Microsoft halts distribution of Windows 7 Pro and 8.1

Despite its popularity, Windows 7 will no longer be distributed to PC makers. Say hello to the forced age of Windows 10, folks. Image INQUIRER.net Stock Photo

Microsoft is going full steam with Windows 10 and to prove it, the company has just ended the distribution of Windows 7 and 8.1 licenses to computer manufacturers.

As of Oct. 31, Redmond, Wash. stopped selling Windows 7 Professional and versions of Windows 8.1 OEMs, reports PCWorld.

The end-of-sales for Windows 7 was initially planned for Oct. 31, 2014, but was pushed back two years despite Windows 8 being already in the market. Microsoft only called for an end to consumer systems with the cut-off for Windows 7 Professional left open.  The company stated that they would issue a warning one year before end-of-sales which was issued a year ago.

Organizations that have enterprise licensing agreements and Software Assurance may downgrade the OS from a newly purchased PC from Windows 10 to Windows 7 to continue using the older edition.

OEMs will also be allowed to use whatever licenses they have in stock.

Despite the popularity of the operating system, Microsoft has deemed that it is time for Windows 7 to make way for Windows 10. Analytics from Net Applications showed that Windows 7 powered 48% of personal computers in October. The remaining 52% was divided among Windows 10, versions of Windows 8, and other operating systems.

Support for Windows 7 will continue until 2020, however. With Microsoft’s aggressive push for Windows 10, users may find that more and more software, games in particular, will start having Windows 10 as a perrequisite.  Alfred Bayle