Windows 7 Archives - Gizmochina

Steam Cuts Support for Older Versions of Windows! Last 10 Days

Oğuz Çakır — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 16:46:43 +0000

Despite Microsoft releasing Windows 11 just three years ago, rumors about Windows 12 are already everywhere. According to the latest reports, the company is set to unveil the new version of the popular operating system in the second half of 2024. This move is likely to declare Windows 11 officially outdated, marking the end for older versions. In line with this decision, numerous companies have already discontinued support for older Windows versions. Now, Now, Steam does the same thing by cutting support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. Here are the details…

Game Over for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 on Steam, Time to Upgrade!

In March 2023, Steam, the world’s largest online game store, announced that it would stop supporting certain operating systems. Starting from January 1 2024, Steam will no longer be compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1. Users are required to switch to a computer operating on Windows 10, Windows 11, or the upcoming Windows 12.

Although the announcement surprised everyone at the time, it wasn’t taken too seriously since there was still a nine-month deadline. However, time has swiftly passed, and now there is less than 15 days remaining before the deadline. According to Steam’s Hardware and Software Survey in November 2023, only 1% of Steam users are still using older versions of Windows.

While this number may not seem high at first glance, it’s worth noting that the estimated total number of Steam users as of December 2023 is 1.2 billion. In this case, 1% of Steam’s total users accounts for approximately 12 million people. If you’re still using older versions like Windows 7 because of nostalgia, habit, financial constraints, or other reasons, and you love playing games, it’s a good idea to upgrade to the latest version as soon as you can.

This is especially important if you want to continue enjoying your favorite games without any disruptions. For example, PUBG: Battlegrounds recently announced that it won’t be playable on older Windows versions. This serves as a clear indication that there won’t be any delays from Steam’s end.

Microsoft ends free upgrade from Windows 7/8 to 11

Soumyakanti — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 20:35:02 +0000

Microsoft has ended the free upgrade path from Windows 7/8 to Windows 10/11, though upgrading from 10 to 11 remains free. This means people with older systems will now have to pay if they want to upgrade.

End of Free Upgrades: Microsoft Closes Upgrade Path from Windows 7/8 to Windows 10/11

Previously, some users tried to get permanent activation during the upgrade, but tools like HWIDGEN and MAS for activating systems will no longer work, as Microsoft has blocked such requests from their servers. However, computers already using Windows 10/11 through these activations will stay active; Microsoft is not taking back those licenses.

For now, Windows 11 version 22H2 can still be activated on virtual machines, but the newer Canary build is not accepting activation requests.

Microsoft is also working on a lighter, web-focused Windows 12 aiming for the education market, trying to rival Chrome OS. It’s supposed to be a simpler version of Windows, and it’s expected to come out in 2024. This variant won’t replace standard Windows but will be an alternative for simpler, educational devices. It will feature AI integration and focus heavily on web experiences, especially with Microsoft Edge.

In addition, Microsoft has introduced a big update for Windows 11, adding Copilot, a new AI assistant. Copilot will be in a sidebar and can help users with various tasks like searching for recipes and planning trips. The update also gives File Explorer a new look, adds a handwriting feature called Ink Anywhere, and brings enhancements to the Snipping tool and RGB lighting control. Plus, Microsoft 365 users can get Copilot for $30 a month, which will help them with their work tasks.

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Microsoft sees an upgrade wave from Windows 7 users: Report

Sean — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 10:40:02 +0000

While Microsoft ended the support for Windows 7 back in January 2020, the older version of Windows is still going strong with a notable user base across the globe. However, despite this, the company has recently started seeing an upgrade wave as well.

According to a WCCFTech report, the American tech giant has supported the older version of Windows for over 10 years before finally ending support. While the company never officially shared any stats regarding the user base, data from NetMarketShare has revealed that 1 in every 4 computers was still being powered by Windows 7. Microsoft has offered a free upgrade offer to Windows 7 users. Now, a year after the company ended support, it has observed a new upgrade wave.

In other words, there has been a number of users shifting away from the now unsupported Windows version. Last month, the company stated that “In Windows, the stronger PC market resulted in overall OEM revenue growth of 1 percent, despite a strong prior year comparable in OEM Pro from the end of support for Windows 7. OEM non-Pro revenue grew 24 percent, and OEM Pro revenue declined 9 percent. Inventory levels ended the quarter in the normal range.”

At the moment, at least 20 percent of all devices are still running on Windows 7, as per NetmarketShare. Furthermore, the most number of older devices running this version of Windows belong to government and institutions, which have always been slow to switch to newer products and services despite the company offering a free upgrade plan.

Microsoft finally pulls the plug on Windows 7; will no longer provide support

Jed John Ikoba — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 01:56:35 +0000

Microsoft has officially announced that it is dropping support of Windows 7. This comes nearly 11 years after the extremely popular operating system was first launched in New York City. The OS came as a suitable fix for the failed Windows Vista which was released before it and indeed, it turned out to be a worthy replacement bringing on board a new taskbar, Aero window management, file libraries, and much more.

Windows 7 went on to amass so much popularity that even the Windows 8 found no place near it. Even the Windows 10 had to wait for nearly 4 years before it could surpass the market share of Windows 7. Available data from Netmarketshare shows that millions of PCs worldwide are still running Windows 7 with the operating system running on 26 percent of all PCs.

Microsoft even had to try to get people to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge. While that might have helped Windows 10 gain prominence over 7, there are still tens of millions of PCs still running Windows 7. Those PCs will now be left vulnerable to exploits and security vulnerabilities. From today (Wednesday), a full-screen notification will appear for Windows 7 users warning that systems are now out of support.

Businesses and education Windows 7 users will be able to pay for extended security updates, but it could be a costly venture for some. Extended updates for Windows 7 Enterprise is approximately $25 per machine, and the cost doubles to $50 per device in 2021 and again to $100 in 2022. Windows 7 Pro users will be hit the hardest as extended security updates start at $50 per machine and will jump to $100 in 2021 and $200 in 2022. These costs will naturally vary depending on the volume of PCs in use at a business, but they’re still going to be substantial for larger firms. Windows 7 customers with active Windows 10 subscriptions will get a free year of post-retirement updates.

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