Windows 7 End of Support resources

Windows 7 reached End of Support on 14 January, 2020. Although Microsoft’s recommendation is to upgrade to Windows 10 or move to Windows Virtual Desktop in Azure, customers may purchase Extended Security Updates to continue to receive security updates for critical and important issues. There’s a useful article if you’re intending to deploy these ESUs here: http://bit.ly/39nxuk1, and the FAQ page for Windows 7 End of Support is updated for February 2020 here: http://bit.ly/38dkWeJ.

Extended Security Updates for Windows 7 to be available in CSP

Microsoft announce that Extended Security Updates for Windows 7 will be available to purchase through the CSP program from 1 December, 2019. Find the announcement here: http://bit.ly/35gkQ57, and the latest FAQ in the Desktop section of our Licensing Guides emporium: http://bit.ly/MSLicensingGuides.

Windows 7 and Office 2010 End of Support FAQ

There’s an updated (July 2019) Windows 7 and Office 2010 End of Support FAQ. Use it to answer questions such as: which programs are the Extended Security Updates available in (currently EA/EAS/EES, but CSP too by the end of 2019); who’s eligible for free ESUs (EA/EAS customers with active Windows E5 or Microsoft 365 E5/E5 Security subscriptions); and in which Windows environments is Office 365 ProPlus supported (it depends, see pages 12/13).

Find this document, as usual, here: http://bitly/MSLicensingGuides.

Windows 7 ESU Promotion

Microsoft add a new promotion which entitles certain users to receive free Windows 7 Extended Security Updates. The rules? The users must be licensed with Windows E5, Microsoft 365 E5 or Microsoft 365 E5 Security through an Enterprise Agreement or Enterprise Agreement Subscription as of December 31, 2019. They’ll be able to use up to five devices to run a local installation of Windows covered by Windows 7 ESU 2020, or access virtual machines.

For the full details see page 104 of the June 2019 Product Terms document. Find the Product Terms document here: http://bit.ly/MSproductterms.

Windows Virtual Desktop Public Preview

Microsoft announce that Windows Virtual Desktop is now in public preview.

This new Azure service will allow customers to run Windows 7, Windows 10 or Windows Server desktops and provide free Extended Security Updates for customers choosing Windows 7.

Customers will already be licensed for the client desktops if they have Microsoft 365 F1/E3/E5, Windows 10 E3/E5 or Windows VDA licences, and for Windows Server desktops if they’ve got RDS CALs. Reserved Instances may also be used to optimise costs for the infrastructure.

This site (http://bit.ly/2HPbqo2) has all the information as well as a video that gives an excellent overview of the service.

Windows 7 Extended Security Updates

Microsoft announce that Extended Security Updates for Windows 7 will be available for purchase starting 1 April, 2019.

This is where you’ll find the announcement: http://bit.ly/2THC3SZ, along with a link to download some FAQs.

If you’re interested in some facts and figures around running older software then this infographic is worth a look: http://bit.ly/2TcV7TU, and there’s a customisable sales guide for partners who want to help customers transition to a modern desktop with Microsoft 365 here: http://bit.ly/2Y3Ymk3.

Windows 7 Extended Security Updates

Microsoft announce that Extended Security Updates will be available for Windows 7, for which extended support ends on 14 January, 2020. The Windows 7 ESU will be sold on a per-device basis and will be available to customers who have purchased Windows 7 Professional/Enterprise through a Volume Licensing program. The price of the Windows 7 ESU will increase each year, but there will be discounts available for customers with active SA or Windows 10 Enterprise/Education subscriptions. Find the announcement towards the end of this page: http://bit.ly/2N3kqty.