Microsoft is giving OEMs only a year to sell new Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs.
The Redmond-based company has quietly announced on its Windows Lifecycle Fact Sheet page that it will kill off its Windows 7 and 8.1 one year from now, indicating Oct. 31, 2016 as the last date on which PC makers can sell new computers running Windows 7 Professional or Windows 8.1.
It is ironic, nonetheless, that Microsoft slated June 30, 2016 as the end-of-sales date for Windows 8-equipped PCs, way earlier than Windows 7 Professional.
Note that the usual end-of-sales date of a Windows version is two years after the rolling out of the version that comes after it. Considering Windows 7 still reigns in the market, and that Windows 8 has received a slew of negative reviews from its users, it's not surprising that Microsoft set its end of life at a later date than Windows 8.
Windows 7 was originally scheduled to have ended in October 2014, which is two years after the introduction of Windows 8. However, the company still allowed manufacturers to keep on selling PCs running Windows 7 Pro.
During the time, Microsoft said it would give one year notice to PC makers prior to changing the policy. It seems that this change has finally arrived.
Meanwhile, the extended period support for all editions of Windows 7, according to Microsoft, will end on Jan. 14, 2020. Windows 8.1, in the meantime, is still in its mainstream support. Extended support for this particular OS will run only until Jan. 10, 2023. After this date, Windows will no longer provide support for the Windows 8.1.
"End of sales refers to the date when a particular version of Windows is no longer shipped to retailers or Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)," explains Microsoft in a post on its website. "Examples of OEMs are Dell and Toshiba — PC manufacturers who often preinstall Windows software."
It is likewise important to note that the end-of-sales date for Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate was Oct. 31 last year. Manufacturers no longer sell PCs running these OSs.
Microsoft notes on the Lifecycle Fact Sheet that Windows XP was ended on Oct. 22, 2010 while Windows Vista was wiped out a year after, specifically on Oct. 22, 2011.
