Microsoft updates support policy: New CPUs will require Windows 10:ZDnet

Yes, Windows 7 (currently in the Extended support phase) will continue to receive updates until January 14, 2020, and Windows 8.1 will be supported until January 10, 2023. But in a series of "clarifications" to its support policy today, the company announced that support for those older Windows versions will be available only for "previous generations of silicon."

Going forward, as new silicon generations are introduced, they will require the latest Windows platform at that time for support... 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.

The policy will be phased in beginning with systems based on Intel's new 6th-generation CPUs (code-named Skylake), which debuted a few months ago. New consumer-based Skylake devices must run Windows 10 to be supported.

 

Article

Good way to force Windows 10 usage.

Edit: I wonder if Microsoft will refuse to activate previous OS's on the new hardware.

Additional article here

http://www.geekwire.com/2016/microsoft-to-require-windows-10-for-newest-cpus-pushing-enterprise-users-to-use-latest-os/

Edited by JohnC_21, 15 January 2016 - 04:17 PM.

Makes sense to me. The newest hardware is optimized for the newest, OS. There will still be many options for folks who still want to run Win 7, just not the latest and greatest. It looks, to me, as if MS is reassuring corperate customers that Skylake will run Win 10 for a long, long time.

Edit: I wonder if Microsoft will refuse to activate previous OS's on the new hardware.

Well theres a boon for Linux right there

They are just trying to step on as many toes as possible.

Well they cant do too much for those who dont run enterprise hardware

Makes sense to me.

 

Makes sense to me.

Yes. Backwards compatibility can't go on for ever.

 

Makes sense to me, but in a different way...   
 
This issue is about M$ support (updates) and not about compatibility offered by Hardware Manufacturers (drivers).
Is this the first step for M$ trying to sell their own hardware?
It surely fits the W10 way, installing/overwriting drivers through mandatory updates...
 
Next Up: Manual installation of drivers not supported anymore!   
 
Greets!

 

 

Makes sense to me.

Yes. Backwards compatibility can't go on for ever.

 

Makes sense to me, but in a different way...   
 
This issue is about M$ support (updates) and not about compatibility offered by Hardware Manufacturers (drivers).
Is this the first step for M$ trying to sell their own hardware?
It surely fits the W10 way, installing/overwriting drivers through mandatory updates...
 
Next Up: Manual installation of drivers not supported anymore!   
 
Greets!

 

Locking out an OS even though it would run fine on later hardware but at the same time support the same OS with security updates on older hardware is really a feeble attempt on Microsoft's part to increase Windows 10 share. 

Not even shure Microsoft even needs to increase it's market share around here local. This Christmas I looked at over a 100 PC in the local stores.

Not a single one with open source OS and few apple/mac all others were Win versions. The Open source is gaining ground but not in the pre-installed os market.

Not around here anyways.

Not even shure Microsoft even needs to increase it's market share around here local. This Christmas I looked at over a 100 PC in the local stores.

Not a single one with open source OS and few apple/mac all others were Win versions. The Open source is gaining ground but not in the pre-installed os market.

Not around here anyways.

A lot of people are not buying into windows 10, thats the issue.

They are using the same tired tactic of if something isnt as popular as they want it to try to push things onto people.

When you are your own biggest threat self deprecating is the only real tactic.

JohnC, MS is not locking anybody out. They are just not supporting old OSs on new hardware, except for security updates, and, if the updates might break something, folks won't even get those. If you can, happily, run Win 7 on Skylake, more power to you. MS just won't help you.

The new CPUs are quite different from the ones 7 was built for, and MS would have to do a lot of work to patch all the differences. They've chosen not to do so. That's their right with an OS which has entered extended support. And, quite frankly, I wonder how large a group of users would want to run an almost-obsolete OS which is unable to take advantage of the very features for which they are buying expensive hardware.

It was my understanding the even Security Updates would not be available but maybe I am wrong on that.

@JohnC_21:   Original article.

English is (obviously) not my first language but I cannot find a clear, yes or no, answer on that question...
​
Greets!

SOURCE

After July 2017, computers on the supported list that are still running Windows 7 will still get security updates, but any updates specific to that platform will not be released if it risks the reliability of other Windows 7 or 8.1 platforms.