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Support for Windows 7 and 8 Fully Ends in January, Including Microsoft Edge 81

Posted by msmash from the shape-of-things-to-come dept.
Microsoft's Chromium-based Edge browser was an improvement over the initial version of Edge in many ways, including its support for Windows 7 and Windows 8. But the end of the road is coming: Microsoft has announced that Edge will end support for Windows 7 and Windows 8 in mid-January of 2023, shortly after those operating systems stop getting regular security updates. From a report: Support will also end for Microsoft Edge Webview2, which can use Edge's rendering engine to embed webpages in non-Edge apps. The end-of-support date for Edge coincides with the end of security update support for both Windows 7 and Windows 8 on January 10, and the end of Google Chrome support for Windows 7 and 8 in version 110. Because the underlying Chromium engine in both Chrome and Edge is open source, Microsoft could continue supporting Edge in older Windows versions if it wanted, but the company is using both end-of-support dates to justify a clean break for Edge.
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Support for Windows 7 and 8 Fully Ends in January, Including Microsoft Edge More

Support for Windows 7 and 8 Fully Ends in January, Including Microsoft Edge

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  • Realistically, we still don't know if it will STOP asking us to update every 4 weeks, or simply complain that we are X updates behind.

    • Realistically, we still don't know if it will STOP asking us to update every 4 weeks, or simply complain that we are X updates behind.

      Neither, every 15 minutes, IE opens to a page that would be full of links to the latest and greatest Surface devices, but the page doesn't work in IE.

    • Re:Edge is still a thing? Who knew! (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Luckyo ( 1726890 ) on Monday December 12, 2022 @02:38PM (#63124880)

      Honestly, one of the best things about still using win 7 is that there are no updates. All your OS mods? You don't need to reconfigure them again because OS updated and reverted them again.

      • Re: (Score:2, Flamebait)

        by thegarbz ( 1787294 )

        I know. It's so much better letting random script kiddies on the internet reconfigure my settings for me, with or without my consent.

        • Re: (Score:3)

          by Luckyo ( 1726890 )

          I wouldn't know anything about that, as that never happens to me somehow. Could be that I have some understanding of IT security as a process that can be separated into specific parts that need to be secured individually in a way that is specific to my use case, rather than thinking that general IT security slogans equal IT security as you do with this silly sloganeering.

          Could be I'm just so dumb that I've been owned for ages, and I just don't know it. Unlikely considering the monitoring solutions I use, bu

          • Could be that I have some understanding of IT security as a process that can be separated into specific parts that need to be secured individually

            And yet your reject one of the most basic of security measures because you *checks notes* don't want to change a few system settings after a major OS update?

            Your understanding of IT security and risk is really lacking.

            • Re: (Score:2)

              by Luckyo ( 1726890 )

              If modding your OS UI would be about "changing a few system settings", I wouldn't care. And neither would the large amount of people who apparently share the same problem.

              That most of the customization settings have in fact... been removed. And you now need to mod the damn OS to get the same customization options you used to have all the way back to win 95.

        • I know. It's so much better letting random script kiddies on the internet reconfigure my settings for me, with or without my consent.

          I handle script kiddies' shit much better than I can handle Microsoft's shit.

  • Who purposefully uses Edge?

    Windows server 2012 is also popping up banners in Chrome about this upcoming date.

    Maybe this will help Firefox get more users.

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by jonwil ( 467024 )

      I use Edge (the latest Chromium version on Windows 10) for the occasional web page that doesn't run in my primary browser.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by bobby ( 109046 )

        For many reasons I've never used Edge. Some time ago I tried to install it, or update it, or something, but it kept failing and was a big waste of time.

        I can't stand Chrome (Chromium?)- mainly the overall UI, terrible settings menu, etc.

        I do use, as right now, Vivaldi for anything that won't work well in my primary browser. Not to be a shill, but if you haven't tried it, you might want to. There's so much you can do- there might be a learning period, but eventually you'll probably love it. It's by the s

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by jonwil ( 467024 )

          I still use SeaMonkey.

          • Re: (Score:3)

            by bobby ( 109046 )

            I've never tried it, but it's often included in this and that distribution. I remember when FireFox came out it was supposed to be the trimmed down simpler cleaner browser. Of course as it got popular, it ballooned, so they introduced SeaMonkey.

            I'm still hanging on to Old Opera. I run it with javascript globally OFF. It has per-site settings, that I love, one being javascript on or off, so a few sites are allowed to run javascript.

            It also has a wonderful "content blocker"- really a URL blocker, so thing

    • Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • I don’t have admin rights on my work laptop. It came with Edge installed. So far I haven’t had the need to use anything else.

    • Re:Including Edge? How about including Chrome (Score:5, Insightful)

      by DesScorp ( 410532 ) on Monday December 12, 2022 @03:57PM (#63125152) Journal

      Who purposefully uses Edge?

      Pretty much most of all the corporate and government users of Windows. Quite a few people that buy a new PC simply use it because Windows comes with it.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Radyair ( 824166 )
        Quickbooks. Intuit has already moved to cef https://bitbucket.org/chromium... [bitbucket.org] Read their announcement here https://quickbooks.intuit.com/... [intuit.com] What they do not say is - all previous versions of Quickbooks, which small businesses generally use for years without upgrading, will not be updated. So if your OS refuses to run the browser, you may not be able to see your accounting program. Fortunately just leave the system alone, don't update. better yet virtualize it and run when needed.
    • Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • Who purposefully uses Edge?

      Why wouldn't you? I mean at this point there's no practical difference between Edge and Chrome other than which mothership your data gets synced with. I use Chrome at home, Edge at work, and the latter I'm not even locked into, I just don't give enough of a fuck to change the browser.

      Maybe this will help Firefox get more users.

      I doubt it. Firefox brings nothing compelling to the table other than some feel good privacy things that basically no people outside of Slashdot give a damn about.

  • A plea to developers to keep supporting Windows 7 (Score:5, Interesting)

    by xack ( 5304745 ) on Monday December 12, 2022 @02:40PM (#63124894)
    Many people are not in a position to just upgrade to Windows 10. There is a lot of old and unsupported drivers, and if there is no drivers for 10, chances are Linux won't have it either. Even if they could, they are just kicking the can down to 2025 and will be even more screwed due to Windows 11's infamous requirements.

    The chip shortage and cost of living crisis means that buying a new pc is not an option either, if you look at Statcounter's data, the highest users of Windows 7 are countries with high inflation rates meaning they would rather pay for food and rent than a new computer.

    The simple solution, KEEP SUPPORTING WINDOWS 7. I've heard there's a massive layoff of programmers, here's your new job opportunity, make apps that support Windows 7 and bam loyal customers from grateful Windows 7 users.

    The biggest market is making a Windows 7 compatible version of Chromium now that Google has dropped support.

    • MS killed off 7 (and 8 and 8.1) for a reason.
      That reason is money.
      If you could come up with enough money to convince MS to support Win7/8/8.1...they would.
      But neither you, nor I, nor all of Slashdot, could come up with enough money to get MS to pay attention and support it again.

      For me, who is using Windows 9 (based on 8.1 Industry Embedded Pro with a win 7 UI on top) which dies off shortly for support, I'm switching to Macs. I has the BS under win10 and win11. It's actively hostile to users and I"m tired of trying to bring it to heel.

      • MS killed off 7 (and 8 and 8.1) for a reason.
        That reason is money.
        If you could come up with enough money to convince MS to support Win7/8/8.1...they would.

        You can use Windows 10 and 11 without ever actually paying for them. They will run indefinitely, no time limit. You just can't customise the appearance and you get a little watermark in the bottom right. So Microsoft don't exactly have a financial incentive in terms of lost income.

        The only thing is the money it would cost to continue to support the older OS.

        So... Hey, Microsoft, how about Open Source Windows 7?? Make support and patching "Teh Internets" problem?

        • Comment removed based on user account deletion

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Reziac ( 43301 ) *

          Protip: if you install Win10 without an internet connection, do your customization, THEN let it connect... about half the time Win10 thinks it is activated and will behave accordingly, and leave your customization ability active. (It may or may not put up the "not activated" watermark.)

          [I have no idea why it's not consistent, and don't use it enough to care.]

      • Windows 7 was released in 2009. It's like XP for Millennials. Time to grow up and get 10 or 11 or ask your big brother to install Linux.
        • I have 4 computers running 7. Two on my eldests kids desk, one on my youngest kids desk, and one on the kitchen prep table. They provide enough computational power to fulill our needs, but do not have the capacity to run windows 10 very well, probably not at all due to them being 10 year old 'all in one lenovo systems' Once the support for them has been gone long enough to be an issue I will probably have to switch to linux, but for the sake of my ASD kids that are used to the win 7 interface I hope I can

          • Maybe MS should keep supporting legacy OS's as long as they have an appreciable userbase, maybe open source it and let the userbase support the developers and maintainers with donations like the wikipedia foundation?

            People clamored for this when Win98SE support ended, and it did not happened, people clamored for this when Win2000 support ended, it did not happened, people clamored for this when support for WinXP ended, it did not happened, and people are clamoring for this now that Win7 support will end, and is not gonna happen either.

            There are many reasons, not only greed, liability comes to mind.
            Win98SE/2000/XP/7 et al have code that was licensed to MS from third parties, it would take a lot of effort to validate whi

        • Comment removed based on user account deletion
      • The constant Microsoft pitch "buy the latest version or you'll be pwned".

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by antdude ( 79039 )

        Macs aren't cheap! Why not go to Linux? ;)

        • Because I"m tired of fighting with an OS to make it do what I want it to do. I'm well versed with Debian (and have Crunchbang plus plus on my laptop) but I"m at the point where I just want me system to work with little to no fuss. Apple figured that out...

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by antdude ( 79039 )

            Ah, I understand. Yeah, I know that feeling. I use Debian too, but I keep it simple (stupid) [KISS]. Heh.

      • I'll never understand the argument that if you're tired of abuse and being locked-in... you should go running to Apple.

        But, hey, none of us have many options, right?

        • I bought a used Mac Pro (2009) and found I didn't have to fight with it, and everything I use my Win9 PC for (3d printing, photography, some gaming) "just worked" with no fuss and no fighting. Apple is the best fit for me.

    • Re: A plea to developers to keep supporting Window (Score:4, Insightful)

      by OrangeTide ( 124937 ) on Monday December 12, 2022 @03:28PM (#63125062) Homepage Journal

      If you want choice in the software that runs on your computer then buying closed source proprietary software with a profit motive for the vendor is the wrong way to go about it.

      • Most people probably wind up using an operating system at home similar to the one they use at work.

        Of course, somebody who's never had a job and lives in his parents' basement might not be aware of this, and would make snippy comments about proprietary software.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Anonymous Coward

        If you want choice in the software that runs on your computer then buying closed source proprietary software with a profit motive for the vendor is the wrong way to go about it.

        There is nothing wrong with commercial software where there is a functioning market. Just because the software industry turned into a cesspool of rent seeking stalkers doesn't mean commercial software can't work.

        • a functioning market is unlikely in an era of deregulations and corporate consolidation. democratic socialism could bring us back to a regulated market that works for the little guy, instead of some alt-right libertarian's wet dream of anarcho-capitalism or kleptocracy.

          • There are dozens, if not hundreds, of free operating systems and you want a socialist system so you can force Microsoft at the end of the barrel of a gun to sell Windows cheaper? Why not just use one of the free operating systems? Seems like it would be a lot less work. And it'll be cheaper...

            • the alternative to regulated markets is to have a temporary laissez faire capitalist system that destroys itself by eroding consumer confidence as everyone tries short-term gains and argues caveat emptor to any unhappy customers.

    • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward

      The chip shortage and cost of living crisis means that buying a new pc is not an option either, if you look at Statcounter's data, the highest users of Windows 7 are countries with high inflation rates meaning they would rather pay for food and rent than a new computer.

      Good news! [slashdot.org]

    • My company runs a large number of regression jobs every night. This requires running multiple jobs in parallel on a set of VMs. We have a mix of Windows 7, 8 and 10 VMs, plus a mix of Linux VMs. The Windows 10 VMs are utter shit. Throughput on Windows 10 is much less than on Windows 7, with the same resources.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by gweihir ( 88907 )

      No chance. MS has screwed over its customers time and again and they are doing it now. You can likely install a Linux distro though.

  • Options, options Galore (Score:5, Informative)

    by williamyf ( 227051 ) on Monday December 12, 2022 @03:50PM (#63125134)

    If you are running Win7, chances are high you can run Win10 as well. If you are running Win 8.1, is certain that you can run Win10. So, your first line of action is to go to Win10, but not any Win10, instead, go for LTSC 2019 (supported until 2029), LTSC 2021 (supported until 2026, yes, shorter than 2019) or IoT 2021 (supported until 2031). Decide which one based on compatibility with your software, with lenght of suppot being the tie breaker, not the other way around.

    If you CAN NOT go to Win10, say, because some driver/SW can not be coaxed to run on Win10, or because Win10 lacks a feature like the HTPC bits present in Win7/8.1, one bet is to stay on Win7 (or downgrade from Win8.1 to Win7), virtualize the environment on top of a fully supported OS (this will help with hardening), use PIC/USB passthrough for any recalcitrant hardware, apply all the Win7 patches, including those released during the 2020-2023 paid support period (there are ways to do it), and then install 0patch ( https://www.0patch.com/ [0patch.com] ) While this is by no means a perfect solution, is the best that can be done under the circumstances. Please, do not use that VM for general purpose computing, only for the task(s) that can not be moved to Win10 and/or Linux HOST OS.

    If neither of these solutions is good enough for you, then explore the wonderfull world of linux or BSDs.

    Myself, for my older machines (where older machines means 2015 and 2018 Macs that can not run win11), I am going for one of the LTSCs, with Linux as a fallback. As for other older machines that belong to Friends and Family, agaiun LTSC with Linux as fallback.

  • Fucking Edge is how you're going to entice me to leave Windows 7? Fuck off. Windows 7 still runs all my games great and Steam uses Chromium to render web pages, not Microsoft's thing. The only software I've had trouble with is OBS, I have to stick with an old version that still works well. Just like I do with Windows 7. I already dual boot Linux, my next computer probably won't support 7 so I'll be Linux full time on the desktop.

    • Steam uses Chromium to render web pages

      Having web pages at all in a program that is not a web browser should count as a massive negative, but I digress.

      • Fair enough. I do already have a working browser on my system and don't need another one just to browse the steam store which also functions just fine in my regular browser.

  • With Win10 being the spot many existing pieces of hardware must stay at to remain supported...and all "old" software eventually not being supported...

    How will this change how people feel about using these old versions of software when Microsoft won't sell them an up to date OS?

    I can't wait for Windows to go belly up. In part because I want so much to change for daily computer users. And I don't think Microsoft will willingly make any of the changes I'm imagining.

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