--- title: Windows 7 End of Support = It's Always Messy! Don't Wait 'til it's Too Late. description: Windows 7 end of support doesn’t have to be a total nightmare. 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Evaluation requests are processed and approved usually within one business day. Please fill out the form below. Please note the Evaluation copy of PCmover Enterprise requires you to be logged into a domain when testing. If you would like to test Enterprise without this requirement, please contact corpsales@laplink.com to receive an alternate copy of the software. Thank you for your interest, and for choosing Laplink Software! ##### Contact Sales × ![Featured Image](https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/giggitygoo-1.jpg) # Windows 7 End of Support: It’s Always Messy! Published by [Neil Minetto](https://blog.laplink.com/author/neil-minetto) on January 9, 2020 at 5:48 AM If you know anything [about Laplink](https://web.laplink.com/aboutus/?hsLang=en), you understand that we’ve been around for a long, LONG time. [We’ve handled almost every major Windows transition](https://fcw.com/articles/1996/02/04/traveling-software-debuts-laplink-for-windows-95.aspx) – from DOS to 95 to XP to Windows 8. Now we’ve hit another big milestone in Microsoft’s OS journey. Windows 7 end of support is January 14, 2020 and you must move to Windows 10 or [pay to stay](https://www.howtogeek.com/443573/how-windows-7s-extended-security-updates-will-work/). Look, we get it. Windows 7 worked great and continues to power almost 42% of SMBs & Enterprises (Jan 2020 est). Why would your organization move until you absolutely have to? Well, now time has run out and the rush to move to Windows 10 is in full force! # Past End of Service / End of Life Issues Microsoft officially ended primary support for XP in April 2014, making XP the longest-supported OS ever due to the record number of users and essential global systems relying on it. So what happened back when XP had its end of life? Weren’t organizations fine even after missing the end of support deadline? Shortly following, Microsoft released extended support packages for organizations willing to pay between $25 to $200 per PC. This proved to be costly, especially for those who continued extended support for lengthy amounts of time or had many PCs. [We’ve heard nightmare stories](https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/19/15665488/wannacry-windows-7-version-xp-patched-victim-statistics) of unfixable bugs getting out of control – especially after support ends. Don’t let this happen to your organization. # Lessons We Can Learn: Don’t wait. The earlier that organizations move from Windows 7 to Windows 10, the more time they will have to ensure all vital programs, files, and settings are configured. These need to either be migrated to Windows 10, or be properly phased out or replaced beforehand. You don’t want to figure out how to do these things while Windows 7 is experiencing problems with a bug – or possibly worse – add more support costs as well. # Microsoft’s Solution Windows 7 end of support doesn’t have to be a total nightmare. For full-blown migration projects & OS refreshes, [Microsoft officially recommends PCmover.](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/transfer-your-data) Its also the only recommended migration solution from Intel as well. In fact, Intel has even partnered with Laplink to offer a free, fully-functioning version of PCmover for anyone wanting to check it out. You can find that here:  [https://www.pcmoverforwindows7.com/](https://www.pcmoverforwindows7.com/) Tags: [PC Migration](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/pc-migration), [Windows 7 End of Support](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/windows-7-end-of-support), [Software Industry](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/software-industry), [Windows 10](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/windows-10), [Microsoft](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/microsoft), [Windows 7](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/windows-7), [Small Business](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/small-business), [PCmover](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/pcmover) [Back to Blog](https://blog.laplink.com) #### Add Comment Published by #### Neil Minetto ![Author Image](https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/NeilMinetto.jpg) Neil is the Vice President of Marketing at Laplink, bringing deep expertise in pay-per-click advertising, email marketing, lead nurturing, marketing automation, and digital strategy. His career journey includes leadership roles at Indigo Slate, Oracle, and Zones. Neil earned his BA in Communications, Advertising, and Business from BYU. Outside of work, he’s a golf fanatic (which is an understatement) and loves discovering new places with his wife. Whether it's refining marketing strategies or perfecting his golf swing, Neil is always looking for ways to get better. [Read more about Neil Minetto...](https://blog.laplink.com/author/neil-minetto) ## Related Articles ## [Counting Patches: A Look at Windows 7 Since End of Support](https://blog.laplink.com/2020/07/14/windows-7-since-end-of-support?hsLang=en) January 14, 2020: Windows 7 End of Support With the events of this year, January seems more like a... [Read More ](https://blog.laplink.com/2020/07/14/windows-7-since-end-of-support?hsLang=en) ## [Windows 10 End of Support - Why Businesses Must Act Now and Use PCmover Enterprise](https://blog.laplink.com/windows-10-end-of-support-why-businesses-must-act-now-and-use-pcmover-enterprise?hsLang=en) Windows 10 Support Ends Soon – Are You Prepared? [Read More ](https://blog.laplink.com/windows-10-end-of-support-why-businesses-must-act-now-and-use-pcmover-enterprise?hsLang=en) ## [Preparing for Windows 10 End of Support: Key Takeaways from Laplink CEO Thomas Koll’s Latest Webinar](https://blog.laplink.com/preparing-for-windows-10-end-of-support-key-takeaways-from-laplink-ceo-thomas-kolls-latest-webinar?hsLang=en) With Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, IT departments are facing a... [Read More ](https://blog.laplink.com/preparing-for-windows-10-end-of-support-key-takeaways-from-laplink-ceo-thomas-kolls-latest-webinar?hsLang=en) - ©  LAPLINK SOFTWARE INC. 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