In case you didn’t already know, the End of Life (EOL) deadline for Windows 7 passed on January 14th, 2020. This means that Microsoft no longer provides support for the Operating System, mandating users to upgrade to Windows 10.
If you’re an IT Administrator, Technician or even a tech savvy user, you’ve likely been tasked with upgrading your resident Windows 7 computers to Windows 10.
Here at ROSE ITSL, we ourselves have gone through the tedious process of rolling out upgrades across our entire client base.
It hasn’t always been flowers and roses, so I’ve decided to share a few common issues we came across and what you can do to overcome them in the hope that it helps you in getting it done smoothly:
Some software applications may no longer work.
Older legacy applications running Windows 7 may not be compatible with Windows 10 and may fail after upgrade.
Resolution: Be sure to check with your software vendor prior to upgrading to confirm that your application will work. If not, consider purchasing Extended Security Updates for Windows 7 which will buy you up to three years of support.
Your computer may not be eligible for a free upgrade due to invalid license.
It is still possible to upgrade Windows 7 machines to Windows 10 without purchasing a full license. However this only applies to legitimate and activated versions of Windows 7. If your computer was pre-loaded with an evaluation or unlicensed version of the OS, it won’t work.
Resolution: Purchase a licensed version of Windows 10 from an authorized Microsoft reseller.
Your computer may be too old to work with Windows 10.
After upgrading, you may encounter issues with devices like printers, scanners and other connected hardware.
Resolution: Be sure to check with your products’ hardware vendors prior to upgrading to confirm that your devices can work. After upgrading, uninstall the devices and reinstall with Windows 10 compatible drivers.
Your Peripheral Devices like Printers and Scanners may not work
Older computers may have internal components that are not compatible with Windows 10 due to unavailability of drivers. They may also fall below the minimum specifications to run the OS efficiently. This will likely generate a warning during the upgrade process or may even stop it altogether.
Resolution: Check your PC manufacturer’s website support page to ensure that there are updated Windows 10 drivers for your system. If unavailable, consider purchasing a new system equipped with Windows 10.
Legacy Devices and System Ports may disappear
This one is especially relevant for users with workhorse legacy devices (eg. Dot matrix printers, receipt printers) that utilize older components like parallel and serial ports. After upgrading to Windows 10, these devices and ports may not be recognized and may be missing altogether.
Resolution: Check your PC manufacturer’s website support to find Windows 10 compatible chipset drivers for your system. Alternatively, consider installing newer PC components (eg. PCI ports) or replacing older hardware with Windows 10 compatible version.
Hope this helps and hope you enjoy. If you have any others to add, please feel free to share in the comments or drop me and email.