How Long Can I Keep My Windows XP or Win7?
By Bob Rankin
Still Holding on to XP or Windows 7?
Windows 8 is a radically new operating system that many users, consumer and business, are not prepared to adopt. Since its release last Fall, it’s appeared on only three per cent of desktops. If you want to cling to Windows 7 or, more desperately, Windows XP, how long can you do so and what should you expect? Here’s the scoop…
How Long Can I Keep My Windows XP or Win7?
Windows 7 users can rest comfortably until at least January 2015. That’s when “mainstream” support of the OS will end, according to Microsoft. Until then, you will continue to receive both security and non-security updates (product enhancements and non-security bug fixes). If your license came with free incident support, you will get it.
But on January 13, 2015, support for Windows 7 will be scaled back. You’ll still get free security-related updates, but other types of support will be available only by subscription. You will have until April 15, 2015, to buy a subscription for this “extended support.” Warranty claims will not be honored and you will not get new features, only bug fixes.
All support for Windows 7 will end in early 2020, according to Microsoft’s product life-cycle policy. After that, you will receive no security patches and money won’t buy any other support. By then, you’ll need a plan to migrate to a newer version of Windows, Mac, Linux, or whatever else is available in 2020.
What About Windows XP?
Windows XP is much closer to becoming an orphan. XP has been in the Extended Support phase since April 14, 2009, and all support will end on April 18, 2014. (Extended support for Vista will end in April 2017.) If you are running XP, you should start planning a migration to Windows 7 or Windows 8 real soon now. It isn’t a trivial task, especially for business users.
User data and settings will transfer to a newer operating system fairly easily. But all application software will have to be re-installed. That means you may have to track down CDs, DVDs, downloaded installation files, and license keys. Some applications written for XP will be incompatible with Windows 7 or 8, wholly or in part. You should identify incompatible apps well ahead of time and find alternatives.
Clinging to an orphaned operating system is a foolish and dangerous option, not unlike driving on bald tires or an empty oil reservoir. Malware writers and hackers will increase their targeting of orphaned operating systems and you will receive no defensive patches. Some sort of disaster is virtually guaranteed.
Excerpt shared with permission from Bob Rankin.
