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German authorities are waking up to a Windows 7 headache, with approximately €800,000 required in order to keep the elderly software supported a little longer.
Microsoft had long been warning users, both enterprises and individuals, that the end of support was nigh - 14 January - and made available various ways of keeping those updates flowing.
Alternatively there is always the option of a migration to Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) with three years of free-ish support (because, y'know, you still have to pay for those Azure resources).
Finally, customers that had ponied up the cash for an E5 subscription could also be entitled to an extra year of Windows 7 security updates, through to 2021 (assuming the subscription stays active).
Blighty's very own NHS is an example of just such an organisation, having splashed the cash for some E5 goodness.
The position in which the German government now finds itself might raise a wry smile somewhere in Seattle.
(Score: 3, Informative) by inertnet on Friday January 24 2020, @11:31PM (8 children)
For those interested, BypassESU is a hack of German origin to enable future Windows 7 updates. Not guaranteed to work, Microsoft might push an update to counter it. There's an explanation out there how to change the registry manually as well.
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Saturday January 25 2020, @04:30AM (7 children)
You got a link to a copy that isn't a virus in disguise?
For the record, my not-special Win7 is still getting security updates; got one today.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 3, Informative) by inertnet on Saturday January 25 2020, @11:33AM (1 child)
No sorry, I thought I had read about a manual registry patch, but I just used the BypassESU tool for a Windows 7 VM that I want to keep.
Here [onehack.us] is a description and download that could be safe, but you might want to backup your Windows 7 installation before installing.
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Saturday January 25 2020, @05:30PM
Thanks. That's an update over what I found later. If mine stops getting these magical updates (might be piggybacking on the system's corporate origins) and if Simplix doesn't update to include 'em, it's a thought. (SImplix is a maintained unofficial Service Pack 2; get it from MajorGeeks.)
It does require some prior patching:
https://lifehacker.com/how-to-extend-your-windows-7-security-updates-past-janu-1840313094 [lifehacker.com]
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 3, Touché) by Gaaark on Sunday January 26 2020, @04:39AM (4 children)
"You got a link to a copy that isn't a virus in disguise?"
Sure:
https://manjaro.org/ [manjaro.org]
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Sunday January 26 2020, @05:35AM
LOL, I prefer http://www.pclinuxos.com/ [pclinuxos.com] ;D
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Sunday January 26 2020, @06:02AM (2 children)
PS. Hadn't looked at Manjaro in a while... I see they've been workin' hard. Must be time to give it another spin. You're an evil person. :D
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Sunday January 26 2020, @11:21AM (1 child)
Evil is my middle name....and my last: Gaaark Evil KnEvil!
:)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Sunday January 26 2020, @03:21PM
So, yer sayin' you jumped a bike over a stack of distros? :D
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.