Microsoft raises pistol, pulls the trigger on Windows 7, 8 updates for new Intel, AMD chips Microsoft has cut software updates and tweaks for computers powered by Intel and AMD's latest-generation processors running old versions of Windows. The Redmond giant is no longer serving software fixes to PCs and other systems that run Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 on Intel's fresh new Kaby Lake or AMD's hot-off-the-fab Ryzen …
I have Windows 10 on one refurb system I bought cheaply (AMD), but installed the necessary aftermarket software to make it work like Windows 7. Works acceptably, but this is not my primary system.
I'm planning on replacing my dual socket main system once AMD Naples arrives. I will NOT be paying $185 US (whatever) for Windows 10 Pro, so I can then spend my time to make it work like Windows 7. Instead, I will finally switch to Linux with the Mate UI as my full time OS. I haven't done this up to now because Linux always lagged behind on playing media (video and audio), but those issues have largely been worked out.
Microsoft is really hurting themselves by using these strong-arm tactics to force everyone onto Windows 10. While it's been free up to now, I'm guessing Microsoft ultimately wants to implement a yearly subscription. Count me out.
"Microsoft is really hurting themselves by using these strong-arm tactics to force everyone onto Windows 10. While it's been free up to now, I'm guessing Microsoft ultimately wants to implement a yearly subscription. Count me out."
They'll do it because they have a captive market. Too many people are stuck on Windows-ONLY software that has no viable substitutes (like gamers--too many won't work on Linux even with help from WINE--or those with custom jobs that can't afford a redo).
Charles, you are correct. We were in that position at my last job - really, only MS Office Pro. The software stack we used for our software development was platform agnostic (Java); though the GUI developers preferred Windows - apparently the tools are further ahead there compared to the implementations on Linux (if any). I'm retired now, and Libre Office works fine for me. So I can make any choices I want.
I'm surprised Munich is going back to Windows after enduring the pain of switching to Linux. Maybe this will make them reconsider that decision.
"Libre Office works fine for me."Works fine for me too; better in some respects (no stupid ribbon). However, compatibility is a problem.
Mrs Git sent me a two page Word document to fine-tune. Libre Office interpreted it as a six page document! So faut mieux I had to open it in Word.
Just got a brand new Kaby Lake windows 7 laptop 2 weeks ago. Timing sucks.
I needed the newest Siemens TIA portal software for work. It supported Windows 7 and 8, 64-bit only. My trusty engineering laptop ran 32-bit windows.
Call to supplier and I get a Windows 7 pro kaby lake laptop the next day, because skylake and kaby is all they have. Well, they only had one model with Win7 license anyway.
A week later, and Siemens finally gets head out of ass and releases Windows 8.1 and 10 compatibility (well, atleast until creator's update comes and kills it).
Nah, it just makes a little extra work for you.
Remember, the update rollups for 7 are cumulative. This means you can install all the updates you need, with the April rollup (that contains the blocking code) last.
When another update comes out, uninstall the April rollup, install what you need (if there are updates other than the rollup), then install the latest rollup. The latest rollup will contain all of the updates from the other rollups, so you don't need to install any but the latest one (which, of course, will also contain the blocking code).
The next month, uninstall whatever is the latest rollup you have installed, install the non-rollup updates, then install the latest rollup again. Lather, rinse, repeat.
It probably won't be necessary that long before someone introduces a third party program to bypass this restriction. If not, though, it's not that hard to do one extra uninstallation per month.
...Microsoft offered a paid for version of Win 10 that could have all the telemetry home calling switched off, and allowed proper user control of updates, then Win 10 would get more installs (and if you don't like the interface, use something like Classic Shell?).
Instead MS seem hell bent on this demented trajectory of 'We want your data! All of your data! Now!'
"Instead MS seem hell bent on this demented trajectory of 'We want your data! All of your data! Now!'"
Probably because they can get more out of the data than we can ever afford to pay. Why do you think Google and Facebook NEVER provide the option to do telemetry-free browsing for a price? Because practically no one would be able to afford it.
Just like someone broke the artificial DX logjam Micro$hit tried on XP years ago, I am sure someone will figure out a way to get Win7 to work on the new chips.
And if they dont...... WSell, after the way M$ have treated their customers over the last few years, they shouldnt be surprised if anyone with an ounce of nounce either installs pirate copies or a flavour of Linux.
(And fuck you, for deciding 3 of my 5 genuine Win7 installs are fakes - just because I refused to update them with your Win10 malware)
My main PC is going to be wiped and a fresh Win7 install loaded after a BIOS clock error* made the OS decide it was fake, triggering the crippleware effect.
*I forgot to reset the clock after a BIOS reset.
Nothing's changed.
Testing Windows 10 Creators Update this week (public RTM 11/04/2017 release-ISO 15063), I started an upgrade on Windows 10 Aniversary Update. This machine had a free digital entitlement Pro licence from an upgrade of Windows 7 Pro.
I cancelled the update before accepting the licence, it then rolled back and deactivated a fullly working Windows 10 Pro AU, killing the Pro Licence. Troubleshooting this, it says the machine only now only has a licence to run Windows 10, not Windows 10 Pro.
So if you have a "Digital Entitlement" Pro Licence of Windows 10 AU, take care starting/cancelling the Windows 10 CU Update, you might end up with a machine with the wrong 'rolled back' Windows 10 Licence if you cancel.
Looks like a potential glitch with the update. I've only seen this when you cancel an update, part way.
For all the hours, there was little to show for the final Creators Update. Microsoft should really state a tic/toc approach to updates, because this update seems to be an under the hood (adding 'analytics' - spyware), type update.
Really, there is not much to show visually, compared to Windows 10 AU.
Alternatively, just stick with Windows 7 or whatever, as long as it works.
"And if they dont...... WSell, after the way M$ have treated their customers over the last few years, they shouldnt be surprised if anyone with an ounce of nounce either installs pirate copies"
Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't pirating any version of Windows, especially the newest Windows, 10, helps their cause?
Even if it's pirated software and you didn't pay Microsoft anything, they win in the end. As you'll be increasing the ranks of Windows users and it's the number of users that matters to software developers, no?
Microsoft is becoming like IBM, they used to say "No one ever got fired for buying IBM" the same was said of Microsoft. The world moves on Microsoft is desperately trying to hold onto its dominance like IBM did. Windows is becoming a secondary OS, some thing to run in a virtual machine when using legacy applications.
Those managing IT and Windows specialists are in the same position other IT specialists when IBM was the market leader, they are confused and clinging onto what they know. The world moves on.
And TF2 and all that, I know. But the Linux Steam library is but a pale imitation of the main Windows library, and most of the new games will never see a Linux version (like Fallout 4, Bethesda has sworn off Linux as too fragmented), and WINE on them can be very hit or miss. As for Blizzard games like WoW and Overwatch, I hear caution is advised because while WoW can work, there are conflicting reports concerning Overwatch, plus the rumors that Battle.net will ban WINE users.
(like Fallout 4, Bethesda has sworn off Linux as too fragmented)
Yes yes as you keep saying ad infinitum... Over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over... Pushing an agenda much?
Anyways.. As I posted a few mins ago, not everyone is a gamer. Most of the games these days seem to be FB-based stuff anyway. My uncle uses his machine for web&email, document authoring (nothing requiring more than a text editor) and some basic accounts. No need for the games you incessantly go on about.
And with MS making it harder and harder for games writers to get customers, the games writers are going to have to think seriously about supporting a decent, fast, stable OS and dumping the insecure crap that comes from MS.
And before you waffle on about "too entrenched" have a good look at history. Lots of "too entrenched" technologies have quickly gone from being the be-all and end-all to a mere memory. Windows is a horse-and-cart. With square wheels. And only a chihuahua available to pull it.
"Yes yes as you keep saying ad infinitum... Over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over... Pushing an agenda much?"
Yes, if a company as motivated as Valve (they knew this was coming) can't convince the likes of ZeniMax (parent of Bethesda), that tells me the market simply isn't there. And millions of people are still paying in the neighborhood of $10 per month to keep playing a game that's still pretty much supported on only one platform. Like I said before, trying WINE is risky as you risk a ban last I heard. Like you said, not everyone's a gamer, but plenty are, and some are even professional gamers. They do it for a living. And that pretty much means Windows machines. Yet pro gaming leagues don't seem too concerned about Windows. Put it this way; I'll be convinced Windows is fading when the firms that do this for real life money (IOW, people with actual skin in the game, so to speak) defect. And I haven't seen that yet.
"And with MS making it harder and harder for games writers to get customers"
Oh? DirectX 12 ring a bell? Haven't heard much of a counter from the Kronos group yet with Vulkan.
"And before you waffle on about "too entrenched" have a good look at history. Lots of "too entrenched" technologies have quickly gone from being the be-all and end-all to a mere memory."
Like what specifically? I seriously doubt anything can upend a market that quickly. Especially a very mature market? I mean, many places still run coal power plants, for crying out loud. If Windows is a cart with square wheels, the ground's probably sandy and the dog's actually a mastiff cross (think ancient Egypt; they knew about wheels but didn't use them as much).
that tells me the market simply isn't there.
"There will only ever be a market for maybe 6 computers"... "No one would ever want to send messages to no-one in particular" etc etc (paraphrased). Lots of people have said "the market isn't there", and the technology is now something most people use every day and take for granted.
some are even professional gamers.
I don't own a hammer Maybe if I was to become a professional builder I might want one. IOW, "professional gamers" can buy the tools they need when they need them (BTW, professional gamers are starting to get sick of MS as well and are beginning to look elsewhere - turn off your negativity field and have a look elsewhere, you might see that talk about finding alternatives is increasing - and like saddle makers, if writers don't shift from a dying platform then they'll see custom reduced to nothing (yes, remember that the "internal combustion engine" would never take off, horse (& cart) would be around forever!)
DirectX 12 ring a bell?
Nope, it doesn't.
Like what specifically? I seriously doubt anything can upend a market that quickly. Especially a very mature market?
Nah, I'm not doing something that would take half a second of thought or a few seconds with Google if the thought is to hard for you. There are a number of "mature" markets that died out virtually overnight when other technology replaced them.
""There will only ever be a market for maybe 6 computers"... "No one would ever want to send messages to no-one in particular" etc etc (paraphrased). Lots of people have said "the market isn't there", and the technology is now something most people use every day and take for granted."
WHEN were those statement said exactly? It's not like ""There will only ever be a market for maybe 6 computers" and then there were six million overnight. Many of these things take time, like the apocryphal 640KB statement. 1MB was a lot of memory back in the 1980's. It made sense THEN.
"Nah, I'm not doing something that would take half a second of thought or a few seconds with Google if the thought is to hard for you. There are a number of "mature" markets that died out virtually overnight when other technology replaced them."
Then NAME SOME. I'm not going to do your legwork. It's a matter of principle. If you did this tactic in a courtroom, you'd be laughed out. YOU threw the lure, YOU reel it in.
"and like saddle makers, if writers don't shift from a dying platform then they'll see custom reduced to nothing"
You may be interested to know that Muir & McDonald Leathers are still very much in business. Their specialty happens to be the very thick steer leather that's preferred by saddle makers.
Windows 7 platform requirements as specified by MS:
1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor*
* Prior versions of Windows, including Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, have limited support when running on new processors and chipsets from manufacturers like Intel, AMD, NVidia, and Qualcomm.
{https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/10737/windows-7-system-requirements]
So if Intel/AMD say a brand new processor is an x64 then Windows 7 should run on it. What MS are trying to say here is that an Intel/AMD x64 processor is not the same thing as a Microsoft x64 processor and that the new MS x64 processor specification will be applied retrospectively.
Surely MS's lawyers got sight of this announcement before it was released, because can't see how MS will be able to pull the rabbit out-of-the-hat on this one...
But for those stuck with Windows-ONLY software (that isn't WINE-friendly), they're kinda stuck, you know? Microsoft figures they've got a captive market, and from the looks of things, they're at least partially right given there hasn't been a tidal wave of defections yet (for the aforesaid reasons).
When all else - absolutely all else - fails and literally nothing else but Windows Proper would work, one might want to give ReactOS a try. Yes, it's still all over the place and I really wouldn't try to use it as a main OS, but various bits and pieces kinda started to run on it lately, and it's not like you have much to lose at that point by trying...
Unless you need a lot of RAM, which leaves little for the host to run, or your job is 3D-heavy as 3D virtualization (especially on Windows guests) isn't all that mature (passthrough is only available for Linux guests). This pretty much precludes Windows gamers since performance-intensive games will probably require BOTH.
But for those stuck with Windows-ONLY software (that isn't WINE-friendly), they're kinda stuck, you know? Microsoft figures they've got a captive market...
For now.
The more Microsoft does these kinds of shenanigans, the more people will defect even if it means forgoing some windows-only software.
Eventually we might get to the point where vendors responsible for said software see the market share starting to shrink sufficiently that they will be forced to start offering non-windows versions if they want to stay in business.
"The more Microsoft does these kinds of shenanigans, the more people will defect even if it means forgoing some windows-only software."
The problem with your theory is that, for many, that Windows-only software isn't just some nice little thing; it's the linchpin to their whole operation. This is especially true of expensive custom jobs that will be expensive again to replace (probably TOO expensive to afford).
Like I said, captive market.
The problem with your theory is that, for many, that Windows-only software isn't just some nice little thing; it's the linchpin to their whole operation. This is especially true of expensive custom jobs that will be expensive again to replace (probably TOO expensive to afford).Like I said, captive market.
No. Because those systems don't get switched to new OS's. When it's as expensive as you're making out, there is much effort put into keeping the hardware static in case things break. Rather an old DOS machine talking to your factory than an upgrade taking your factory offline for a week. Or an hour. Or sometimes even a few minutes.
So not "captive market". No market at all.
This is so like the American attitude on everything - such a bunch of whiny little babies. Windows 10 is destined for the slag heap of history because you can see that Microsoft's attitude is only going to get worse - I can't see how they could ever claw their way back to being liked.
Thank the heavens there's an alternative.
Sad Nad getting to the top is when it all *really* started to go pear shaped, what with the forced 'upgrades' and all.
We went from poor product planning and some odd ideas to a company actively hostile to its customers and turning its back on ways of working that had been in place for years.
Bring back Gates and Ballmer!
I have a new Asrock X370 Taichi motherboard with a Ryzen R7. And I am still using Windows 7. All this blackmail hasn't affected me. I just received my April all-in-one security update. (Side point: I hate how Microsoft now bundles all security updates into one package.)
But I was wise enough to block several updates of Microsoft: 971033, 3013531, 3021917, 3068708, 3080149, 3147071, and 2952664 (which keeps coming back from the dead worse than the GWX one did). These are the telemetry updates, which sends your hardware back to the Borg.
I also block a ton of Microsoft spying websites at the router. I found those domains at this website: https://github.com/WindowsLies/BlockWindows.
But you can still give a big middle finger to Microsoft. You just have to get the updates another way. WSUS Offline is the other way.
> The Redmond giant is no longer serving software fixes to PCs and other systems that run Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 on Intel's fresh new Kaby Lake
So does this mean I won't get any more annoying messages about upgrades. No more pregnant pauses when the box boots up? No more tedious waiting for it to shut down?
If so, BRING IT! it sounds to me like this is the best reason yet to upgrade my CPU.
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