Microsoft Adds Secure Boot For Windows 7: You Can Use it But There's a Catch

Joseph Henry, Tech Times 12 January 2023, 04:01 am

Almost majority of the Windows users now prefer to use either the Windows 10 or the Windows 11 because of the updates. It's also important to regularly roll out upgrades for the software so your apps could keep up.

In the long run, some users are forced to get the latest OS because of compatibility issues. However, some still utilize the old builds for their device.

Apparently, the Windows 7 still remains as one of the most used OS versions. The software can still "live" for a little time with the release of Secure Boot.

Microsoft Windows 7 is Still Usable at Present

Windows 7 is Still Popular Among Users at Present

(Photo : Tadas Sar from Unsplash)
Despite the popularity of Windows 11, Windows 7 still remains one of the most used OS to date.

According to a report by the TechRadar, Microsoft gives the users a chance to reuse Windows 7 thanks to Secure boot and UEFI. However, there's always a risk in rolling back to an outdated OS.

Some people think that reverting to the Windows 7 might expose their PC to cyberattacks. The report indicates that the platform will guarantee that users won't encounter unwanted threats online after the update.

Speaking of the Secure Boot, the extended security for firmware and software drivers could be the latest update that users are waiting for a long time.

The Windows 7 support reportedly stopped two years ago, but because of Secure Boot, the program can continue for users who want to have a trip down the memory lane.

Windows OS Installations in 2022

Statcounter released the figures about the Windows OS installations over a year ago. According to the data, Windows 11 remains the most popular OS among users which accounts for under 17% of the total installations.

Meanwhile, Windows 77 recorded 11.2% of the same criteria. Although it was already overshadowed by the new Microsoft Windows OS, the figures showed that the latest operating system only surpassed Windows 7 when it came to popularity back in August.

Statcounter added that more than two-thirds of the overall installs were from Windows 10, while the Windows 8 and 8.1 version only took a combined installation of 3.26%.

Busting the Secure Boot Myth

According to Tom's Hardware, the Secure Boot is actually not supported by the Windows 7 OS.

As of Wednesday, Jan. 11, the news outlet wrote that there's a confirmation from Microsoft that the Secure Boot feature is not actually available for Windows 7.

In fact, this option has touched down the Windows 8 and not its predecessor operating system.

At the time, there's no exact numbers as to how many users run either Windows 7 or 8.1 on their PC. However, if you still want to downgrade your operating system, make sure to know the risk first before you proceed to take action.

In other news, Microsoft released a new round of Tuesday patches this year. The latest clean-up found 98 security flaws and 11 of them are considered critical.