Do I need a new PC with windows 7 support being withdrawn?

[Stevemr]

So I have a perfectly OK HP desktop running windows 7 pro. I use Mcafee antivirus. Plus an HP laptop with same, which i dont really use much any more.
Apparently microsoft are withdrawing support for windows 7 in January.
I seem to have 3 choices.
1 - buy a new PC running windows 10, in which case whats the best sub £500 to get?
2 - buy windows 10 and install on existing machine, but told it might have issues running it?
3 - carry on using PC as Mcafee will deal with any threats any way? but told it will not be secure etc!!

I might add, I like windows 7 pro, and when ever I have tried using wifes laptop with windows 10 I have hated it!! But it may be I just need to get used to it!

Any advice gratefully received! asked in PC world, pretty sure they are just trying to scare me into buying new PC!

[Dave.]

What model/spec is the current HP?

Win10 runs better than Win7 on older kit in my limited experience, so you should be fine.

Perfect opportunity to chuck in an SSD and a some more ram while you're in there too.

[Mr Pointy]

You don't need to buy Windows 10, you can upgrade you copy of Windows 7 as Microsoft have left the upgrade route open. If you don't have SSDs then it would be a good time to upgrade to one.

The upgrade process has been covered many times in this forum; essentially you need to make a bootable USB drive (8-16GB is fine) & then download the Wiin10 install tool onto it. If I can find one of the posts with the details I'll post a link.

[Stevemr]

Thanks for replies so far, its an HP 500B MT.

I thought you were no longer able to 10 upgrade for free?

Would I be running security risk, by carrying on as I am? As I do prefer win7pro. Or do I just need to get used to 10?

[Mr Pointy]

This from a previous post:

If you mean the free upgrade from Win 7 to Win 10 then in my experience it can still be done. Download Win 10 from here:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/...

Follow the steps to create the install media on USB & then use your Win 7 licence key when it asks for it. I did this a couple of weeks ago & I ended up with an authorised Win 10 Installation.

https://www.howtogeek.com/266072/you-can-still-get...

You might want to clone/backup your existing drive in case it all goes wrong (use Macrium Reflect Free). You'll need to make the USB key bootable & the SSD (if you use one). Make sure the PC can boot from the USB port by setting it in the BIOS - move it to the top of the list.

[anonymous-user]

See here: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.zdnet.com/googl...

It’s free, legit and still works. I did a laptop last week.

I prefer W7P too, but W10P is ok.

[Mr Pointy]

Stevemr said:

Thanks for replies so far, its an HP 500B MT.

I thought you were no longer able to 10 upgrade for free?

Would I be running security risk, by carrying on as I am? As I do prefer win7pro. Or do I just need to get used to 10?

Microsoft realised it was no skin off their nose to leave the upgrade link working as it gets people to migrate to 10, which is what they want.

If you want to carry on using Win7 you can, but there won't be any security upgrades issued (unless they find a real howler). If you run a good AV (maybe pay for it) & run an ad blocker in a decent browser (Firefox & UBlock Origin) & you don't visit dodgy websites you'll probably be ok, although at some point you may find programmes don't run under Win7. If you use O365 I think some issues may eventually arise.

[The_Jackal]

Give it 6 months and hackers will be targeting all the Win7 machines no longer getting security updates (holes are found constantly, this is why is it fairly important if you go on the net).
They know 1000s of Win7 machines will be left as is, and they will be easy lowest hanging fruit targets.

[AJB88]

I wouldn't be using an OS that is no longer receiving security updates if it was facing the internet. Update it to Windows 10.

If it runs badly look at Ram and SSD upgrade.