Still running Windows 8? Time to upgrade, or else

Windows 8 is only three years old, so with Microsoft's 10-year support policy, one might assume it's eligible for security updates for many years. But thanks to a quirk in that support lifecycle, the clock runs out in a matter of days. If you're still running Windows 8, it's time to upgrade.

Microsoft's support lifecycle for every Windows version is a generous 10 years from the date it was launched. That means even those still clinging to Windows Vista can count on more than a year of security updates, until April 11, 2017, and anyone running Windows 7 can do so with confidence until January 14, 2020.

So Windows 8, which was released in October of 2012, should be supported until well into the next decade, right?

Nope...

Read more: Still running Windows 8? Time to upgrade, or else

   Tip

How to Update to Windows 8.1 from Windows 8

   Note

If you are not able to upgrade to Windows 8.1 from your activated Windows 8 using the Store method above, then you will also be able to:

Directly upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 using a Windows 10 ISO file or Windows 10 installation USB.

OR

Directly clean install Windows 10 on the Windows 8 PC using a GenuineTicket.xml file to activate.

 

[nt62]

or else

?

It is interesting how well a computer works when NOT connected to a network.







Go ahead and update to 8.1.1 or Windows 11082

 

[Jody Thornton]

I just moved over to Windows 8 Pro x64, but I can't use Windows 8.1 because of the processor requirements. For me, x86 isn't an option. So I'm just going to keep Windows Defender updated, and be careful when browsing.

Keep in mind, I'm at work right now with an XP machine, and in the nearly two years of post-support, there's NEVER been an issue on this machine. I think I'll be OK on Windows 8. It's working absolutely great.

 

[Cliff S]

Today- 12-Jan-2015 is the last Patch Tuesday for people who cannot upgrade their Win8 devices to Win8.1 because of hardware compatibility issues.
I didn't have this problem, but I still think it sucks, for the people, who bought a device thinking it would be supported for 10 years.

[TABLE="class: results"]
[TR]
[TD="class: pnColumn"]Windows 8[/TD]
[TD]30/10/2012[/TD]
[TD]09/01/2018[/TD]
[TD]10/01/2023[/TD]
[TD]12/01/2016[/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]30/10/2012[/TD]
[TD]09/01/2018[/TD]
[TD]10/01/2023[/TD]
[TD]12/01/2016[/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]30/10/2012[/TD]
[TD]09/01/2018[/TD]
[TD]10/01/2023[/TD]
[TD]12/01/2016[/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]30/10/2012[/TD]
[TD]09/01/2018[/TD]
[TD]10/01/2023[/TD]
[TD]12/01/2016[/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]30/10/2012[/TD]
[TD]09/01/2018[/TD]
[TD]10/01/2023[/TD]
[TD]12/01/2016[/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]30/10/2012[/TD]
[TD]09/01/2018[/TD]
[TD]10/01/2023[/TD]
[TD]12/01/2016[/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]

 

[Jody Thornton]

On the other hand, I won't get telemetry updates or nags to upgrade to Windows 10.

 

[TechnoMage]

I don't get it..... I'm still installing Windows 8.1 on PC's that are more than ten years old. Hardware compatibility doesn't seem to be as much of a problem as has been advertised. Eh?

For anyone needing to run 'Old' software, the 32 bit version of 8.1 is a real treat.

Cheers Mates!
TechnoMage

 

[werty]

I don't get it..... I'm still installing Windows 8.1 on PC's that are more than ten years old. Hardware compatibility doesn't seem to be as much of a problem as has been advertised. Eh?

For anyone needing to run 'Old' software, the 32 bit version of 8.1 is a real treat.

Cheers Mates!

TechnoMage

Hi,

it is not that simple in some situations - I have a seven year old Asus F5V laptop which for some reason can not be upgraded to windows 8.1. It is most likely BIOS issue but as there is no update since 2008 I can not find a way to upgrade this model. There is also a thread on Microsoft community and people blame the ASUS F5 Series BIOS for not upgrading this models. So no soap for us today.

 

[TechnoMage]

Meaning no disrespect whatsoever.......

But, I own 20 computers, and not even one is an Asus brand, and I'm glad of that, and I want to keep it that way.

I'm sorry, that you can't upgrade that little PC to Windows 8.1....it really is a great OS. I have it running on several old PC's here that date back to the latter XP days.
However on a few really OLD PC's that won't take 8.1, I install Windows 7, Pro/32 and they take it and run just fine. It's not really a far stretch from Windows 7 Pro to Windows 8.1 Pro. They are, after all, kissing cousins.
All my tweaks and speed secrets that work on 7 also work on 8.1. Under the covers, they are very much alike.

Good Luck and have a great 2016

TechnoMage

 

[Jody Thornton]

I actually like Windows 8 better than 7 though. And two things:

(a) I'm typing this from work on a Windows XP computer. After nearly two years of post-EOL, we have no issue with it.
(b) I've removed IE 10 (using Add/Remove Features and DISM, and I use Pale Moon. It's working great I must say.

As for the reason the CPU on my box won't run the update to Windows 8.1, here's the findings on MSFN. I'm surprised how many people just don't know about this situation:
Now That Windows 8 Classic Support Is Ending Soon ... - Page 2 - Windows 8 - MSFN Forum

 

[Lee]

I don't get it..... I'm still installing Windows 8.1 on PC's that are more than ten years old. Hardware compatibility doesn't seem to be as much of a problem as has been advertised. Eh?

For anyone needing to run 'Old' software, the 32 bit version of 8.1 is a real treat.

Cheers Mates!
TechnoMage

. . .That would be a very silly thing to do if you are running a 64 bit system with over 4 gigs of ram, thus to say the least it would not be a real threat. it would be a nightmare. . .

 

[Jody Thornton]

Today- 12-Jan-2015 is the last Patch Tuesday for people who cannot upgrade their Win8 devices to Win8.1 because of hardware compatibility issues.
I didn't have this problem, but I still think it sucks, for the people, who bought a device thinking it would be supported for 10 years.

[TABLE="class: results"]
[TR]
[TD="class: pnColumn"]Windows 8[/TD]
[TD]30/10/2012[/TD]
[TD]09/01/2018[/TD]
[TD]10/01/2023[/TD]
[TD]12/01/2016[/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]30/10/2012[/TD]
[TD]09/01/2018[/TD]
[TD]10/01/2023[/TD]
[TD]12/01/2016[/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]30/10/2012[/TD]
[TD]09/01/2018[/TD]
[TD]10/01/2023[/TD]
[TD]12/01/2016[/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]30/10/2012[/TD]
[TD]09/01/2018[/TD]
[TD]10/01/2023[/TD]
[TD]12/01/2016[/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]30/10/2012[/TD]
[TD]09/01/2018[/TD]
[TD]10/01/2023[/TD]
[TD]12/01/2016[/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]30/10/2012[/TD]
[TD]09/01/2018[/TD]
[TD]10/01/2023[/TD]
[TD]12/01/2016[/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]

Appears there's no need for tears. Read On!
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/175105-server-2012-updates-on-windows-8/#entry1117768

 

[TechnoMage]

I don't get it..... I'm still installing Windows 8.1 on PC's that are more than ten years old. Hardware compatibility doesn't seem to be as much of a problem as has been advertised. Eh?
For anyone needing to run 'Old' software, the 32 bit version of 8.1 is a real treat.
Cheers Mates!
TechnoMage

. . .That would be a very silly thing to do if you are running a 64 bit system with over 4 gigs of ram, thus to say the least it would not be a real threat. it would be a nightmare. . .

I've read your post, over and over and I don't get your meaning. If you're already running a 64 bit system, why would you want to install a 32 bit system?
I only install Windows 8.1/32 on old or rebuilt systems that may need to run old 32 bit or even 16 bit software. You CANNOT run old software on a 64 bit system. Or maybe you didn't know that. Eh?
Almost everyone who's been computing for 20 years or more, has at least one 32 or 16 bit program that they still want to use. I know I do!!!

My customers who have bought a new PC, with a 64 bit OS on it, really cry the blues, when I tell them it won't run their old programs.
But I guess, that if you're a Nubie who doesn't have any old 32 or 16 bit programs, you wouldn't know what I'm talking about. Eh?

happy computing!

TechnoMage