Fully 40% of respondents chose that answer, and another 2% or so selected 'Other' and then identified a compatibility issue. 'Compatibility issues (hardware and software)' wins in a landslide. The number-one reason people are sticking with Windows 7? There's no contest. That left a total of 2,855 usable responses. About 10% of the responses couldn't be categorized, because the reason was indecipherable or irrelevant. I read every one of those responses and categorized them manually, a painstaking process. Nearly a thousand people chose 'Other' and then wrote in their reason. The original survey contained four choices and a box labeled other, where respondents could fill in their own answers. What is the main reason you haven't upgraded? And a few said they thought Microsoft was exaggerating the threat posed by running unsupported software in a bid to squeeze more money out of customers. In the longer responses, some people took pains to note that their Windows 7 machines aren't connected to the internet others pointed out that they had up-to-date security software. The remaining 91% are, apparently, doing without security updates. Perhaps that explains why only 6% of poll respondents said they're paying for ESUs, with another 3% admitting they're not sure. (See 'You want to keep running Windows 7? Good luck with that, small businesses.') They're not cheap, and they're not easy for small businesses to acquire, as I noted at the beginning of this year. Are you paying for extended support?Īlthough Microsoft has stopped releasing monthly updates to the general public, those updates are still available for those who purchase Extended Security Updates (ESUs). In all, roughly 1% of respondents specifically mentioned that they were prohibited from upgrading because they were using a company PC and not a personal device. Others pointed to IT departments that are 'understaffed' and 'incompetent' and 'taking their time.' Several respondents pinned the blame for the slow upgrade on corporate IT departments, with two respondents saying that the Covid-19 response had caused issues with completing upgrades in their organization. Just under 58% replied No, with another 27% answering Not Sure. The answer to this question was pretty emphatic. Do you plan to upgrade to Windows 10 in the next 12 months? Let's start with the two easiest questions. Our ZDNet poll drew more than 3200 replies, along with 50 or so emails. Windows 11: Everything you need to know (ZDNet YouTube).The ultimate Windows 10 information hub: Everything you need in one place.Seven Windows 10 annoyances (and how to fix them).Windows 10 privacy guide: How to take control.Here's how you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade.Windows 11: Microsoft deletes these Windows 10 features and apps.What Windows 11 means: We'll be stuck with millions of Windows 10 zombies.

Windows 10 updates suck