🚨Windows 7: Update today 1/13🚨

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

The end is near for Window 7 users:

After 10 years,

Microsoft will stop supporting the OS on Jan. 14, 2020,

which means it's time to upgrade to Windows 10 to keep your PC running smoothly and securely. (Extended support for Windows 8.1 users ends in January 2023.)

Some users have been hesitant to make the switch, as the rollout of Windiws 10 saw several issues, including a series of bugs that led Microsoft to pull its October 2018 Update days after its release. In April, however,

Microsoft laid out several changes to its update approach starting with the May 2019 release, including slower rollouts with additional testing, more options for pausing updates and more disclosure of known issues.

Reasons to update:

Security

The need to upgrade to Windows 10 is "primarily a security issue," said Forrester Research analyst Andrew Hewitt. If you are still using Windows 7 or earlier versions come January, Microsoft will not provide security updates or fixes, or technical support for any issues -- leaving your computer at greater risk from viruses and malware.

Windows 10 includes the built-in Windows Defender Antivirus to protect against malware and spyware across email, apps, the cloud and the web. Windows Hello offers a password-free sign in option to unlock your devices with your face or a fingerprint reader. And a Find My Device service can lock and erase your Windows device remotely, or map the location of your device.

User experience features

Windows 10 offers a better user experience thanks to a number of features, Kleynhans said. One is the Your Phone app, which allows you to access texts, notifications and apps on your phone using your PC -- similar to Apple's Continuity features. A feature called Calls allows you to place and answer Android calls on your PC as well (and you can connect your iPhone to your Windows PC as well). A dictation feature lets you easily record ideas.

Microsoft's digital assistant Cortana is also available on Windows 10 PCs. The OS also integrates better with Microsoft OneDrive and other cloud tools, Kleynhans said.

The most recent Windows 10 November 2019 update includes some new features such as changes to notifications that will make them easier to configure and manage from an app or website, and the ability to create events directly from the Calendar flyout on the Taskbar, instead of opening the app.

Automatic updates

Unlike previous versions, Windows 10 offers automatic updates by default, to keep systems more secure. (You can turn these off if you want to, by going to Windows Update Settings > Advanced Options and changing from Automatic to another option in the drop-down menu.)

"While some users might actually think that getting no more annoying updates is a blessing, it actually would pretty quickly expose the user to all sorts of potential malware attacks," Kleynhans said. "The good news is that for the most part Windows 10 is a pretty smooth upgrade for the vast majority of users."

You can expect updates to happen fairly frequently, Hewitt said, "almost as if you're using an Android or an iOS device and getting prompts to continuously update the operating system."

How to upgrade to Windows 10

You can download Windows 10 via Microsoft's website.

apple1964 · ‎08-07-2013

OMG... finally putting that dino to rest.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

It's hard to believe that anyone is still using Windows 7 but it seems like they are killing the toothless, half dead, old beast off; whether people like it or not. A comment that a friend made yesterday makes sense now.

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

I read where 20% of PC users still use Windows 7.

Eeeps.

sissel · ‎08-13-2010

I am fine got my windows 10 laptop but DH finally ordered a new p/c and he is sad so I said just keep the old one (he is attached to it) so next week we should have the new one. So we still have to keep the windows 7 but think after awhile he may get rid of it. We have an old flip phone (just incase) LOL so guess windows 7 will be added to the closet with the flip phone. He hates to throw out electronics that still work. Do you have a husband like that?

FranandZoe · ‎03-09-2010

What does this even mean? So MS will no longer "support" Windows 7 - so what. My laptop is still running Windows 7 - I've never had a problem - it's still going strong. IMO this is just a ploy to sell new products. If it ain't broke don't fix it - leave it alone.

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

@FranandZoe wrote:
What does this even mean? So MS will no longer "support" Windows 7 - so what. My laptop is still running Windows 7 - I've never had a problem - it's still going strong. IMO this is just a ploy to sell new products. If it ain't broke don't fix it - leave it alone.

@FranandZoe

If not updating, you'll be RIPE for viruses...even more so than normal.

Good luck with that.

CJC · ‎03-11-2010

@sidsmom wrote:
@FranandZoe wrote:
What does this even mean? So MS will no longer "support" Windows 7 - so what. My laptop is still running Windows 7 - I've never had a problem - it's still going strong. IMO this is just a ploy to sell new products. If it ain't broke don't fix it - leave it alone.
@FranandZoe
If not updating, you'll be RIPE for viruses...even more so than normal.
Good luck with that.

Beware...do not continue to use Windows 7 for online shopping, banking etc. The crooks are drooling just waiting for you to do so.

Icegoddess · ‎03-19-2010

I'm fine using Windows 7. I'm not ripe for viruses because I don't use it on the internet. The only time it uses the internet on that machine is when one of my programs updates and that is done from within the program. I'm mainly a Mac user though and I have anti-virus software that covers both Windows & Mac, so if I feel the need to download something, I can do it on the Mac and then transfer it over to the Windows machine.