No more support: is there life after Windows 7?
Of all the operating systems in the Microsoft stable, Windows 7 has, undeniably, been the most popular. This is reflected by the fact that many users, whether private individuals or companies, still choose it above other more recent systems from the house of Redmond. Unfortunately however, just like every other software, it must, sooner or later, reach the end of its life and that is set to happen on 14th January 2020.
According to an announcement by Microsoft a few months ago, complete support for the operating system will cease following a final patch, which will rectify any security problems which have arisen up to that point.
During this transition period, in order to give users an opportunity to arrange for a more up-to-date alternative, notification messages regarding the cessation of the service will be sent out at regular intervals. These will contain useful information about more recent systems (such as Windows 10) or interesting proposals for the purchase of new personal computers.
Reasons to transfer to new operating systems
Any operating system which does not receive updates from its software house, can be considered particularly vulnerable in terms of security. This is the main reason why it is definitely worth considering transferring to Windows 10 or one of the other available alternatives.
As in the case of Windows XP, in the space of a few years, internet browsers and software for the receipt of emails will also stop working. The cause will relate to the lack of adequate updates and the obsolete functionalities of the system itself, responsible in turn for the risk of security failures.
Transferring from Windows 7 to one of the other alternatives then, is highly recommended, especially for company computers, which are often involved in the transmission of sensitive data, requiring a high level of protection.
How to prepare for the end of Windows 7
The best way to prepare for 14th January 2020 is to create a backup of the whole operating system, including the entire configuration of the system and the devices it contains. By doing this, if anything should go wrong, it will still be possible to recover the data. There are various options to consider:
- If you decide to transfer to Windows 10 by using the free update provided by Microsoft to holders of an original Windows 7 licence, it will be possible to recreate the entire configuration of the system using the above-mentioned backup, and update everything to fit the functionalities of the new OS;
- For those who remain unconvinced about giving up the old software, it will be possible to continue to use it for some time, by installing unofficial patches. Some software houses have in fact declared their intention to release, during 2020, some updates designed to ‘plug’ any holes in security, should they emerge;
- Alternatively, it will be possible to continue to use Windows 7 on personal computers which are not directly exposed to the internet. It might be sufficient to shield these with a VLAN or updating software and intensify the Firewall in order to achieve a good level of protection.
Let us remember that, regardless of the familiarity you may have with an obsolete operating system, it is always a good idea to transfer to more modern versions, not so much for the new features they offer (which more often than not turn out to be superfluous or destined for a minority of users), but for reasons of online security, especially when the pc contains sensitive data.
Windows 7 has been a great operating system, chosen by over 36.9% of pc users, but although Windows 10 may occasionally stumble, it is still an excellent alternative and it is worth giving it a chance.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
