Microsoft discontinuing support for Windows 8.1 users ALREADY?

Overmind One

Overmind One

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http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsof...nfirms-its-dropping-windows-81-support-240407

Excerpt:

Yes, you read that right: With three weeks left until Windows 8.1 end of support -- until the next round of security patches appear with Windows 8.1 not included in the party list -- Microsoft still hasn't figured out how to get Windows 8.1 Update out to the corporate update distribution channel.

There's been progress on one (rarely reported) error: Microsoft has a patch you can run if you're hitting error 80071A91 when installing Windows 8.1 Update. It's detailed in KB 2939087.

Tell me again Microsoft how you're cutting off Windows 8.1 updates so that "customers benefit from the best support and servicing experience"? Pshaw -- it sounds to me more like some customer-tone-deaf person in the organization has decided to minimize the patching budget by cutting off the company's most recent customers.

It's not a wise move at all.
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Windows 8.1 was hotly anticipated, and although it has some new features, it is still disliked by end users. The enterprise is affected in Server 2012 R2, which is also no longer supported :facepalm:. This just means that security updates are not available. The good news is that you can revert to Windows 8 and there is a hack to make Server R2 get updates through WSUS. But this is saying to me that Microsoft is about to dump it for a major revamp (Windows 9?). If it has Metro anywhere in it, I think that will sink Microsoft in the consumer PC Operating System market.

Having said that, I actually LIKE my Windows 8 (not 8.1). But that is because I am a professional and I have made it unlike Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. It acts like a much faster Windows 7, and it has a Start button, a full Start Menu and for all intents and purposes, it acts and feels like Windows 7. I never have to see the Metro screen. I have found Windows 8 to boot faster, run faster on less power, open programs faster, and play games better. But that was after several major and minor tweaks over the course of 6 months.
 
Joelist

Joelist

What ship is this?
Staff member
The article is badly misworded. What they said was that users need to be on 8.1 Update 1 or alternately 8.0. Still silly if they do not get it back into WSUS beforehand but not what the hyperbole in the article title indicates.
 
Overmind One

Overmind One

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Joelist said:
The article is badly misworded. What they said was that users need to be on 8.1 Update 1 or alternately 8.0. Still silly if they do not get it back into WSUS beforehand but not what the hyperbole in the article title indicates.
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Misworded? :) They said it quite clearly: If you have "upgraded" to 8.1, you do not get any more Security Updates. Same with Server 2012 R2. Windows 8.0 is not affected, and people who are on Windows 8 can still get updates.
 
Tripler

Tripler

Well Known GateFan
I'm still on 7 for now and may stay there like I did with XP on my other puter . Guess I better put 7 on the other one as it gets no more uppy daters
 
Joelist

Joelist

What ship is this?
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Actually it is misworded and badly so. If you are on Update 1 (free update) you're still in the update train. The article makes it sound like ALL 8.1 installs are off which is not correct. It is only those which have not applied Update 1 to 8.1.

Now if they wanted to say that they think MS needs to keeps 8.1 no update in the train until update 1 has really been promulgated then say that. The way they said it creates false impressions and they probably did it to sound sensationalistic.
 
Overmind One

Overmind One

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Joelist said:
Actually it is misworded and badly so. If you are on Update 1 (free update) you're still in the update train. The article makes it sound like ALL 8.1 installs are off which is not correct. It is only those which have not applied Update 1 to 8.1.

Now if they wanted to say that they think MS needs to keeps 8.1 no update in the train until update 1 has really been promulgated then say that. The way they said it creates false impressions and they probably did it to sound sensationalistic.
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It affects the original 8.1, and not the 8.1 Update 1, and it affects Windows Server 2012 R2 too. Microsoft is screwing around with it's enterprise products too. My overall point is that Microsoft has lost it's way and they are now trying to FORCE updates on end users and now also the enterprise. They just do not have as much power as they think they do. Many people will refuse the update and brave it without security updates from Microsoft. I am going to be very busy. :)
 
Joelist

Joelist

What ship is this?
Staff member
Exactly. Only People on straight 8.1. People with the update are unaffected as are those still on 8.0. Same with 2012 versus 2012 R2.

Something tells me that before the deadline arrives it will get extended and they will have a revision of the updated posted to the channels which addresses the "chained update" issue which seems to be occurring in a small segment. In fact, the combination of changing the baseline starting with Update 1, that basically all the issues reported (the volume is overstated in the article because a thread on a board with 500 posts can have only 10-15 unique posters in it - like the MS Support thread does) are WU related and that pre 8.1 builds are still in the chain suggest strongly that the core issue is that 8.1 made a change to WU (Windows Update) which Update 1 is undoing.

Add in that the entire Windows Product Management team basically just took over (when Nadella came on the whole Windows Product Management team was changed as well) and I think that is where the messaging issue comes from. Even with the fact that MS could handle this better the article is still hyperbolic and not completely accurate - something InfoWorld has had past issues with and not just with regard to Microsoft matters.
 
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Illiterati

Illiterati

Council Member & Author
I've got the latest update on all three of my machines that are running 8.1.

Yes, wording on that article is lousy and someone deserves a violent smacking for it. If not the author, then the "editor" who let it fly as presented.
 
Overmind One

Overmind One

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Okay, here it is two years later, and Microsoft has created Windows 10 since the OP of this thread. :) Windows 8.1 now seems tame in comparison!
 
Bluce Ree

Bluce Ree

Tech Admin / Council Member
Overmind One said:
It affects the original 8.1, and not the 8.1 Update 1, and it affects Windows Server 2012 R2 too. Microsoft is screwing around with it's enterprise products too. My overall point is that Microsoft has lost it's way and they are now trying to FORCE updates on end users and now also the enterprise. They just do not have as much power as they think they do. Many people will refuse the update and brave it without security updates from Microsoft. I am going to be very busy. :)
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Still think Windows is brilliant for the back office on the enterprise level?
 
Overmind One

Overmind One

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Bluce Ree said:
Still think Windows is brilliant for the back office on the enterprise level?
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Well, I never thought it was "brilliant". :) But it is irreplaceable at the moment because of (mostly) Exchange and Active Directory. As soon as Active Directory is replaced or has competition, Microsoft is toast. With everything going to SaaS and cloud, having an AD Domain Controller will be sort of dumb.
 
Rac80

Rac80

The Belle of the Ball
the first time I heard the phrase "planned obsolescence" in the 80's I knew it was gimmick to get more money out of people :P
 
Overmind One

Overmind One

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Rac80 said:
the first time I heard the phrase "planned obsolescence" in the 80's I knew it was gimmick to get more money out of people :P
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Yep, and it is most definitely a thing now. A part of American manufacturing reality. I find that everything I own made in Germany or Italy or France before the year 2000 seems to be lasting forever. A bit of polish and a touch of regular maintenance, and they are all like new. Shoes, my car, kitchen appliances. My Chinese made shit is done in a couple of years. So, I restrict that to stuff like brooms, t-shirts and plastic items (hard to mess that up!).
 
Overmind One

Overmind One

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Bluce Ree

Bluce Ree

Tech Admin / Council Member
Discontinuing support of a half-baked interim hack that should have never existed?

ohnoes.gif~c200
 
Overmind One

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
Tripler said:
True but I can't play my games and my autistic son is some pissed at me because it does not work ...

;) ;) ;)
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You can install Windows 7 without UEFI (from a disc) and you will be able to access the files and also install the games. Go into the BIOS and enable "legacy boot".

Where are you on this issue? Perhaps I can help.
 
Overmind One

Overmind One

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Staff member
Tripler said:
Looks like this is older news but now because of this my windows os is useless to me because of UEFI . This in no way makes me want to upgrade to OSX ... It makes want to stay away from micro (manage the world) soft ...


https://www.softwarefreedom.org/blog/2012/jan/12/microsoft-confirms-UEFI-fears-locks-down-ARM/
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The way around this is the hardware BIOS. You have to go in there and find "Secure Boot" and disable it or set it to "not enforced". Then, you have to find the Boot Options and enable "legacy boot" if that is in there. Then, install Windows 7. Also, avoid the Windows 8 Logo Certified PCs. You can order PCs without the operating system installed, and if you do not want to continue being a victim of Microsoft, you need to take the extra steps to insure you won't be. You have built your rigs, so you can do this!
 
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