Windows 10 unterschied windows 7: Differences You Need to Know

Differences You Need to Know

Windows 7 has long been the preferred operating system for many businesses, even after the release of Windows 8 and Windows 10. Many business owners and IT decision-makers heard of Windows 8’s detractors and adopted an “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” mentality regarding upgrades. As a result, a number of businesses continue to hold onto Windows 7, despite the fact that Microsoft’s support for the operating system has dwindled since 2015. So why should Windows 7 users make the switch to Windows 10?

Microsoft Will No Longer Offer Support for Windows 7 as of January 2020

This means businesses choosing to stick with Windows 7 after that point will no longer be able to receive updates, exposing their systems to many potential bugs and security issues. However, there is one alternative: organizations with Windows 7 volume licensing who can’t make the switch in time will have the option to pay for security updates for 3 additional years. Microsoft reports that the price for this additional security coverage will increase on a year-to-year basis.

In comparison, Windows 10 runs frequent, automatic checks for essential updates to ensure your system maintains optimal performance. Windows 10 Enterprise users will have the ability to delay/postpone updates from installing until they are free. In order to minimize overall downtime, Microsoft has said that they will push these updates to their Enterprise users less frequently.

New Software Releases Are Already Incompatible With Windows 7

Essential program suites such as Office 2019 are not compatible with Windows 7, and this promises to be the trend moving forward with Microsoft ceasing support of Windows 7. Meanwhile, Windows 10 will continue to enjoy constant compatible software and app releases. If your business is in need of an Office suite upgrade, Windows 10 is by far the winner due to its compatibility with Office 2019, the last standalone suite apart from Office 365.

Note: A work around to using Office 2019 on a Windows 7 PC would be to purchase an Office 365 subscription, which is supported on Windows 7. Office 365 is the equivalent to Office 2019 and would receive regular updates whereas Office 2019 does not. 

Windows 10 Is Faster

Although Windows 7 still outperforms Windows 10 across a selection of apps, expect this to be short-lived as Windows 10 continues to receive updates. In the meantime, Windows 10 boots, sleeps, and wakes faster than its predecessors, even when loaded on an older machine. While it may seem slight at first, this boost in performance can mean a parallel boost in productivity for your employees.

Windows 10 Is More Secure Than Windows 7

Windows 10 supports two-factor authentication, allowing your employees to easily access their account within a high-security setting. Data loss prevention is increased from the version in Windows 7, but is incorporated in a way that remains unobtrusive for the user. Similarly, the hardware detection features prevent outsiders from accessing your business’s information.

Perhaps the best tool within the security features of Windows 10 is the ability to use the security features as a package, or deploy them individually, creating the best setup for your business’s needs. In addition, you are able to use features like Cortana or turn them off if your business has specific security needs that may be risked by location or voice recognition settings.

Windows 10 Is Easier to Use Than Its Predecessors

Features such as Aero Snap have been tweaked to allow up to four windows on-screen at any given time. In addition, the way in which Windows suggests other windows fill open spaces on the monitor is more user-friendly. Easy, secure login across your company’s devices with a PIN allows your employees ease of access to their workstations, and the Microsoft cloud promotes collaboration and sharing like never before. These are just a few of the many reasons as to why your company needs to come up with a Windows 10 upgrade strategy.

Still unsure it’s time to upgrade? Speak with a professional to determine how the end of Microsoft Windows 7 support could affect your business’s operations.

What is the difference between Windows 7 and Windows 10?

The clock is ticking if you have a computer that’s still running Windows 7. Microsoft is ending all support—including those all-important security updates—starting January 14, 2020. The solution is an upgrade to Windows 10, but if you’ve been using Windows 7 for all these years, you may not even realize what’s changed. To help bring you up to speed, I’ve put together a quick primer on the key differences between Windows 7 (released in 2009) and Windows 10 (released in 2015).

User interface 

With Windows 8, many users rebelled against the removal of the Start button and the introduction of tiles—for a tablet-like experience. That alone is a key reason why many PC owners skipped Windows 8 and stuck with the outdated (but familiar) Windows 7. With Windows 10, Microsoft has found a nice balance that combines the best of the old and the new. The Start Menu is back so the basics will be familiar if you’re moving from Windows 7. However, Live Tiles are also there, in a nod to Windows 8. Live Tile let you pin frequently used apps and to show live, updated info such as weather. But they don’t replace or interfere with the Start Menu …

With Windows 10, Microsoft went with a more modern-looking “flat” look, instead of Windows 7’s 3D-look icons. Other changes were more than superficial. File management gets an improvement and it’s much easier to copy and move files. Search is also greatly improved, including the ability to display web search results. Windows 7 has notifications, but with Windows 10 you get a location called the Action Center that organizes all your notifications in a central spot. Windows 10’s Aero Snap makes working with multiple windows open much more effective than Windows 7, upping productivity.

Windows 10 also offers extras like tablet mode and touchscreen optimization, but if you are using a PC from the Windows 7 era, chances are these features won’t be applicable to your hardware.  

Windows Store

Windows 10 users can download applications directly from Microsoft’s Windows Store, an option that’s not available in Windows 7. The Windows Store is a convenient and secure way to browse for apps.

Microsoft Edge

A big win when moving up from Windows 7 to Windows 10 is the native web browser. For Windows 7, that’s Internet Explorer. Like the operating system itself, internet Explorer is long in the tooth … With Windows 10 comes Microsoft’s modern web browser, Microsoft Edge. Besides being far more secure than Internet Explorer, Edge includes advanced capabilities including integrated Cortana support, the ability to mark up web pages with hand-written or typed notes and annotations, a reading view that de-clutters content, and faster browsing speeds. 

Cortana

Microsoft’s virtual assistant wasn’t released until seven years after Windows 7. With Windows 10, Cortana is fully integrated in the desktop experience. If your PC has an built-in microphone, you should even be able to interact with Cortana using voice commands.

Windows Inking

Windows Ink is a really useful feature that lets you turn your touch-enabled computer screen into a digital notepad of sorts, with the ability to draw and sketch in supported applications, hand-write notes and more. An older PC running Windows 7 won’t have support for an active stylus (pressure sensitive), but if you upgrade a laptop with a touchscreen, Windows Ink will let you use your finger as a stylus.

Want to learning more about Inking? I wrote a post about Windows Ink a few years ago that you might find interesting.

Automatic updates

Microsoft got a lot more serious about security with Windows 10. That means Windows 7 users will have to get used to the concept of automatic system updates. You can choose when you’d prefer to receive them, but Windows 10 takes system updates out of your hands.

System speed

One of the benefits of an upgrade to Windows 10 is the under-the-hood performance enhancements Microsoft made. This includes faster boot times, snappier navigation and better power management that should improve the battery life of mobile devices.

What about my applications?

Your PC that has been running Windows 7 may run into some issues with legacy third party software once you update to Windows 10 (they are very different operating systems, after all). This is one of the primary reasons why many businesses have resisted moving to Windows 10.

Windows 10 does offer a Compatibility Mode that can try to run the software using Windows 7 settings. If that fails, there’s a possibility you may need to update the application itself. Most software publishers have released versions of their applications that are compatible with and optimized for Windows 10. In a worst case scenario where Compatibility Mode doesn’t address the issue, there’s no Windows 10 compatible version, and a legacy app is mission-critical, there is always the option of using virtualization software to run Windows 7 on a Windows 10 PC.

The bottom line

Staying on Windows 7 isn’t really an option—not unless you want to roll the dice on the security of your computer and your data. Fortunately, moving to Windows 10 is worthwhile even without the added incentive of losing support and the fact that Windows 7 hasn’t had new features in several years. You shouldn’t find the transition to using Windows 10 will have a very steep learning curve—it will definitely be less jarring than moving to Windows 8. The new features introduced with Windows 10 including Cortana integration, Windows Ink and Microsoft’s Edge browser are big leaps forward, and you’ll probably end up wishing you’d made the switch sooner.

This post is part of an ongoing series intended to help you avoid a panic situation next year if you own a PC running Windows 7. For more details about what is happening along with the latest updates on the situation, be sure to check in on my article, “Everything you need to know about Microsoft ending Windows 7 support. ”

Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020.

Microsoft committed to providing 10 years of support for Windows 7 by releasing the operating system on October 22, 2009. That 10-year period is over, and Microsoft has ended support for Windows 7 in order to focus on supporting newer technologies and exciting new features. Support ended for Windows 7 on January 14, 2020. Technical assistance and automatic updates from Windows Update to help protect your PC are not available. Microsoft strongly recommends moving to Windows 11 so you don’t end up in a situation where service and support is not available.

As of January 14, 2020, computers running Windows 7 no longer receive security updates. It’s important to upgrade to a modern operating system, such as Windows 11, so you can continue to receive the latest security updates to keep you and your data safe. In addition, Microsoft Customer Support is no longer providing technical support for Windows 7. Over time, all services related to Windows 7 will stop working. for Windows Media Center, will be discontinued in January 2020.

Most Windows 7 users are encouraged to upgrade to a new Windows 11 device. Today’s PCs are faster, lighter, more powerful, and more secure, and their average price is significantly lower than the average PC eight years ago. Browse Windows 11 compatible PCs to find the best PC for you.

We strongly recommend getting a new PC with Windows 11, but we understand that this isn’t always possible, so we also suggest that you consider upgrading to Windows 10.

To take advantage of the latest hardware features, we recommend moving to a new PC with Windows 11, a new operating system that looks new and supports new ways to be creative and productive.

Most Windows 7 devices do not meet the Windows 11 upgrade hardware requirements. Alternatively, you can upgrade compatible Windows 7 PCs to Windows 10 by purchasing and installing the full software. Before you invest in upgrading to Windows 10, be aware that support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025.

The Windows 10 free upgrade offer expired on July 29, 2016. A compatible PC is required to upgrade to Windows 10. In addition, you need to buy the full version of the software. We don’t recommend installing Windows 10 on older devices because some Windows 7 devices are not compatible with Windows 10 or may have limited Windows 10 functionality. Before you invest in upgrading to Windows 10, please note that support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025 of the year.

If you continue to use Windows 7 after the end of support, your computer will still work, but it will become more vulnerable to viruses and other security risks. Your computer will still start and run, but you will no longer receive software updates, including security updates, from Microsoft.

Windows 7 will still be installable and activated at the end of support, however the system will be more vulnerable to security risks and viruses due to lack of security updates. After January 14, 2020, Microsoft strongly recommends using a newer version of Windows instead of Windows 7.

Internet Explorer on Windows 7 devices also ended on January 14, 2020. Internet Explorer is a feature of Windows and is covered by the support lifecycle of the Windows operating system on which the browser is installed. For more information, see Lifecycle FAQ — Internet Explorer.

Microsoft Edge is recommended. Microsoft Edge is built to give you the best online experience with better control and privacy.

The Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) platform will continue to receive signature updates after January 14, 2020. However, the MSE platform is no longer updated. Click here to learn more about Microsoft Security Essentials.

If you’re using Windows in a production environment, we recommend that you contact your company’s IT department for help, or see Windows 10 Deployment Support for more information.

Windows for embedded devices, such as ATMs or gas stations, have different lifecycle dates than the versions of Windows that are used on computers.

For the best experience, we recommend that you reinstall programs and apps on a new Windows 11 PC. There are many third-party apps available in the Microsoft Store that you can easily download and install. On a Windows 11 PC, you can open the Microsoft Store by clicking the icon on the taskbar or by searching for «Microsoft Store» in the search box on the taskbar.

If you want to install a program that is not currently available in the Microsoft Store, we recommend that you download the program from the official website of its developer, choosing the version for Windows 11. In some special cases, some older programs may not have an updated version that is compatible with Windows 11.

Effects may vary depending on the version of Office you are using. For more information, see End of support for Windows 7 and Office. It is important to note that the Windows 7 operating system itself will no longer receive security updates, which will leave the device vulnerable to threats. Therefore, if you are using Microsoft Office on a Windows 7 PC, we recommend upgrading to a Windows 11 PC.0003

Windows 7 support ended on January 14, 2020. As a Windows 7 user, we want to remind you that your device is no longer supported and will not receive security updates. We recommend moving to a new Windows 11 PC. Learn more about the notification here.

«Display driver stopped responding and has been restored» error in Windows 7 or Windows Vista

Windows 7 Windows Vista More…Less

Abstract

This article describes three ways to troubleshoot display driver not responding issues. You can learn more about their causes in the additional information section.

Solution

To resolve the issue, follow the steps described, starting with the first method. If it does not help, go to methods 2 and 3.

Method 1: Update the video driver for your graphics hardware

To update the video driver for your graphics hardware using Windows Update, follow the link for your version of Windows and follow the instructions in the article.

Driver update for hardware that is not working properly in Windows 7

Driver update for hardware that is not working properly in Windows Vista

If installing the latest updates does not resolve the issue, use Method 2.

Method 2: Change visual effects settings to optimize performance

If you have multiple programs, browser windows, or emails open at the same time, it may take up all the memory and slow down performance. Close all unused programs and windows.

You can also improve the performance of your computer by turning off certain visual effects. Here’s how to change visual effects settings to optimize performance:

1. Open the Performance Counters and Tools section by selecting Start > Control Panel. In the search box, type Performance Counters and Tools, and then select Performance Counters and Tools from the list of results.

2. Click Customize visual effects. If the system asks for an administrator password or confirmation, enter the password or confirm the action.

3. Select Visual Effects >Adjust for Best Performance >OK.
   Note. You can also choose to let Windows choose what’s best for my computer, which is less restrictive.

If this method does not resolve the problem, try method 3.

Method 3: Change the registry value to increase GPU 9 processing time0065

Hang Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) is a Windows feature that detects when a video adapter or driver on a computer is taking longer than expected to process an operation. In this case, Windows attempts to recover and reset the graphics hardware settings. If the GPU fails to recover and reset the graphics hardware settings within the allowed time (two seconds), the system may stop responding and display a «Display Driver Stopped Responding and has Recovered» error message.

This issue can be resolved by increasing the time allowed for the hang detection and repair mechanism to complete this operation by modifying a registry value.

To do this, follow the steps below.

Close all Windows programs.

1. Click the Start button, type regedit in the search box, and double-click regedit.exe in the list of results above. If the system asks for an administrator password or confirmation, enter the password or confirm the action.

2. Locate the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers

3. On the Edit menu, click New, and then select the specified registry setting for your version of Windows (32-bit or 64-bit) from the drop-down menu.

4. Close Registry Editor and restart the computer for the changes to take effect.

Attention! This section, method, or task contains information about modifying the registry. However, changing registry settings incorrectly can cause serious problems. Therefore, the instructions given must be followed exactly. As an additional protective measure, you should back up the registry before modifying it. This will restore the registry in case of problems. For more information about backing up the registry in Windows 7, see Back up the registry.

1. Select DWORD (32 bit) option.

2. In the Name field, type TdrDelay, and then press ENTER.

3. Double-click TdrDelay, enter 8 in the Value field, and click OK.

1. Select the QWORD (64 bit) option.

2. In the Name field, type TdrDelay, and then press ENTER.

3. Double-click TdrDelay, enter 8 in the Value field, and click OK.