Microsoft ended support and updates for Windows 7 in January 2023, marking the end of an era for one of the most popular operating systems in the history of computing.
However, many users still remember an issue that affected the performance of their devices during the first months after its launch in October 2009.
A programming error caused the operating system startup to take up to 30 seconds to complete when setting a solid color wallpaper.
Microsoft remembers Windows 7 and its famous startup error
This problem was recently discussed by Microsoft veteran engineer, Raymond Chen. According to his explanation, the boot process was hindered because Windows 7 had to wait for the response from all user interface components before proceeding from the welcome screen to the desktop.
By using a solid color wallpaper, the system could not send the internal message indicating that the desktop was ready, which resulted in this annoying delay.
The situation became even more complicated for users who activated the ‘hide desktop icons’ policy, which was implemented after the main system code was written. This meant that some essential elements were not loading correctly, increasing the wait time.
Microsoft fixed this issue in November 2009, five months after the release of Windows 7, but the problem left a mark on the user experience of many owners of this system.
Nowadays, although official support for Windows 7 has ended, the history of its technical failures remains alive in the memory of its users. With the advancement of technology and the release of new operating systems, the community of developers and users continues to reflect on the importance of timely updates and efficient software management.