I will be interested in the answer. I didn't know you had that option, I thought it would just end.

Do they intend to offer for a fee support after that date?

If you downloaded SP1 for Win 7, coverage will be extended to January 14, 2020.

Anne

I can't any place that says there will be a charge or not.

This post was edited by EmmaR on Sun, Jul 14, 13 at 22:59

Did you read some where that there would be a charge?

Emma...Go to the Control Panel and click on System. It will show at the top of the page what edition of Win 7 you have..making note of SP 1. If you receive automatic updates, chances are you received SP 1 automatically. If you elect to be informed about updates before they're downloaded, you were offered SP 1 when it became available. I believe it was offered in 2011. If you purchased Win 7 after that date, SP1 would have been included in the version you purchased.

Currently, I have not read about any charge for the extended service coverage.

Anne

So-called "mainstream support" ends for Win7 in about 18 months, in January 2015. The link below is for a Microsoft page that lists the dates for the various versions.

To put it into context, such support ended for XP some 4 years ago. Many people continue to have and use PCs with XP (I have one I use occasionally). The end of mainstream support means nothing for most users, a functioning PC will continue to function. The reality is that the OS will outlive the hardware in any event. Even if you put a new version of Windows on an old machine, the hardware will eventually crap out just the same.

I've never called Microsoft for support, has anyone else had that experience? I think it's great that they're there for Win 7 for now, but I think most users wouldn't know or care one way or the other.

Edit - they offer a longer period for business customers because large companies tend to not like to change Windows versions frequently. Large customers are also allowed for a period of time to continue loading older Windows versions (that are no longer available to consumers) on new machines.

Another Microsoft link, more info
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy

Here is a link that might be useful: Microsoft support deadlines

This post was edited by snidely on Sun, Jul 14, 13 at 23:30

Here is the artical That prompted my question about costs. This artical has been sent to me by two different people who deal with computers.

support Windows 7?
Lincoln Spector @lincolnspector

Oct 11, 2012 7:03 AM
print

Robert Pepe asked when Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 7. "Some say the end date is 2015, others sayâ¦2020. So what's the right answer?"

[Email your tech questions to answer@pcworld.com or post them on the PCW Answer Line forum.]

Both answers are right. Microsoft will stop mainstream support on January 12, 2015. But the company will keep providing extended support until January 14, 2020.

"Well, thank you," you're probably saying. "That's as clear as a new industry acronym."

Let me explain:

Through January 12, 2015, Microsoft will provide the same complete support you have today. You'll receive both security and non-security updates. Your warranty claims will be considered and possibly honored. If your license came with no-charge incident support (yes, it exists), you'll continue to receive it. Microsoft may even add features and change the design (but not, I hope, removing the Start menu).

But in 2015, Windows 7 will go onto extended support, which just covers the basics.

You'll still receive free security updates, but non-security-related hotfixes will only be available on a paid subscription--and you'll have to start the subscription before April 15, 2015 (if you live in the USA, that's a date with unpleasant associations in any year).

There will be no free support, Microsoft won't honor warranty claims, and the company will not add new features.

Anne thank you. I remembered as soon as I hit submit. I do keep my computer updated and it does have it.

loralee, this information you've pasted in is consistent with what's on the Microsoft web pages I linked to.

It's nothing to be concerned about. The Win7 date will come and go and few will be affected.

Microsoft has already limited support to some extent. My codecs accidentally got deleted. Microsoft stated it no longer supplied them and sent me on a hunt for them elsewhere.

What is Codecs? My Real Player downloader lets me download the videos but no longer can play them later on my computer.

I keep getting an error that I need to download codecs, as mine may be outdated.. I do not know what it is that I need. There was a link to codecs but I didn't understand what it was I needed.

codec simply means "coder-decoder" sort of.

It does not contain a media player and it does not associate file-types. With the Windows 7 codec package installed you will be able to use any media player, limited only by the players' capabilities, to play all movies and video clips.

You can download codecs from the link below, where it says on the right upper side of the webpage Download latest version

Here is a link that might be useful: Codecs filehippo.com/download windows 7 codecs

FYI.........

Current problems with Windows Media Player v.12 and/or perhaps other video codec related issues may be due to this latest patch - MS13-057: [KB2803821 or KB2834904 depending on what system you have]. The linked article will provide more info. It's hoped that it's causing enough of a stir that Windows may release a corrective action advisory before long.

Anne

Here is a link that might be useful: Codec problems

I appreciate the explanation about
Codec and the link also problem issues.