Microsoft blocks updates for new cpus on Windows 7 and 8.1

Martin Brinkmann
Mar 17, 2017
Windows
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65

Microsoft announced some time ago that new silicon as the company called it back then would not be officially supported on Windows 7 or 8.1.

This meant basically that only Windows 10 would support Intel's, AMD's and Qualcomm's new processors, while Windows 7 or 8.1 would not.

This does not mean that Windows 7 or 8.1 won't install on machines running these new processors, but that Microsoft (and the manufacturer) won't offer any form of support for those devices.

A new support page on the Microsoft website suggests that users who run an unsupported processor on an older version of Windows -- read Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 -- won't be able to scan for or download Windows updates anymore.

Users will get the following error message when they run the scan:

Unsupported Hardware
Your PC uses a processor that isn’t supported on this version of Windows and you won’t receive updates.

Microsoft notes that users may see other error messages when they use Windows Update, including:

Windows could not search for new updates
An error occurred while checking for new updates for your computer.
Error(s) found:
Code 80240037 Windows Update encountered an unknown error.

The cause, according to Microsoft, is that "new processor generations require the latest Windows version for support". Microsoft mentions seventh generation Intel processors, AMD "Bristol Ridge" and Qualcomm "8996" processor families specifically on the support page.

The company has a solution for users affected by the issue: upgrade to Windows 10:

We recommend that you upgrade Windows 8.1-based and Window 7-based computers to Windows 10..

Is there another option besides upgrading the operating system to Windows 10? Updates that are released for Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 are also made available on the Microsoft Update Catalog website.

I don't have access to one of the processors mentioned on the support page, but it is possible that manual installation of updates released for Windows 7 or 8.1 still works. While this means more work for the user, as it is necessary to monitor update releases to run searches on the Microsoft Update Catalog whenever they are released, it may be an option to keep on using the older version of Windows.

Microsoft does not mention this explicitly on the support page, but it does not deny it either.

Because of how this support policy is implemented, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 devices that have a seventh generation or a later generation processor may no longer be able to scan or download updates through Windows Update or Microsoft Update.

Blocking Windows devices from using Windows Update is certainly an anti-consumer friendly move with the aim to get users to upgrade to Windows 10.

Now You: Do you think Microsoft is going too far with this policy?

Summary
Microsoft blocks updates for new cpus on Windows 7 and 8.1
Article Name
Microsoft blocks updates for new cpus on Windows 7 and 8.1
Description
Microsoft revealed recently that Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 machines running cutting edge processors won't be able to use Windows Update anymore.
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Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. Twin Bill said on August 18, 2017 at 5:31 pm
    Reply

    This is nothing new. I remember when Windows Vista came out, buggy as all hell, and the laptop companies were refusing to provide drivers for Windows XP. You could find drivers for each chipset with many hours of searching, and sometimes achieve almost complete functionality, but only if you were lucky. Graphics drivers were a mess. You’d think these companies would offer driver solutions for the previous OS, knowing how much better their product would perform, but they’re only interested in pushing what Microsoft is offering them, no matter how Terrible the user experience may be. Many yrs ago I had two brand new laptops that were completely unreliable out of the box. They were just terrible, till Microsoft realized they needed something better and finally followed with Windows 7. After that, I stopped relying on MS. Their operating systems have definitely come a long way, but Linux is a friend till the end. I’ll reboot to Windows for an occasional game, but that’s about it. There’s many great flavors of Ubuntu folks. For those new to Linux, I would recommend Linux Mint. I know many people will have their own opinions on this, so feel free to explore, but Mint’s Cinnamon interface has always struck me as the most user friendly experience for the typical windows user. Gates and windows have their place, but follow the penguin. In Tux We Trust.

  2. Joe Nobody said on June 8, 2017 at 3:49 pm
    Reply

    Can anyone confirm that this also block the system from updating to windows 10 via wsus or the online update?

  3. Tony Grown said on May 16, 2017 at 12:51 pm
    Reply

    Uninstall update KB4019264 as of 05/16/17 SHAME, Shame, shame.. Micro$uck

  4. ToeJam said on May 10, 2017 at 9:35 am
    Reply

    Micro$oft $ucks!!

  5. Me said on May 1, 2017 at 5:03 am
    Reply

    Just bought my new PC and found – what the fuck??? NEVER, NEVER, NEVER push on me! I will bypass this fucking message about unsupported processors and NEVER buy a fuck from you Microsoft!

  6. MiqW said on April 7, 2017 at 10:24 pm
    Reply

    You know, everybody, there IS another answer. Two, in fact.

    Either DON’T insist on using a brand-new processor (tough luck; YOUR problem, not mine)…..or try something else.

    Like Linux, f’r instance…..

    1. MyName said on April 18, 2017 at 4:40 am
      Reply

      Wish I had learned Linux from day 1.
      Massive fail on my part for being sucked into the MS BS, (you know what I mean).
      Looking into Mint,Lubuntu, Kubuntu,?Qubes?, (mainly, because windows spyware and system breaches are freaking me out!), and a few nice ones like Elementry. :-)

      The path to hell is paved with good intentions. Think i got that quote right, otherwise search misheard song lyrics :-D

    2. ZippyDSMlee said on April 8, 2017 at 5:31 am
      Reply

      Might as well IOS or Android, kinda pointless, just hack windose to run them, problem solved. Half the time windows will run on a new CPU or even older one won’t install on such a build but there are ways around that.

  7. otter said on March 31, 2017 at 3:36 pm
    Reply

    Wow Am I surprised? Not. I went to a Vista rollout in 2006. They apologized for Microsoft Windows ME. The company I was with bought Vista Enterprise all across the board. They took our money and in a in what was a short time to us, abandoned it. We were left scratching our heads wondering what happened. Seems like they are doing the same with 7, 8, 8.1 updates and new hardware Shenanigans. Jee whiz Microsoft, don’t you have anything better to do than crap on people again and again? Why don’t you spend your time working with your product users, not against them? You have the means- By the way, why not apologize for Windows 10?

  8. JB said on March 23, 2017 at 5:39 pm
    Reply

    Wow just started to get the ‘unsupported hardware’ messages after I built a new pc with i5 cpu. I’m absolutely gobsmacked!!!, Redmond couldn’t get everyone using the last underhanded method to upgrade to windows 10! so now someone has thought up another underhanded method to try and force more people to move over. so now it appears that I’ll have to put up with the annoying popups from ms, upgrade to win 10 or move over to Linux permanently! all a bit of a pain! so I think I will wait a while and see if this backfires on ms and the notifications are removed.
    never mind it appears to be the sign of the times.

  9. S said on March 22, 2017 at 8:01 pm
    Reply

    Windows 10 has absolutely nothing in the way of compelling features, so they turn to attempted extortion and FUD. Very classical Microsoft playbook. The comical thing is that the users who care about Windows updates are the ones smart enough to circumvent this crap, and the ones who aren’t don’t even care if their OS updates or not; plus they’ll just ask their “tech friend” about it, who will probably say it’s just more BS marketing.

    The funny thing is, I never paid for Windows until Win7 came along; it was finally good enough I decided MS deserved to be paid for the platform, so I got licenses for every device in the house. Now that MS is no longer giving me a reason to upgrade at all, I can just sit tight with what I’ve got with my nice Kaby Lake CPU and Win7 x64 with more RAM than I know what to do with – and since CPU speed isn’t really increasing all that much anyway, this is probably the last “upgrade” I’ll ever do, barring hardware failure.

  10. TelV said on March 19, 2017 at 5:50 pm
    Reply

    Actually, I don’t see what the problem is. Both Win 7 and 8.1 retail versions haven’t been available for at least a year now. Likewise machines with either OS preinstalled will be limited to 5th generation CPUs such as the Haswell processor in my own system.

    This problem will only crop up if a user attempts to install a retail version of either of the above OS on a brand new machine. It would be a little surprising however that someone would just have an unused installation disc hanging around for a couple of years gathering dust somewhere.

    Therefore I can only surmise that this is yet another scare tactic introduced by Microsoft to induce Win 7 and 8.1 users to upgrade to Windows 10. Ain’t gonna happen in my particular case.

  11. A41202813GMAIL said on March 19, 2017 at 7:23 am
    Reply

    M$ With An Agenda ? – Seriously ?

    XPOCALYPSE FOREVER !

  12. Earl said on March 19, 2017 at 2:58 am
    Reply

    Well, I wasn’t planning to put Windows on my new build anyway.

  13. Ricko said on March 18, 2017 at 9:40 pm
    Reply

    Windows 10 is still in Beta, yet they are selling it & forcing you to adopt it, microsft should have been prosecuted for this!

  14. ozone333 Electronic music said on March 18, 2017 at 8:44 pm
    Reply

    I have four copies of Windows 7 Pro, waiting on backup so I never have to install Windows 10, EVER!

  15. Marti Martz said on March 18, 2017 at 4:23 am
    Reply

    > Microsoft has turned to the dark side. I am abhorred that they would do this, this is just another bad decision in a string of bad decisions that all started with Windows 10. Blocking Windows updates because you are running a new processor is not only wrong, it is irresponsible and reckless.

    Agreed. Perhaps the DOJ should investigate this provided the current Administration follows suit.

    This move essentially kills upstarts and prevents competition in the hardware industry and some software circles. They’ve been fined for that before. Guess they need a refresher hit in their proverbial pocket book. Other countries have laws on their books that may prohibit this as well.

  16. All Things Firefox said on March 17, 2017 at 8:14 pm
    Reply

    Like forced updates, I don’t like this decision but I understand it. I’m guessing that Microsoft doesn’t want to deal with complaints that Windows 7/8(.1) broke because of Windows Update.

    1. Al said on March 19, 2017 at 3:56 am
      Reply

      Micro%$#t, with their updates>>>>>trying to force Win 10, gave us BSOD in two computers. A think is time to sue this big gorilla. They are getting away with to much B.S.

  17. Norm said on March 17, 2017 at 7:47 pm
    Reply

    I’m sticking with Win 7 for as long as I can, but the OS going to come creaking to a halt eventually no matter what.

  18. Nate said on March 17, 2017 at 6:22 pm
    Reply

    Microsoft has turned to the dark side. I am abhorred that they would do this, this is just another bad decision in a string of bad decisions that all started with Windows 10. Blocking Windows updates because you are running a new processor is not only wrong, it is irresponsible and reckless. Microsoft should be ashamed.
    Newsflash Microsoft, now one wants Windows 10! We don’t want ads in our OS! And do not want some strange compromised start menu. Windows 7 has a good start menu and Windows 8.1 has a good start screen. You should have gone with one and stuck with it instead of making some hybrid start menu monstrosity that no one wants.

  19. Tamura said on March 17, 2017 at 6:10 pm
    Reply

    Microsoft AND manufacturers already announced that new/next gen CPUs wouldn’t be supported for 7/8.1 starting June 2017 IIRC (and it’s NOT June yet!), but they did/do work on those OS’. I knew that and still ordered a Kaby Lake. It wouldn’t have been a problem to not get FURTHER updates so long as I had previous ones. Now they block those and say “not our fault, just upgrade”.
    I think this mindset is preposterous and they should be ashamed, but they are only in it for the money not customer satisfaction and ethics. Same applies to Mozilla, Google, Apple and many others that I can luckily avoid. Microsoft OS is a different matter :/
    What’s even worse… if they truly keep this up and don’t undo their “mistake” this means that people will be forced to use W10 starting this gen CPUs, meaning that every new piece of hardware in the future will be W10-only (not just this gen!). Microsoft still officially supports 7/8.1 for a couple of years but you won’t be able to build new PCs (without W10). This is hideous… Next step may be dropping support and drivers for the next GPU gen. I bet gamers would fancy that. Then again they want their precious DX12 which is W10-only.

    I found out about this new update policy yesterday, just 3 hours AFTER paying for my new computer with a Pentium G4560. For several weeks I pondered about buying and building a PC and monitored prices all the time. Ultimately I caved in and bought the parts. Already worried about stuff arriving DOA, dying later or not working correctly… now I also have to worry about stupid updates? Well, thanks.

    On my 8.1 laptop I haven’t run WU for more than half a year (WU is slow and never works even with the update to WU) and the laptop works just fine. I planned on installing 8.1 on the new rig and getting some updates for security and fixes and then disable WU again. I’ll still try to do that with WSUS or AutoPatcher, but what if I can’t install chipset or GPU drivers because “Your OS-CPU combo is not supported, get the fabulous Windows 10!”?
    My only choices would be: no drivers or “CIAdows 10″…
    I didn’t spend 450€ on a “good” PC for it to not work. And I absolutely don’t want 10 (I’m also not a Linux person).

    I already don’t like W8.1, but W10 is even more horrible. I’ve set it up and used it on another laptop and it’s just ugly, annoying and clunky in usability, not to mention all the hidden “services” and restrictions. Sure, some stuff can be disabled or hacked in via registry or tools, but I don’t want to do that and there are no guarantees (maybe some update reverts all the changes = waste of time). Even on 8.1 I can’t get around some features and designs, but at least that OS is somewhat acceptable and stable.

    I should have my parts by next weeks weekend and then we’ll see how it goes. I already kind of regret my purchase.
    This lengthy comment is from a person who grew up using Windows 95, 98, NT, 2k/ME, XP, Vista, 8.1 (and several hours of 10). Oddly I never touched 7.
    Sorry for the long rant and cheers :D

    1. www.com said on March 18, 2017 at 6:47 am
      Reply

      Classic Shell will make 8.1 more bearable. I’ve been using that setup for a couple of years now.

  20. CHEF-KOCH said on March 17, 2017 at 4:45 pm
    Reply

    Ryzen isn’t affected by this (for now) KB4012215 works fine with it. Source: https://www.computerbase.de/2017-03/windows-7-8-update-kaby-lake-ryzen-update/

  21. Henk van Setten said on March 17, 2017 at 2:06 pm
    Reply

    You may call me dumb, but I’d like to ask a simple question. Why not simply keep using your old PC motherboard with its good old chips? Do we really need those last-generation CPUs? Why? Are the old ones not fast enough? Except perhaps when you’re some kind of cutting-edge gamer, why would we need to upgrade our some-years-old core hardware?

    Yes, a couple of years ago I revitalized both my old desktop PC and my not-so-old laptop by putting in a new fast SSD in each of them. And maybe one of these days I will buy a larger higher-res monitor. And oh yes, last year I did get myself a better keyboard (a backlighted mechanical one, fit for intensive typing work). But why on earth would I, as an average user, need to buy an all-new computer with a new motherboard any time soon?

    1. Tom Hawack said on March 17, 2017 at 5:13 pm
      Reply

      I won’t call that a dumb question. Maybe because I ask it to myself, or then we’d both be silly, not to mention many others. Hey! are we dumb to wonder what in a human being’s brain pushes him frenetically to run after the latest service, product when it appears he/she has strictly no necessity of it? When what he uses runs fine, when the choice is between a perpetual run after the fashion and a calm use of a reliable and functional product?

      Fear. Fear of being left aside, fear of laughs, fear of not being in the system. Not only. Some users really want the latest top-notch not (only) to play the big-shots but because they know the limits of what they have, want to discover beyond those limits and have enough technological science to be sure the latest innovation/update is a true improvement and will get them where they want to go. But they are a minority. Most of us buy again and again, throw what we have though 100% functional and suitable for our needs, just to be in the lot. Advertisement and marketing interfere, to create those pseudo-needs and to satisfy them.

      The answer to your question, I don’t know why I even gave my answer since this answer is known by all, all of which nevertheless continue to run, run and run. Carpe diem, my friends.

      1. www.com said on March 18, 2017 at 6:40 am
        Reply

        I agree 100%, but that still doesn’t exclude the sleazy tactics (like these chipset games) that M$ is using in order to force people into upgrading into Windoze 10.

        They deserve another bashing over this. Bar none.

  22. pHROZEN gHOST said on March 17, 2017 at 1:33 pm
    Reply

    One of the issues with sticking with an older OS, especially after end of life (EG XP), is that software support for third party packages eventually stops. You can keep running the older versions. But, eventually you will have problems to resolve on your own.

    Sure, you can go to Linux. But, as more people move to Linux, more hackers will take aim at the larger target.

    You cannot beat Microsoft.

    1. www.com said on March 18, 2017 at 6:35 am
      Reply

      >Sure, you can go to Linux. But, as more people move to Linux, more hackers will take aim at the larger target.

      That’s a lot tougher considering Linux was designed with security in mind while security in Windoze was seen as an afterthought.

      Not saying Linux is invulnerable but it will be tougher since one has to go out of their way in order to log in as root or even in an elevated account in order to get infected.

      Beside, Linux still has a long way to go if it hopes to reach any marketshare hackers will take aim at.

      1. www.com said on March 20, 2017 at 4:05 am
        Reply

        >like pressing backspace 28 times and login in over a dozen distros?

        Patched for quite awhile now.

        >or like CoW which wasn’t patched for years

        A vulnerability that has been since been fixed. You do realize a vulnerability isn’t the same as an actual exploit, don’t you?

        So, did you have a point to make? Didn’t I say Linux wasn’t invulnerable? Show me any OS that’s invulnerable. I’ll switch to it right now.

      2. Stechy said on March 19, 2017 at 2:03 am
        Reply

        >considering Linux was designed with security in mind

        like pressing backspace 28 times and login in over a dozen distros? or like CoW which wasn’t patched for years? How much more ‘features designed with security in mind’ will be revealed after Linux will become a profitable target?

  23. HateW10 said on March 17, 2017 at 1:16 pm
    Reply

    As much I dislike the current Windows update policy all of you above whining about not receiving update for an OS YOU have bought are WRONG. You can’t have bought a windows 7, Vista and even windows 8 any more.

    Or do all of you people have unused copies of those OS lying in your closet for years ?
    Well maybe 8.1 but 7 or Vista aint really a case.

    When you bought that copy of Win7 there was no Ryzen.
    An you bought the OS with the license for 1 machine not 2, not 50.

    So none of the normal current Windows 7 user group can be affected by this.

    Changing you mother board had always the consequence of buying a new OS license.

    Sorry all of the above is just trolling or bad reading.

    1. Lurking About said on March 18, 2017 at 5:22 pm
      Reply

      Consider that someone might only want to replace the mobo and cpu and keep the most of the other hardware such a drive with the OS on it. A builder has the skills to do that as it is not that hard to do.

    2. Marti Martz said on March 18, 2017 at 4:05 am
      Reply

      > Or do all of you people have unused copies of those OS lying in your closet for years ?

      As a matter of fact… YES, Yes I do… although a lot closer than a closet.

      > Changing you mother board had always the consequence of buying a new OS license.

      Uhmmm not quite and I’m a veteran Windows Beta Tester e.g. been around the block longer than M$.

    3. Corky said on March 17, 2017 at 3:34 pm
      Reply

      @HateW10, You do know retail versions of Windows exist right?

      You do know that when people paid for those retail copies Microsoft agreed to patch security vulnerabilities for at least 10 years, irregardless of what hardware it was running on.

      Besides this has nothing to do with Windows or future patches being incapable of running on newer hardware as those patches are still going to be issued to businesses and via the Windows update catalog, this latest move is nothing more than an arbitrary choice of Microsoft’s to make it more difficult for people to use Windows built in updating system on certain system.

    4. AnorKnee Merse said on March 17, 2017 at 2:35 pm
      Reply

      @ HateW10

      Fyi, since 2009/2012, many companies have bought from M$ tens/hundreds/thousands copies of Win 7/8.1 Enterprise Volume Licenses. They would often have to buy new OEM Windows Pro computers, eg as replacement for broken Win 7/8.1 Ent computers and/or for business expansion.
      ……. Since Oct 2016, they could only buy new OEM Win 10 Pro computers and then downgrade them to Win 7/8.1 Ent = for free. Now, they can’t do this with new OEM Win 10 Pro computers that come with Kabylake or Ryzen chips. This is way before the EOL in 2020/2023.

      So, M$ are using the above dirty tactic to try to force such companies to move to Win 10.

      On the consumer side, those who have bought from M$ the more expensive and transferable Retail Win 7/8.1 licenses is similarly affected, ie can’t buy new computers with Kabylake or Ryzen chips.

  24. Dan82 said on March 17, 2017 at 12:45 pm
    Reply

    I’m neither terribly surprised nor dismayed by these news. It’s what has been happening for years, only now it has become apparent because a small number of Win 10 haters have bought some new hardware. Not that I disagree with their opinion on Microsoft’s latest operating system, but the overlap of both groups is small enough that neither Microsoft nor AMD or Intel will care about them.

    That being said, owners of PCs are best off by far and many don’t even realize how good they have it still, even in the face of Microsoft self-destructing before our eyes. If you want to get first-hand experience of how bad it can get, then buy a new laptop at the wrong time, like I did. Back then Windows 8 was the current operating system, so naturally the device came pre-installed with it. It was no big surprise that drivers for Windows 7 were unavailable, but Asus offered compatibility for an upgrade to version 8.1 of Microsoft’s OS. Well, long story short, the integrated Intel wifi card started disconnecting frequently after the OS upgrade, while the manufacturer (Asus, can’t mention them often enough) provided new drivers from Intel, they were clearly bugged and the old ones that did fine on 8 didn’t work on 8.1 either. After contacting the Intel support about the matter directly, they only told me that the wifi card was compatible with Windows 8 but not with 8.1 and I should contact the manufacturer about it. D’oh, you can imagine how that story ended, namely with me p***ed off and not having bought a single Asus product in the past few years.

    So, while I can totally understand how consumers don’t like Windows 10 and would like to use an earlier operating system despite their new hardware, I can also see the side of software companies who don’t want to add new hardware support for their legacy software. Refusing them updates after they got the OS installed anyway may go a bit far, but it will also reduce the number of people contacting Microsoft support if the company can stop users from using that combo in the first place.

  25. Mustaf said on March 17, 2017 at 11:51 am
    Reply

    It’s Microsoft, so what can you expect ? Or in other terms:……?@#!*&+?&!@)$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  26. DaveyK said on March 17, 2017 at 11:28 am
    Reply

    Not wanting to feed the troll, but OSX Lion has been fully unsupported for 3 years. Windows 8.1 still has *mainstream* support for another year, and extended support until 2023. Windows 7 is also still under support for another 3 years. The fact that MS are blocking updates for Windows 8.1 on modern computers despite it being under full mainstream support is pathetic. They also risk a lawsuit from people who’ve bought Windows 8.1, only to find MS blocking updates for software that is supposed to be under full support.

    Nobody is complaining that unsupported MS operating systems like XP may not install on modern hardware because, well, they’re unsupported. But that is not what is happening here.

  27. nuna said on March 17, 2017 at 11:26 am
    Reply

    Just checked Amazon for an AMD B350 motherboard for their new Ryzen processors.
    Comments are showing that with a fresh install of Windows 8, the AMD/OEM chipset driver will not even install.
    https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Prime-B350-Plus-Ryzen-Motherboard/dp/B06X416NJ1/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1489740204&sr=8-6&keywords=AMD++Ryzen+Processor

    Also at the AMD site for Ryzen , their overclock utillity shows on chapter two, only windows 10 64 bit version as compatible.
    https://www.amd.com/system/files/2017-03/AMD-Ryzen-Processor-and-AMD-Ryzen-Master-Overclocking-Users-Guide.pdf

    So, apparently AMD and Intel are colluding with Microsoft to force upgrading to Windows ten even on currently maintained/ supported versions of Windows.

    This is little better than the price fixing scandals we’ve seen in various markets over the years.
    Class action would be nice to challenge their taking advantage of their monopoly position to force upgrading to their spyware/adware OS.
    There has got to be some law broken when a user must agree to give up their basic privacy and controll of their property as a condition of using Microsoft’s products at any, even rudimentary level.
    Same could be said for Cellphones but that’s another matter.

  28. tinfoil friend said on March 17, 2017 at 11:09 am
    Reply

    I’ve been without updates for several years now. Everything looks and works ok. No telemetry. No unsual internet activity. Common sense is the best way when on the internet.

    Having serious thoughts to try a linux distro. Been several years since i tryed one.
    Linux wont be ‘safe ‘ forever. Microsft just became involved with Linux.

    Tips for tinfoil people:

    -Shutdown PC when not in use. Remove/turn it offfrom the plug/main.
    -Block [range ]ip adress in router.
    -Use some firewall. The best are the ones that block all and ask you when something is trying to connect.
    -Use some software that disables ALL network connections when PC is idling.(5-10 minutes)
    -Dont use wireless. Personal example: i’ve update smart Tv firmware, now the wireless cant be disabled. LG smart shitware. Dont connect TV to internet either if you dont need it
    -Use a (laptop, NUC, mini etc)PC for browsing. Do everything else on another (no internet ) PC

    Relax from time to time. Go outside..leave your phone home.They cant track, too well, there yet. :)

    1. hirobo said on March 17, 2017 at 7:34 pm
      Reply

      Same here. I stopped updating my Win7 several months before Win10 became RTM cuz I suspected they would have time to backport telemetry once the RTM was out.

  29. Code Monkey said on March 17, 2017 at 10:39 am
    Reply

    I am just upset that my Mac won’t let me install OSX Lion and still use all the latest stuff…

    I was hoping to stay on DOS and MacOS 9.1 so I can stay safe and keep away from the evil spyware…

    Also, anyone who has a microwave from the 80’s that they want to sell, please hit me up… I’m tired of them watching me eat my hot pockets

    1. Anonymous said on April 23, 2017 at 12:30 am
      Reply

      Not very good at sarcasm.

    2. Corky said on March 17, 2017 at 11:49 am
      Reply

      You seem to be confusing software that has officially reached the end of its support life cycle with software that has not, DOS, OSX Lion and MacOS 9 all reached the announced end of life phase many years ago, Windows 7&8 are still meant to be officially supported according to the agreement i signed when installing those OS’s.

  30. Corky said on March 17, 2017 at 10:36 am
    Reply

    So instead of the carrot their using the stick, i remember a time when people wanted to use Windows because it was a good OS, now it seems they have to force people into using it.

  31. Tau said on March 17, 2017 at 10:28 am
    Reply

    Simply don’t use Windows Update but WSUS Offline. I think that, by trying to kill 7 as soon as possible, they’re only doing collateral damage by now. Ryzen currently works better in W7 than 10 with that broken CPU sheduler, and the last Intel has very little changes.

    They got burnt with the extended support for XP, but W7 won’t leave anytime soon..

  32. Owl said on March 17, 2017 at 10:27 am
    Reply

    Maniacal course and determined to run it. Changing CEO wouldn’t fix it. They will do as much as they can. Most Windows 7 and 8.1 users will wind up unpatched.

  33. buck said on March 17, 2017 at 10:10 am
    Reply

    Surely people are not surprised by Microsoft’s latest W10 extortion tactic.

    “We’ve spent a lot of money developing our spyware platform and really must insist that you use it. You are only users, who are who to defy us?”

    On the bright side, at least these users won’t be pestered with telemetry updates any more ;).

  34. Yuliya said on March 17, 2017 at 7:03 am
    Reply

    Use Simplix Update Pack or WSUS Offline on 7. Or, you know, do what Micro$oft says and use the latest version of Windows.. that is Enterprise LTSB or Server 2016. Because fu.k Microsoft and their latest OS.

    The current CEO needs to go. Go wherever he wants, but far away from Microsoft. The sooner the better.

    1. buck said on March 17, 2017 at 10:14 am
      Reply

      Removing the current CEO won’t change anything.

      M$ have set their course for the long term, and their new business model is dependent on the personal customer data harvested by W10 spyware and malware. They’ve spent a lot of money going down the Big Data path, and will do anything and everything to ensure Windoze users are using W10.

  35. Jeff said on March 17, 2017 at 6:26 am
    Reply

    Like I said many times, just wait and watch the CEO getting fired and this blows over. You don’t have to panic and give in to Microsoft’s extortion. Just stay with Windows 7 or 8.1 and watch them self-destruct. Just don’t give in to Windows 10. That leaves them with no incentive to improve anything.

    1. AnorKnee Merse said on March 17, 2017 at 6:57 am
      Reply

      @ Jeff

      Yes, agree.

      Win 7/8.1 can even be used securely after 2020/2023, just like millions of Win XP are still being used. Users just need to be careful on the Internet, eg avoid torrent downloads and opening strange email attachment files.

    2. AnorKnee Merse said on March 17, 2017 at 6:44 am
      Reply

      @ Jeff

      Yes, agree.

      I have used the EOL’ed or on-life-support Win XP SP3 on an old HP Core2Duo desktop on the Internet without any problems – is not botnet-infected.!
      ……. Have the Avast Free antivirus program installed. Just need to be careful with my finger-clicking, esp avoid torrent downloads and opening spam/strange email attachment files.

      IOW, Win 7/8.1 can be used safely/securely, even after EOL in 2020/2023. Don’t be conned by the FUD’s coming from M$ and their shills/apologists.

      1. ZippyDSMlee said on March 17, 2017 at 9:11 am
        Reply

        If I can’t use torrents there is no point in an OS. :P

        30% of the crap I use, use .net, I just hope it never locks up so bad and I have to start with a new install of windsoe, that happened to me twice on win7…

  36. ZippyDSMlee said on March 17, 2017 at 5:59 am
    Reply

    Whats the point if people bypass it?

    1. Doc said on March 18, 2017 at 8:11 pm
      Reply

      Most people won’t be technically savvy enough to run something like WSUS Offline Update. They’ll just see an error message and give up.

      1. www.com said on March 20, 2017 at 3:36 am
        Reply

        True, but some of us will do that.

        I’ve been using WSUS Offinle for a number of months now. It’s just a different way of updating that one gets used to.

  37. Mikhoul said on March 17, 2017 at 2:43 am
    Reply

    HERE’S THE FIX: It is possible to spoof another CPU identifier inside a virtual machine to keep receiving updates, but a better workaround is to use the WSUS Offline Update tool to download new updates for your unsupported system. WSUS doesn’t run the same hardware checks and it bypasses all of the usual restrictions because it receives updates directly from Microsoft’s servers.

    SOURCE: http://www.nag.co.za/2017/03/16/windows-7-and-8-1-kaby-lake-and-ryzen-systems-are-unsecure/

  38. Chryss said on March 17, 2017 at 1:25 am
    Reply

    Now You: Do you think Microsoft is going too far with this policy?

    *snort* Microsoft was going too far long before this.

    1. SOOZEE PALAMINOV said on April 7, 2017 at 11:31 am
      Reply

      I am appalled by this “NEW” Policy …. THIS just made me sick to my stomach …. I have tried for months to get this W8.1 to finish installing updates post KB4012219 ….. I’ve been fighting with HP because they cannot seem to figure this out also (yes they are brain-dead as well LOLOL) …. They try to say it is “MY FAULT” this is happening to me …. HP has finally sent me a recovery stick for W8.1 DESK TOP ALL IN ONE …. they sent me a recovery stick for my W10 LapTOPS in error …. I will be keeping both …. I told them so …. LOLOL …. During an update (past 48 hours) my WINDOWS DEFENDER ICON looks eggzactly like the one on my W10 and even plays the same musical ding ding as well (LOLOL) …. THEY ARE HOLDING US RANSOM …. Obviously, I will be installing the W8.1 recovery stick …. HP will be doing MOST OF THE WORK …. and while they’re at it, they may as well clean my house up LOLOL …. MICROSOFT??? YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES …. Con Artistry at it’s finest !!!!! …. Thank you GHACKS.net, if I didn’t get lead to your webiste, I would have never known !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    2. alfie said on March 18, 2017 at 9:59 pm
      Reply

      exactly that! and latest reports are win 10 is the most insecure OS ever, sucks to be you microsoft!
      ((http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3005408/almost-all-windows-vulnerabilities-are-enabled-by-liberal-admin-rights))
      Windows 10 shamed as ‘having the highest proportion of flaws of any OS’

  39. kevin said on March 17, 2017 at 12:55 am
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    Dear Martin (or someone else who wants to prove the corruption going on here), please do us a favor. Set up a machine with both Windows 7 and Windows Vista installed, featuring one of these new processors, and then demonstrate how the Vista installation will happily continue to install updates, while the Windows 7 side is being blocked.

    I’m guessing that since Vista has something like a 3% market share (and was rejected by the public), Microsoft has not gone through the trouble of blocking would-be Vista users from using these new processors and getting updates. X86 is a standard for a reason. At one point I was even insane enough to run Windows XP on a Phenom II x6. Yes, it ran, and Yes, it installed updates just fine.

    Windows Update has never cared about what CPU was in the machine before, and it is more than a little fishy that it would start now, when Microsoft is so desperate to get Windows 10 adoption numbers up. And what about people on Windows 8.1? Windows 8.1 is still in the mainstream support period, so one would reasonably expect that Windows 8.1 would be supported on modern hardware up until the date of mainstream support expiration (some time in 2018).

    1. The Flash said on March 17, 2017 at 1:32 pm
      Reply

      I can’t install any updates at all on a fresh install of vista sp2.

      1. seeprime said on March 17, 2017 at 3:06 pm
        Reply

        A Vista SP2 clean install can take several days to list the updates. It’s very annoying and is another indication of how bad Microsoft’s Windows Home and Pro update system actually is. If you want to speed that up you can install 360 Total Security, and run it’s Patch up tool. It’s often much faster than the Microsoft update system on older machines. It downloads the stand alone installers for each missing security update, and then installs them. Since there are about 200 for Vista SP2, this takes many hours, even on a 60mbps connection.

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