Windows 8 users face patch spigot shutoff in 7 months - TechworldWindows 8 users face patch spigot shutoff in 7 months
Windows 8 users have a little less than seven months to move to Windows 8.1 or be cut off from Microsoft's stream of security updates.
Windows Products Support Lifecycle FAQ8. 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 and existing Windows Store apps will work with Windows 8.1. The update has little to no impact on existing desktop apps and there is no direct software cost because business customers with Software Assurance licensing will receive Windows 8.1 as a free update. For organizations running legacy applications that need to be upgraded, there are tools to manage deployment in order to help mitigate cost and impact.
[TABLE="class: results"]
[TR]
[TH="class: pnColumn"]Products Released
[/TH]
[TH="class: gaColumn"]Lifecycle Start Date
[/TH]
[TH="class: msColumn"]Mainstream Support End Date
[/TH]
[TH="class: esColumn"]Extended Support End Date
[/TH]
[TH="class: spColumn"]Service Pack Support End Date
[/TH]
[TH]Notes
[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: pnColumn"]Windows 8
[/TD]
[TD]10/30/2012
[/TD]
[TD]1/9/2018
[/TD]
[TD]1/10/2023
[/TD]
[TD]1/12/2016
[/TD]
[TD]Customers have 24 months to move to Windows 8.1 after General Availability in order to remain supported. See the Windows 8.1 FAQ for more information.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: pnColumn"]Windows 8 Enterprise
[/TD]
[TD]10/30/2012
[/TD]
[TD]1/9/2018
[/TD]
[TD]1/10/2023
[/TD]
[TD]1/12/2016
[/TD]
[TD]Customers have 24 months to move to Windows 8.1 after General Availability in order to remain supported. See the Windows 8.1 FAQ for more information.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: pnColumn"]Windows 8 Enterprise N
[/TD]
[TD]10/30/2012
[/TD]
[TD]1/9/2018
[/TD]
[TD]1/10/2023
[/TD]
[TD]1/12/2016
[/TD]
[TD]Customers have 24 months to move to Windows 8.1 after General Availability in order to remain supported. See the Windows 8.1 FAQ for more information.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: pnColumn"]Windows 8 N
[/TD]
[TD]10/30/2012
[/TD]
[TD]1/9/2018
[/TD]
[TD]1/10/2023
[/TD]
[TD]1/12/2016
[/TD]
[TD]Customers have 24 months to move to Windows 8.1 after General Availability in order to remain supported. See the Windows 8.1 FAQ for more information.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: pnColumn"]Windows 8 Pro
[/TD]
[TD]10/30/2012
[/TD]
[TD]1/9/2018
[/TD]
[TD]1/10/2023
[/TD]
[TD]1/12/2016
[/TD]
[TD]Customers have 24 months to move to Windows 8.1 after General Availability in order to remain supported. See the Windows 8.1 FAQ for more information.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: pnColumn"]Windows 8 Pro N
[/TD]
[TD]10/30/2012
[/TD]
[TD]1/9/2018
[/TD]
[TD]1/10/2023
[/TD]
[TD]1/12/2016
[/TD]
[TD]Customers have 24 months to move to Windows 8.1 after General Availability in order to remain supported. See the Windows 8.1 FAQ for more information.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]