Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Poll: Do you care that MS has ended free Windows 7 support?

Jan 14, 2015 3:49AM PST

Microsoft has ended Windows 7 mainstream support (free help and support) and will no longer release any new features for it. Read article here and see Windows Lifecycle fact sheet here

Do you care that Microsoft has ended free Windows 7 support?

-- Yes, because I rely on the free support.
-- Yes, because I can't afford the paid support.
-- No, because I never use it.
-- No, because I don't use Windows 7.
-- No, because I don't use Windows.
-- Other. (Tell us what it is in discussion below.)

Place your poll votes here and discuss the topic below.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Too Soon
Jan 14, 2015 11:29AM PST

It was only 8 months ago when my firm replaced my Windows XP machine. We don't use Windows 8.x. Fortunately, we have pretty good in-house support. As long as they're still providing security updates we'll be ok.

I had to upgrade to Windows 8.1 at home so I'm frustrated but covered there.

- Collapse -
Greedy corporations
Jan 14, 2015 12:11PM PST

I think it is a shame any large company does not support their products. We have to buy and then if something goes wrong it is all on our shoulders.
Why can't they at least offer free help for seniors and low income people?
If something breaks on my computer then there is no way I can have it fixed.
Let companies who use other companies products foot the bill and not us.
My computer isn't even a year old yet and now no support. Sad Not fair.

- Collapse -
They DO support..
Jan 14, 2015 7:23PM PST

Sinbad, you poor old sod:
For your information Microsoft offer superb support for their Windows operating systems, also for their other software such as Word, Excel (both part of Office), and other software. On more than one occasion I have had new stuff supplied to me from Microsoft when something went wrong, and their service is top notch.

I am 73, so no spring chicken, and I can tell you that I keep right up to date - on a pension! And when I have a problem I CALL Microsoft - from Australia! NO problem at all, they are PLEASED to help. I repeat, noooo problem!


If as you say your computer is only one year old, that is January 2014, then you must have been sold some EXTREMELY old stock! I'm guessing (hoping) it was REAL cheap. Windows 8 has been in all new stock since November 1, 2012. If for example, your computer was actually a 2010 or 2011 model with Win 7, it would have come with a cheap; or free; upgrade to Win 8. So WHY didn't you upgrade right away?

Calling MS is unbelievably easy and gets things fixed up pronto. WHY stay with Windows XP or even Windows 7, when Windows 8.1 starts 3 times quicker and runs twice as fast? <div>Why suffer?

I LOVED XP!
But (I'm sorry) it doesn't hold a candle to Windows 8.1.
</div>

- Collapse -
Win 8.1 is Difficult
Jan 15, 2015 1:56AM PST

Microsoft has taken a page from Apple and hidden most of the functions that I've been used to using in XP and Win7. Every time I need to adjust something, I need to use the search function and I still haven't found some of the settings I would like to tweak.

- Collapse -
(Other)
Jan 14, 2015 12:45PM PST

No, they don't need anymore support - Win7 is as far advanced as it is going to get. if I truly wanted a new whistle or bell, I'd buy into another operating system. Security updates are all I need.

- Collapse -
UPGRADE!
Jan 14, 2015 6:55PM PST

Do I care that Windows 7 is no longer supported in the mainstream and will no longer enjoy any new features?
NO, because I always UPGRADE!
While I recognise that this is difficult for many small and medium companies who are trying to save a buck, I don't think there is much excuse for the average single user.
I don't blame business users because for 20 years I watched my brother in his small business (average a dozen staff operating 8-9 desktops) using 1994 vintage PCs right up to 2002+. He said "they handle word plus my contact management software so as long as we can wait for their 5 minute warm up, they are OK by me." I could see his point: Why spend thousands for new PCs and software for just TWO software programs?
But most SINGLE users; who do not upgrade and live in fear and terror of 'the latest thing'; use a lot more than 2 programs, and then grumble because the software manufacturers, including Microsoft, have finally given up on them.
Then there are those that say "why should I spend money just because Microsoft say so?", even though the average Microsoft upgrade is REALLY cheap! Microsoft Windows is the LARGEST piece of software on your computer (yes, it IS software!) yet it is usually DIRT CHEAP!
So, truthfully, why are you so mean with yourself?
Apple are a good deal worse considering that 95% of their operating systems AND software are not at all backwards compatible, and everything costs a good deal more; but the direct opposite is true of Microsoft and people that suffer with old software only have themselves to blame; especially since the newer MS OSs run quicker and easier on almost anything!

- Collapse -
No I don't Care!
Jan 14, 2015 8:52PM PST

When will people learn! This is what happens when one company holds a large majority of the market! It's a scam and there is a reason they have to update & patch constantly? I dumped windows a long time ago and moved to OS X. It's relatively safe and their OS upgrades are usually free! Although! The latest roll out, Yosemite, although free, was unstable on my iMac so I had to roll it back! No operating system is perfect, but I hate being held hostage!

- Collapse -
Never Used It
Jan 14, 2015 10:37PM PST

Whenever I had a problem with Win 7, I turned to the many excellent forums and discussion groups that are free on the internet for help. It's never failed me yet. In a lot of cases consumers can come up with fixes and help that's better and faster than Microsoft has provided.

Nope, won't even miss it.

- Collapse -
Windows & support lost?
Jan 14, 2015 11:53PM PST

If Windows 8 didn't suck or if the next Windows were on sale, it wouldn't matter. C'mon MSFT!!!!!!!

- Collapse -
Don't care because I don't use it
Jan 15, 2015 6:19AM PST

I have not had the need to use Windows support this century. When I have a problem I have always been able to find the answer on the internet and most often with CNET. I am in my mid-eighties and consider myself to be technologically impaired. But I have not had to take any of my computers to a shop yet. I am hoping to be able to use Win 7 for the rest of my life, certainly until 2020. All I say is keep the patches and security updates coming my way.

- Collapse -
Win 7
Jan 15, 2015 11:13PM PST

The worst part of this, is that MS is a leader because of their market presence & other companies will copy this behavior. This is the worst customer service. None of these companies care about your loyalty to their products because they have a monopoly of sorts. I hope that it comes around to bite them in the *** eventually.

- Collapse -
What free support?
Jan 16, 2015 12:21AM PST

I do not consider MS free support, support. A bunch of semi experienced geeks stating facts that can be found elsewhere on the Internet instantly, and those answers are posted by individuals who do not profess to be experts, just people who also got no help from the MS Forum, and had to battle their way to a solution on their own.
The Forum gives answers to simple questions the beginner needs help with, and that okay, but there is never any help for real problems, and to say there is help in that area, is a joke. You may be lucky if you allow yourself to be ripped off by MS twice, but I would not hold my breath for any help from them. They are typical of all Corporations, they sell you the product at a very inflated price (The United Kingdom) and couldn't give a toss about the faults caused by their own bad programming, leaving you swinging in the breeze until it takes their fancy to send out a patch, or work around.
To my mind Win 7 is free of all MS problems and by 2020, we will not need them.
Just like XP, if you have a good anti virus, and all the other security to protect you computer, and you like using XP, do you really need MS?.
I certainly will not get rid of a reliable O/S for one of the Microsoft cell phone game systems, I would rather dump the company and buy a Mac.
I understand in some cases you have to move on to keep up with technology, but you move on up, not down, and Win 8 etc., to my mind in certainly not up. Considering Intel and MS are in bed with each other, it's obvious what's going on, on the technology front, and it has nothing to do with giving the consumer a better deal.

- Collapse -
Windows 7 support
Jan 16, 2015 7:16AM PST

I have a dislike for microsoft behavior all the way back when I started with Windows Millennium it was the first terrible operating system, then when I bought Vista I was told a lot of extras would come with ultimate that never happened.Now I have windows 7 and with one of the updates I was left without a working system. I called microsoft and was told my computer had no support and I explained it was their fault with the update anyway they said sorry. I was lucky I could restore the system and it worked again. I bought windows 8 and half of the apps didn't work and things got worse luckily I was able to reformat and go back to windows 7. I hated windows 8 I hope windows 10 is more user friendly.

- Collapse -
poll
Jan 16, 2015 9:08AM PST

-- No, because I never use it.
-- No, because I don't use Windows 7.
-- No, because I don't use Windows.

- Collapse -
No, never had it.
Jan 17, 2015 6:33AM PST

Since I built my desktop and bought an OEM version of 7 Pro 64 bit, I was the only support I had. Even on my old XP computer I was forced my an error in MS' anti-piracy tool to buy a new copy of XP Pro. Again I bought OEM. My MoBo died in the desktop and I'm now using a 2008 Macbook Pro I was given by an old friend. Not sure what I'll do when I get the new MoBo, quad core 4.0 ghz chipset and 8gb 2400 mhz DDR3 RAM bought and installed. Probably go to Linux <Mint. As soon as I can afford the $35 for VM software I'm going to install my 7 64 bit Pro on my Macbook. Still learning my way around OSx Yosemite but I'm proficient at doing my own PC repairs even though blind. Though I'll need a friend to install the stand-offs and the MoBo. I can take it from there. BTW, I'm now blind, so it takes me a bit more time to do my repairs and upgrades. Took me 4 hrs to install a new PSU two years ago. But I did it. Happy

- Collapse -
"Other" is Easy
Jan 17, 2015 12:02PM PST

I'm waiting for Windows 10.

- Collapse -
Win 7
Jan 17, 2015 11:32PM PST

Nope, I fix my own issues anyway, besides I also run Linux on other systems and really, with the new Mint variant, who needs MS?