Microsoft stops sales of Windows 7 Professional to OEMs; Sticks a Fork in the World's Most Popular Operating System

[SirLinksALot]

SOURCE: COMPUTERWORLD

URL: http://www.computerworld.com/article/3137430/windows-pcs/microsoft-stops-sales-of-windows-7-professional-to-oems.html

Gregg Keizer By Gregg Keizer 


Microsoft today quietly put an end to sales of Windows 7 licenses to computer makers, marking a major milestone for the seven-year-old OS.

According to Microsoft's rules, the Redmond, Wash. company stopped selling Windows 7 Professional or any version of Windows 8.1 to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) as of Oct. 31.


The end of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 left only Windows 10 as a long-term choice for OEMs that pre-load Windows on their wares.

The original end-of-sales deadline for Windows 7 Professional was to be Oct. 31, 2014 -- two years after the launch of Windows 8 -- but early that year Microsoft broke with practice and only called for an end to consumer systems. It left open the cut-off for Windows 7 Professional, saying it would give a one-year warning before it demanded that OEMs stop selling PCs with that edition.

Microsoft issued that warning a year ago.

Organizations with enterprise licensing agreements and Software Assurance -- the annuity-like program that provides additional rights -- may continue to purchase new PCs, then downgrade the OS from the already-installed Windows 10 to Windows 7 if they want to keep using the older edition.

And new Windows 7 Professional PCs won't vanish immediately; OEMs will be allowed to use what licenses they have in stock.

For example, Dell's online store today still listed 17 different notebook configurations equipped with Windows 7 Professional. The same goes for smaller computer sellers, like Puget Systems, an Auburn, Wash. custom PC maker: Such shops can continue to build new Windows 7 Professional PCs until their supply of licenses dries up.

Microsoft pulled the plug on Windows 7 even though it remains the most popular operating system on the planet. Windows 7 has lost about a fifth of its user share since the mid-2015 launch of Windows 10, but according to U.S. analytics vendor Net Applications, it powered 48% of all personal computers in October, more than twice Windows 10's share.

Windows 7 support is to continue until January 2020, giving users just over three years to migrate to another operating system.

[Frank Cannon]

Windows 10 is garbage. I had to downgrade my laptop to 7 because it was totally unstable on 10.

[Oceander]

I suffered through several years of Vista.  Now I have Pro7, but it's still in the box. 

I still have - or had up until Sunday, when the power jack stopped working - a Vista system from 2009 that I've used as my primary system.  It is/was a big 17" DTR HP and is/was still able to keep up with the 'nets and all.  I'm hoping I can get into the guts of it soon and replace the power jack, or fix any shorts that might be there.  It is/was an awesome system.

Personally, though, I'm getting closer and closer to switching over to a linux-based system (with a GUI, of course) instead of purchasing new Windows-based systems all the time.  It gets really, really annoying having the OS change every 2 years; I do basic management of all home systems and I now have to contend with everything from a single WinXP Pro system (DIY server - no emails, thx!) to the new 14" laptop I just bought for work that runs Win10.  I got really spoilt with WinXP running for so long.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Windows 10 is garbage. I had to downgrade my laptop to 7 because it was totally unstable on 10.

Really? I find it very stable. 8 was garbage imo.

[montanajoe]

Planned obsolescence in the 50's and 60's gave us a bunch of new cars and other stuff at a competitive price, planned obsolescence today gives us a inferior product at a higher price

[Taxcontrol]

Windows 10 is garbage. I had to downgrade my laptop to 7 because it was totally unstable on 10.

I agree, but I upgraded mine, my wife's and my mother-in-law to Linux Mint

[Oceander]

I agree, but I upgraded mine, my wife's and my mother-in-law to Linux Mint

Agree that's an upgrade.  My daughter would probably be fine with it; my wife would not. 

[montanajoe]

Agree that's an upgrade.  My daughter would probably be fine with it; my wife would not.

I guess my question is ... an upgrade for who?


I have a Win98 box that has never been connected to the Internet that I keep some of my important records on, It works just fine on the rare occasions I fire it up.
"Upgrades" as they are called seem to be only aimed at  more efficiently giving your personal data away...

[Oceander]

I guess my question is ... an upgrade for who?


I have a Win98 box that has never been connected to the Internet that I keep some of my important records on, It works just fine on the rare occasions I fire it up.
"Upgrades" as they are called seem to be only aimed at  more efficiently giving your personal data away...

Depends on what you need it for.  I mess around with graphic design on occasion, for which I use one of two graphics editors:  GIMP or CorelDRAW.  A Win98 system couldn't run those programs, period.  For that I need a newer system and, importantly, an OS that can utilize that system.  As a simple example, WinXP32 could not access memory addresses greater than about 3.25GB.  To access greater memory, one needs an OS that can do so.  Also, clock speed matters.  Even with the greater amount of memory, the graphics editors I use would be useless if the system they ran on ran at the same clock speeds as the hardware that came with Win98.

Conversely, if all you're doing is using it to store rarely-accessed data, and it never sees the internet - and you never install new programs on it - then the old Win98 machine will do just fine until the hardware itself burns out.

I have an old system that I use as a DIY home server for image files.  It's an old Dell that I bought when it came off lease from some big company and has WinXP Pro on it.  It's basically just a glorified file server, never accesses the internet, and I haven't installed anything on it since I set up the Apache and MySQL servers on it.  So long as the hardware runs, I don't see any need to monkey with it.  I have another old Dell that I rescued from the junk room at the apartment building we used to live in, and I have it set to dual boot WinXP and linux (can't remember the flavor right now); that works just fine for me.  In fact, one of the things linux is good for is keeping old hardware useful because you can find linux variants that are safe and up-to-date which will work on older hardware the way that an updated version of Windows would not.

[Frank Cannon]

I agree, but I upgraded mine, my wife's and my mother-in-law to Linux Mint

Aw geez. Here we go with the Linux followers. They make Moonies look reasonable....

[Oceander]

Aw geez. Here we go with the Linux followers. They make Moonies look reasonable....

Cute.  I like both Windows and linux, but don't care for Mac because it's too bespoke.  Where does that put me?

[Frank Cannon]

Cute.  I like both Windows and linux, but don't care for Mac because it's too bespoke.  Where does that put me?

As long as you hate Apple, who cares.

[GtHawk]

DAMN! And just when I had almost decided to take the plunge and upgrade to Win 7, Microsoft is always in such a hurry they don't give me time to make a decision.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Aw geez. Here we go with the Linux followers. They make Moonies look reasonable....

I use Linux professionally at work. Maybe it's an OCD thing I have about using LInux as a stricly server system, but I have never liked anything but Ubuntu on the desktop. I did not have a good time with Linux Mint getting things like sleep and drivers to work.

[Oceander]

As long as you hate Apple, who cares.

Hate is such a strong word.  I have an iPhone 6 so I'm not a hater, just a disliker.

[Just_Victor]

Cute.  I like both Windows and linux, but don't care for Mac because it's too bespoke.  Where does that put me?

Is there really such a thing as a Windows "fanboy?"

[Hurricane Andrew]

DAMN! And just when I had almost decided to take the plunge and upgrade to Win 7, Microsoft is always in such a hurry they don't give me time to make a decision.

If 7+ years isn't enough time, I doubt any length of time would be. 

[GtHawk]

If 7+ years isn't enough time, I doubt any length of time would be.

Well I belong to the school of  "If it ain't broke don't fix it". So far this old XP system has done and is doing everything I need it to, it may not be blazing fast, but it runs all the programs I need just fine.

[Frank Cannon]

Is there really such a thing as a Windows "fanboy?"

Not really. We're more of just stuck in a rut group. I started out with Windows 3.0 and it did everything I wanted, so why change to some other OS. Same thing for android with me. I bought a new phone to upgrade my S4. Thought I would look into the new Apple stuff. Left the store with an S7. Don't see any point to changing something I already like.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Not really. We're more of just stuck in a rut group. I started out with Windows 3.0 and it did everything I wanted, so why change to some other OS. Same thing for android with me. I bought a new phone to upgrade my S4. Thought I would look into the new Apple stuff. Left the store with an S7. Don't see any point to changing something I already like.

I'd consider myself a "Windows on the DT, LInux on server" fanboy. I'm OCD like that.


People praise Linux Mint but man, I had a lot of problems with it, almost all driver issues.

[Fishrrman]

Mac user here, since 1987 (Apple // before that).

I've used Windows a few times.
I'm quite good with the Mac OS, but trying to do anything with Windows leaves me dazed and confused.

If Apple ever drops the Mac OS (or converts it into something more resembling the iOS), I think I'll move over to Linux. I've actually tried a few Linux distros, and it seems "learnable" to me in my declining old age…  ;)

[Oceander]

Is there really such a thing as a Windows "fanboy?"

Yes, although we call most of them hackers. 

[Oceander]

Mac user here, since 1987 (Apple // before that).

I've used Windows a few times.
I'm quite good with the Mac OS, but trying to do anything with Windows leaves me dazed and confused.

If Apple ever drops the Mac OS (or converts it into something more resembling the iOS), I think I'll move over to Linux. I've actually tried a few Linux distros, and it seems "learnable" to me in my declining old age…  ;)

It goes the same if you're trying to move from Windows to Mac.  There are some fundamental conceptual differences that we take for granted until we're faced with them.  Moving from Mac to linux should definitely be easier than moving to Windows, or even moving from Windows to linux since the Mac OSes have more similarities with *nix systems than with Windows.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I found Mac not really all that usable at all, frankly. I'm way more productive in Windows or Linux/Unix (I use Solaris and HP-UX at work)

[Oceander]

I found Mac not really all that usable at all, frankly. I'm way more productive in Windows or Linux/Unix (I use Solaris and HP-UX at work)

I used to use Mac back in the mid 1990s when I was finishing my undergrad degree - the school computer labs had only Macs - but since then I've predominantly used Windows and a very little bit of linux for the servers I do amateur maintenance on.

[Just_Victor]

Yes, although we call most of them hackers. 

 

[Smokin Joe]

One day everything old will be new again and they'll return to an XP type system.   Everyone liked that.

I have 7 machines running Win XP, still prefer it, and have a couple of unopened copies. Problem is, when I installed it on a machine with no OS (of the right vintage) the servers which authenticated the OS are no longer up and running. Anyone know a way to get around that?

[Oceander]

I don't get anyone that says Windows 10 is worse than Windows 7. It is faster and as stable (make sure you are running the anniversary edition). I suspect its primarily people "upgrading" old hardware without doing the clean install.

I've been using Ubuntu for my Linux installs usually, but I just put Mint on my old PC. Not sure how I feel yet. Definitely not as good a support forum for Mint. I guess its mostly the same as Ubuntu, so mostly answers there should work on Mint, but it is not clear to me what the actual differences are. OTOH, I've been unable to get tightvnc client on Windows to connect to the Mint desktop, nor can I get RDP to work after installing xrdp. Never had these issues with Ubuntu.

It took me a while to get xrdp working on the Linux I have running as my diy home server.  Unfortunately it's been a while since I set it up so I don't quite remember what the problems were.

[Oceander]

@Scutter

You're with MS aren't you?  Could we start an MS windows thread where we could ask you occasional windows specific questions?

[montanajoe]

The sweet wife told me she want's a 2 in 1 laptop for her upcoming bday. I have a Dell account with a bunch of rewards so I will use that. I have been looking at the 7000 series but they all come with Windows 10..sigh..she's young she can adapt 

If anyone has any insights into a thousand buck Dell 2 in 1 I'd appreciate it..

[Oceander]

@Oceander

I'm always happy to answer questions if I can. I don't work on the Windows team, however, (I work on MS hardware) so what you'll get will be based on my knowledge, which is probably not as good as your average IT support person :)

Yes, but you're our own MS guy, so that counts for a lot!

What level of hardware do you work on?

[Oceander]

@Oceander

I'm always happy to answer questions if I can. I don't work on the Windows team, however, (I work on MS hardware) so what you'll get will be based on my knowledge, which is probably not as good as your average IT support person :)

@Scutter
Sorry.  Forgot to add the mention to my last post.   

[Oceander]

Stuff that is part of the servers in the data center.

On Microsoft's own hardware - as in, what they run their own stuff on - or on hardware that Microsoft deals with?

[kevindavis007]

I like Windows 10.. I had some issues, but it was easy to resolve.

[Oceander]

I like Windows 10.. I had some issues, but it was easy to resolve.

I'm still having problems with the wireless card in my new Win10 laptop.  Win10 seems to keep losing it. 

[Smokin Joe]

Darn, I'm way behind. I'm still trying to figure out how to install WIN XP (new, clean install) and get around the verification thing. (Those servers are no longer in operation, so it won't verify a new install). I have a couple of vintage machines and new copies of the OS, but can't get over 30 days out of the install without the verification.

[roamer_1]

Darn, I'm way behind. I'm still trying to figure out how to install WIN XP (new, clean install) and get around the verification thing. (Those servers are no longer in operation, so it won't verify a new install). I have a couple of vintage machines and new copies of the OS, but can't get over 30 days out of the install without the verification.

Try Linux Mint or Ubuntu. If the machine is at least a dual core, it'll run better off 64bit linux than it ever thought of in Windows.

But if you must insist, there is a known WGA problem if using a pre-SP2 number to activate an SP2+ installation. This has been known to those of us who slipstream updates into our installation cabs for years.
The only legit way around that problem is to select phone within activation and get a new number.

The only other thing you can do, if the phone number doesn't work, is to get a fully slip'd copy (all available updates contained within), and apply one of the WGA cracks to get it to STFU, and shut off updates.

I could help, I guess, but it would be a while. It's been a year or better since I have even installed XP, not to mention crack it for any reason.

Try a linux derivative. Once you get it, you won;t go back. The only reason I stay in Winders is because I fix them, and I have to keep up on it... Otherwise I'd have been a linux dawg a long time ago.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Try Linux Mint or Ubuntu. If the machine is at least a dual core, it'll run better off 64bit linux than it ever thought of in Windows.

But if you must insist, there is a known WGA problem if using a pre-SP2 number to activate an SP2+ installation. This has been known to those of us who slipstream updates into our installation cabs for years.
The only legit way around that problem is to select phone within activation and get a new number.

The only other thing you can do, if the phone number doesn't work, is to get a fully slip'd copy (all available updates contained within), and apply one of the WGA cracks to get it to STFU, and shut off updates.

I could help, I guess, but it would be a while. It's been a year or better since I have even installed XP, not to mention crack it for any reason.

Try a linux derivative. Once you get it, you won;t go back. The only reason I stay in Winders is because I fix them, and I have to keep up on it... Otherwise I'd have been a linux dawg a long time ago.

I've always gone back to Windows after trying Linux. Every time.

[roamer_1]

I've always gone back to Windows after trying Linux. Every time.

I have no idea why. The only thing I have against Linux is hybrid networking - That's a serious PIA... I suppose if you're a gamer, too... But for stand alone, internet capable, document capable, normal joe-user stuff, Linux works great! I have old ladies using it... If they can use it, you can too

[Smokin Joe]

Try Linux Mint or Ubuntu. If the machine is at least a dual core, it'll run better off 64bit linux than it ever thought of in Windows.

But if you must insist, there is a known WGA problem if using a pre-SP2 number to activate an SP2+ installation. This has been known to those of us who slipstream updates into our installation cabs for years.
The only legit way around that problem is to select phone within activation and get a new number.

The only other thing you can do, if the phone number doesn't work, is to get a fully slip'd copy (all available updates contained within), and apply one of the WGA cracks to get it to STFU, and shut off updates.

I could help, I guess, but it would be a while. It's been a year or better since I have even installed XP, not to mention crack it for any reason.

Try a linux derivative. Once you get it, you won;t go back. The only reason I stay in Winders is because I fix them, and I have to keep up on it... Otherwise I'd have been a linux dawg a long time ago.

Well, the reason is simple. If I go back to doing wellsite work (which is a possibility, and something I think I can do another 4-5 years of before I limp away), I can save about 12 grand coming out of the gate by being able to run the older setup and an older version of the proprietary software I need to generate the well logs. Other files I have figured out how to make, and that includes raster files and .las data files, which are the main report formats people want (and .pdf). If I do that, I'll be able to afford the sort of printer I need to save another grundle of money, but even more important, time.

Would I be able to run XP (or, for that matter, WIN 98SE) based programs in Linux? Are there windows emulators which will permit that, or am I going to need more horsepower than the single core 1,7 Ghz processors with 2GB of RAM (Maxed out)?

[Smokin Joe]

Try Linux Mint or Ubuntu. If the machine is at least a dual core, it'll run better off 64bit linux than it ever thought of in Windows.

But if you must insist, there is a known WGA problem if using a pre-SP2 number to activate an SP2+ installation. This has been known to those of us who slipstream updates into our installation cabs for years.
The only legit way around that problem is to select phone within activation and get a new number.

The only other thing you can do, if the phone number doesn't work, is to get a fully slip'd copy (all available updates contained within), and apply one of the WGA cracks to get it to STFU, and shut off updates.

I could help, I guess, but it would be a while. It's been a year or better since I have even installed XP, not to mention crack it for any reason.

Try a linux derivative. Once you get it, you won;t go back. The only reason I stay in Winders is because I fix them, and I have to keep up on it... Otherwise I'd have been a linux dawg a long time ago.

More, on what I have: They are SP3 versions, updates included, and the problem is that when I go to verify the windows copy as being genuine, the servers that did that aren't there any more, so I can't verify the copy. It poops after 30 days, according to what the screen said. At that point, I suspended operations on those, but I have some time and would like to use the hardware rather than scrap it.

[roamer_1]

Would I be able to run XP (or, for that matter, WIN 98SE) based programs in Linux? Are there windows emulators which will permit that, or am I going to need more horsepower than the single core 1,7 Ghz processors with 2GB of RAM (Maxed out)?

Nope. WINE is onboard (or available for) any 'nix, and does alright... but no guarantees.

But then, Vista era and early Win7 era machines are all over the place used... The one that runs my tv is a high end vista box - i GOT THAT ONE FOR 25 BUCKS. Runs like a raped ape.

So maybe worrying about keeping your hardware ain't all that...

What software are you so intent on running that it's keeping you down? some CAD or adobe stuff?

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I have no idea why. The only thing I have against Linux is hybrid networking - That's a serious PIA... I suppose if you're a gamer, too... But for stand alone, internet capable, document capable, normal joe-user stuff, Linux works great! I have old ladies using it... If they can use it, you can too

Mostly driver issues and bugs. Ubuntu desktop is decent. I didn't have a good experience with mint at all.


I use Linux servers at work as a system administrator.

[roamer_1]

More, on what I have: They are SP3 versions, updates included, and the problem is that when I go to verify the windows copy as being genuine, the servers that did that aren't there any more, so I can't verify the copy. It poops after 30 days, according to what the screen said. At that point, I suspended operations on those, but I have some time and would like to use the hardware rather than scrap it.

Did you try the phone option inside of "Activate' ?

[roamer_1]

Mostly driver issues and bugs. Ubuntu desktop is decent. I didn't have a good experience with mint at all.


I use Linux servers at work as a system administrator.

Huh. Dunno. Normally Mint goes anywhere Ubuntu does... I have no problems other than maybe USB WIFI stuff...

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Huh. Dunno. Normally Mint goes anywhere Ubuntu does... I have no problems other than maybe USB WIFI stuff...

Bluetooth audio was something I had a problem with, also every Linux I've used can't even do sleep properly.

[roamer_1]

Bluetooth audio was something I had a problem with, also every Linux I've used can't even do sleep properly.

LOL! Now that's funny. All my Windows boxen are set to 'Always On' for wont of waking up out of sleep. Windows is notorious for locking up in sleep for me.

[Smokin Joe]

Nope. WINE is onboard (or available for) any 'nix, and does alright... but no guarantees.

But then, Vista era and early Win7 era machines are all over the place used... The one that runs my tv is a high end vista box - i GOT THAT ONE FOR 25 BUCKS. Runs like a raped ape.

So maybe worrying about keeping your hardware ain't all that...

What software are you so intent on running that it's keeping you down? some CAD or adobe stuff?

It is a specialized geological well log generating program. This one will run up to XP, after that I have to have a new version, which means the whole shooting match must be upgraded. When I bought the version I use, you paid for it once. Now they sell you the version, rent the software key on a monthly basis, too. It isn't cheap (about 12K). If/wen I go back to wellsite, it will be like starting from scratch, economically, so I won't have those funds in hand without some heavy borrowing for equipment and expenses, and I'm trying to keep that to a minimum. In six months or so of operations, upgrades would be more affordable..

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

LOL! Now that's funny. All my Windows boxen are set to 'Always On' for wont of waking up out of sleep. Windows is notorious for locking up in sleep for me.

Hasn't happened to me since windows 98.

[roamer_1]

It is a specialized geological well log generating program. This one will run up to XP, after that I have to have a new version, which means the whole shooting match must be upgraded. When I bought the version I use, you paid for it once. Now they sell you the version, rent the software key on a monthly basis, too. It isn't cheap (about 12K). If/wen I go back to wellsite, it will be like starting from scratch, economically, so I won't have those funds in hand without some heavy borrowing for equipment and expenses, and I'm trying to keep that to a minimum. In six months or so of operations, upgrades would be more affordable..

You have to have Win7Pro to do it, but have you tried installing in XP compat mode?

Just spitballing.

I can get XP to play nice, but I don't know about legality - if it is now 'abandonware' then Yohoho and a bottle of rum! 

But it'll take me a bit to load up a test machine... so nothing right off the bat...

Try the phone number route.