Windows 7 has been one of the most popular operating systems Microsoft has ever produced. It’s so popular that many people still use it to this day. Sadly, The Microsoft company announced earlier this year that it is ending Windows 7 support next year in January 2020. This has important implications for those who may or may not intend to keep using it in the new year.
Everything You Need to Know About the Windows 10 Changeover:
Windows 7 is Still Popular
What Microsoft calls “end of life” doesn’t mean that laptops and desktops running Windows 7 will suddenly die. It only means that the company will no longer be providing active support and updates for the OS. If you are one of the many people who want to hold on to your copy of Windows 7, there are a few potential IT issues you should keep in mind. First and foremost is the fact that you won’t get important patches that protect your system from the latest viruses and malware. That means your cybersecurity could be compromised.
Cybersecurity Issues
Black hat hackers always focus their efforts on creating malware and attacks that exploit the most commonly used systems. Because Windows 7 has been so popular- it has always been a common target. Once the security patches stop coming, you’ll no longer be protected. Those who want to keep the OS should consider using it on machines that are no longer connected to the Internet. Keeping it quarantined from the Internet can protect you from security threats and allow you to use it for certain business tech applications or other special projects.
Are All Versions Affected?
Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter whether you’re using Windows 7 Pro or Home version- the end of life will still affect you. However, Microsoft has not yet announced “end of life” for Windows 7 Ultimate for Embedded Systems. If you’re using that one, you will be able to continue using it for the time being.
How to Make the Changeover
Eventually, you will have to transition no matter what. The next generations of Windows PCs are going to come with Windows 10 pre-loaded. There won’t be an option to return to Windows 7. If you’re not bothered by the change, you’ll be glad to know that Microsoft intends to make the process of switching to 10 easy. As long as your machine meets the minimum requirements, you’ll have the option to upgrade from 7 to 10.
About Windows 10
Windows 10 will come with a host of features not available on 7. Many of these are intended to make the perceived barriers between online and offline use less apparent. You’ll be presented with services and options through the main menu that will take you directly to online resources without having to open your browser directly.
To run Windows 10, you’ll need:
- A 1GHz or better processor
- 1GB of RAM for 32-bit ver.
- 2GB of RAM for 64-bit ver.
- Up to 20GB of hard disk space
- Screen and graphics card supporting 800 by 600 or higher, and a DirectX 9 graphics chip
- Access to the Internet
To learn more, get in touch today with Integrated Axis Technology Group. We can help make the transition easy.
