Windows 10 RTM support ends May 9, 2017

Microsoft announced that support for the Windows 10 RTM version, the first retail version of Windows 10, will end on May 9, 2017.
The company had plans to shut down support for Windows 10 RTM on March 26, 2017 initially, but extended the period to May 9, 2017 instead.
Windows 10 uses a different support model as older versions of the operating system such as Windows 7 or Windows 8.
In previous versions of Windows, the end of support date was always the end of life of the operating system. A release of a service pack for an older version of Windows, the last was released for Windows 7, would mark the beginning of the end of support for systems without that service pack.
Microsoft switched to a servicing model in Windows 10 instead. Support on Windows 10 is determined by the Current Branch for Business.
Basically, there are three servicing options that Microsoft maintains:
- Current Branch (CB) -- for all editions of Windows 10.
- Current Branch for Business (CBB) -- only for professional editions of Windows 10.
- Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) -- long term support, only for Enterprise
The core difference between Current Branch and Current Branch for Business is that updates are released to Current Branch devices as soon as they are available, but delayed for about four months before made available to Current Branch for Business systems.
Microsoft will always support the two latest Current Branch for Business releases. Whenever a new edition of Windows 10 is made a Current Branch for Business release -- this happens four months after initial release -- the grace period for the oldest Current Branch for Business version begins.
In the case of Windows 10 RTM, both the November Update (version 1511) and Anniversary Update (version 1607) of Windows 10 are Current Branch for Business versions. The promotion of the Anniversary Update version to CBB started the support grace period for Windows 10 RTM.
The same will happen when the Windows 10 Creators Update is promoted to the CBB channel. This will happen in August, and about two months later, Windows 10 version 1511 will reach end of life.
You may say that this is similar to support changed when Microsoft released Service Packs for older versions of Windows. This is true to a degree, but there are a couple of differences.
First, the support period is shorter on Windows 10. Non-Service Pack versions of Windows were supported for about 2 years after the release of the Service Pack. On Windows 10, the support period for any version is about 18 months.
Probably the biggest difference to before is that feature updates are released at a much higher pace than Service Packs. Microsoft released three feature updates so far since July 2015 for Windows 10. The next feature update will be released at the end of 2017, making it four feature updates in about 2 years.
Another difference is that Microsoft made it a lot harder to block updates on Windows 10. Most Windows 10 machines are no longer on the RTM version, unless the system administrator changed system settings to block updates from being deployed on it.
The faster release scheme makes it difficult for Enterprise customers who don't run the LTSB to keep up. This year will be especially taxing for IT departments as Microsoft plans to release two feature upgrades (the first was the Creators Update).
Check your Windows version
To find out which version of Windows is installed on your computer, do the following:
- Tap on the Windows-key.
- Type winver.
- Hit the Enter-key.
The About Windows window should load. It lists the version of the operating system right in the second line. Compare the version to the list below.
- 1507 -- Initial version of Windows 10.
- 1511 -- The November Update.
- 1607 -- The Anniversary Update.
- 1703 -- The Creators Update
Now You: What's your take on the faster update cycle?


What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277
I try to disable the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Connected Devices Platform User Services) but it wont let me disable it, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank you for your help