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Microsoft is changing the way it supports Windows 7 and Windows 10.
The redesign will allow businesses and schools to run a stable, secure version of Windows 10 longer without migrating PCs to a new version.
The change follows an open letter to Microsoft from sysadmins, who said tracking updates twice a year to Windows 10 made them "tired."
Here's what you need to know about the changes and their impact on you.
Windows 10
Old arrangement
Spring and Fall feature updates for Windows 10 were supported for 18 months after release (24 months for Windows 10 Education / Enterprise editions).
New arrangement
- Future updates to Windows 10 features that will be deployed in the fall, such as the next Windows 10 October 2018 update, will be supported for 30 months from release.
- Future feature updates for Windows 10 that will be deployed in the spring will be supported for 18 months from the release.
- All currently supported versions of Windows 10 (versions 1607, 1703, 1709, and 1803) will be supported for 30 months after they are released.
Which versions do this effect?
Windows 10 Education and Enterprise editions (no changes for other editions).
Other details
- Microsoft says companies that want to use the same stable version of Windows 10 for a longer period of time will be able to choose the fall version.
- The longer support warranty for the fall updates has been compared to the Long Term Support Versions (LTS) offered by Ubuntu Linux.
- To ensure the compatibility of new versions of Windows 10 with existing applications from a company, Microsoft will launch its new Desktop App Assure service for Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education customers free of charge from February 2019. An overview of the service will be available to select the customer from October 2018.
Image: Microsoft
Windows 7
Old arrangement
Extended support – under which the operating system receives security and reliability patches – until 14 January 2020.
New arrangement
Option for extended support until January 2023 as part of a new paid program.
Which versions do this effect?
Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Enterprise editions for volume licensing customers.
Other details
- To receive the extended security updates from Windows 7 through to 2023, Microsoft customers will need to purchase a license for each Windows 7 device requiring support.
- No prices have been made available to the ESU, but the cost will increase for each subsequent year of support required by a company.
- A discount will be available for customers with Windows Software Assurance, Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows 10 Education subscriptions.
- Office 365 ProPlus will be supported on devices with Windows 7 ESU active and will continue to operate.
Microsoft Office
- Office 365 Pro Plus will be supported on Windows 8.1 until January 2023 and on Windows Server 2016 until October 2025.
- Microsoft will support Office 2016 connections to Office 365 services until October 2023, after which customers will need Office 365 ProPlus or Office 2019 clients in general support.
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