What Will It Cost to Keep Windows 7?

Windows 7 will reach its end-of-service-date on January 14, 2020. After that, Windows 7 users will no longer receive security patches and other important updates, and this will leave Windows 7 vulnerable to exploits and hacks.

Many of you have heard about Microsoft’s extended service plan for Windows 7 which allows users to buy an extended service contract and continue to receive updates and security patches so they can use Windows 7 safely after its official end-of-service date.

So, here are the facts.  Microsoft is offering a per device contract for businesses and only for Windows 7 Pro or Enterprise Editions. Those using Windows 7 Home version, even if you have a business, will not be able to buy the extended service option.  To be clear:  You cannot buy extended service if you’re using Windows 7 Home Premium, extended service contracts are available for Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions.

If you have Windows 7 Pro and here’s what you’ll pay:

Year 1 (Jan 2020 – Jan 2021) $50  per device.

Year 2 (Jan 2021 – Jan 2022) $100 per device.

Year 3 (Jan 2022 – Jan 2023  $200 per device.

We think that’s rather expensive since your computer is already at least 4 years old and probably older, and the upgrade to Windows 10 is still free. In our opinion, Windows 10 is superior to Windows 7 in many ways, in spite of the uproar over the biannual upgrades. One feature alone makes it better- the ability to reinstall Windows without losing your personal files. If you’re concerned about the Windows 10 learning curve, we can make it less steep by making Windows 10 look and work a lot more like Windows 7. See this page for examples and details.