All good things must come to an end, even Windows 7. After January 14, 2020, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or support for PCs running Windows 7. But you can keep the good times rolling by moving to Windows 10.
Windows 7 was one of Microsoft’s best-loved computing operating systems and most of us are still using it. According to NetMarketShare’s September 2018 data, 40.88% are still using Windows 7 – compared to the 37.44% who have moved on to the latest operating system, Windows 10. Windows 7 will eventually reach the end of its lifecycle, making an upgrade an absolutely essential task for the safety of your PC.
Is Windows 7 still safe to use?
Once an operating system enters extended support,( which was January 13, 2015) it's still very safe to use. It means that Microsoft will continue to patch any security threats but won't add any new features (as it would do during the 'mainstream support' phase). Just remember that after January 14th, 2020 Windows 7 will not be as secure to use!
Windows 7 End of Life: what happens next?
When Windows 7 reaches its End of Life phase on January 14, 2020, Microsoft will stop releasing updates and patches for the operating system. It’s likely that it also won’t offer help and support if you encounter any problems.
However, that doesn’t mean Windows 7 will stop working on January 14, 2020 – you’ll still be able to use Windows 7 for as long as you want. So the good news is that you’re not going to wake up on January 15 to find your Windows 7 PC no longer boots up.
But just because you can continue to use Windows 7 in its End of Life status, it doesn’t mean you should.
The biggest issue with continuing to use Windows 7 is that it won't be patched for any new viruses or security problems once it enters End of Life, and this leaves you extremely vulnerable to any emerging threats. Food for thought, if a large number of people continue to use Windows 7 after the End of Life date, that could actually be a big incentive for malicious users to target viruses and other nasties at Windows 7.
So, while Windows 7 will continue to work after January 14, 2020, you should start planning to upgrade to Windows 10, or an alternative operating system, as soon as possible.
How to get Windows 10...
So you have two options, one is to buy a new computer that has Window 10 already installed on it. Two is that you upgrade your Windows 7 computer (keep in mind if your computer is older it might have a harder time running Window 10). We would be more than happy to help you with either option.