Wow… Garmin Express No Longer Supports Windows OS versions 8 and Older

This should not come as a suprise to anyone.
And I know W7 people want to hang onto W7 until the end of time, but eventually even the hardware will not run W7, so get prepared, or end up crying in your beer.

Like most software programs, they cannot continue to enhance the code AND support old versions of the operating system.

This makes perfect sense from Garmin's POV. Why continue supporting operating systems that Microsoft themselves no longer support? Operating systems that have declining user bases?

…wonder if Garmin threw up their hands in despair.

Garmin has been deluged with device malfunctions these past 2 to 3 weeks and releases of Garmin Express for Windows that didn’t function correctly. Hence, I wonder if they saw discontinuing the Win 7 support as a way of eliminating the problem. Most software vendors provide some warning, often times several years. This event wasn’t know this morning, just some serious issues, and within hours the plug was pulled.

While this is the quick fix for Garmin, there are lots of folk that don't see the need to buy a new; car, fridge, home, computer every time a new model comes out when what you have works just fine.
Guess the issue for me will be if the old working GE will still load the next version of maps. Most (ALL?) the updates to GE seem to deal with features not related to maps and our automotive units.
And.. so far, Garmin has not made obsolete any of its GPS units that I am aware.. map size is evidently a consideration for some of the older units but there seems to be workarounds. But, perhaps the writting is on the wall for all the map related units.. given how frequently they are updating them.

If it still installs & runs correctly on the old OS, that's what counts...in the short-term. But at the same time, if there's issues with the app, they can't keep trying to fix it for the older OS's only to break it for the newer/newest OS's (it sometimes works this way...for Mac as well). They do need to discontinue support at some time...they will follow what Microsoft does. It's easier for them to cite the support discontinuation by Microsoft as the reason than to try and keep updating the app to work with older OS's.

Garmin is going to have to wiggle out of the lifetime map thing.. if, the installing software is dependant on the version of Windows. Perhaps the solution is to develop a standalone map installing program. The current issue is likely due to demands gadgets not involved with automotive GPS devices.

I upgraded 3 2015 HP Desktops and 1 Lenovo laptop from W7 to W10 without any problems and they look and feel like W7.

So if people chose not to update the OS when MS offered it for free and their hardware would have supported it then that's on them if things don't work now.

If the hardware did not support W10 for the update then maybe now is the time to dump the old stuff.

Computers reach End-of-Life within years, sooner than you want, but that's the way it is. Accept it or don't is up to you, but don't fault the makers because it don't last forever.

The article at https://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-you-can-still-get-a-... seems to indicate that you can still upgrade W7 to W10. Th original article was old but the author updated the content in early summer 2023.

I have gone the procedure, quite some time ago, and when prompted to keep old data or totally overwrite (exact wording unknown), I opted to keep old data. I was pleasantly surprised that a very old Canon portable printer/scanner I had functioned perfectly after the upgrade.

No computer I own supports Windows 11 due to the lack of the required TPM security module. Yes, I know there are ways around this to install Win 11 without the module but the PC's may not even have enough processing power in the first place to run it smoothly. I am stuck on Win 10 which is fine by me (Win 11 adds nothing that I can see that I need to update to new hardware to run).

That and the amount of system RAM. A coworker updated to Windows 11 (from Win 10) on a 4GB HP all-in-one and after doing so, saw the performance of the PC fall to being unusable. 4GB for a system RAM minimum is not a realistic minimum requirement. I was elected to open up this all-in-one (not easy) and replace the single 4GB memory module with two 8GB modules. Afterwards, performance shot back up to what it was under Win 11.

given the option to update to Windows 11 but at the cost of losing everything on my laptop. No other option given!!!
So I'll stick to W 10.

The Microsoft upgrade procedure present several options. Quoting from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ways-to-install-.... As you can see "option a" keeps keeps personal files (including drivers), apps, and Windows Settings. I did that trouble-free on many a Win7 computer upgrading to Win10

"There are two installation paths available:

Upgrade by launching Setup on the media while running Windows 10. You will have the option to:

a. Perform a Full Upgrade, which keeps personal files (including drivers), apps, and Windows Settings. This is the default experience and is the one that Installation Assistant uses.

b. Keep Data Only will keep personal files (including drivers) only, not apps and not Windows Settings.

c. Clean Install will install Windows 11 and keep nothing from the Windows 10 installation."

Forget Garmin. Windows 8 is not supported by Microsoft.
Who is still on Windows 8? It is high risk of getting exploited by an unpatched vulnerability, especially if connected to Internet, e.g. to use Garmin Express

I’m still on W7-64 and it’s because of hardware and software that is not compatible with W8!

Yes it’s not supported, but other than me, have you ever approached Microsoft with a problem?

A group of 30 Engineers and Factory reps approached Microsoft Managers at their booth at NAB, and rose hell before they’d fix it!

I put my money into good router with firewall and packet sniffer, instead of new computer and lose the hardware & Software I don’t want to re-purchase. Just to install a new BUGGY OS, that by the time it works smoothly another buggy OS has come out!

There is nothing that was released in 8 or 10 that is a ‘must have’.

Like other posters even wife’s 10 Pro laptop is not W11 compatible.

We don’t care! What we have works! And they are protected by a good router!

Garmin should put its effort into an accurate map and release it!

My desktop still runs Windows7 and some expensive software as well. The then current versions of Adobe CS, Solidworks and AutoCad work just fine. I see no compelling reason to play the continuing upgrade game. Heck, I still have a laptop that duel boots into XP and Windows 2000.

I have a win xp box as a print server for a old schlumberger pen plotter
plots take hours, multiple pen sizes, colours, 1414mm * 1000mm

some still want hard copy,
most want file format conversion to something the fancy laptop can manipulate

the shacoh scanner (4800dpi 1100mm * longest I have put thru is 32m) is connected to a sparc20, it is still the most accurate raster to vector conversion machine I have found, not the fastest but very accurate, 0.01mm on paper may miss the ore in the ground

they upgraded, they gave away: sparc station, shacoh scanner and schlumberger plotter to the old retiring geezer
they cannot reproduce or even work with older photograpic seismic reports with modern equipment
I convert formats
mining exploratory charts from 60s 70s 80s 90s, for me the charts're gold mines

They think it must be difficult
They don't know I do with with the gear they dumped
they don't know it all runs handsfree except for loading 'paper' in the plotter

I already had 415v 3 phase in my house, this is not the only weird thing in my past

Even MS did not like W8 and they never really did anything good with it. I think they did it to experiment with the desktop.

Nobody that I know of in a business environment ever loaded W8 on their company devices. Our employees hated it and we reverted back to W7 after putting W8 on a couple of non-techies desks.

That was my experience, at least...

Apples and Oranges comparisons here. All of the things you mention are hardware. Software is a completely different beast.

It's very simple: upgrade or be left behind. Future Garmin Express versions may work on Windows 7, but Garmin isn't going to fix any problems you encounter because you choose to keep using an unsupported, obsolete operating system.

You forgot about MapInstall (https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=3291).

Come on people.
Based on the comments here it seems some are po'd that if Express don't run (not supported is the correct way to look at it) on there beloved W7 then the Garmin GPS world is doomed.

Well, heck, why doesn't Garmin support Wondows 3, or W98, etc or even Linux OS? Oh yeah, they are being spitefull. Right?

No one said you have to upgrade your fridge, from your favorite ice block delivered every couple of days fridge. Heck, you don't have to have a fridge, buy and use only what you need every day... Damn fridge makers not respecting your beloved Ice Box.

Same thing, don't upgrade your computers/software, just keep using your GPS units at their current map level and be happy. It's not the end of the world - yet!

Garmin will need to restate that Lifetime Maps does not come with lifetime installation software.

False assumption, and misleading. LOL if you really believe that!

And of course it's not your lifetime they are talking about.

Garmin made it clear on their forums that anyone not running Windows 10 or later should remain on Express 7.17.3. Garmin even provided a link, though perhaps they should also post that link on their main Garmin Express page.

Ralph can carry on as much as he wants about this. Nothing he says changes the fact Garmin isn't responsible for his choice of operating system. He can fix it if he wants: Laptop PCs are inexpensive, with some of them being the same price as a new Garmin. But he likely won't, as this is his hill to die on.

All these incessant GE updates that some members are quick to inform us of.... are all for features that have NOTHING to do with the members on this forum.
Garmin is pursuing the non automotive market.. just how long has it been since a map update??
We are all clinging to the past. And, for what it's worth I type this on a MacBook Air and also have a Windows 10 desktop.. But I like my Windows 7 the best.

1. "incessant GE updates" Then don't update GE until it's time to update your maps.

2. Of course Garmin can claim GPS umits have "lifetime" maps. Just because people don't understand that it's lifetime of THEIR hardware and/or software. They, and other software vendors do NOT have to support operating systems that are NOT supported by that particular vendor, i.e. Microsoft or Apple.

3. You have a W10 Desktop, than whats all the fuss and moaning about? Install GE on W10, works just fine.

BTW. I appreciate the GE updates, even thought I don't update for every one of them. I have GPS units, and wearables, and bike units, etc.

But what I don't really understand is why you are upset? You have other Non-W7 devices. Are you just about rabble-rousing other members to get somekind of flow going? Oh wait, that's what is going on here and I fell for it because I thought you were serious. Shame on me. Bye now!

I hung on to Win 7 until support ended. I'm now on win 10.

I have windows 7 running virtually on a MacBook soley for the purples of running one program. Delorme Street Atlas. Probably one of tune best routing programs worn. So good the Garmin bought time out and the killed the software just to get their wearable line

I doubt anyone here is truly clinging to the past. Speaking for myself, I'm into technology of all kinds. Smartphones, tablets, PCs, GPS receivers, all of them are in my wheelhouse. While I prefer using my Garmin in my car, I have no problem using the GPS apps I have installed on my smartphone: Google Maps, Waze, or Here.

But I am responding to someone trolling us all, and nothing I say will make a difference, as you will just keep moving the goalposts in this conversation. So, I'm out.

Never thought this was a sensitive subject, just calling it as I see it. But in the interest of harmony, will refrain.
Cheers

Due to hardware and software issues (does not support past W7-64). I have 3 systems stuck at W7-64…
Cost to upgrade the hardware & Software packages past W7 would be on the order of at least $2200, not including computer ram, drives, or OS update.

Seeing that the hardware and software are running flawlessly, I have NO INTENTION of upgrading.

I have put my $$$ into a good router, Firewall, and packet Sniffer for protection instead. That protects everything, even devices still operational but years old, not yet discussed. Protecting all is better than protecting one thing at a time

As, if, and When the hardware fails (have backups and cloned drives on shelf), I will consider what direction to head toward, but for now, things are still working fine, and I therefore see No Reason for an Update! $.02

No one asked. You're an outlier and Garmin shouldn't put any resources into supporting an outdated OS.

There have been several less than polite comments.

This is a reminder for everyone to read over the forum discussion rules.

What Are POI Factory's Forum Rules?

~Angela

Why would anyone still want to be using anything older than W10? If the hardware can't support W10, then going to Linux Mint would be a better option. And, yes, some programs won't run under Wine on Linux, but the security risks of using old Windows versions should convince people to change regardless of any learning experience required.

...keep in mind that beyond the potential hardware issues, many of the people still using Win 7 are to some degree computer illiterate (for lack of a better term). These same people may use the older OS for not much more than email, news, social networking, etc.

To suggest to these people to consider Linux Mint, Wine, Kubuntu, etc. would likely fall on deaf ears.

I updated my htpc last week with the most current windows 11 updates. The pc runs win11 pro and had 2h22. Prior updates were last run on 8/1/2023, 1/27/2023, 11/2022, and 9/2022.

This most recent set of updates took a while (z170/6600K cpu/16gb ram w/ssd) and finished successfully.

Upon reboot, the OS failed to connect to any SMB shares. At first I thought the password got reset somehow so updated that. Still nothing.

After trying a bunch of things (including countless reboots) and wasting at least 4 hours, I manually stopped and restarted the workstation service. This finally brought SMB back to life.

My main pc is still running windows 10 pro; last updates were installed in early 2020. According to winver, build is 1909. No plans to update anything on here until the whole system is wiped clean and win11 installed (x570/5900x/64gb platform).

As far as i'm concerned if it's working well, don't break it.

And no, im not computer illiterate, but when it comes to microsoft, it's often 1 step forward, 2 steps back.

Why should GE be dependent on the operating system to begin with? GE, is after all only loading maps on devices that are, in many cases older than Windows 7

Thanks, Angela, for keeping a wary eye out for talk that is insulting or maybe even inflammatory.

Phil

Are you being serious?

Many people, sadly including many programmers, don't know the difference between an ordinary vanilla application program and a program that may do I/O (input/output) with non-abstract or minimally abstract tools.

I haven't written any serious code in >20 years and never for tiny machines like servers and PCs and the world has turned. Based on my experience any code doing so-called bare-metal I/O to a device like a GPS likely wouldn't have had it's interface changed. OTOH using low-level minimally abstract macros likely have had interfaces changed to accommodate new devices and dead code for now unsupported devices has been cleaned up. Using macros allows using much cheaper labor so that route us usually a no-brainer.

For an example consider turn-of-the-century mice, with the rubber coated metal ball and the opto-isolater interrupters on orthogonal axes. I don’t think that just because someone somewhere has one that still works that I should have to support it. I’d also worry (overstepping my knowledge) that someone could turn the dead code into a security risk.

File Transfer Protocol?

There needs to be a secret handshake to determine if the device is eligible for receipt of the map.

Yet I'm still getting upgrade pop ups on W7

It’s possible that the updates you are getting are not really Windows 7, but a component within Windows 7, something like .NET Framework 4.8 for instance which was released around mid-July. Items like these are listed when you perform an update in the normal manner within Windows.

A full list of available Windows 7 updates are available at https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=windo...

I think he's referring to Garmin Express still prompting him to update.

I have a machine that still has V7 on it. I guess I"ll have to try to update it.

When Windows goes end of support MS no longer provides security updates.

Windows 7 - end of support Jan 2020

Windows 8.1 - end of support Jan 2023

Windows 10 - end of support October 2025

While Win 11 upgrade requires a TPM 2.0 Win 10 did not so it's best to update those old Win version to Win 10 so you will have security updates for the next two years.

that is the way.

Surprised they waited this long.