Also read: Discounted Windows 7 Migration Kit: Upgrading to Windows 10 is a breeze
Discontinuation of extended support leaves users vulnerabili a virus e malware (about 300 million computers are estimated), in that no more updates or security patches for the operating system will be released. PCs won't suddenly stop working, if that's what you think.
Le companies (small, medium and large) who intend to continue with Windows 7 can instead subscribe to extended security updates (ESU, Extended Security Update) fino al 2023. The service has a considerable cost, in fact there is talk of a request between 25 and 200 dollars per workstation, depending on the version of Windows 7 running (Enterprise or Pro) and the duration of the updates.
Traditional consumers who have finally made up their minds to switch to the latest operating system, can do it for free. Microsoft originally made Windows 10 available for free in the first year of availability, but the company has decided to extend and leave this possibility in the years to come, perhaps to increase the installed base. Switching to Windows 10 is simple, just follow the steps below:
- Go to the Download Windows 10 page and click on the "Download the tool now" button
- After the download is complete, run the software Media Creation Tool
- If the Media Creation Tool is already on the PC you want to update, choose the option to update it and wait for the free installation of Windows 10
- If the Media Creation Tool is not found on the PC you want to update, select the option "Create installation media for another PC"
- Follow the instructions and choose whether to put the installation files on a USB flash drive or ISO file
- Transfer whatever option you have chosen to the PC you wish to upgrade
This free upgrade path is only applicable if you have one certified / legitimate copy of Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. That said, if you've stayed with Windows 7, it's time for a change. It's not really a great idea to keep using a ten-year-old operating system, especially when you can upgrade to a newer version for free and with similar system requirements. This advice is especially true for individuals.
Who will continue to use Windows 7, from tomorrow January 15th you will see an even larger pop-up notification, in full screen, compared to the one shown by Microsoft in the past few months bearing the message “your Windows 7 PC is not supported”.
It will be necessary to interact with it to make the popup disappear (three options: remind me later; click to learn more; do not remember it again) and according to what Microsoft has indicated it will appear on the Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional versions (unless you join to extended support) and Ultimate. However, it will not appear on systems that are part of a domain or computers in kiosk mode.
Read also: Microsoft, here are the software that "will die" in 2020
Windows 7, today stop to extended support. What it means and how to upgrade to Windows 10 for free
