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Microsoft won't support next gen CPUs in older Windows versions

by Mark Tyson on 18 January 2016, 09:31

Tags: Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), AMD (NYSE:AMD)

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On Friday Microsoft Executive Vice President, Windows and Devices Group, Terry Myerson, penned a blog post that appears to disrupt the scope of the long term support traditionally provided to Windows users. In what is described as a 'clarification' of support policy Microsoft has seemingly slashed the level of support it will be offering to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users going forward.

Microsoft's blog post is very positive about the great new hardware innovations coming to Windows computers thanks to hardware partners and provides quotes about how excited industry giants such as Intel, HP Inc and Lenovo are about Windows 10 and the current crop of 6th gen Intel processors. However the post starts to get a bit sour following the subheading 'Our Commitment to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 Customers', which could be paraphrased as 'Our diminishing Commitment to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 Customers'. Microsoft's key changes to support arrive in a pair of bullet points as follows:

  • Going forward, as new silicon generations are introduced, they will require the latest Windows platform at that time for support. This enables us to focus on deep integration between Windows and the silicon, while maintaining maximum reliability and compatibility with previous generations of platform and silicon. For example, Windows 10 will be the only supported Windows platform on Intel’s upcoming “Kaby Lake” silicon, Qualcomm's upcoming “8996” silicon, and AMD's upcoming “Bristol Ridge” silicon.

  • Through July 17, 2017, Skylake devices on the supported list will also be supported with Windows 7 and 8.1. During the 18-month support period, these systems should be upgraded to Windows 10 to continue receiving support after the period ends. After July 2017, the most critical Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 security updates will be addressed for these configurations, and will be released if the update does not risk the reliability or compatibility of the Windows 7/8.1 platform on other devices.

As a reminder, Windows 7 will continue to receive extended support updates security, reliability, and compatibility until 14th January 2020 and Windows 8.1 has support promised until 10th January 2023. However the full support you are used to, as a long time Windows user, relies on you staying with the "down-level silicon" your system was designed for. Microsoft notes above, in the bullet points, that Windows 7 or 8.1 will not be updated to support features of Intel Kaby Lake or AMD Bristol Ridge silicon. Also Skylake pre-built system support will be spelled out in a list to be published later this week.

The above policy changes will be implemented in line with Microsoft's "customer-first approach... and strong alignment with our OEM partners on our joint commitment to all of our Windows customers," concluded Myerson.



HEXUS Forums :: 71 Comments

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I'm sure this would only affect optimisation of cache and extended features of new CPU's and thus mean that the OS wouldn't be optimized for them?

Is there a typo in the article

“As a reminder, Windows 7 will continue to receive extended support updates security, reliability, and compatibility until 14th January 2010” 2010?
If a hardware vendor wants to support Windows 7 and provides drivers to do so then I don't see what that has to do with Microsoft.

So even their usual bent version of “open platform” where the platform is closed and proprietary but those willing to fork out for development kits may write drivers to integrate with it, even that is now no longer true?

I know they are getting desperate with the free upgrade uptake slowing right down, but this is rubbish. It's like they want to drive people over to Linux.
Doesn't this just scream to everyone that they haven't got anywhere near the advertised win 10 adopters they claim…..
Can anyone confirm what extended support covers?
I was under the impression that it was only security related updates but this article seem to question that by including reliability and compatibility updates in that.

DanceswithUnix
If a hardware vendor wants to support Windows 7 and provides drivers to do so then I don't see what that has to do with Microsoft.

If my understanding is correct this recent announcement means if changes needed to be made to the OS to support a feature of newer CPUs Microsoft isn't going to bother.

Similar to how Microsoft issued an update for Prescott's to view Hyper-Threaded cores differently, an update that marked half of the cores in Bulldozer's in similar way as Hyper-Threaded cores, or more recently an update that was back-ported to Windows 7, 8 ,8.1 to better support Skylake, none of that is going to happen anymore for older version of Windows

EDIT: What makes me laugh about this is that people are trusting their personal data with Microsoft yet they've now gone back on their word twice (to my recollection), first they ended support for an integral part of an older OS 4 years before they said they would and now their ending support for newer CPU's six months before the end of mainstream support for Windows 8.1
outwar6010
Doesn't this just scream to everyone that they haven't got anywhere near the advertised win 10 adopters they claim…..

Or at least the level they want.

I've no idea (or, to be honest, interest in) whether their claims are accurate or not, but as new machines are going to be W10 by default, there's obviously going to be substantial takeup.

It might be interesting to see a detailed breakdown of how many Win7 users have used a free upgrade to 10, and how many have (so far) refused even a free upgrade. It's no secret that latter group includes me and this current announcement on processor support won't affect that decision. My machines are either staying W7 for largely legacy reasons or, where upgrading hardware, going to Linux.