Windows 8.1 support from Microsoft will end on January 10, 2023

As a reminder, Windows 8.1 will reach end of support on January 10, 2023, at which point technical assistance and software updates will no longer be provided. If you have devices running Windows 8.1, we recommend upgrading them to a more current, in-service, and supported Windows release. If devices do not meet the technical requirements to run a more current release of Windows, we recommend that you replace the device with one that supports Windows 11.

Microsoft will not be offering an Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Windows 8.1. Continuing to use Windows 8.1 after January 10, 2023 may increase an organization’s exposure to security risks or impact its ability to meet compliance obligations.

Read more:

Windows 8.1 support ended on January 10, 2023 - Microsoft Support

Support for Windows 8.1 ended on January 10, 2023. Learn what it means for you and how to move to a supported version of Windows.

support.microsoft.com

 

[dave67]

The nag message is full screen.

 

[erpster4]

The nag message is full screen.

yup - as recently reported by BleepingComputer

Windows 8.1 now shows full-screen 'End of Support' warnings

Windows 8.1 is now displaying full-screen alerts when logging into the operating system, warning that the OS is reaching the end of support in January 2023 and will no longer receive security updates.

www.bleepingcomputer.com

===

disabling the EOL nags on 8.1:

Topic: 2000017 Registry keys and command line info to block the Windows 8.1 End of Life @ AskWoody

 

[Jody Thornton]

Oh great ! But, uh Server 2012 R2 is still supported so you can't really obtain ESU Updates ( At least, for now ) ?

Tried Server 2012 R2 update on my Windows 8.1 VM, installed flawlessly.

Correct. Server 2012 and 2012 R2 exit support as of October 2023, so ESU updates would commence for both in November of 2023.

 

[TechnoMage]

Nags? Hassle? Unfriendly reminders? WHY!
Get smart, just go to GRC.com and download and run "Never 10"

First time you run it, you'll see.....

Once it's been run, you'll see....

it's just that easy....no more nags, pupups, or hassles. Like they say in N.Y. "Forgetaboutit".

While at Steve Gibson's website, you can download several other little programs to help secure Windows.

Just a tip from an old salt.

TM

 

[Teeotsa]

"Never 10"

Isn't "Never 10" useless these days ? There are no more forced upgrades to Windows 10 ?

And best way to never experience any nags / popups is not to update your system or just utilize some scripts .

 

[Bree]

Can ESU updates even be obtained from MS Update Catalog ?

Probably not. None of the Windows 7 ESU update are available there, not publicly anyway.

Apparently the procedure for Windows 7 was that you had to install the E.xtended Security Updates (ESU) Licensing Preparation Package, then enter your purchased ESU MAK key. Only then would you have access to the ESU updates through Windows Update or the Catalog.

KB4522133: Procedure to continue receiving security updates after extended support ended on January 10, 2023 - Microsoft Support

Describes how customers who have purchased the Extended Security Update (ESU) can continue to receive security updates.

support.microsoft.com

 

[Teeotsa]

Probably not. None of the Windows 7 ESU update are available there, not publicly anyway.

Apparently the procedure for Windows 7 was that you had to install the E.xtended Security Updates (ESU) Licensing Preparation Package, then enter your purchased ESU MAK key. Only then would you have access to the ESU updates through Windows Update or the Catalog.

KB4522133: Procedure to continue receiving security updates after extended support ended on January 10, 2023 - Microsoft Support

Describes how customers who have purchased the Extended Security Update (ESU) can continue to receive security updates.

support.microsoft.com

Oh, Thank you for the information .

Maybe someone is skilled enough to create something *wink*

Only reason I want those updates is to update my ISO Image . Won't update my main system with those .

 

[TechnoMage]

To just assume that MS has all the OS programmers in the world, would be a really BIG mistake.
Every time that MS abandons an OS, other programmers will step in and take over the improvements, that we call Updates.
For instance, Windows 7/Pro has been picked up by a non-MS group and has been greatly enhanced, with among other things, a greatly improved Driver Pack.
And, best of all, anyone can download and install it! Same thing with Windows 8.1.
It's out there, already enhanced and ready for download, for those who want it. Windows 8.2?

 

[Brink]

Reminder.

 

[Jody Thornton]

To just assume that MS has all the OS programmers in the world, would be a really BIG mistake.
Every time that MS abandons an OS, other programmers will step in and take over the improvements, that we call Updates.
For instance, Windows 7/Pro has been picked up by a non-MS group and has been greatly enhanced, with among other things, a greatly improved Driver Pack.
And, best of all, anyone can download and install it! Same thing with Windows 8.1.
It's out there, already enhanced and ready for download, for those who want it. Windows 8.2?

I went and looked at that stuff though. They don't REALLY say what they do to improve it. The videos seem sorta dodgy too.
I'm on Windows 8. I just updated using the latest Server 2012 Security Only Quality update. Mt sytem runs like a dream

 

[Bernadine]

I'm a senior who doesn't understand all the "computerese" language and terms and I have a question.

I originally came to this webpage to ask how I can find out the temperature of my desktop computer. I am having some intermittent problems that seem to manifest themselves more when the computer has been on a while and gets warm, maybe too hot. I can postpone the problems if I point an external room fan directly on my computer. At some point in time, I saw something, that in my quick glance at it, looked like a temperature reading but I can't find it back. Where do I look?

Reading the posts, I have a couple more comments/questions.
1. I knew 8.1 support was being discontinued. (I liked when someone said "abandoned.") Does that mean that this web site will no longer answer questions? It says in your "About Us" section that you are an independent web site.
2. Someone a long time ago told me how to stop the Win 10 nags. I don't remember it being hard, and I can't remember how I did it. But it sure is nice not to get them.
3. I use 8.1 because I cried when I had to give up XP. I don't want to have to change to a new program, and I understand 11 will require a new computer to run it. How do they think people can afford to get new things just because they say we have to. We have FreeGeek, a computer non-profit that builds computers with Linux and used to give them to low income folks. Now they have stopped that program and are selling them on eBay. But I have some programs that will only work with Windows and I don't want to give them up or have to pay yet more money to replace them. If they would even work with Linux. Someone told me the computers in the apartment building have Win7 and they still work. So 8.1 will continue to work too?

Thanks,
Bernadine

 

[dave67]

I'm a senior who doesn't understand all the "computerese" language and terms and I have a question.

I originally came to this webpage to ask how I can find out the temperature of my desktop computer. I am having some intermittent problems that seem to manifest themselves more when the computer has been on a while and gets warm, maybe too hot. I can postpone the problems if I point an external room fan directly on my computer. At some point in time, I saw something, that in my quick glance at it, looked like a temperature reading but I can't find it back. Where do I look?

Reading the posts, I have a couple more comments/questions.
1. I knew 8.1 support was being discontinued. (I liked when someone said "abandoned.") Does that mean that this web site will no longer answer questions? It says in your "About Us" section that you are an independent web site.
2. Someone a long time ago told me how to stop the Win 10 nags. I don't remember it being hard, and I can't remember how I did it. But it sure is nice not to get them.
3. I use 8.1 because I cried when I had to give up XP. I don't want to have to change to a new program, and I understand 11 will require a new computer to run it. How do they think people can afford to get new things just because they say we have to. We have FreeGeek, a computer non-profit that builds computers with Linux and used to give them to low income folks. Now they have stopped that program and are selling them on eBay. But I have some programs that will only work with Windows and I don't want to give them up or have to pay yet more money to replace them. If they would even work with Linux. Someone told me the computers in the apartment building have Win7 and they still work. So 8.1 will continue to work too?

Thanks,
Bernadine

You'll still get answers. Of course they'll still work.

 

[Bree]

I knew 8.1 support was being discontinued. (I liked when someone said "abandoned.") Does that mean that this web site will no longer answer questions? It says in your "About Us" section that you are an independent web site.

Yes, this website is not going anywhere. As long as members ask questions there will be other members answering them. The sister-site Seven Forums is still very active, and even Vista Forum gets regular posts.

I use 8.1 because I cried when I had to give up XP. I don't want to have to change to a new program, and I understand 11 will require a new computer to run it. How do they think people can afford to get new things just because they say we have to. ...

If you can run W8.1 you are still able to upgrade to W10, which will remain in support until 14 October 2025. Any PC that can run 64-bit W10 can be made to run W11. The restrictions MS impose are only applied when trying to upgrade to 11on an unsupported PC or do a clean install. There are some simple workarounds to bypass those restrictions, and once installed on an unsupported device W11 will work and get updates through Windows Update.

Someone told me the computers in the apartment building have Win7 and they still work. So 8.1 will continue to work too?

'End of Support' for an OS doesn't mean it stops working, just that MS will no longer issues security patches for any new threats that may emerge. As long as you are careful how you browse and have an AV that is still supported then it can still be relatively safe to use W7 after its end of support. The same should hold true for W8.1.

 

[carl55]

I went and looked at that stuff though. They don't REALLY say what they do to improve it. The videos seem sorta dodgy too.
I'm on Windows 8. I just updated using the latest Server 2012 Security Only Quality update. Mt sytem runs like a dream

Hi Jody,
Did you mean the KB5x18476 that was for R2 back in October (latest for November is KB5x2xx1x), correct ?

 

[Jody Thornton]

Hi Jody,
Did you mean the KB5x18476 that was for R2 back in October (latest for November is KB5x2xx1x), correct ?

Well my last update was ,,,, KB5020003 for November, It's for Server 2012 and I used it for Windows 8.

Now let's pretend that Windows 8.1 is now out of support.
KB5020010 is the update for Server 2012 R2, and yes that would "likely" patch Windows 8.1

 

[carl55]

Perfect! It's clear.
Anyway we will see in just a month or a bit later.
Thank you!

 

[TechnoMage]

Y'all might, but I won't. I've had all updates for Windows disabled on my PC's since the install date.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!
TM

 

[Brink]

Support ends for Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7, 8.1

Heya folks, Ned here again. January 10 is a big day for support lifecycle on Windows Server and Windows. Not directly storage or file services-related, but critical news for IT Pros and their organizations, so I'm blogging about it. Windows Server 2008 R2 Extended Security Update ends January...

techcommunity.microsoft.com

 

[patrickdrd]

even though "Never 10" says that "windows 10 OS Upgrade is disabled on this system"
and I've got:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"DisableOSUpgrade"=dword:00000001

I still got this annoying nag:

does anyone know how I can disable it?

 

[dave67]

even though "Never 10" says that "windows 10 OS Upgrade is disabled on this system"
and I've got:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"DisableOSUpgrade"=dword:00000001

I still got this annoying nag:

does anyone know how I can disable it?

Via a reg key Topic: 2000017 Registry keys and command line info to block the Windows 8.1 End of Life @ AskWoody