Microsoft Says Upcoming Processors Will Only Support Windows 10

However, the gist seems to be that organizations will have to check Microsoft’s forthcoming list of supported technologies for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 when making plans to purchase new PCs if they want to run those older Windows operating systems on the newer hardware. Upcoming processors like Intel’s Kaby Lake, Qualcomm’s 8966 and AMD’s Bristol Ridge will not share this compassion, and will support only Windows 10. However, Microsoft also announced that the company will be continuing supporting a list of allowed Skylake systems with Windows 7 or Windows 8 until July 17; 2017. “This enables us to focus on deep integration between Windows and the silicon, while maintaining maximum reliability and compatibility with previous generations of platform and silicon”.

After 2017, Microsoft’s post states, security fixes will only be released if they don’t pose a risk “reliability or compatibility”.

The flipside of that coin though is that Windows 7, built on ten-year-old code, and in addition all versions of Windows 8, won’t be getting support for new CPUs. As Peter Bright of Ars Technica reports, Windows 10 does not exactly have an equivalent in the server space yet, which makes you wonder what that support cycle will be like. This new generation hardware will exclusively depend on Windows 10. Microsoft, however, hopes that everyone will eventually deploy Windows 10, so its aggressive push will continue in the coming months.

“In clarifying this policy, we are prioritising transparency with enterprises on where to find the highest reliability and best-supported Windows experience”.

The company on Friday had announced that it will be ending support for its operating systems that are older than Windows 10 on newer chipset platforms.

Microsoft outlined the changes to its support policy in a new blog post. It could certainly be seen as a rude shock to enterprise users, who may now be forced to stick to older hardware just to run their chosen operating systems.

Historically…Microsoft’s support lifecycle [proposed] a charitable 10 years of support for apiece Windows release.

Well hopefully you like Windows 10 because soon you won’t be able to buy a new PC that supports any other version of Windows.

While Microsoft will fullfill its legacy hardware obligations, it won’t be expending resources to help users steer clear of its latest and greatest. In other words, companies have 18 months before they have to update their latest hardware to Windows 10. Otherwise, extended support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 remains until January 14, 2020 and January 20, 2023 respectively. As Windows moves forward drivers will become more a part of Windows update as each device is registered with Microsoft.