PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
Microsoft has stopped providing Windows 7 licences to PC vendors as well as boxed copies of Windows 8 to consumers.
The computer giant is no longer offering Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Ultimate licences to PC makers, however it will still be supplying them with Windows 7 Professional for another 12 months.
Instead, all new Windows-powered computers built going forwards will only be able to run Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 – until Windows 10 hits the market in the second half of 2015 of course.
Mainstream support for Windows 7 will end on January 13th 2015, while extended support will end on January 14th 2020.
Microsoft has also stopped selling boxed retail copies of Windows 8, but will continue to provide licences for the OS to PC vendors.
You can find out more information on Windows end of life and end of support details on the Windows Lifecycle website.
