Windows 7 is far from a dead operating system
Windows Secret
There are many perfectly good and legitimate reasons to pass on Windows 10 and stick with the tried and true Windows 7. Some users worry about potential privacy issues with Microsoft's newest OS; others have older hardware and software that can't make the transition. And many Win7 users simply see no need to have the hot new thing.
In truth, for most PC users there's no Windows 10 enhancement, new feature, or looming security threat that makes upgrading a must-do proposition. Microsoft won't give Win7 new features, going forward, but the now venerable OS will get security fixes until Jan. 14, 2020 (assuming you're on Service Pack 1).
Given the millions of systems currently running Win7, third-party support shouldn't be an issue anytime soon. New software should run on the OS and peripherals such as printers should continue to come with Win7 drivers. And if you're a hard-core Windows Media Center user, Windows 10 is not an option.
Until recently, Win10's automatic updating was another reason to avoid upgrading — mostly for those who prefer to manage that task themselves. But Microsoft seems intent on moving Win7 updating toward a single, monthly, cumulative-patch model. That change could make updating more convenient but also more difficult to skip specific and possibly troublesome patches.
There are really only a couple of possible problems with sticking to Win7. First, if you buy new hardware with the latest chip sets, you might not be able to wipe the factory-installed version of Win10 and migrate your Win7 setup to the new machine.
This past January, there were numerous articles stating that Intel's new Skylake processor would only work with Windows 10. Microsoft had no plans to update either Win7 or Win8.1 to support the new processors.
That generated sufficient blowback that, a couple of months later, Microsoft posted a list of Skylake-based systems that would support Win7 and Win8.1 — but only until July, 17, 2018. (It's highly unlikely that these machines will suddenly stop working on that date, but there could be compatibility issues that arise over time.)
The other concern: There's more to PC security than simply adding patches. Some features are built into the operating system and can't be back-ported to an older OS. (This was and still is a huge issue with Windows XP.) So, over time, Win7 will fall further and further behind Win10 in its ability to ward off cyber attacks.
With that said, here's our guide to keeping Windows 7 running for the next few years, based on some of our most popular articles. Use this as a quick reference for key Windows 7 topics.
Keep Win7 systems backed up and your data safe
The time to think about a backup strategy isn't, obviously, after something goes seriously wrong. Unfortunately, many of us have learned the hard way that our backup systems were lacking or faulty.
Not only do you want to make sure you're creating backups, you need to thoroughly test them to ensure you can do both partial and full recoveries. In our past stories, we've given an example of a backup system went offline without any obvious indication; and another instance where a failure took out both the internal system drive and the external backup drive.
Yes, good backups are important for all systems. But with diminishing support for Win7 and the rapid rise of ransomware attacks, it's especially critical for Win7 users. Here's what you need to know:
For basic instructions on using Win7's built-in backup tools, see:
§ "Build a complete Windows 7 safety net" – May 12, 2011, Top Story
§ "How to safely test file and image backups" – April 16, 2015, Top Story
Win7's built-in tools are fine for most standalone setups, but if you're using a network-attached storage or backing up multiple systems, you might want to consider third-party alternatives such as Macrium Reflect (site) or Acronis True Image (site). Not only are these apps more powerful than Windows' backup/rescue/recovery tools, they're also more flexible — you can, for example, pull individual files from an image backup.
For more backup options, see:
"Cloud data protection: Synching versus backup" – Nov. 20, 2014, Best Practices
"Free backup programs — not from Microsoft" – April 23, 2015, Best Utilities
"Pre-encryption makes cloud-based storage safer" – Dec. 12, 2013, Top Story
"Protecting your backup files from ransomware" – April 5, 2016, LangaList Plus
"Preserving files for the generations" – Feb. 21, 2013, Best Practices
Note that there's no one best backup strategy. Having both increment and image backups is standard practice. But you also might want to set up different types of storage/backup for various kinds of data. For example, use encryption and regular incremental backups for sensitive documents, but keep big libraries of music and images on separate drives and in the cloud.
Keep Win7 running smoothly for years
Just as important as protecting your setup and data is keeping the Windows system clean and trouble free. It's like maintaining that beloved but aging car (or truck, in my case). Regular servicing will make it run like new for years to come.
"Regular" is the operative word, here; doing repairs after something seriously goes wrong will be more time consuming and possibly expensive. For setting up a routine for PC maintenance, see:
"Let your PC start the new year right!" – Jan. 10, 2013, Top Story (applies to XP and Vista, too)
"Keep a healthy PC: A routine-maintenance guide" – Jan. 16, 2014, Top Story
Those two stories cover the basics of maintenance tasks, system cleaning, and security. But we also have many more Win7-troubleshooting articles on the Windows Secretes site; see, for example:
"Free first aid for a wide range of Windows ills" – June 11, 2015, Top Story
"Tools for finding PC-performance bottlenecks" – Feb. 12, 2015, Top Story
"Are system/Registry cleaners worthwhile?" – July 16, 2015, Top Story
"Win7's no-reformat, nondestructive reinstall" – July 14, 2011, Top Story
"Exploring Windows Administrative Tools: Part 5" (with links to Parts 1 through 4), Nov. 15, 2012, Top Story
Security: Lock down your Win7 system
As mentioned above, Microsoft will continue to release Windows 7 fixes until 2020. But based on recent history, most of those patches will be security updates. That's well and good, but it's entirely possible that future hunts for new Win7 vulnerabilities will not be as thorough. Over time, the chances of being successfully attacked could increase.
That means it's more important than ever to keep your entire system — Windows, applications, browsers, and so forth — fully up to date. And along with your full-time anti-malware software, you'll want to run regular scans with standalone AV products. To help stay secure, check out our regular Patch Watch column, but also review these past stories.
"Windows Secrets personal security baseline" – March 3, 2011, Top Story
"The WS Security Baseline — New Year's edition" – Jan. 8, 2015, On Security
"Windows Secrets' ultimate security-tools list" – Feb. 2, 2016, Top Story
"Verifying that an anti-malware app is working" – Dec. 4, 2013, LangaList Plus
"A dozen tools for removing almost any malware" – April 11, 2013, Top Story
"Microsoft's six free desktop security tools" – April 4, 2013, Top Story
Prepare for rebuilding Windows 7 from scratch
For various reasons, there might come a time when you must or wish to create a Win7 system from the foundation up. You might want to move it to new hardware or possibly put it on a virtual PC.
To prepare for that possibility, make sure you have in hand a Windows 7 installation disc — preferably one with Win7 SP1—, a system-rescue/restore disc, keys for all applications, and your operating-system key. Keep them in a safe place and update them as needed.
If you've lost your installation disc, you can borrow one from someone else. For more help on the process, see the Feb. 23, 2016, Best Practices story, "The best way to rebuild Windows 7 from scratch."
Endnote: Microsoft claims that Windows 10 is the best OS ever, but many happy Win7 users will stick with what they know. And that's perfectly okay. Microsoft can't force you to upgrade, though some who suddenly found Win10 on their systems would disagree. In any case, it's your system, and it should be good for at least another five years — or until you're forced to purchase a new system.
The good news: Those MS nag screens for updating to Windows 10 should end in the next few days.