![]() ![]() Plus, a number of Linux distros are specifically designed to run on older computers, so hardware won’t be a concern.”Įarly on, Microsoft provided free upgrades to Windows 10. “Linux is free to use, so you won’t have to shell out a dime to use it. Your device has to meet the spec requirements to be able to run Windows 10, and you have to buy a Windows 10 license, which costs US$119.įor those whose specs aren’t adequate or who don’t want to shell out for a license, “installing a Linux OS is your best bet,” Trinh said. That solution has two hurdles, though, he told TechNewsWorld. ![]() The upgrade process is very easy, and you get to keep all your files in most cases. Upgrading to Windows 10 is the most convenient step for users who want to continue using Windows on their computers, said Kenny Trinh, managing editor of Netbooknews. Tools such as WINE let users run must-have Windows programs on the Linux platform. Thousands of software applications that run on Linux also are free to download. The cost to download a complete Linux OS is free, and many Linux OS developers offer paid support options similar to what is available for Microsoft Windows 10. The Linux operating system offers distribution options targeting Windows users and enterprise operations. If the hardware is not compatible with Windows 10, another option is to repurpose the older hardware by installing a Linux distribution as an alternative to Windows 7, Barcodings’s Harvey suggested. Also needed is a DirectX 9 or later graphics card with WDDM 1.0 driver and a screen display capable of 800×600 pixels. The system should have 16 GB of hard drive space for the 32-bit OS version and 20 GB of storage space for the 64-bit OS version. That baseline configuration includes a 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC (System on Chip) with at least 1 gigabyte RAM for 32-bit or 2 GB RAM for 64-bit computers, he told TechNewsWorld. Purchasing a new PC will not be necessary if your existing system meets a baseline configuration, said Banish Angural, owner of Social Media Fellow. For older computers, a new purchase is the easiest and fastest way to avoid security risks and issues related to loss of support for Windows 7. For those with computers no older than four years, a software upgrade can be applied. Of course, Microsoft wants lingering Windows 7 users to upgrade to Microsoft 10. PCs running Windows 7 probably will not become victims of attacks overnight, but the risk is not IF but WHEN malware, spyware, or viruses will find an opening into any particular unprotected computer. Continuing to use Widows 7 can put your data - and potentially your customers’ data - at risk. However, the end of support does mean users no longer will get support, security updates or bug fixes for Windows 7, he told TechNewsWorld. “Much like mobile devices using the Windows Mobile or Windows CE operating system, a PC/laptop/terminal using Windows 7 will not just stop working the day that the OS end of life begins,” noted Brian Harvey, lead systems engineer at Barcoding. Windows 7 Home editions and Ultimate editions are not eligible for extended support, she told TechNewsWorld. Windows 7 Pro and Enterprise users can purchase extended security update support for three years from Microsoft. “This end-of-life date is well known to hackers, and they are armed and ready to exploit,” said Kate Donofrio, payment card industry technical lead and manager of Schellman & Company. Those that failed to heed the company’s warning will become part of a very large attack vector for hackers, malware, viruses and spyware. Microsoft has recommended that Windows 7 users move to Windows 10 prior to the end of support. The company’s focus now is on supporting technologies that provide new user experiences, it said. Microsoft committed to providing 10 years of product support when it released Windows 7 in 2009. Users include small business owners, some larger companies, and hordes of consumers holding onto aging personal computers. The popular classic Windows 7 OS still runs on some 200 million PCs around the globe, according to industry estimates. After 10 years of fully supporting Windows 7, Microsoft ended its official support for the out-of-date Windows operating system on Tuesday. ![]()
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