Windows 7 is officially dead

Microsoft officially ends support to Windows 7 after a decade. After the debut in 2009, Microsoft is finally ending support for Windows 7, the popular OS that continues to run on millions of devices globally.

Microsoft had been notifying users since last year and starting Wednesday, a full-screen notification will appear for Windows 7 users, warning them about the end of support. Microsoft has also urged Windows 7 users to make an upgrade to Windows 10 to enjoy new features and continued support.

Microsoft will no longer provide updates or security patches for the 11-year-old operating system, and the hundreds of millions of PCs still using it are vulnerable to attack. One-third of PCs around the world run Windows 7, according to NetMarketShare. With Microsoft announcing the end of technical support for Windows 7, the number of attacks deployed against Windows 7 devices is expected to increase in 2020, warned the researchers.

Microsoft wants to solely focus on Windows 10 heading into the new decade, and will be developing new features as well as giving it all the attention required in terms of security updates, patches, performance boosts and more. The good news for you is, you can still upgrade your PC to Windows 10, for free.

Step 1: Visit the Windows 10 download page.

Step 2: On the page, click on ‘Download Tool now’ and download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool.

Step 3: Now, run the Media Creation Tool and accept the licence terms.

Step 4: Next, select ‘Upgrade this PC now’ and click on ‘Next’.

Step 5: Click on ‘Keep personal files and apps’ and then click ‘Continue’.

Step 6: Once the Install option will be clicked, Windows 10 will begin to be installed. However, this will require some time.

Step 7: Once the Windows 10 finishes installing, users need to connect to the internet and open Settings > Windows Update > Activation and the computer/laptop will be activated with a digital license.

Important to note that this Windows 10 upgrade method will not work on PCs running an unlicensed or “cracked” version of Windows 7.