Articles

The End of an Era: Farewell Windows 7!

Posted by Andre Tewinkle, ACS Computer Solutions 19-12-2019 11:26 AM

Do you still have Windows 7 on your computer? Windows 7 will reach the “End of Life” stage January 14, 2020.

What does this mean?
End of Life means Microsoft will no longer be releasing critical security updates. It doesn’t mean it will stop working. Right now, Microsoft releases security patches all the time trying to keep you safe. “Bad guys” look for ways to get in, Microsoft tries to stop them.

So, what should you do?
One option is to do nothing. Your Windows 7 computer will no longer be secure on the internet. Not planning to use the Internet? No problem. However, if you do go on the internet, you’ll be taking a risk. This risk will grow as time goes on. If you have nothing on your computer you care about losing, such as personal information, and you do not do any online banking, purchasing, or filling out forms, then who cares right? Just make sure it’s not on the same network as your important computers. Of course, your infected computer could keep spreading the virus on the internet, which is not something one wants.

Most likely the better option is to upgrade to Windows 10. Windows 10 has more security features built in and Microsoft will keep updating it. The first thing to consider before upgrading is to verify your hardware. Official hardware requirements for Windows 10 are pretty minimal. However, for a computer to run well, a good starting configuration would be: a late I-series Intel CPU (or equivalent), with 8GB of ram (4GB minimum). Next, if you have a busy work environment, this is also the time to look at how much a new computer could increase productivity. Even 15 minutes a day in time savings can pay for the cost of a new computer within a year. A happier work environment is created with a computer that “plays nice”.

So, you’d like to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10?
Whether or not you choose to upgrade, to purchase a new computer or to hold off a while, the best choice is an informed choice. If you’re not sure, it’s well worth a conversation with your local Millenium Micro affiliate.

Andre Tewinkle, ACS Computer Solutions.