment section?

[KarlInOhio]

Microsoft stop supporting Windows ME at the end of 2003. You’re still using it with no support?

Security through poverty. Hackers believe you have nothing worth stealing if you are using it. Kind of like leaving two Cleveland Browns' tickets on your dashboard. Your biggest risk is someone breaking into your car and leaving two more.

[dayglored]

I was being sarcastic at the stupid MSN article that lumped 7 in with 8/8.1. Ignorance in a title does not recommend the body.

> How do you stand the comment section?

I find some of them amusing. :-)

[null and void]

I run Win7 on my Mac. I have a CAD program that isn’t available for the MacOS, and besides, it would be too expensive to replace...

[Paul R.]

Yes, for Win 11 you need an 8th gen or later I-series processor (Intel, not sure about AMD.)

[algore]

I am currently posting this using windows RT.

It runs circles around my win 11 tablet.

[Ex gun maker.]

No fear here, I never use any PC to access the web.
My 7 and 8 systems are safe.
Have to keep them in order to use programs that are no longer available, or only available in a $$$$$$$$$ version.

[Glad2bnuts]

Laptop is windows 11, I prefer Windows 7.

[Glad2bnuts]

Laptop is windows 11, I prefer Windows 7 that is on my desktop.

[Paul R.]

OOF!

:-)

[dayglored]

> I have no idea why anyone uses Win &. It was crawling with viruses.

Win7 didn't have any viruses. It was possible to catch viruses while using it, as is true for all operating systems, especially Windows. I am pretty confident that Windows 7 did not ship with any viruses.

OTOH, careless users of Win7 allowed it to gather quite a few during use.

> No Windows platform is safe.

No mainstream platform is "safe". There are some that are less prone to getting infected, such as Linux and MacOS. But it's foolish to think that there is any operating system in widespread use that you don't have to be careful with and constantly aware and on guard.

It's like cars. Some models are "safer" than others in the sense that they don't have egregious design or manufacturing flaws. But to think that a "safe car" will prevent you from making fatal mistakes while driving is foolish.

[Paul R.]

Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020. 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.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/windows-7-end-of-support-and-office-78f20fab-b57b-44d7-8368-06a8493f3cb9

[dayglored]

> I am currently posting this using windows RT.

"RT"?

[null and void]

SCARY! If you have Windows 7 or earlier you should hide in your basement.

Can't, I'm on a Cretaceous era basalt pluton. No way to even have a basement...

[Fai Mao]

I had windows 3.11

[Paul R.]

Distantly related:

What’s the easiest DOS emulator to use, these days.

I used to use DosBox, but that was years ago. Plenty of arcane command line type input needed to make it work, and I never could get graphics from DOS programs to scale the way I wanted.

(Yeah, I still have a couple ol’ DOS lab programs I need to get fired back up.)

[Paul R.]

I have a machine in storage that if it still fires up, has Win 3.1 on it.

Heck, I have a working DOS 5.0 machine in my lab. Unless it died over the holidays...