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Why You Should Upgrade (or Retire) Your Windows 7 Computer

Microsoft cut off upgrades and support for the old operating system in January 2020

spinner image Intel Core i3 and Windows 7 sticker on laptop
Piotr Swat / Alamy Stock Photo

While Windows 10 is now the world's dominant desktop operating system, at least 1 in 10 computer users are still running the older Windows 7, according to a recent ZDNet report.

Microsoft officially dropped support for Windows 7, which debuted in 2009, more than a year ago. But some PC owners, perhaps with hand-me-down computers, are reluctant to upgrade to Windows 10 for various reasons. Maybe you think Windows 7 is good enough, or you don't know how to upgrade your operating system. Perhaps you're concerned that your aging hardware can't handle the new software. Or because your budget is tight, you've put off buying a new PC.

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Whatever the motivations for sticking with the old system, there are compelling reasons to upgrade to Windows 10, because of security, functionality and versatility.

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