The much-adored operating system wooed back users who reviled the disappointing Windows Vista, and it remained a comfortable refuge during the even bleaker Windows 8 era. Because it stays out of your way, and it just works. Until today. Windows 7 is dead. Your PC will keep operating, of course.
Seriously: Switch away from Windows 7 by whatever means necessary. If you perform only basic tasks on your PC—email, web surfing, and documents—then Linux is a viable, user-friendly option these days.
You can probably still upgrade to Windows 10 for free , too. The other top browser vendors will continue to support Windows 7, however. Switch to one of those—any will do, honestly—and make sure to enable automatic updates to keep those hatches battened down.
This should be a top priority. After browser vulnerabilities, poisoned Office documents are another frequent attack vector. Office will continue to receive security updates through October 13 , so you have a little time there. Microsoft will actually continue to support Office for the next three years until January, if you subscribe to Office You might not, though. Kick Flash and Java to the curb and only install them if needed.
Audit all your installed software, including browser plug-ins. Activate it. Yes, Windows Security Essentials is dead too.
An activated version might, though there are better options. Most security suites will continue to support Windows 7 for a while, and our guide to the best antivirus suites for Windows can help you find your best option. Fragmentation makes your hard disk do extra work that can slow things down. Removable storage media can also become fragmented. Here you can fix any issues related to audio recording, shared files, appearance of folders and files, and more. As shown below, the Windows Experience Index score went up from 2.
In the absence of any updates from Microsoft, you will have to manually follow the above steps to keep the PC performance at a healthy level. Most newer applications that have been designed for Windows 10 may not work very smoothly on Windows 7. However, if you are satisfied with the performance of your existing third-party applications, there is not much to complain about.
You will not get Office support which comes with advanced features such as text-to-speech, translator, focus mode, and dark themes. If you have a Microsoft subscription, it will continue to support Windows 7. Things can get a little dicey for browsers. Presently, both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge have announced that they will only support Windows 7 until July For most other everyday applications, you should not be expecting any major problems.
However, do remember that your Windows 7 system will not support futuristic features such as voice assistant, Windows Hello, and compatibility with smart speakers and other cool gadgets. It is best to use it as a second computer rather than your main one. Image credit: Windows 7 Upgrade. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and European users agree to the data transfer policy.
I have used win 10 and found it confusing, overly officious and disrespectful of the user, with its constant unscheduled updates, etc. I went back to my win 7 Ult. Give me a break, it was legal a few weeks ago. Linux is starting to get my attention.
Windows 7 works as new without issues for me, im not a big believer in microsoft updates or concerned about hackers and that nonsense. In all my years with windows 7 ive never had my computer comprimised its just a load of nonsense. Using Brave Browser, Privact Badger. Windows 10 Causes more problems than Windows 7, Windows 10 Crashes, freezes, So many bugs, Windows 7 runs like clockwork. Bottom line is you can use windows 7 for another 20 years without any problem and if you want to you can also install Windows 7 on Generation 9 and 10 Intel Computers and there are guides on youtube and online to show you how to do so.
Forget Windows 10, Linux is the future, Windows is over. Here Are 12 Fixes. Affiliate Disclosure: Make Tech Easier may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.
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