As of Tuesday, January 10, 2023, Microsoft will no longer release any updates for Windows 7. This is the official end of this system, which is very popular with users who will have to upgrade to more recent versions.
This time it’s the end. As Microsoft announced, Windows 7 will no longer receive any updates starting Tuesday, January 10, 2023. The publisher has officially confirmed this on his blog, specifying that the system will no longer benefit from any support, not even for security. Admittedly, Microsoft had stopped updating it for three years already – since January 14, 2020 to be exact – but Windows 7 was still benefiting from vulnerability patches through its ESU maintenance program, especially intended for businesses and professionals. who was still using this version. But it’s definitely over: Windows 7 will no longer be maintained at all.
End of Windows 7: what to do with an old PC?
This is obviously not a surprise. Windows 7 was released in July 2009, over thirteen years ago – an eternity on the scale of computing! And it makes perfect sense that this venerable operating system is retiring today. But this abandonment will not fail to sadden many nostalgic faithful, because, by general agreement, Windows 7 was one of the best versions of Windows, with the essential Windows XP. Stable, modern, responsive, rich, it immediately appealed to aficionados, especially since it succeeded Windows Vista, which really did not convince – and for good reason. In fact, many preferred to keep it, even after the arrival of Windows 8 and Windows 10, finding it still functional – and to their liking.
Let things be clear: PCs – necessarily old – still equipped with Windows 7 will continue to work. But they will no longer be protected against the inevitable flaws that remain, making them sieves in terms of security, even if third-party tools can maintain a relative and precarious protection against malware and cyberattacks. Also, as has been the case for a long time, most major applications no longer install in their recent versions on computers with Windows 7. In short, if you still have a PC with Windows 7 with working software to which you hold, you can always use it, with your risks and dangers, and preferably while disconnecting you from Internet – yes, one can still exploit a computer without going on the Net!
End of Windows 7: how to switch to a more modern system?
But as Microsoft recommends – for obvious commercial reasons… –, it seems wiser to finally upgrade to a more recent version of the system. And in particular to Windows 10, which works perfectly on old computers, even with an old processor, especially when you take the trouble to increase the RAM – 4 GB is a minimum for Ram these days – and to replace the mechanical hard drive by an SSD to drastically speed up the system, applications and all file operations (see our practical sheet).
The transition from Windows 7 to Windows 10 is technically very simple (see our article). Unfortunately, contrary to what was in place a short time ago, when Microsoft offered the update free of charge, the evolution is no longer free. Even with an official Windows 7 license key, which was automatically retrieved during the operation. From now on, the editor imposes to buy a new key to activate Windows 10, which is regrettable. Fortunately, there are simple and legal ways to obtain keys at very low prices, in particular with the licenses offered by certain resellers specialists, who also sell Office licenses at unbeatable prices (see our article), or even for free, on another unused computer (see our article).
Last option, for the curious: switch to Linux. There are indeed many versions – we are talking about distributions – of this wonderful free operating system perfectly adapted to old PCs. And contrary to popular belief, Linux has become very easy to use since the arrival of modern distributions like Mint or Ubuntu (see our article on choosing a distribution).