Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 have been completely abandoned by Microsoft a few days ago. PCs in these environments have no choice but to adopt a newer version of Windows or switch to a different operating system (Linux, macOS).
Support for Windows 7 ended in January 2020. In view of the great popularity, especially among professionals, Microsoft had no choice but to set up a “paid” extension through personalized maintenance. It is known as the ESU program. It lasted three years and ended in January 2023. Windows 7 is now history. It is part of the Microsoft archives. With Windows 8.1, the ending is even more brutal since there was no ESU program.
The latest figures from StatCounter (January 2023) show that these two environments are still part of the global IT landscape. This is a problem as no further maintenance will allow them to patch their security holes and bugs.
Windows 7 is still there
Windows 10 remains the most used version in the world. The market share is 68.64%. Windows 11 came second, climbing to 18.12%. The introduction of Windows 11 is not virulent. His progress is slow. In terms of hardware requirements, there is nothing surprising as only relatively new hardware is allowed.
Windows 7 takes third place with a market share of just under 10% (9.7%). This number is “impressive” since the operating system was launched in 2009 and still meets many expectations of users and professionals. We then find Windows 8.1 with a presence of 2.33%.
All of this suggests that millions of computers running Windows 7 and 8.1 don’t seem to have any “concerns” about potential security risks. On the other hand, Microsoft has confirmed that stopping their maintenance does not mean that these systems stop working. It just means that they will no longer be affected by the next Patch Tuesday, which will bring to life several security fixes.
Windows 8.1 reached end of support on January 10, 2023. Microsoft has ended technical support and maintenance. If you have devices running Windows 8.1, it is recommended to migrate to a supported version of Windows (Windows 10). Microsoft adds
If the devices don’t meet the technical requirements to run a newer version of Windows, we recommend replacing the device with a device that supports Windows 11. Windows 10 is still available and will be supported until October 14, 2025.
You can check if your current PC meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 10. If so, you can purchase and download a full version of Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro. You can also check with retailers to see if they still have Windows 10 for sale.
In the case of Windows 7, Microsoft explains that the best option is to buy a new computer running Windows 11.