I have Windows 7. Microsoft are withdrawing their support. What does this mean and should I upgrade to Windows 10.
I only use my computer for pleasure, Forums, E Mail to friends etc;
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
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going to W10 is worth it if you want all the updates otherwise no providing you have a good antivirus and Malware programs installed.
Microsoft withdrawing support won’t stop Windows 7 from working. If you’re happy with it there’s no reason why you couldn’t keep using it in my opinion. As a precaution, install a third-party security program or two (as suggested by realspeed).
Regarding upgrading - The chances are that it will all go OK. However, troubles can occur when upgrading an existing computer to Windows 10 and you might be sorry you set off on the upgrade path if it doesn’t go well. Also, when the upgrade is done, the difference in appearance and behaviour is unacceptable for some.
I’m not absolutely sure if the upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 can be done without ‘clean installing’ it (the official ‘free upgrade’ period ended ages ago). An upgrade might still work by clicking on whatever upgrade link is available but if it doesn’t, it should still possible to upgrade by using an ISO. Have a read of the How-To Geek article linked to below:
If you have had your current computer a good number of years, buying another with Windows 10 already installed is another option.
It’s a personal decision whether to continue with Windows 7. I’ve stopped recommending Windows 10 just because I reckon it’s the best MS operating system yet. Others don’t think so. All you can do is weigh up this and other opinions and make the choice.
Edit: In some cases, it’s not the OS dating that spells the end of Windows 7’s usefulness. It’s that other companies stop making their software compatible with it.
If I had the chance I would have retained Windows 7 on my old computer. However, one day quite unexpectedly I found that Microsoft was in the process of ‘upgrading’ my Windows installation to W10. I could do nothing to stop it. Such is the dictatorial attitude of Microsoft.
I believe that MS have now given up on their compulsory ‘upgrades’ and, instead, just warn us that support will end for W7 (and earlier versions of Windows).
Strangely, despite their warnings, it appears that many people are still using W7 and earlier versions including the excellent XP. I have heard that the latter (XP) is in use in some hospitals and works perfectly.
Another off-putting activity by MS is that they now attempt to persuade people to use some of their software through annual subscriptions. That suggests one word to me: GREED.
So in short, no, I agree with Realspeed. I’d keep W7 but ensure you have a good antivirus and anti-malware sortware. I use Malwarebytes Free.
Many thanks for your help.
It means that Microsoft are no longer going to spend any money on updates, etc.
Companies who write new other apps will, probably, no longer include W7 in their repertoire.
That might sound worrying but it probably isn’t.
Your W7 will still work, as it does now, and will carry on doing a good job as long as you do a regular clean out of all the old data, on the hard drive, which tends to progressively slow the machine down.
If you want to know how full it is, or what is installed on it, I’d suggest that you download the free Belarc Advisor.
That gives you four sheets of info telling you all you need to know about what makes up your PC and what is on it.
Stick to Windows7 for as long as possible. Win10 is full of things you will never use but the things you want to use won’t be there. If you have any documents saved as word files, they will not open unless you can reinstall and have the product key.
I would go back to Win7 instantly if I could.
One good example instantly springs to mind:
W10 brought with it a collection of games which many people considered inferior to what was supplied with W7, so some enterprising people put together a downloadable Windows 7 games suite which proved very popular.
So why did Microsoft decide that everyone should have a new games suite when people were perfectly happy with the old one?
I don’t know. I suppose Microsoft must benefit financially somewhere along the line. The old Windows movie maker was also far superior to the new version.
Perhaps it’s a bit like watching TV, nothing to do with the entertainment anymore, more to do with selling, whether it’s adverts or data.
What I found was that if you have a retail version of a Windows 7 installation disk, it is possible to go back to windows 7. I did this on my laptop computer. I wondered if it could be done since the computer had already been upgraded to Window 10 from Windows 8.1. Hence registered on the Microsoft servers.
However, the key for the Windows 7 installation disk had never been used for an upgrade to Windows 10. Maybe the key wouldn’t have worked if it had been used for that.
It means Microsoft will no longer support Windows 7 . You get their updates regularly I take it ? Either automatically or install them manually ?
I contacted the people who built my computer about this last week and yes the advice is update to Windows10. Fortunately I’m in the position to have them do it for for me because I believe the DIY way takes quite a while to do and might be beyond my expertise and I want to stay safe .
The thing is, do we really need updates? Apart from Microsoft fixing win10 five years too late, most updates are things that will not make the slightest bit of difference.
You may not get support any longer from Microsoft regarding win7 but there’s always Google to give the answer or a few helpful members on here.
Me too! 
I do online banking and want the best security possible .
So I’m not happy with what those who have regretted moving from Windows7 are saying .
Thank you very much for your help. I think I will stick with what I have at the moment. After all I only use it to e mail friends and buy the occasional thing from Amazon or E Bay and keep in touch with just two forums.
As do I .
So you won’t be worried about submitting your payment details online ?
No. There 'aint a fortune in my bank account.
You and me both. If I was hacked, they would probably make a donation. :-p
I’ve always used Kaspersky Internet Security . Don’t do much other than online banking , purchases on e bay and Amazon on my pc[ I have ipads ]
I dont want to change onto Windows 10 , so what other protection ought I to be looking at ?
Thanks
Malwarebytes (free) and
CCleaner (free).