Windows 7 support ended on 14 January 2020, meaning no further updates or security patches, leaving systems vulnerable to threats. Upgrading to Windows 10 is recommended for security and compatibility. SOLIDWORKS has supported Windows 10 since version 2015 SP5; older versions should be updated. Each SOLIDWORKS release has a two-year support lifecycle, and major Windows updates may affect unsupported versions. Collaboration is easier when all users run the same version, as files aren’t backward-compatible. Upgrading offers benefits like enhanced security, new Windows features, and significant SOLIDWORKS improvements, including Visualize, CAM, and PCB. Hardware upgrades are also advised for optimal performance.