Personally, I have an older USB sound card (M-Audio Fast Track Pro) I am basically still happy with so upgrading is out for me since the driver would never be updated anyway.  I have upgraded to Win 10 on my laptop that I use for other things (Android dev, SQL Server dev, etc...) relating to my day job and I must say I like the new OS so far.  But I have no problems with Win 7x64 so why go through the hassle?  Basically, Windows 10 upgrade from Win 7 gets you five extra years of support before EOL occurs, but if your system is now stable and not going to need to be updated, just leave it alone.

Windows Lifceycles Fact Sheet

kine321

Doktor Avalanche
I'll write it another way...

Those upgrading within the free period take your time.

To those not upgrading within the free period...
When Cakewalk drops support of Win7 or Win8 for Sonar, because the latest Microsoft libraries force them to do so, much like when they had to drop Vista support, don't say I didn't warn you! Also please don't expect the wait for that to happen to be as long as Vista had.

Not only that your drivers and plugins suppliers will also be forgetting about these OS's.

Yup people are still running unsupported Vista (getting increasingly difficult I suspect) but we can't guarantee this scenario in future.

It's gonna be a few years at least, but this may happen sooner that you think (not like it was in the past).

Cheers..

I seriously doubt support for WIn7 is about to stop anytime soon! A lot of businesses were still using XP until recently, and I'm certain plenty are still using Win7 till the wheels fall off. Vista was a flop-because it had numerous stability and compatibility issues. Businesses simply didn't adopt it, which forced MS to quickly get Win7 to market.
 
This is an excerpt from a page I don't recall about XP... 
 

There wasn't supposed to be a Vista

It's easy to forget that when Microsoft launched Windows XP it was actually trying to change its OS business model to move away from shrink-wrapped software and convert customers to software subscribers. That's why it abandoned the naming convention of Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows 2000, and instead chose Windows XP.
The XP stood for "experience" and was part of Microsoft's .NET Web services strategy at the time. The master plan was to get users and businesses to pay a yearly subscription fee for the Windows experience -- XP would essentially be the on-going product name but would include all software upgrades and updates, as long as you paid for your subscription. Of course, it would disable Windows on your PC if you didn't pay. That's why product activation was coupled with Windows XP.  END...
 
____________________________________________________________________________
 
They obviously changed the plan of course. MS, wants to avoid another die-hard cult of XP users when it comes to W7, which is likely one motivation for the free upgrade to Win10. The more people they can get to switch, without a need to buy a new computer or software, the faster they can get rid of Win7. A lot of people had the: Get Win10 BS installed on their machines in a underhanded fashion to support their scheme.
 
I think people should be more worried about what the future holds for W10 and how MS could easily cripple your system by making certain aspects a subscription at some point. What's in it for them to give you a free OS? Not being in complete control of updates should worry folks. I wouldn't be so quick to want to see Win7 retired!
 
 

Looping again.
Win7 out of mainstream support. There is no guarantee Sonar will be supported with it from now (although I suspect we have at least another year). All MS has to do is drop a library so it no longer supports Win7. There are ways to get developers eyeballs to concentrate on other OS's.

http://windows.microsoft...en-gb/windows/lifecycle

SiberianKhatru59
Windows 10 upgrade from Win 7 gets you five extra years of support before EOL occurs, but if your system is now stable and not going to need to be updated, just leave it alone.

Windows Lifceycles Fact Sheet

It's out of mainstream support. Your major worry is whether third parties (applications, drivers, hardware etc) will continue to support it. If MS makes life difficult for them they won't.

Doktor Avalanche

SiberianKhatru59
Windows 10 upgrade from Win 7 gets you five extra years of support before EOL occurs, but if your system is now stable and not going to need to be updated, just leave it alone.

Windows Lifceycles Fact Sheet

It's out of mainstream support. Your major worry is whether third parties (applications, drivers, hardware etc) will continue to support it. If MS makes life difficult for them they won't.

I've toyed with the idea of upgrading, but I'd also have to by a new sound card too.  I may just do that, because I'd like to get a Firewire device anyway as my USB bus is full ;)  Looking at the Saffire range, specifically the Pro 14 or 24.  But many people seem to think Firewire is all but dead, not that I agree ;)

I got a FW interface to prevent potential USB conflicts as well. Some people think a bit too far ahead when they proclaim obsolescence on things IMO. There are often aftermarket vendors who fills gaps if a need exists.

SiberianKhatru59

Doktor Avalanche

SiberianKhatru59
Windows 10 upgrade from Win 7 gets you five extra years of support before EOL occurs, but if your system is now stable and not going to need to be updated, just leave it alone.

Windows Lifceycles Fact Sheet

It's out of mainstream support. Your major worry is whether third parties (applications, drivers, hardware etc) will continue to support it. If MS makes life difficult for them they won't.

I've toyed with the idea of upgrading, but I'd also have to by a new sound card too.  I may just do that, because I'd like to get a Firewire device anyway as my USB bus is full ;)  Looking at the Saffire range, specifically the Pro 14 or 24.  But many people seem to think Firewire is all but dead, not that I agree ;)

FireWire not dead. USB-C and thunderbolt 3 (integrated) is going to revive it.

Be aware there's a problem with win10, saffire and VIA FireWire chipsets. I have this issue, I'm not too worried about it though as I don't intend to upgrade to 10 till next year earliest. Worst comes to worst buy a new FireWire card.

Btw nothing stopping you buying a USB card that you could dedicate to your audio interface.

Doktor Avalanche
Btw nothing stopping you buying a USB card that you could dedicate to your audio interface.

Size is.  I have a Sweetwater Creation Station that is half-height build (1 rack space).  I have yet to see a half height USB card, but then I haven't looked THAT hard yet.

Love my Windows 7.
Running an "Offline" machine (so no Virus protection needed). 
Also, I've paired down a lot of system processes that we're unnecessary (as identified by a lot of users (and self)) in this forum. What a difference.  Also, don't forget to disable core parking...... uh!
 
Machine boots fast blah blah blah.
 
Oh, so I am still working with good ol' Sonar X3.  Runs like a champ (but I still save early and often).  No distractions with DAW mean music creation and sound design are at all time efficiency.
 
Life is good with Sonar X3.

kine321

Doktor Avalanche
I'll write it another way...

Those upgrading within the free period take your time.

To those not upgrading within the free period...
When Cakewalk drops support of Win7 or Win8 for Sonar, because the latest Microsoft libraries force them to do so, much like when they had to drop Vista support, don't say I didn't warn you! Also please don't expect the wait for that to happen to be as long as Vista had.

Not only that your drivers and plugins suppliers will also be forgetting about these OS's.

Yup people are still running unsupported Vista (getting increasingly difficult I suspect) but we can't guarantee this scenario in future.

It's gonna be a few years at least, but this may happen sooner that you think (not like it was in the past).

Cheers..

I seriously doubt support for WIn7 is about to stop anytime soon! A lot of businesses were still using XP until recently, and I'm certain plenty are still using Win7 till the wheels fall off. Vista was a flop-because it had numerous stability and compatibility issues. Businesses simply didn't adopt it, which forced MS to quickly get Win7 to market.
 
This is an excerpt from a page I don't recall about XP... 
 

There wasn't supposed to be a Vista

It's easy to forget that when Microsoft launched Windows XP it was actually trying to change its OS business model to move away from shrink-wrapped software and convert customers to software subscribers. That's why it abandoned the naming convention of Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows 2000, and instead chose Windows XP.
The XP stood for "experience" and was part of Microsoft's .NET Web services strategy at the time. The master plan was to get users and businesses to pay a yearly subscription fee for the Windows experience -- XP would essentially be the on-going product name but would include all software upgrades and updates, as long as you paid for your subscription. Of course, it would disable Windows on your PC if you didn't pay. That's why product activation was coupled with Windows XP.  END...
 
____________________________________________________________________________
 
They obviously changed the plan of course. MS, wants to avoid another die-hard cult of XP users when it comes to W7, which is likely one motivation for the free upgrade to Win10. The more people they can get to switch, without a need to buy a new computer or software, the faster they can get rid of Win7. A lot of people had the: Get Win10 BS installed on their machines in a underhanded fashion to support their scheme.
 
I think people should be more worried about what the future holds for W10 and how MS could easily cripple your system by making certain aspects a subscription at some point. What's in it for them to give you a free OS? Not being in complete control of updates should worry folks. I wouldn't be so quick to want to see Win7 retired!
 
 

I think this is pure speculation based on nonsense.  If MS tried to change how the contract works while at the same time making it difficult to not upgrade MS would be swamped by irate users. Also forcing people into paying for a free upgrade by disabling their machines is extortion and illegal.
 
As to what XP stands for only MS knows for sure. Its likely it means nothing. Of course MS had a history of naming its OSs with two letter names Windows NT for example or Windows ME.  Vista was in development for over 5 years and had many names before it was finally released.