Why Microsoft is already dropping Support for some Windows 8.1 Users

Discussion in 'other security issues & news' started by aztony, Apr 25, 2014.

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  1. aztony

    aztony Registered Member

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    hxxp://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/04/25/why-microsoft-is-already-dropping-support-for-wind.aspx
     
  2. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    IMO, that's too aggressive. Some people still have problem updating to last Update and now they will not be protected against newly discovered OS vulnerabilities. Bad move MS :thumbd:
     
  3. aztony

    aztony Registered Member

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    I wonder how many XP users who bought into the M$ orchestrated upgrade craze will find themselves caught in this catch 22 dilemma?
    hxxp://www.pcworld.com/article/2058683/new-windows-8-1-requirements-strand-some-users-on-windows-8.html
     
  4. Gullible Jones

    Gullible Jones Registered Member

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    Okay, that's awfully weird. I'd never heard of this instruction before today, but from what I'm reading it's mostly used for better support of parallelism in the kernel - makes it possible to have more fine-grained locking and such. It looks like this is Microsoft sacrificing hardware compatibility for marginally better performance on very recent multicore machines.

    I could understand that on Windows Server, but on the desktop version it doesn't make much sense to me...

    Bad move IMO. They need to be hitting on all cylinders after the Windows 8 flop.
     
  5. SpikeyB

    SpikeyB Registered Member

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    Not really sure what the fuss is about. How is this different from a few years back having XP and not ugrading for example to service pack 2.
     
  6. elapsed

    elapsed Registered Member

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    When they did that I don't think they broke compatibility with certain hardware already running XP. As Gullible Jones said, it is *highly* unusual for Microsoft to remove hardware compatibility with an OS update (8.0 > 8.1). I think this is a decision that they might back-pedal on.

    Breaking hardware generally comes when releasing a whole new version which makes more sense.

    --------

    With all that being said, it actually has absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand. The topic is that unless you have the windows 8.1.1 update, you won't get further updates, which is exactly like the SP2 situation. Also unlike stated above, MS will support 8.1 for 3-4 more months before dropping it and requiring 8.1.1, a free update.
     
  7. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    It's not exactly like Sp2 situation. After SP2 release, SP1 would still get updates for 2 years.
    Could you please share a link with information about 3-4 month additional support for 8.1 without update 1? All articles that I have read don't mention this period.
     
  8. elapsed

    elapsed Registered Member

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    True.

    Seems it's extended for enterprise only:
    http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/...-wsus-availability-and-adjusted-timeline.aspx
     
  9. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    1. Buy a new machine.
    2. Use the 32 bit version.
    3. Run Windows 7.
    4. Run Linux.
     
  10. Gullible Jones

    Gullible Jones Registered Member

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    1. Expensive and wasteful
    2. Not compatible with newer software
    3. Support will be dropped in a few years
    4. Not an option for most people due to lack of support

    ... Mind, what Microsoft did here was introduce compatibility breaking changes in a point release. That's already a screw-up; and with Microsoft's user base, it's an epic one, and not just for end users. Companies that have upgraded their vintage 2008 Dells or whatever to Windows 8 are now stuck paying for new hardware.

    Like I said: not hitting on all cylinders.
     
  11. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    It seems pretty clear that they just don't care about the desktop/laptop home market any more, and haven't since the introduction of Win 8.
     
  12. aztony

    aztony Registered Member

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    None of which bothers me. M$ will never get another dime out of me for another of their OSs. I'd already concluded that even before this stunt.
     
  13. guest

    guest Guest

    Seriously GJ, it's the other way around.
     
  14. guest

    guest Guest

    Many infection/attack vectors comes from those "unaware" (to be polite) users that runs unpatched vulnerable OSes; those people let them PCs wide open to infections, exploits and remote controls, so they become part of botnets and other data mining.

    It is a normal move from MS to "force" them to update their OS; after all if they run a legit version of Windows , why they should not update, to be safer.

    Now about drivers, it is the software/hardware company to adapt to the new OS version (most of the big names do it quite fast); if they don't, better move to another vendor next time you buy a PC.

    If i can do a comparison with a car, if a car vendor found that the engine of a certain serie is flawed , they instantly ask every users to send the car back to the retailer or factory for fix it.

    i believe that only the critical/important updates are concerned , not the optional ones.
     
  15. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    That's why I don't understand why Microsoft will not issue updates for users who can't install update 1. My friend gets BSOD and then rollback each time he tries to install it. He didn't find resolution to problem yet and the time is running out. 1 month to update ALL 8.1. users to last version is IMO not enough. They should support 8.1. for a little longer.
     
  16. guest

    guest Guest

    the best way to update Windows to "update 1" is to Reset the PC to Win8 then update to Win8.1 (it will include the Update 1)

    you will be error & virus free.
     
  17. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    You mean reinstall (he doesn't have recovery option)? And when next update comes out in autumn another reinstall from scratch? With all software that needs to be reinstalled? I think he will downgrade to Windows 7 and forget about 8. This is nonsense. MS should get their act together.
     
  18. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    1. Expensive is relative. We have picked up new machines at work for $299. Wasteful is the lack of productivity using a 6+ year old machine.
    2. There is no exclusively 64 bit software I can think of other than Adobe's latest suites, and you're not running those on a 6+ year old machine anyway. If so, Windows 7.
    3. Yes, in 2020. If someone is planning to need their 6+ year old machine more than another 6 years then I think they got their money's worth.
    4. Probably not an option for most people, but most likely out of a resistance to change/learn a new OS.
    It isn't that there aren't any reasonable solutions here. You just can't have the best ones for free.
     
  19. Gullible Jones

    Gullible Jones Registered Member

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    No, wasteful is spending money on disposable hardware that will be obsolete in another few years. Electronic waste is a massive environmental (and humanitarian) issue.

    [Edit: also I'm skeptical of claims about productivity impact of using old machines. A lot of "old" computers are powerful enough for office work, provided the OS supports them and is not completely elephantine.]

    Some people might be, x86-64 is not exactly new technology any more. Point taken re compatiblity though.

    See again, "culture of disposability."

    Linux has < 3% of the desktop market last I checked, nobody wants to spend money supporting it. And nobody said they wanted the best solutions for free; quite the opposite. There's plenty of free software out there, but it's the high-end proprietary stuff that Linux doesn't support.
     
  20. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    It's all disposable and always has been. At least the newer machines are less likely to have lead. Old machines could always be donated to someone rather than going into the landfill. We do get more productivity out of the newer machines, but that is also relative. YMMV.


    32 bit would actually be my recommendation on an older machine anyway. As long as they're going to keep making it, no reason to choke an older machine with the 64 bit. If you are unfortunate enough to have 2GB of RAM, it is the best option.


    Agreed, but this is a far bigger problem than computers. Not an issue that we are even going to begin to address in a computer security forum. I hate the system that produces low quality products so you have to throw them away in a couple of years and replace them, but I don't have a better suggestion to the producers for maintaining sales if they sold something I never had to replace.


    You may not have said you wanted it free, but I am sure that is the preference when it is an option (myself included). Linux is absolutely not for everyone, just an option for those that dare.
     
  21. Dogfather

    Dogfather Registered Member

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    1. keep your old machine
    2. run windows 7 until they stop support
    3. run Linux and learn how to use it before they stop the support
    4. ditch MS
     
  22. aztony

    aztony Registered Member

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    Sounds good to me!
     
  23. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    Yeah, I'll go for that. Sounds good to me too..
     
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