Windows 7 will get to the end of support in January 2020, with left than Twelve months of updates left, Microsoft has already been planning for a world without this OS version.

And while the transition will undoubtedly be a difficult moment for Microsoft and its customers, the software giant has every reason to be optimistic, because it expects the death of Windows 7 to develop a significant boost in the number of upgrades to Windows 10.

Talking to TechRadar, Mark Linton, GM of OEM Portfolio and Product Management for Microsoft, said the company anticipates the end of support for Windows 7 would help not just boost the adoption of Windows 10, but additionally increase PC shipments.

"The second Windows XP"

Gartner the 2009 week says within the fourth quarter of 2018, PC shipments declined once more, blaming the CPU shortage among the reasons.

"There are a few factors here. Innovation in silicon, innovation in graphics [and] Windows 10 momentum in terms of the install base. Windows 7 is going end of support in a year, and thus customers are looking to action to take sure they get updated and so forth," Linton said.

"Each silicon generation, things get thinner and battery life. Again, I often compare it to that particular Windows 7 machine [that] is six or seven years of age, when compared with what you're getting now, it blows the mind. Windows 7 support is a big one that we see customers thinking about, you know, 'I wish to upgrade to Windows 10, in order to get updates.' And, just overall, excitement has returned within the PC," he continued.

There's no doubt the demise of Windows 7 will translate to more upgrades to Windows 10, but as I explained recently, the 2009 operating system is very prone to end up being the second Windows XP.

Using more than 35% share of the market right now, Windows 7 is losing ground in a rather slow pace, so there's a chance that by the time the January 2020 milestone is reached, only a few users would upgrade to Windows 10.

Time will tell how Microsoft handles the retirement of Windows 7, but for now, the organization seems very optimistic about this. No matter what happens, Windows 10 will be the first one to take advantage of this milestone.

Microsoft today released a brand new Windows 10 preview with improvements to disk space management, Reset this PC, and the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). The update bumps Windows 10 from build 18309 (made available to testers on January 3) to build 18312. These builds come from the 19H1 branch, which represents the Windows 10 update which will get to the first 1 / 2 of this year.

Windows 10 is being developed like a service, meaning it receives additional features regularly. Microsoft has released six major updates to date: November Update, Anniversary Update, Creators Update, Fall Creators Update, April 2018 Update, and October 2018 Update.

The seventh update can change how Windows 10 manages disk space. Some disk space (about 7GB) will be set aside as "reserved storage" for updates, apps, temporary files, and system caches. The aim, Microsoft says, is to ensure critical OS functions always have access to disk space. Reserved storage are only introduced automatically on PCs that come with 19H1 pre-installed or on PCs where 19H1 was clean installed. You can try reserved storage about this build by running this quest.

Next, Microsoft has added new UI for "Reset this PC" (Settings => Update & Security => Recovery). The new UI requires fewer clicks and it is more consistent across devices with various configurations.

This build also adds new command line choices to the WSL command line tool (wsl.exe). Among the changes (release notes) you may expect consolidated command line options, the option to import a distro for simple sideloading, including to non-system drives, and also the option to export your WSL distribution for simpler environment management.

Lastly, this build raises that per-process Fiber Local Storage (FLS) slot allocation ceiling. This really is helpful for musicians who hit the FLS limit, which prevented them from loading many plugins into their DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations). The modification will also positively impact any application that dynamically loads hundreds or thousands of unique DLLs that have statically linked Visual C++ runtimes.
Bug fixes and known issues

This 19H1 build includes the following general bug fixes and enhancements:

Fixed a problem in which the Network shares page in File Explorer used black text in dark theme.
Fixed a problem impacting Microsoft Edge reliability in the last few builds.
Fixed a problem where USB printers may appear twice in Devices and Printers under Control Panel.
Fixed an issue in which the console would lose color when spawning a new Command Prompt.
Following on our work the 2009 release to make the console scrollbar dark when dark theme is enabled, the title bar will also now bar dark (if you haven't chosen in Settings to use your accent color in the title bar).
Added a group policy for disabling acrylic around the sign-in screen. This is often found in Group Policy Editor under Administrative Templates > System > Logon > "Show clear logon background".
Fixed an issue where custom desktop/Lock screen images deployed by a runtime provisioning package would be removed after Windows Update.
Fixed a problem where the shadow behind a flyout might focus following the flyout appeared.
Fixed a problem where, if enabled, the Windows Start Up Sound may not play after turning on from shutdown or after updating.
Fixed an issue in which the File Properties dialog wouldn't show the entire timestamp if "Conversational format" was selected for the Date Modified column in File Explorer.
Fixed an issue in which the hyperlink colors must be refined in Dark Mode in Sticky Notes if Insights were enabled.
If you had been experiencing Sticky Notes stuck on Loading with Build 18309, check the Microsoft Store for Sticky Notes version 3.5.4.

This build has 16 known issues:

The Windows Security app may show an unknown status for that Virus & threat protection area, or otherwise refresh properly. This might occur after upgrade, restart, or settings changes.
Launching games which use anti-cheat software may trigger a bugcheck (GSOD).
Clicking your account in Cortana Permissions doesn't bringing up the UI to sign from Cortana (should you be already signed in) for many users in this build.
Creative X-Fi sound cards aren't working properly.
When trying to update this build some S Mode devices will download and restart, but fail the update.
Night light functionality is influenced by a bug in this build.
When you open Action Center the quick actions section may be missing.
Clicking the network button on the sign-in screen doesn't work.
Some text within the Windows Security app may not currently be correct, or might be missing. This might impact the capability to use some features, such as filtering Protection history.
Windows feature update may fail but appear as a successful update in Windows Update history page. If this happens you will notice several successful install for the same update within the history page.
Users may see a warning their USB happens to be being used when attempting to eject it using File Explorer. To avert this warning, close down all open File Explorer windows and eject USB media while using system tray by hitting 'Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media' after which selecting the drive to eject.
When performing Reset this PC and selecting Keep my files on the device that has Reserved Storage enabled the consumer will need to initiate an additional reboot to ensure Reserved Storage is working again properly.
There is an issue impacting a small amount of users signed up for Microsoft Intune where they might not receive policies. Those policies are not applied and left in "pending" state on the server. The workaround is to visit Settings/Accounts/Access work or school and "Disconnect" your Azure AD account after which re-enroll.
Windows Sandbox doesn't load on PCs with multiple GPUs.
In certain cases, launching Centennial apps will cause a bindflt.sys bugcheck (GSOD).
If you put in the recent builds from the Fast ring and switch to the Slow ring - optional content such as enabling developer mode will fail. You will have to remain in the short ring to add/install/enable optional content. It is because optional content is only going to install on builds approved for specific rings.

Of course, don't install this on your production machine.

Windows 10 19H1 brings improvements in a wide variety of categories and it'll significantly refine the experience with both applications which are part of the operating system and with Windows overall.

Task Manager itself is improving too, though not in the substantial manner that users expected. It'd get subtle tweaks in some places, such as the choice to set the new default tab when launching the app, but there's without doubt that there's still room for improvements, especially as more users find it quite a must-have application.

When i see it, there are three features that I'd enjoy having in Task Manager, and even though there's little chance they'd be developed prior to the time the 19H1 update is finalized, Microsoft should at least ask them to in find for future updates.

"Dark theme"

First of all, it's the dark theme. Windows 10 itself comes with a dark mode, and Microsoft has been particularly centered on updating its applications to align with this new visual style of the operating-system.

Dark themes have been released for several applications in Windows 10, even though the OS itself has also received this facelift in Settings as well as in other key areas, Task Manager is yet to get such an overhaul.

A dark mode for Task Manager would basically seamlessly integrate the applying into the modern interface of Windows 10, and because many users consider it a must-have tool, it might also bring them an eagerly-awaited refresh.

Eventually, Microsoft will roll out a dark mode for Task Manager, there's no doubt about it, but as we learned the hard way, it might take longer than some are willing to wait.

"Search option and filters"

Because the Task Manager improves, it should will also get more complex functionality that's currently available in third-party tools like Process Explorer.

For example, searching option and filters would actually come in handy, especially when trying to quickly find a specific process.

You skill right now is click the listing of processes and then press the key on your keyboard that is representative of the very first letter in the name. However, it's not really a convenient workaround, so Microsoft should think about improving Task Manager in connection with this.

Also, a system tray indicator that would display information on a specific process would be also pretty helpful. At this time, Windows 10 does allow you to minimize Task Manager to tray, and hovering the icon shows information like CPU, memory, disk, and network usage.

"Notifications and alerts"

One of the things which i would consider very useful is support for alerts. With a few browsers, including Google Chrome, eating up a great deal of time, it is always good if Task Manager allowed us to set alerts whenever a specific threshold is reached.

Basically, Task Manager could issue a notification whenever a specific processor eats up a lot of resources, potentially reducing the system and finally impacting performance.

Overall, each one of these options would do nothing more than provide users with more treatments for their systems. Certainly, they aren't aimed at average users, but at those more knowledgeable who actually need such applications.

But with Microsoft trying to offer more solutions natively in Windows 10, it simply makes sense for the Task Manager to evolve in connection with this.

Windows 10 19H1 is projected to become finalized early in the year, so Microsoft doesn't cash time for you to begin testing such major additional features. Therefore the hope would be that the next OS feature update due within the fall of 2019 would come with further Task Manager improvements.

If you'd want to see Task Manager evolving too, be sure you submit your suggestions within the Feedback Hub.

We're nevertheless seeing the actual fallout through Microsoft's contention marketing campaign to encourage and sometimes force Windows 7 and Windows 8 customers to upgrade to Windows Ten.

Now with what may be a precedent-setting situation, the Finnish Customer Disputes Solar panel has ruled problems brought on by this kind of revise to a Windows 8 user ought to be compensated through Microsoft, towards the melody of 1,100 dinar (regarding $1,254.)

The actual complainant had asked for 3000 dinar, saying in 2016 Microsoft instantly improved his Windows 8 PC in order to Windows Ten, leading to this to malfunction in ways Microsoft's support had been not able to repair as well as leading to their camera surveillance software bust. He'd inspired to be paid for the price of changing the digital cameras but could clarify the reason why it was needed.

Microsoft did not provide a strong protection, saying the actual man's statements had been unreasonable, that he received free customer care, which Microsoft was not accountable for his manage software.

Microsoft didn't, however, refuse that the new operating system might have been down loaded without their authorization.

The person was adamant and the panel agreed Microsoft didn't have automated to install the actual upgrade through Windows 8 in order to Windows 10, and likewise had a duty to perform the work correctly, that they did not.

They mentioned:

In the viewpoint from the Panel, the actual support was not completed expertly and carefully and in the actual interests from the subscriber, as required by the Consumer Protection Behave. There is a mistake, and Microsoft said the actual panel was responsible for the harm caused.

The panel granted the actual complainant 1100 euro: 1000 euro for spare part and repair cost and One hundred dinar travel costs, that Microsoft should compensate. Businesses generally adhere to the advice.

An issue will arise whether Microsoft would, generally, end up being liable for any damages caused directly by their own automatic update coverage, a thing that the actual legal courts will likely need to decide ultimately.

Looking back at Microsoft's 2018, you may earn the argument that the company ended utilizing all-time high. Besides, it's the most valuable company in the field.

But our readers buy Microsoft products, not Microsoft stock. From that perspective (coupled with all due respect to Microsoft's enterprise business, which isn't percentage of what we cover you will come to PCWorld), Microsoft's record was conservative and somewhat underwhelming, by incorporating some exceptions. Microsoft added only one flourish or two to the existing Surface lineup, just like, and both feature updates to Windows 10 have developed into fairly inconsequential.

As we've tired recent years, we list the highlights, low points, company, "what the hell was that??!" moments, closing in what we think Microsoft should work on most for 2019.

WIN: Microsoft's conference room of the future

Everyone loves a killer tech demo, and Microsoft displayed a doozy at its Build conference: a gathering room of the future where Cortana could both hear to find out, identifying users because walked in. The demo exhibited not only Microsoft's AI technologies, in addition to its transcription and translation capabilities, along with power of its cloud services. Microsoft's vision may never happen, but let's hope it can do. This is exactly revoltions per minute rating forward-looking thinking we like to to see.

FAIL: Windows 10 S

In March, Microsoft's Joe Belfiore proceeded record claiming that Microsoft "expect[s] vast majority of customers to enjoy" Windows 10 in S Mode in 2019. That could perhaps still happen, but whew!-right now, it appears as though a major overstatement on Microsoft's part.

As fair, Windows 10 S has two redeeming features: One, it enables demonstrably longer battery lifespan within laptops that used Qualcomm processors; as well as two, it forces the usage Microsoft Edge, with finally developed into a decent browser.

Here's the drawback: The Venn diagram merging men and women who use Edge and who also use a Qualcomm-based PC probably amounts to a small fraction of you base. Everyone else just sees Microsoft hoping to force a locked-down OS upon them.

WTF: Microsoft's consumer conundrum continues

Is Microsoft still a buyer company? Microsoft's decision to take part in Movies Anywhere, its talk of extending Game Pass to Computer games, and numerous initiatives within its Xbox console division (from buying up major studios to Video games to the Xbox Adaptive Controller with Gold and Game Pass) says the provider still is. The demises of Windows phones, Groove Music, and (possibly?) Cortana suggest it isn't.

We simply wish stopping a consumer advocate around the company, to ensure that people using Windows will be assured acquiring a PC-centric games store enhance the Xbox marketplace. Nobody knows from year upon year what Microsoft's stance may be, sowing uncertainty.
WIN: The Xbox Adaptive Controller

There's one consumer area where Microsoft has delivered consistently. Year in and year out, Microsoft champions men and women who don't use its products in ordinary ways, and fashoins extraordinary method of allowing people access. The PC boasts technologies from eye tracking to Windows' Narrator. The Xbox has lacked something similar-until the Xbox Adaptive Controller debuted.

Boasting two large touchpads that make gaming easier regarding with limited mobility, the controller also boasts several input jacks to adapt the gaming experience for particular needs. The Adaptive Controller is certainly an exemplary product, and ought to have praise.
FAIL: Microsoft ends free Windows 10 upgrade

In January, the "assistive loophole" closed, ending a lot more opportunity to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 at zero cost. Now, you're forced to pay $139 for Windows 10 Home, and regularly more for standalone media. Each of us see where Microsoft's based on, we would have selected a different path. Microsoft are worthy of taken steps to avoid new Windows 8 licenses from being marketed, and continued to charge mothers and fathers Windows 10 licenses. Nevertheless in our view, select one always be at liberty to upgrade from Windows 8, or just Windows 7.

WIN: Windows 10 DirectX ray tracing is magic

Recent years, PCs have modeled down to earth by simulating textures painted onto 3D polygons-enough to out a reasonably convincing simulacrum of a alien planet, write off a bit off. Microsoft, alongside Nvidia's RTX hardware, unveiled an alternative version of DirectX which ray tracing-actually modelling photons due to the fact fly during the entire air. It's essentially true photorealism: expensive, computationally intensive, and utterly jaw-dropping. PC graphics changed forever this season, and Microsoft enabled the shift.

FAIL: Windows 10 April and October 2018 Updates

Both of Microsoft's Windows 10 feature updates for 2018 felt underwhelming from the get-go, without the customary introductory hoopla that has got accompanied past releases. Consider our Windows 10 April 2018 Update review: Timeline and Near Sharing were the marquee features, though I doubt either gets much love from users. (Make the most of the notification-blocking Focus Assist pretty frequently, though.)

Alternatives Windows 10 October 2018 Update-oy, the less said, the greater. A step down with the April 2018 Update, Cloud Clipboard along with Your Phone app were its neatest tricks. On the other hand October Update will forever be renowned for being pulled after it was eventually found to delete data, thereafter later reissued in November. Microsoft scarcely promoted certainly one its key victories: polishing Edge as a decent browser.
WTF: Edge's shift to Chromium

But in the event that Edge has finally succeeded, noone cares. At the start of 2017, Microsoft's built-in Edge browser held 3.32 percent market share, according to Net Applications. By November 2018, it had reached 4.22 percent.

Little did damage that soon after we were blessing Edge getting a positive recommendation we would be writing which a future version of Edge will be built on Chrome. Microsoft seems to believe that users will prefer an Edge-flavored sort of Chrome. Will users buy it? We're doubtful. In either case, it's a puzzling shift, and essentially concedes the browser crown to Google.

WIN: Office 2019 as well as triumph of subscriptions

A victory for Microsoft, a reduction for you: After the standalone Office 2019 debuted the year 2010, you could just feel Microsoft's low enthusiasm. Once noted in the past in 2017, Microsoft doesn't i would love you to buy Office 2019. Instead, this company wants consumers to pay and pay and pay money for Office 365, in a subscription that renews every succeeding year.

Office 2019 is therefore a slice soon enough, while Office 365 will continue to add features every 4 weeks. In Microsoft's defense, that's a superbly valid model, as well as company highlights the most recent features going without shoes continually adds. Nevertheless can't help but feel a bit more used by Office-as-a-service, too.

FAIL: Cortana stumbles, fades towards background

Remember just 24 months ago (!!) at which we were surprised to observe Google Assistant emerge as something more than just a few notification cards? Today, Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant vie for dominance, while Cortana has always been relatively static (and Siri's just an afterthought).

Regarding Cortana? Besides the Harman/Kardon Invoke smart speaker-which was being dumped for $50 on Black Friday-and a thermostat from Johnson Controls, Cortana never really established itself from your home nor the motor car. Cortana's integration of Amazon Alexa, while offers, could also be seen capitulation. Meanwhile, Cortana chief Javier Soltero, who spoke well of Cortana as well as the future within various apps, will quickly depart the seller.

Cortana's a bit of a mystery-not quite dead, but without as much pride of said once enjoyed within Windows. I still play with it frequently, particularly many Cortana in actual fact nonexistent.

Softwareonlinedeal is now offering Office 365 Home 1-year subscription having $50 Softwareonlinedeal.com Giftcard for just $99.99 (down from $149.99). Office 365 comes fully full of the latest and greatest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Onenote, Outlook as well as more.

Office 365 features:

1-year subscription for five PCs or Macs, 5 tablets including iPad, Android, or Windows, plus 5 phones
Each user also gets 1 TB of OneDrive Cloud storage
60 minutes phone per user on Skype
Always find the latest, fully installed versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Onenote (Publisher and Access can be found on PC only)

As perhaps you may have heard, Microsoft are likely to be saying its official goodbye to Windows 7 on Jan. 14, 2020. The "end of life" of your operating system means they will no longer be releasing all of the 4 updates that ensure that safe and secure.

Nearly everybody agree that continuing to run an unsupported operating system has major security risks and may put businesses out of compliance, but that doesn't customise the fact that a lot of folks just don't want to make the switch.

Those that fall into that category (I certainly did), don't fear! I switched to Windows 10 about 2 ago hence there is no haven't looked back since.

It's got some cool extra features and many people argue it's a good operating system Microsoft has ever produced.

Here are a few benefits and features of Windows 10 that should make the switch more exciting:
It's faster!

Remember switching from Windows 7 or Vista to Windows 7 and being blown away at how quickly it will start up and close down? Windows 10 raises the bar again. It's a deep operating system, that is designed to take advantage of modern computing devices. It launches seemingly instantaneously, and applications open quickly. I'm able to warn you though, as with any operating system, but if your computer doesn't meet the minimum suggested specifications, it would be a slow and frustrating experience.

Looking bar is incredible

Like Windows 7, can help you seek for files and launch applications easily, but it gets better. It's powered by Cortana, Microsoft's virtual assistant. This suggests it can also search on-line, and even stand for a personal assistant. Desire to quickly add session to your calendar? Type it into the search bar and Cortana include it for you personally personally.
It's stable

One of the main fears when changing computer operating systems is the latest version might be worse compared to what you have now. Windows 10 is already 3 years old and features a reputation of stability, so that you won't have to worry about it crashing among your projects.
Ab muscles separate workspaces

Lots of people working on a project and felt like you have numerous windows and tabs open, however, you can't close any when you might need them? Photographs use separate "virtual desktops" which may help you stay focused. Operating in the additional desktop features a clean slate to concentrate your efforts on one project at a time. This is particularly useful if you're performing on a laptop, or if you only have one monitor.

It's more reassured

Microsoft beefed up the precautionary features in Windows 10. It doesn't replace a firewall as well as other security layers, but developing a more secure platform will help prevent malware and also other threats. Security vendor Webroot compared the total number of infections on Windows 7 machines to Windows 10 machines and found that Windows 10 is "twice as secure."
It's familiar

Windows 10 incorporates all of the features many families love about Windows 7. Many users also look for the look and feel for being intuitive, shortening the educational curve. Your Start Menu might be right where you left it, but it's attained a makeover. And just incase you really miss Windows 7, you can still change the settings to earn Windows 10 look kind of like 7.

The January 2020 deadline looks like it's still too much off to stress over now, yet the timeline for businesses to upgrade their Windows 7 machines is shorter laptop or computer appears.

Compound IT support team how to start planning your transition. They'll allow you to figure out which machines should be upgraded or replaced, coupled with plan to minimize cost and disruption.

Microsoft has announced the next security feature who's hopes will require the fear and risk past running unknown software. Windows Sandbox will be an isolated desktop environment which functions very like a virtual machine; any software installed to barefoot jogging is completely sandboxed in the host the gw990.

Aimed at businesses, enterprises and security-conscious home users, Windows Sandbox will undoubtedly be part of Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise. It is not necessarily clear exactly as soon as feature will debut, but it surely could make a shape in Windows 10 19H1 2012.

Microsoft says that in order to use Windows Sandbox, conscious running Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise build 18305 or later -- which is not yet available. Upon getting access to this build, however, visitors the security feature is created into the system, and can be enabled through Windows Features. Web page need to enable virtualization inside BIOS.

The company touts in this article features of Windows Sandbox in a very detailed article introducing this new feature:

Part of Windows -- everything you will this feature ships with Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise. Big money download a VHD!
Pristine -- each and every time Windows Sandbox runs, it's as clean as an effective brand-new installation of Windows
Disposable -- nothing persists along the device; the relationship is discarded to help close applying
Secure -- uses hardware-based virtualization for kernel isolation, which utilizes the Microsoft's hypervisor to work a separate kernel which isolates Windows Sandbox on the host
Efficient -- uses integrated kernel scheduler, smart memory management, and virtual GPU

Microsoft explains that Windows Sandbox manufactured on Windows Containers technology, bringing cloud-based features to desktop machines without having to run Windows Server.