Microsoft ends Windows 7 Pro reprieve on new PCs

Microsoft has quietly ended a reprieve for Windows 7 Professional, telling computer makers that they must stop building new PCs with the operating system in 12 months.
The new deadline of Oct. 31, 2016, was added to the Windows lifecycle fact sheet some time between late Thursday and mid-day Saturday, according to search caches. After the deadline, OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) will be barred from pre-loading Windows 7 Professional on new systems, and will be able to sell only those t