New Windows 8.1 requirements strand some users on 8

New Windows 8.1 requirements strand some users on Windows 8

Windows 8.1 fixes many of Windows 8’s most glaring flaws, but not everyone is able to bask in the bountiful new features. Owners of some older PCs have found themselves stranded on Windows 8, trapped by a subtle tweak in Windows 8.1’s hardware requirements. And beyond the irritation factor, the issue could have troubling support implications for affected users, as Microsoft has told Windows 8 users they’ll need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 by 2015 to continue receiving critical system updates.

Source

A Guy

 

[DavidY]

I doubt MS lied. They WILL still support 8. In fact, they even have a product list with the support cycle for each, give it a try: Microsoft Product Lifecycle Search

I tried it. I searched for "Windows 8" on that page, and it says this in the Notes column.
Microsoft Product Lifecycle Search

Windows 8 customers will have 24 months to move to Windows 8.1 after the General Availability of the Windows 8.1 update in order to remain supported. See the Windows 8.1 FAQ for more information.

So they won't support Windows 8 in 2 years' time, according to the link you posted...

 

[alphanumeric]

@DustSailer, If support for Windows 8 was dropped after 2 years, anybody that paid for 8 and can't upgrade too 8.1 is going to be thrown under the bus. I think that's the point DavidY is trying to make. I personally would be very surprised if Microsoft actually did that. I don't think its in their best interest. It would seem though that there is conflicting information on this scenario.

 

[DustSailor]

May just have to see how it pans out o.0

when I looked, win 8 said mainstream ends 1/9/18 and extended ends 1/10/23... ?

Edit:
Ah, I see that note:
Windows 8.1 will remain under the same lifecycle policy as Windows 8 with support ending 1/10/2023. Windows 8 customers will have 24 months to move to Windows 8.1 after the General Availability of the Windows 8.1 update in order to remain supported. See the Windows 8.1 FAQ for more information.

 

[DustSailor]

Well that really sucks because they made 8.1 hard to get through volume licenses, and I have a few computers with 8 on them.

Means I'll need to go through a complicated procedure since the store doesn't provide them for me. and apparently it is mandatory:
Microsoft mandates Windows 8.1 upgrade - Computerworld

Which means...
Forgive me, David, for being an @zz

 

[DavidY]

Forgive me, David, for being an @zz

Hey, no problem.

Microsoft need to sort out the contradictory info on their website - you look at the info on Windows 8 and it appears to be supported long-term; it's only when you look at the stuff on Windows 8.1 that it tells you that Windows 8 isn't supported after all in 2 years' time.

 

[MrShowdown]

Wait, did the article says "AMD Athlon X2 64"?
If it doesn't support Athlon X2 64, uh oh.

I was about to upgrade my family computer to Windows 8.1 (AMD Athlon X2 64 5000+).

 

[DustSailor]

^ try the upgrade assistant - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=261871

 

[CountMike]

Wait, did the article says "AMD Athlon X2 64"?
If it doesn't support Athlon X2 64, uh oh.

I was about to upgrade my family computer to Windows 8.1 (AMD Athlon X2 64 5000+).

Don't worry Win8 and 8.1 work just fine on my computer with exactly same processor.

 

[DavidY]

Wait, did the article says "AMD Athlon X2 64"?
If it doesn't support Athlon X2 64, uh oh.

I was about to upgrade my family computer to Windows 8.1 (AMD Athlon X2 64 5000+).

Don't worry Win8 and 8.1 work just fine on my computer with exactly same processor.

Just to check - are you running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 8.1? (I believe that at least some of the problems affect 64-bit Windows but 32-bit will run.)

 

[CountMike]

Win 8.1 Pro, x64. on M2n-CM DVI, MB. 2GB memory.

 

[MrShowdown]

Wait, did the article says "AMD Athlon X2 64"?
If it doesn't support Athlon X2 64, uh oh.

I was about to upgrade my family computer to Windows 8.1 (AMD Athlon X2 64 5000+).

Don't worry Win8 and 8.1 work just fine on my computer with exactly same processor.

Thanks for your response, just shocked after i have found a text concerning AMD Athlon X2 64.

 

[DMGrier]

I saw this coming when I heard about Windows 8.1 development, MS is just moving to the same development/release model the rest of the industry uses. Look at OS X and any other Unix/Unix Like operating system, they do regular six month to one year releases and typically only support the release for 18 months to 24 months. All this development is far more extensive then a service pack or an update, feels more like a upgrade to me which makes me wonder if starting with Windows 8.2 if MS will start charging for updates.

I think the only thing that is bothering me is the broken compatibility of Windows 8.1,I get it since it is an attempt to hint at us to buy new computer which makes sense with PC sales as low as they are right now. Honestly though if MS is going to try and stay competitive in the market it helps to make sure upgrades don't break driver and system config compatibility. Does not look good for them when OEM are looking into other operating systems to promote from Chrome OS to Ubuntu now on Dell and Asus, Intel and Samsung working with Tizen Linux for mobile and desktop development.

 

[Julio Cortez]

A friend of mine had a similar problem unfortunately. He's still considering reverting to Windows 7.
By the way, has there been a more clear explanation from MS on how they want to treat the support for Windows 8?

Look at OS X and any other Unix/Unix Like operating system, they do regular six month to one year releases and typically only support the release for 18 months to 24 months.

It reminds me of the Apple move from Leopard to Snow Leopard in 2009, when they removed the support to PowerPC machines altogether.

I'd like to know exactly how Microsoft deals with Windows 8.1:

• If it's a service pack, then the system requirements shouldn't have changed from the ones of Windows 8 but MS have the right to stop supporting Windows 8 in a 24 months time.
• If it's a new OS, I see a reason to rewrite the requirements, but then Windows 8 should have several years of support and not just 24 months.

It's just that Microsoft shouldn't be able to have the best of the two worlds, even if they're trying to.

 

[alphanumeric]

8.0 to 8.1 is more than just a service pack. Its a new OS as the kernel version changes, it goes to 6.3. 8.0 is version 6.2, or NT 6.2 if you like.

 

[Julio Cortez]

Thanks for it: if 8.1 has to be considered a new OS, then having new system requirements makes sense.
Also, sorry for reviving an old thread but I came across the same problem with a friend of mine's PC and stumbled upon this.

 

[DavidY]

Thanks for it: if 8.1 has to be considered a new OS, then having new system requirements makes sense.
Also, sorry for reviving an old thread but I came across the same problem with a friend of mine's PC and stumbled upon this.

But if you bought Windows 8, it won't be supported after 2 years, and you have to upgrade to 8.1 to stay supported.

So in the sense of support from Microsoft, it's treated like a Service Pack to Windows 8, regardless of the changes to the kernel etc.

Edit: I just found this on this FAQ page.

Why are you requiring Windows 8 customers move to Windows 8.1 two years after the General Availability?

Historically, we’ve had a similar support approach related to Windows service packs; when a Windows service pack is released, Microsoft provides customers 24 months of support for the prior service pack or original RTM version. Unlike service packs that are typically just a collection of fixes, Windows 8.1 has new features and enhancements. We designed Windows 8.1 to give customers an ability to deploy this update in a manner that is similar to how customers deploy service packs, therefore we are applying the existing service pack support policy to Windows 8.1.

Windows 8.1 does not change any hardware requirements compared with Windows 8 or Windows 7

(Although this last statement is of course incorrect, see earlier in the thread.)

 

[CountMike]

Well, not all the HW requirements are changed, I have run into only one, support for my video card, the rest is happy with Win8 drivers and even some for Win7.

 

[alphanumeric]

Thanks for it: if 8.1 has to be considered a new OS, then having new system requirements makes sense.
Also, sorry for reviving an old thread but I came across the same problem with a friend of mine's PC and stumbled upon this.

But if you bought Windows 8, it won't be supported after 2 years, and you have to upgrade to 8.1 to stay supported.

So in the sense of support from Microsoft, it's treated like a Service Pack to Windows 8, regardless of the changes to the kernel etc.

Edit: I just found this on this FAQ page.

Why are you requiring Windows 8 customers move to Windows 8.1 two years after the General Availability?

Historically, we’ve had a similar support approach related to Windows service packs; when a Windows service pack is released, Microsoft provides customers 24 months of support for the prior service pack or original RTM version. Unlike service packs that are typically just a collection of fixes, Windows 8.1 has new features and enhancements. We designed Windows 8.1 to give customers an ability to deploy this update in a manner that is similar to how customers deploy service packs, therefore we are applying the existing service pack support policy to Windows 8.1.

Windows 8.1 does not change any hardware requirements compared with Windows 8 or Windows 7

(Although this last statement is of course incorrect, see earlier in the thread.)

It's confusing to say the least. It is technically a new OS but Microsoft seems to be treating it more like a service pack. They are offering it for free for those running 8.0 so I guess they expect everybody to take them up on that offer. New PC's with the factory OEM installs should meet the new hardware requirements. From what I'm seeing the people with the issues are those that installed it on older hardware. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, its just an observation. I'm not sure how Microsoft is going to handle that. If your PC meet the requirements for 8 but doesn't for 8.1, they can't very well though you under the bus and remove support for 8.0. They could if they wanted to, but I don't think it will go over very well with those effected. I'm sure they could patch it so it works on the older hardware. Time will tell.

 

[CountMike]

MS can only change requirements for driver workings, it's up to parts manufacturers to make drivers for their HW and that's where we can usually get stuck. If AMD didn't write new drivers for my GPU, for Win 8.1 (couple of weeks later) I would be stuck with last version of windows (in this case W8). There may lie a bit of NS's fault if they changed something and did not tell AMD, or they (AMD) did not act on time. In any case it was a surprise (not nice I might ad).
Is it coming back to the old "Don't buy anything v 1.0" ?

 

[alphanumeric]

I should have said but I was referring to the CPU requirements. I do believe that's what's catching some people out when trying to upgrade to 8.1. Yes drivers are up to the original hardware manufacturers.