Stellenbosch University
Welcome to Stellenbosch University
Still using Windows 7?

​After 10 years support for Windows 7 is coming to an end on 14 January 2020.

How does this affect you? 

After January 14 your PC will no longer receive security updates and Microsoft will not provide technical support. Since your PC will pose a threat to the university's network, the specific device running Windows 7 will no longer have access to the network (in other words, no internet, email, etc.) and your data will no longer be protected.

Therefore, if your PC is still running on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 you have to upgrade to Windows 10, an operating system which can provide the latest security updates to keep your data safe, before the end of the year. You can read more on Microsoft software's life cycle on their site.

Upgrades from Windows 7 & 8.1 to Windows 10 will be free for staff. To request this upgrade, please log a request on the ICT Partner Portal (Select Get Desktop/laptop support) before the end of October. Please include the following information in the request:

  • the computer's asset number
  • contact number
  • building name
  • room number

An IT technician will contact you as soon as the computer's specifications have been checked. Older equipment may need components for the upgrade and this will be for the account of the department. There might also be a possibility that very old equipment will not be able to be upgraded due to hardware limitations. 

IT will do the following without charge:

  1. Upgrade the operating system from Windows 7 & 8.1 to Windows 10
  2. Work related data will be backed up to OneDrive

You will have to pay for:

  1. Backups of all data.
  2. Hardware components necessary for the upgrade to Windows 10

If IT is requested to backup data, the cost will be as follow:

Less than 15GB – R1230-00
More than 15GB – R2120-00

Relevant articles on the end of Windows 7: