Windows in 2023: here is what we know so far

The year 2023 is a major year for the Windows operating system. Microsoft will retire two Windows operating systems in the same month and release new updates for the two versions that it continues to support in that year.
The release of Windows 11 has created a divider in the Windows population caused by stricter hardware requirements for the operating system. While it is possible to overcome those and install and update Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, most device owners and administrators may not go down that route as there are still uncertainties.
Windows 7 and 8.1
Starting with the two oldest versions of Windows that are still in support in December 2022. Microsoft will retire Windows 7, which has been on Extended Security Updates support for three years, and Windows 8.1, on January 10, 2023.
Both operating systems will receive a last security update before Microsoft stops support entirely. There is a chance that highly critical security issues will be patched by Microsoft, even after end of support, but the majority of security issues and bugs won't be addressed anymore by the company.
0Patch plans to release security fixes for Windows 7 for at least two years after support end. These address critical issues only and are available for less than $30 per year.
Windows 10
We don't know much about Microsoft's plans for Windows 10. The operating system has more than three years of support left, but users of it should not expect many new features being introduced in that time.
A Windows 10 2023 Update, or however Microsoft wants to call it this time, is expected around the last quarter of the year 2023.
Windows 11
This is Microsoft's newest client operating system. Released at the end of 2021, Windows 11 has received a single feature update in 2022.
Microsoft will release another feature update for the operating system at the end of 2023, around the same time that the Windows 10 feature update will be released.
Microsoft's approach to feature updates changed with the release of the first feature update for Windows 11. It switched from introducing new features once a year in these bigger updates to introducing changes throughout the year.
The first so-called Moments update was released a month after the release of the 2022 Feature update. It introduced tabs in File Explorer and some other minor features.
Microsoft may release two or even more Moments updates in 2023. The first is expected in the beginning of the year, the second around half-time.
The first Moments update may introduce the long-expected tablet mode for the Windows taskbar, Energy recommendations in Settings, Search in the Task Manager and a few other changes.
Closing Words
Microsoft puts the focus of development on Windows 11, which puts Windows 10 users who prefer stability over changes in a good position. There won't be many changes for that operating system in the coming three years. Microsoft's approach to pushing features out when they are ready on Windows 11 has made management of systems more chaotic. Administrators may need to spend even more time staying in the loop regarding development.
Now You: which version of Windows do you run, and do you plan to make any changes to the setup in 2023?


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