Technoglitch
Core Member
On Monday, Microsoft formally ended mainstream support for Windows 7, and while this might be a consumer concern, IT users don't have much to fret about.
First off, extended support ends on January 4, 2020. That's when all patching will cease, just as patches for XP ended last April. That's really the only date of concern, and by that point Microsoft should be one or two operating system generations beyond Windows 10.
Once Microsoft ends mainstream support for an OS and moves it to the extended support phase, you still get the monthly updates and fixes. You just can't call Microsoft for free support anymore. It also means Windows 7 won't receive any new features. For example, DirectX 12, which sounds like a massive revamp to the 3D graphics library for gaming, won't be issued on Windows 7. Only Windows 8.1 and 10 will receive it.
What does the end of mainstream Windows 7 support mean for IT?
First off, extended support ends on January 4, 2020. That's when all patching will cease, just as patches for XP ended last April. That's really the only date of concern, and by that point Microsoft should be one or two operating system generations beyond Windows 10.
Once Microsoft ends mainstream support for an OS and moves it to the extended support phase, you still get the monthly updates and fixes. You just can't call Microsoft for free support anymore. It also means Windows 7 won't receive any new features. For example, DirectX 12, which sounds like a massive revamp to the 3D graphics library for gaming, won't be issued on Windows 7. Only Windows 8.1 and 10 will receive it.
What does the end of mainstream Windows 7 support mean for IT?
