Microsoft will kill some Windows 7 and 8.1 support in April (Apr 10 Patch Tuesday)

InfoWorld ^ | Mar 23, 2017 | Woody Leonhard

[dayglored]

Mark your calendar: Microsoft's promise to cut off Win7 and 8.1 support for the latest PCs will cause howls of pain next month

Events of the past week have drawn into sharp focus the likely result of next month's patching cycle. If you have a Windows 7 or 8.1 PC that you bought, built, or upgraded in the past year or so, it would behoove you to understand exactly what Microsoft plans.

Many people -- I'll raise my hand here -- thought that Skylake-based computers would continue to receive Windows 7 and 8.1 patches until the respective end-of-life. We are wrong.

Let's start with the basics. Intel introduced its so-called 6th Generation Skylake processor in August 2015. It slowly replaced the older Broadwell series, all of which will continue to work with Win7 and 8.1. Skylake now is slowly being replaced by 7th Generation Kaby Lake processors, which will not get Win7 or 8.1 support from Microsoft. To date, Intel has released 50 or so different Skylake processors. There are also dozens of Kaby Lake processors, which were introduced in August 2016.

On the AMD side there's a distinction made between the older Opteron series, the APU series (which includes Kaveri, Carrizo, and Bristol Ridge processors, named Athlon, Sempron, A4, A6, and E4) and the brand-new Ryzen processors, which are only now appearing on store shelves. Most observers say that 7th Generation AMD chips start with the Bristol Ridge APUs, which appeared in May, 2016. There's no change at all between the core architecture of the Carrizo and Bristol Ridge chips.

As I'll explain later, the distinction between 6th Generation Carrizo and 7th Generation Bristol Ridge is pivotal. To see if you have a Bristol Ridge chip, as opposed to a Carrizo chip, use Speccy to find your APU model number, then look up your APU model number for Bristol Ridge desktop processors or portable processors.

Where the troubles began

The whole Windows 7/8.1 support mess started in January of last year, when Windows honcho Terry Myerson declared that "as new silicon generations are introduced, they will require the latest Windows platform at that time for support." At first, Myerson promised:

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.

Screams from enterprise customers reached all the way to the hallowed halls of Redmond. The promised demise of Win7 on Skylake machines changed later in January, then in March 2016, and in August 2016 they changed again. As of August, Microsoft exec Shad Larsen promised:

This policy change primarily applies to our commercial customers who are currently managing deployments with Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, and does not apply to customers running Windows 10 ... future silicon platforms, including Intel's upcoming 7th Gen Intel Core (Kaby Lake) processor family and AMD's 7th generation processors (e.g. Bristol Ridge) will only be supported on Windows 10, and all future silicon releases will require the latest release of Windows 10....

6th Gen Intel Core devices on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will be supported with all applicable security updates until the end of support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.... This change is made possible through the strong partnership with our OEM partners and Intel who will be performing security update validation testing and upgrade testing for 6th Gen Intel Core systems running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 through the end of support dates.

On the same day, Microsoft updated a list of Skylake systems supported on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 that includes links to manufacturer's websites, listing specific model numbers that the manufacturer commits to support with Windows 7 and 8.1 updates. The 12 deputized manufacturers and the links provided by Microsoft are:

• Acer
• ASUS
• Dell
• Epson (in Japanese)
• Fujitsu
• HP
• Lenovo
• LG (a Korean-language site that doesn't contain any model numbers)
• MouseComputer (in Japanese)
• NEC (in Japanese)
• Panasonic
• Positivo (in Brazilian Portuguese)
• Samsung
• Toshiba
• Wortmann (in German)
• VAIO (in Japanese)

Sites like Dell's are just as confused as I was. Dell says, "Microsoft originally indicated Skylake support would end in 2017. Microsoft has now extended Skylake support for Windows 7 through January 14, 2020 and for Windows 8.1 through January 10, 2023."

That isn't quite true. Microsoft has said that Dell will extend support for its listed Skylake systems through end-of-life for Win7 and 8.1.

Here are the conclusions that I draw from Microsoft's statements:

• If you have a custom built machine with a Skylake processor, you're out of luck. Since the machine doesn't appear on this list of anointed PCs, Microsoft won't support Win7 or 8.1 on your machine.
• If you upgraded a machine to a Skylake processor, you're out of luck.
• If you bought a machine from a different manufacturer, or your specific machine doesn't appear on the manufacturer's indicated website, you're out of luck.
• Most people -- most manufacturers -- don't understand this. I didn't.

I don't know what Microsoft intends to do with AMD chips. The way the announcements stand, AMD Bristol Ridge PCs won't have Win7 or 8.1 support, and there's no magic list of manufacturers or machines that are exempt from the ruling.

Where does that leave you?

So if you're running a recent-vintage PC and using Windows 7 or 8.1, what happens if you run afoul of the patch police? It's all well and good if Win7 is "no longer supported" on your PC, but what does that mean in real terms? Will your PC halt and catch fire?

Thanks to several reports that I talked about yesterday, including the tales of woe from folks who installed a Monthly Rollup Preview, I'm willing to bet that the blockade will unfold like this:

Step 1: April 10 rolls around, and about noon, Microsoft pushes its usual Patch Tuesday updates out the automatic update chute.

Step 2: Those gullible (or trusting) enough to have Win7 or 8.1 Automatic Update turned on will get the April Monthly Rollup (that is, the "April 2017 Security Monthly Quality Rollup"), which will install the next time the machine's rebooted.

Step 3: The Monthly Rollup installs itself and makes changes to Windows Update Agent, effectively preventing Windows Update from running again on this machine. The installer displays this message: IDG

The machine won't be destroyed, if this scenario plays out the way I think it will. Your PC will just have Windows Update disabled. (Which some people view as a feature, not a problem, but I digress.) We're still poking and prodding on the AskWoody Lounge to see what, exactly, gets disabled. None of this is documented anywhere, of course.

It's important to note that machines connected to a corporate Update Server (WSUS, SCCM, or the like) will only get the Monthly Rollup if it's pushed out by the admin. Even if Windows Update gets clobbered, it's unlikely that domain-managed PCs will suffer any ill effect, as they don't use Windows Update the same way most of us do. I have no idea how Microsoft intends to block Win7 updates on recent PCs attached to an update-managed domain.

This scenario brings up an obvious question: Will your machine get update-kneecapped? I don't know. There's no program I know of that you can run (short of a Monthly Rollup Preview, which I never recommend) that will definitively say, "If you install the Monthly Rollup in April, Windows Update will get disabled."

At this point, there's no warning either. No "Click here to install the Monthly Rollup and disable Windows Update going forward" safety net. All you get is a loud thud and that Unsupported hardware notice.

Will Microsoft go ahead with this latest push to get well-heeled customers, with the latest hardware, to change to Windows 10? Microsoft's under no obligation to support Windows 7 and 8.1 on any hardware that appears at a future date. I think. But this approach, if it unfolds in this manner, is sure to rankle more-advanced users who have paid for both Windows 7 and for a shiny new CPU.

We should know a lot more on April 10.

[dayglored]

> How do I find out whether I’m affected by the upcoming MS update. I’ve seen the machine list on the Dell link above and need to now which machine I’m using (without unplugging everything and pulling it out from behind my desk). Is machine and chip information available via the control panel and if so, how do I access it?

I would try this first:

• Start -> Computer -> (right click, select Properties)
• Under "System", see "Processor". For example, mine says "Intel Core i5-3210M CPU @ 2.5GHz".
• Look up that number on Wikipedia, based on whether it's an i3, i5 or i7. For my i5 it's: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_i5_microprocessors
• Search/Find on the string of the CPU type, for example my "i5-3210M" shows up under "Ivy Bridge" architecture.

So that means I do NOT have a Skylake or Kaby Lake CPU.

[dayglored]

You can get to that same System info page using Control Panel -> System.

[Ciexyz]

I absolutely refuse to go back to Windows 10. I tried it on my PC a year ago and it was unbearable. It was always uploading and doing updates like every other day for a half hour or longer at a pop. I was OFF my machine, waiting, waiting, more than I was on.
I took my machine to my neighborhood hole in the wall computer shop and begged them to take Windows 10 off. When the guy said it would cost $200, I allowed him to talk me into a new laptop with Windows 7. I’m happy now. Don’t mess up my life. Microsoft cretins.

[Windflier]

On Win7 I have probably 8 diff security programs to handle the various threats.

Eight, huh?

I use Crap Cleaner, MS Security Essentials anti-virus, Ghostery, and Malwarebytes (free version).

Should I be using more?

[\/\/ayne]

Seems to me the most logical thing that will happen is the processors won’t update but everything else will. Windows will try to scare you into updating to Windows 10 but that’s all.

[dayglored]

> Seems to me the most logical thing that will happen is the processors won’t update but everything else will. Windows will try to scare you into updating to Windows 10 but that’s all.

I don't think that optimistic interpretation is correct.

If Microsoft had said, as you appear to suggest, "Look, the new processors have new features that we're only going to support in Windows 10. But all the rest of the security updates, that have nothing to do with the CPU, will still be issued for Win7 and Win8.1", nobody would object that much.

But they didn't say that. They used the new CPU features as an excuse to drop ALL update support for Win7 and Win8.1 on any computer that uses the new CPUs. (They left it up to the manufacturers to cover if they wanted to, but that leaves the rest in the lurch.)

[bicyclerepair]

Highly recommend Linux Mint. i have a pc with cinammon 17.2 and its better than windoze. currently on a windoze tablet so forgive the hunt n peck

[snooter55]

Save fer later

[bicyclerepair]

My Linux Mint pc runs on a single 64bit cpu much faster than any windoze box I have with dual or quad cpus.

And Linux Mint Cinammon 17.2 has support until 2019. After that I’ll upgrade to the next one.

SCREW MICROSOFT! I hate microsoft! I have not bought a single copy of any windoze I have. All have been hand-me-downs or scrap builds. And I will NOT pay MS 1$

[LouieFisk]

“Save fer later”
==
If you mean Linux, you can test drive it without installing it by downloading the “live” ISO and burning it on to DVD or USB stick and then run it from the disk/usb.

If you want to buy a live disk or USB already installed, you can get them here:
https://www.osdisc.com

If you’re used to Windows, look for one that is made for people coming from Windows. I find Lubuntu the best for my use.

The one thing about running a live version from CD or USB is it doesn’t run as well (i.e. fast) as it would if installed on an actual hard drive.
You can install to a hard drive from a live disk or USB.

It’s not too hard to install a whole system on to a USB stick, too - so you can just pop it into most any machine and it’ll run from the USB drive. I have a couple of diff Linux distros I run from USB sticks. Still works best installed on a hard drive, tho.

[TexasRepublic]

“I use Crap Cleaner, MS Security Essentials anti-virus, Ghostery, and Malwarebytes (free version).

Should I be using more?”

Hint: I use Linux Mint 17.3 “Mate” desktop and do not need any of that stuff. Windows was a maintenance headache, but not so with Linux. I have used Linux on multiple machines since 2009 and never had a virus either. Find a spare PC and start experimenting.

[Still Thinking]

I think different virtualization systems vary in their candor about studf like that with the guest OS. Also, current CPUs typically have some support for virtualization built in, so that (and whether you have it turned on) may have some effect as well.

[zeugma]

And don’t open any email from foreign countries or from attractive women who claim they want to meet you.

I understand about the danger of foreign websites, but I'm really surprised that you think that all the hot women beating down my metaphorical door on the internet are something to avoid.

Next thing you'll tell me is that I'm not getting that inheritance from my buddy in Nigeria!

[Boomer]

Yep. I’ve already decided when my Win7 PC’s no longer work for some reason or another; it’s time for Linux. I played with it years ago and it wasn’t bad at all back then but I just liked windoze better; plus I was a PC tech so 99% of what I worked on was windows.

It’s probably just a matter of time before an entirely different business model is developed that sells a laptop or for those few dinosaurs like me, a PC, will make it optional which Linux OS the customer wants and even pre-installs the correct drivers for whatever printer, scanner, etc. a person might have. They will be cheaper, faster, and more secure too. Kinda like what Chromebook is right now but I’m not a fan of Chromebook for no particular reason.

A pay VPN service is now a must IMHO.

[snooter55]

Thanks for the info !

[KevinB]

I got those things and refused to take Windows 10 for free; I want NO part of that at all.

I'm curious about why all the hate for Win10. I have had it running on six boxes for nearly two years and they have all been solid as a rock. I also did not find a particularly steep learning curve in moving from earlier versions. I do use the classic desktop rather than the tiles and find it to be virtually indistinguishable from earlier versions.

[Clutch Martin]

Involuntarily upgraded to 10.... my flight sim is still inop...

[\/\/ayne]

The screen popop is somewhat ambiguous: "your system will miss important security updates." However, it doesn't say "your system will miss all important security updates."

[Buckeye McFrog]

Trump needs to take an antitrust buzzsaw to Silicon Valley.

[LouieFisk]

Yer welcome.
The nice thing is a person can test drive most Linux distros from CD or USB to see if there’s anything they like.
If you know how to burn an ISO to a disk, there’s no cost involved other than the time downloading the ISO & burning it to CD/USB.

As I sez, running it from DVD/USB isn’t optimal, but it gives a person an idea of the feel.

A DVD/USB w/Linux is also a handy tool to have at hand because you can use it’s file manager to access/copy/move/delete files on an existing Windows installation. (It reads Windows/Mac/other Linux disks-file systems).

The one “problem” with running a live Linux distro from a live USB/DVD is you can’t save stuff to the live USB/DVD, a person has to save stuff to an actual drive, external or internal (or to a usb stick’s drive). When it’s installed (as opposed to running “live”) that’s not a problem.