The end of the extended support for Windows 7 ends on January 14, 2020. From now on, there will no longer be any security patches for the Microsoft operating system, released at the end of 2009. If you are still on this OS, several possibilities are available to you.
STAY ON WINDOWS 7
The shutdown of extended support is certainly scheduled for January 14, 2020, but this does not in any way mean that the operating system will no longer function after this date. In reality, this means that Microsoft will no longer provide any security patch to individuals. The only exception, which will be paid for : companies that can pay will be entitled to extended support until January 2023. Prices will be higher and higher from one year to the next.
Staying on Windows 7 will become more and more dangerous over time, because the flaws that will be discovered after January 14 will no longer be plugged - except for companies that have purchased extended support. The vulnerabilities will therefore accumulate and be as many potential attack angles for malicious people. In addition, there is also the halt in the maintenance of software on this operating system, deemed to be of age. For example, Google Chrome should be abandoned on July 15, 2021.
Windows 7
I am here, I am staying here ! But at your own risk. // Source: Andrew Writer
ATTEMPT TO MIGRATE FOR FREE ON WINDOWS 10
When Microsoft released Windows 10 on July 29, 2015, the operating system made an offer to its customers with a valid license of Windows 7 or 8: during the first year, the new OS from the Redmond company could be picked up for free. The proposal was in principle valid until midnight July 26, 2016. Beyond this date, the upgrade to Windows 10 became chargeable. In theory. In practice, the door always seems to be ajar.
As pointed out by the Bleeping Computer site , there is a manipulation that we can try to do to switch for free to Windows 10 from a computer equipped with a valid Windows 7 license, provided that its hardware is not too old. This requires following a few steps - as a precaution, it is advisable to make a backup before any upgrade. It may be worth a try and, if not practical, it is always possible to go back.
How about launching an update to Windows 10? // Source: Steve Tolcher
BUY WINDOWS 10 LICENSE
If the trick mentioned above does not work, there remains the possibility of acquiring commercially a Windows 10 license. The most common edition is the "family", which is sold 149 euros (a license for a post ). Other editions exist, but they are aimed at more specific audiences and include options that you may not need. This is the case for example of the professional edition, sold at a price of 259 euros.
Windows 10
The purchase of a Windows 10 license is only valid for a single PC. // Source: Project IDEA
BUY A NEW PC
It is possible that the purchase of a Windows 10 license is not enough, because you risk installing an operating system on a machine too slow to properly run it. In this case, it may be the purchase of a new computer that you will have to consider. If you buy a laptop , a Windows 10 license will in principle be provided with it. Ditto for a ready to use computer. But if you want to mount it yourself , don't forget to add an OS in your basket.
Maybe it's time to buy a newer machine? // Source: Numerama
SWITCH TO ANOTHER OS
This is the last option available to you: the retirement of Windows 7 may be the perfect opportunity to change the ecosystem. Even if we guess that many people will prefer to continue with Microsoft, some may take the opportunity to change the air. You have two main choices available to you: you can switch to macOS, which will require changing hardware . It won't be the Mac Pro , which isn't for you, but maybe the MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.
If you want to keep your machine, then you may have to turn to a Linux distribution . Some are easy to learn - we obviously think of Ubuntu - and there are even solutions designed for computers that are really out of breath. The advantage of a Linux distribution is that you can test it before installing it , which allows you to see if it is made for you and which distribution is best suited to your needs.
open-source-linux
