Falsehoods around the end of Windows 7 [updated Jan 17th 2020]

David Moore
Oct 9, 2019
2 min read

Updated: Jan 18, 2020

Every time Microsoft ends support for an operating system I receive a raft of queries from people who've been told "that windows will stop working soon".

This, to be frank, is bullshit.

People are told to buy new computers and do other things because some "friend" or relative has told them that windows will stop working.

Some retailers do this.

Rather than bother with the truth and its lengthy details, they just cut to the version of the story that gets them a sale...

..."the easiest things is to get a new computer before windows stops working".

Let me tell you categorically that these operating systems DON'T stop working, Microsoft just stops updating them.

I have customers running terribly old and scary windows versions...but they are still running. The last I heard was someone still running windows 95 for some Dog awful reason.

Occasionally I still deploy windows XP, but that too is dwindling.

Complaining about Microsoft dropping support for Windows 7 is a bit like expecting Toyota to keep making new parts for their 1975 Corolla. They're not interested, it costs too much money and if third party suppliers can make a compatible part that works then more power to them.

...but you can still drive that Corolla for as long as you like and as long as the sum of its parts mean it is a viable vehicle.

Much like the Corolla, support stops for Windows because it just gets too hard and too expensive to keep it safe.

Your windows will keep running safely for a number of years more with the help of third party security and kind hardware vendors.

But as the cost vs benefit ratio for supplying things for windows 7 dwindles for these third parties, they too will abandon you.

Even then windows will keep working, it will just be fundamentally insecure to use in a modern context and anything new you may fancy adding to it is unlikely to work.

It is entirely up to you if you get into your 1975 Corolla without seat-belts, airbags or disk brakes.

Just don't complain to Toyota when you die in a crash.

After all, they tried to sell you the cheaper, better, newer, safer Corolla ages ago. ;-)

[And "ssshhhhhh, you can still upgrade from windows 7 to windows 10 free".

- https://www.ihatemypc.com.au/post/a-great-tip-for-you-a-treat-for-me

- https://www.howtogeek.com/509087/how-to-upgrade-from-windows-7-to-windows-10-for-free/ ]

An article here outlines exactly what will happen to the SUPPORT for windows 7 in 2020:

https://www.howtogeek.com/443573/how-windows-7s-extended-security-updates-will-work/

And you don't even need to go to Windows 10 to get a free and up-to-date and secure operating system... you will need some skills though:

https://www.howtogeek.com/509508/how-to-upgrade-from-windows-7-to-linux/

Previous post/s on the subject:

https://www.ihatemypc.com.au/post/2019/07/04/when-not-supported-is-supported-microsoft-patches-old-operating-systems-against-new-thr