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When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

speedtrip — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 14:30:01 GMT

I run the BTCloud App every Sunday on my WIN7 PC .... have done for a very long time ...

Last Sunday, it started but I realised after a short time it had just stopped - a restart didnt even get it started & show its Icon in the Taskbar ... In Events Viewer it showed a Program exception - details posted in another BTC thread here.

Some investigation after being unable to Download a new copy showed a Help note saying BTCloud would only run on WIN8, 10, 11 ....

Thanks so much BT !

Why has this been done - OK, MicroSoft dropped Support for WIN7 some tim eback - but it runs well - even gets AntiVirus MS SE updates ... so why is it suddenly not good enough for BtCloud .

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

rogerdoger — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 15:47:42 GMT

I discovered BT cloud was not working a few weeks ago so got onto BT helpdesk, totally useless waste of time even when I asked if it had anything to do with my still being on Win7 they were still clueless, if it really is the case that BT cloud no longer works on Win 7 then neither their customers or their own helpdesk have not been informed, what a **bleep** service.

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

Les-Gibson — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 18:08:36 GMT

I don't think it was announced but the information is there in a typically muddled and inaccurate BT (so-called)help page (We are currently in the process of updating the BT Cloud software for Windows computers to version 21.2.8.)

The BT Cloud software is compatible with Windows 8.1 and above. If you use Linux or an older version of Windows then you won't be able to install the BT Cloud software. You can still access BT Cloud on the web at btcloud.bt.com >
Get the latest BT Cloud version for your PC >
Open the BT Cloud app, and log in using your BT ID
Once you’ve got BT Cloud installed, you'll be automatically prompted to download any updates

Getting started with BT Cloud | BT Help Expand "How To Get It"

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

gg30340 — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 19:11:58 GMT

Given that BTCloud is no longer offered to new broadband customers I would suggest that sometime in the not to distant future it will also be closed down for current users.

If I were you I would not waste my time trying to get it to work and start looking for another cloud storage system.

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

speedtrip — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 12:00:23 GMT

Yes, thats a pragmatic approach.

Would still appreciate an 'Official' answer tho ... its really unacceptable !

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

gg30340 — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 12:55:52 GMT

I doubt you will get an "Official" answer.

Windows 7 is a 14 year old operating system. In terms of IT that is very old and as you have said, it is no longer supported by Microsoft as of 2020.

If it is not supported by the manufacturer of the Operating system it means that there will be no security updates and through time it becomes very vulnerable to attack.

In view of that it is entirely up to any company that offers IT products that do/did run on an obsolete Operating system to decide if they want to continue making their product, in this case BTCloud, to be able to work on a non supported Operating system and all the security dangers that may come as a result of that.

It will also be the case that because the W7 Operating system is so old, lots of programs and apps that did work on it will no longer work with the latest programs and apps that are developed or updated to work on newer Operating systems which contain different computer code and work in a different manner. To keep the program or app working on an older system and newer system would most likely require additional resources which will just not be viable.

This has been happening since Windows 3.1 and will no doubt continue through all generations of Windows to come.

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

rogerdoger — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 14:37:22 GMT

Fully understand what you are saying, my gripe is more about the fact that cloud just stopped working and BT never deemed to inform customers this was going to happen. I was under the impression I was still syncing via the desktop app for a couple of weeks before discovering I was not, only after accessing what I thought were up to date documents from another computer only to find they were an old version. As mentioned before BT Cloud helpdesk were as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

speedtrip — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:45:18 GMT

WIN7 still gets Virus Protection updates via MS SE ... so unless BT were to upgrade BTC with feature/function not supported by WIN7 your arguments are not relevant.

I agree with the latest Post that it would have been professional & courteous to inform Users that they were going to be chopped off at the Knees.

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

gg30340 — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:57:04 GMT

@speedtrip wrote:

WIN7 still gets Virus Protection updates via MS SE ... so unless BT were to upgrade BTC with feature/function not supported by WIN7 your arguments are not relevant.

Perhaps you should inform the UK's National Cyber Security Centre – the cyber arm of the GCHQ intelligence service who issued this advice "We would urge those using the software after the deadline to replace unsupported devices as soon as possible, to move sensitive data to a supported device and not to use them for tasks like accessing bank and other sensitive accounts. They should also consider accessing email from a different device." and while you are at it copy in the American FBI the other cyber security firms who have all obviously got it wrong.

Not all security issues relate to Viruses. With out Security Updates W7 is at risk from computer hacks coming through any unpatched security vulnerabilities.

However if you are happy to keep using it that is entirely your choice.

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

speedtrip — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 12:05:33 GMT

Sigh ... one of the most pompous responses I've ever seen.

The fact that BT didnt announce withdrawal is the point of this Thread.

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 13:23:34 GMT

BT have a very poor record in terms of customer comms in my experience, I suspect this is just another in a long line of mistakes.

There are plenty of threads on the forum about missing updates for small changes and emails that were supposed to be sent to customers but did not arrive.

I do think the writing is on the wall for BT Cloud, which is a shame considering the expansion of a deal BT have done with Amazon AWS, the global storage giants. Would have been nice if they could have linked something up as part of it.

Maybe they have and forgot to send the comms...

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

Les-Gibson — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 13:45:16 GMT

Much to the ire of a lot of people, me included, BT don't believe in communicating which is pretty ironic seeing as they are a communications company.
What harm it would do to follow the standard practice of publishing release notes with new versions of software I have no idea, I can only think that they've never heard the term 'good practice', either that or they don't understand/respect it.

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

gg30340 — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 17:11:55 GMT

@speedtrip wrote:

Sigh ... one of the most pompous responses I've ever seen.

The fact that BT didnt announce withdrawal is the point of this Thread.

So why did you ask the question in your first post "Why has this been done - OK, MicroSoft dropped Support for WIN7 some tim eback - but it runs well - even gets AntiVirus MS SE updates ... so why is it suddenly not good enough for BtCloud "

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

RobinP — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 10:16:00 GMT

Why does this thread remind me of a protracted wimbledon rally?

Time to lay it to rest unless you want to revert to the "is this a ten minute argument or did you pay for the full half hour" scenario.

Oh, and if I did misquote Mr Cleese don't bother to correct me, start a new thread!😂

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

pottyperson — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 11:03:30 GMT

@RobinP wrote:

Why does this thread remind me of a protracted wimbledon rally?

Time to lay it to rest😂

That there had been no activity for 10 days suggests that the thread might already have been at rest until you decided to revive it.

Re: When did BT announce that WIN7 was no longer acceptable platform for BTCloud

RobinP — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 13:54:05 GMT

"oh no I didn't"...... 🤣🤣