Windows 7 shows second notable bug shortly after EOL status

Windows 7 has a new bug shortly after entering its end-of-life status. The operating system no longer wants to shut down for many users. Not long ago there was also a problem with setting wallpapers in the old beloved OS.

Posts on /r/sysadmin and /r/windows indicate that the issue has been happening since late last week and doesn’t seem to be rare. When users try to shut down or reboot the PC, they are notified that they do not have the necessary permission to shut down the PC. This makes it difficult to shut down the PC securely.

Users have already come up with two work-arounds. The first is simpler, but must be repeated every time. Users switch to another admin account, which may have to be created, then they switch back, after which a shutdown will succeed. An alternative comes from support company Quick Heal and involves adjusting the Windows Group Policy.

It is the second bug in Windows 7 to occur within a short time after extended support ends, effective January 15. The first bug was introduced in an update released on the last day of extended support. Then the wallpaper stretch function stopped working, resulting in a black background. Since Microsoft, by its own accord, would no longer fix the bug for mainstream users, there was some consternation. However, Microsoft has backtracked on that.

Only Windows 7 users with Extended Security Updates are guaranteed to get a fix for this. However, that costs extra money. For example, the German government pays 800,000 euros to transfer its at least 33,000 remaining Windows 7 systems to the ESU program. For that money, they get support for a year longer. Whether Microsoft will again make an exception for mainstream users remains to be seen.

Image: @Trendswood via ZDNet