content: This is win-win for Microsoft (no pun intended).  It's further leverage to strongarm everyone off of one of the last "independent" OSes (e.g. "this OS runs my PC for me and my interests") and onto Windows 10.  It's also a reprieve from the Governor for the software engineering team responsible for fixing a long-broken Windows Update (if there even is a team assigned anymore).  Windows 7 is relatively beautiful on the surface but under the waters lurks a tragic software architectural failure.  The introduction of the whole elephant-graveyard WinSxS concept was a massive blunder.  There, Windows keeps versions of every driver for every supported language for every hardware combination possible -- regardless of the fact that your actual system configuration represents and requires only a tiny slice of that.  Windows Update has been burdened with managing that exponentially-growing slag heap every time you update your machine.  Google it -- there are countless reports of problems.  Windows Update hangs, bogs, aborts, and generally stops working for almost everyone eventually.  Microsoft engineered (by blunder or intent) an unsustainable design with Windows 7 yet sold it as a product with promised support.  This is their out. Now spread your ass cheeks and say "Thank You Microsoft!  May I have Another!"  or do something about it and ditch them for a real OS -- Linux or Mac, your choice.  The only way to end an irresponsible and abusive relationship is to take action yourself and walk out.