Microsoft: Only the Latest Version of Windows Will Support New CPU Generations (windows.com)

Joe_Dragon sends news from Microsoft about how the company will support Windows now and in the future. The company says PCs built with Intel's Skylake chip, and other new architectures in the future, will require the latest version of Windows for support. This doesn't take effect right away; Windows 7 and 8.1 will be supported on older chips until their planned end-of-life dates, in 2020 and 2023 respectively. They'll also be supported on a list of current Skylake devices for the next 18 months. After that, only the latest version of Windows will support integration between the operating system and new CPU features. "For example, 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." Microsoft also mentioned that for new supported systems, the company will "ensure all drivers will be on Windows Update with published BIOS/UEFI upgrading tools." The submitter adds, "Putting BIOS/UEFI updates in to the Windows 10 auto- / forced-update system may open Microsoft to paying $600-$1,000+ to replace broken laptops. If Windows tries to update BIOS/UEFI at a bad/risky time (like during power instability in a big storm), it could lead to an update loop or worse."

Comments

no thanks

[Anonymous Coward]

wow microsoft, you are really working OVERTIME to make sure we all really hate and despise your horrible joke of an operating system.

just say no to windoz 10

Re:no thanks

[ranton]

With stunts like this, Linux is going to win by default. Unless you really like throwing away old but perfectly-capable computers just because a new copy of Windows comes out, the only other use is to reformat the disk and put Linux on it. Relatively few common tasks other than graphics-intensive ones (games and rendering work) are beneath the abilities of machines 10 years old or more. If you have an OS that still works with the hardware.

I think this announcement is stupid too, but you do realize it doesn't say Windows won't work on older hardware right? It means older Windows versions won't work as well on newer hardware. It is the exact opposite of the problem you are claiming. What everyone here is worried about is being forced to upgrade Windows every time they upgrade their processor.

Linux and OSX are not ANY different on this issue

[Ambassador Kosh]

Skylake chips support some new power management features that allow the chip to throttle based on load far more efficiently than older chips. Microsoft is not adding special support to that to Windows 7 for example. The chip will still work on Windows 7 but not all features will work.

If you use a Debian install from 5 years ago it also won't support any of those new power management features and they are not going to backport those features. You can install a new kernel and a new version of some of the power management libraries, that will probably involve rebuilding a lot of user space and in the end you are probably going to break something else. What you would have to do is just use a distribution new enough to support all the features on your new processor.

OSX is going to do EXACTLY the same thing. Apple is not going to backport skylake power management to a 5 year old version of OSX and all the risks that could have. They are going to take the newest version, work out the details on that, validate it and support it.

Intels and AMDs new processors will continue to work on older Windows and Linux versions just like before. It is just that Microsoft has officially announced they are not going to backport new processor features to older operating system versions.

Re:Linux is getting much, much worse, too.

[Anonymous Coward]

One word: Cinnamon.

the 3D XPoint connection

[epine]

I'm of the opinion that Microsoft sees this as their main chance, with the near term arrival of "instant suspend / resume" in the laptop form factor, because otherwise, who the hell cares about the 3% annual performance increment that Intel presently eeks out year over year?

TrendForce Reports Intel's 3D XPoint to Shake High-End SSD Market in 3Q16

Moreover, their shipments will also complement the release of Kaby Lake, the successor to Skylake processor platform.

It's sort of well known that Kaby / Cannon with have some interesting new shit.

Re:How long will you all put up with this shit?

[cfalcon]

> They don't touch your personal files and they don't know what you do inside apps.

Ok, so first of all, here's the Windows 10 Eula. It points you to the Microsoft Privacy Statement.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-u...

And here's the document it's talking about:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-u...

So, lets go into this a bit. First, do they know what you do inside apps?

"The data we collect depends on the services and features you use, and includes the following..... ...Interests and favorites. We collect data about your interests and favorites, such as the teams you follow in a sports app, the stocks you track in a finance app, or the favorite cities you add to a weather app. In addition to those you explicitly provide, your interests and favorites may also be inferred or derived from other data we collect. "

Ok, so AS EXAMPLES, they mention how they monitor and track what you do inside apps. THE STOCKS YOU FUCKING TRACK IN A FINANCE APP. That's their goddamned EXAMPLE! Like that's the least offensive thing they could come up with, or something.

It is unambiguous that they know what you do inside apps.

Ok, next point, and this one is harder. Do they "touch your personal files"? Lets look:

Well, if you don't turn off "Input Personalization", then we KNOW it grabs everything you type, write, and say. But lets assume you DO turn that off.

Under Telemetry, we find this (it's pretty big):

---"
Usage and connectivity data. Microsoft regularly collects basic information about your Windows device including usage data, app compatibility data, and network and connectivity information. This data is transmitted to Microsoft and stored with one or more unique identifiers that can help us recognize an individual user on an individual device and understand the device's service issues and use patterns. The data we collect includes:

Configuration data, including the manufacturer of your device, model, number of processors, display size and resolution, date, region and language settings, and other data about the capabilities of the device.
The software (including drivers and firmware supplied by device manufacturers), installed on the device.
Performance and reliability data, such as how quickly programs respond to input, how many problems you experience with an app or device, or how quickly information is sent or received over a network connection.
App use data for apps that run on Windows (including Microsoft and third party apps), such as how frequently and for how long you use apps, which app features you use most often, how often you use Windows Help and Support, which services you use to sign into apps, and how many folders you typically create on your desktop.
Network and connection data, such as the device's IP address, number of network connections in use, and data about the networks you connect to, such as mobile networks, Bluetooth, and identifiers (BSSID and SSID), connection requirements and speed of Wi-Fi networks you connect to.
Other hardware devices connected to the device.
"---

Hrm, that sounds like some personal files would be in there, but it's not quite clear.

There's this part:

---"
Finally, we will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails in Outlook.com, or files in private folders on OneDrive), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to:

- comply with applicable law or respond to valid legal process, including from law enforcement or other government agencies;
- protect our customers, for example to prev