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A scary thought: This Halloween will mark the end of new Windows 7 consumer PCs [updated]

Updated Feb 14th, 2014 3:19PM EST
When Will Windows 7 PCs Stop Being Made

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If you want a new PC but would prefer to get one with Windows 7 instead of Windows 8, then you’d better realize that your window is slowly closing. Paul Thurrott writes that Microsoft has officially set a deadline of October 31st, 2014 as the last day it will allow manufacturing partners to preload the assort Home editions of Windows 7 onto new machines. After that point, every new consumer-targeted PC they make will need to have some variation of Windows 8. The good news for Windows 7 fans, however, is that they still might be able to get new Windows 7 PCs through their work even after the last new Windows 7 consumer PC has been sold because Microsoft has extended the deadline for OEMs to preinstall Windows 7 Pro onto business PCs.

UPDATE: This article’s original headline may have given the impression that October 31st would be the end of all Windows 7 PCs and not just consumer PCs. The headline has been changed to add this clarification. ZDNet’s Ed Bott also notes that OEMs will keep selling Windows 8 PCs that users can downgrade to Windows 7 Pro if they want through October 31st, 2015. So even if you buy a Windows 8 PC and don’t like it, there’s a good chance that you’ll still be able to downgrade it to Windows 7 if you want.

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.