WINDOWS 7 REACHES THE END OF THE LINE

Do you need to upgrade your business PCs and what are your options?

Windows 7 launched in July 2009 to much fanfare. Microsoft credited PC users with the ideas their engineers built into the Windows 7 upgrade, which replaced the much-maligned Windows Vista operating system. The advertising campaign ran with the headline ‘I’m a PC and Windows 7 was my idea.’ A decade on from the launch and Microsoft announced they will cease updates and support for the operating system on 14^th January 2020. Mainstream support already ended in January 2015, which meant no further features were added and warranty claims were no longer valid. As the extended support comes to an end in January, Microsoft will no longer release updates and patches to fix any bugs and security issues. The end of the extended support phase creates a number of issues for businesses.

How many PCs are still running Windows 7?

In July 2015 Microsoft launched Windows 10, which was offered as a free upgrade for a year for Windows 7 and 8 users. While many business users took up this free upgrade, according to NetMarketShare Windows 10 didn’t overtake Windows 7 market share until December 2018 when 36.9% of PCs were still running Windows 7. While the share has dropped significantly due to the announcement and an update which triggered repeated user notifications, Computerworld forecasts 26.2% of Windows PCs will still be running Windows 7 at the end of January 2020.

What are the issues with running Windows 7 after 14^th January 2020?

The issues with running Windows 7 after support and updates have ceased are security and functionality. As Microsoft will no longer release bug fixes and security patches for Windows 7, remaining PCs will be left exposed to malware attacks. There is a risk that vulnerabilities in Windows 7 PCs will be specifically targeted once support has ceased. Microsoft are offering an Extended Security Update package to purchase, with rising costs each year calculated on a per device basis. Loss of functionality and performance is linked to the legacy operating system struggling with increasingly complex applications and lack of storage and RAM.  

What are the options if your business is still running Windows 7?

1.    Upgrade to Windows 10 – If your PCs have a specification that can manage the upgrade installation, then the best option will be to upgrade before the deadline to avoid any security issues. Here’s a run-down of the Windows 10 upgrade FAQs from Microsoft and minimum specification for the upgrade:

• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC.
• RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit.
• Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20 GB for 64-bit OS.
• Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver.
• Display: 800 x 600 resolution

2.    Upgrade your PC components – If your PCs don’t meet the necessary specification to upgrade directly to Windows 10, you have the option of upgrading your PC hard drive, storage, RAM and graphics card to help reach the specification. After which you can install Windows 10. Component upgrades may be worthwhile if you are borderline with the necessary specification, as your PCs may not run very efficiently, even if it does install.

3.    Purchase a new PC – If the PCs do not reach the specification then it is time to consider buying new PCs before the deadline to avoid exposing your business to security issues.

Are there more cost-effective options for buying PCs with the latest operating system?

If the investment cost is a barrier to replacing old PCs running Windows 7, then high-quality refurbished PCs with Windows 10 already installed could be a cost-effective alternative to brand new equipment. If you are still keen to have brand new equipment, but would like to protect yourself against obsolescence in the future, a Tech-as-a-Service (TaaS) leasing package could be the perfect option. With a fixed monthly payment and equipment upgrades after three years, you can stay up to date as technology develops, without the capital investment and depreciation costs.

How should you dispose of any obsolete PCs?

Ensuring equipment is wiped of all data and disposed of according to WEEE Directive standards is a legal requirement for businesses. Ensuring a smooth changeover and disposal of equipment can help avoid old PCs being stored unnecessarily and any data security risks that may cause. Recycling obsolete equipment also reduces the environmental impact and contributes to positive Corporate Social Responsibility efforts.  

How can we help?

Technical Reality is a leading supplier of IT solutions at all stages of the tech lifecycle: new and refurbished IT; Tech-as-a-Service contracts; extended warranty packages and fully compliant IT equipment recycling. We offering over 50,000 new and refurbished IT hardware products, all available online, in stock and ready for next day delivery. If you would like to talk to us about great deals and volume offers to upgrade your Windows 7 business PCs, or to arrange recycling of obsolete IT equipment, please contact us by email or call us on 0800 689 0664.

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