When they stop supporting Windows 7. Installing "seven" on computers with the SKYLAKE processor and super-fast SSD drive

What does this mean and what are the consequences for home and corporate users?

Normal support instead of extended

The refusal of extended support in favor of the usual does not mean that Windows 7 has died. The system simply will no longer receive new features and technological updates. From this moment will not be able to receive free help On the problems associated with the OS, now they will have to pay.

Windows 7 is now in the phase of the so-called "extended support" until January 2020. This means that in the next five years, ordinary users and organizations will regularly receive critical system security patches.

Of course, news about the end of the life cycle of the system does not carry special optimism. Since mid-2014, analysts expressed concern about the upcoming transition and advised companies to prepare for OS migration.

What conclusions made companies after completing Windows XP support?

Windows XP, the age of which exceeds 12 years, is the second most popular OS in the world. Last experience has shown that at least 20 percent of the world's population uses Windows XP even after the official "death" of the system. The Windows XP users have a large number of organizations that were unable to deploy new OS on existing machines.


Popularity statistics operating systemswindows - data BitDefender Labs, April 2014

One of the reasons why companies have tightened the system migration process is incompatibilities of custom applications with Internet Explorer. 7 versions and higher. Costs for the transition are also quite significant. Migration with zero budget is practically impossible due to lack required tools, processes and bandwidth.

Senior analyst for digital threats to Bitdefender Bogdan Botezatu (Bogdan Botezatu) stated:

Organizations should not underestimate the complexity of the total transition process. Begin migration you need as early as possible to avoid serious or unexpected safety risks. Ospened OS can make a multi-million-dollar army of users vulnerable in the face of real threats. This situation occurred in April 2014, when windows users XP at risk picked up the threat of a zero day due to the use of unnecessary internet browser Explorer.

Do you think that companies have prepared better than Windows 7's "funeral" than to the completion of the Windows XP life cycle at one time?

Found a typo? Highlight and press Ctrl + Enter

Microsoft representatives report that this course is dictated by the new support policy for all topical operating systems.

Until now, Microsoft promised to support consumer software products For five years from the date of the official presentation. Such support provides for the regular issue of security system updates, error corrections and improvements to increase stability. The first five-year period is called "Main Support" (Mainstream Support). At the same time, corporate products are supported during at least 10 years: the first five years under the Program "Basic Support" and for another five years in the form of "Extended Support" (Extended Support). During the advanced support period, Microsoft undertakes to release security corrections for all users, and all other fixes will be supplied only to those organizations that have signed support contracts with Microsoft.

Before recent changes Consumer publications of the Vista - Home Basic system, Home Premium, Starter and Ultimate - was planned to "send a retirement", that is, to deprive the support, less than two months, April 10, 2012. According to the new policy, this date is postponed to April 11, 2017.

Consumer versions of Windows 7 have so far been planned to support only January 13, 2015, and now the deadline moved on January 14, 2020 - in the reserve, users should have enough time to find a replacement.

For the first time about changes in conditions supports Windows 7 and Vista became known when changes were found in the description of the price list (SKU) positions. In the future, Microsoft confirmed information about changing the timing of key consumer products support. After these innovations, all editions of current operating systems have received formally the same support cycle. It is noteworthy that this extension took place almost immediately after large manufacturers Linux products declared significantly increases for support for their products of industrial use.

As for the next version of the client operating room windows systems 8, Microsoft has not yet announced an accurate list of consumer versions for sale with desktop PCs and laptops. Most likely, these products will also receive a 10-year support cycle. It turns out that if Windows 8 is released in the fourth quarter of this year, it is expected to support the platform for private users will last at least until early 2023.

Extension of support for Vista and Windows 7 is not the first case when Microsoft adds time users to prepare for the transition to new systems. So, in 2007, the actively supporting support for Windows XP Home was extended until 2009, and the term of complete refusal to support was postponed by April 2014, as corporate version Windows XP Professional. In general, the Windows XP platform managed to receive many delays of their long-appointed "death". For example, in 2008, Microsoft allowed manufacturers to equip the weak netbooks of the moral outdated system until mid-2010 - after this step at the Linux platform, there was practically no chance of entrenched on a promising netbook market.

Microsoft continues to rejoice hard, amazing and shocking its users. Just recently, a colleague turned to me with such a problem: he acquired and collected a new PC based on a new processor Intel Core I3 7100. B. collected computer was successfully installed image of Windows. 7. But after a while, after Windows 7 has downloaded and installed all updates through Windows Update.The system has ceased to receive new updates with the following error:

Unsupported Hardware.
Your PC Uses a Processor That Is Designed for the Latest Version of Windows. BECAUSE THE PROSESSOR IS NOT SUPPORTED TOGETHER WITH THE Windows Version That You are Currently using, Your System Will Miss Important Security Updates.

Not supported equipment

Your processor does not support this version Windows, you will not be able to receive updates.

Incompatible equipment
Your computer is equipped with a processor designed for the latest version of Windows, you will skip the important updates of the security system.

When trying to search for updates via Windows Update, an error appears:

Unsupported processors for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1

The fact is, Microsoft last year announced that all owners of the newest processors should only be used last version Client platform - Windows 10. For older versions of Windows Restrictions will be created to use these processor models.

Restrictions applies to the following generations of processors:

  • 7th - generation of processors IntelCore (microarchitecture Kaby Lake, release began in 2017)
  • Seventh generation of processors AMD. (microarchitecture Bristol Ridge, the release began in the 3rd quarter of 2016)
  • Qualcomm 8996. (mainly used for mobile devices)

In April 2017, MSFT has released special patches for previous versions OS.

  • KB4012218. - for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
  • KB4012219. - for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2

In the description of the patches, it is stated by the appearance of the functionality of determining the generation of the processor and the supported equipment when searching for updates via Windows Update.

Enabled Detection of Processor Generation and Hardware Support WHEN PC TRIES TO SCAN OR DOWNLOAD UPDATES THROUGH Windows Update.

Accordingly, after installing updates data, the system starts blocking the download of new updates (including for MS Office) and drivers on old versions of the OS error 80240037 Thereby, forcing users, go to Windows 10 / Windows Server 2016. Thus, all old systems with new equipment cease to receive security updates and go to the discharge of vulnerable. Looks like blackmail ...

In addition, the installation of drivers for video adapters based on the database is blocked. graphic processors Intel seventh generation (Intel HD Graphics 610 - 650). In Windows 7 SP1, it is defined as a standard VGA graphic adapter.

When you try to install the driver's video driver downloaded from the manufacturer driver, an error appears "This system does not satisfy minimum requirements To install software. "

As you can see, directly in the driver installer it is indicated that on the equipment with the seventh generation of Intel processors, the driver can only be installed in Windows 10 x64.


Sad ...

Wufuc - Patch to restore Windows Update

There is an unofficial bypass method that allows you to remove the message "Equipment not supported" and restore the ability to receive and install security updates on computers with Windows 7 and 8.1 with intel processors Kaby Lake, AMD Ryzen, and other not supported by the CPU.

There is a WuFUC version for both X86 and X64 systems.

According to the information from the ZEFFY, the processor type detection function and update is prohibited is in the library. wuaueng.dll. Initially, the Wufuc patch replaced this file, but because this solution Unstable against the update of the file to the next update of Windows Update, in subsequent releases wufuc, the logic of the patch has been changed.

Now the actual replacement of the wuaueng.dll file is not performed. The wufuc_setup_x64.msi installer registers a new scheduler task that runs WuFUC when loading a computer. The then WuFUC introduces itself to the Service Host or WuAuServ service and intercepts the call of the ISDEVICESERVICEABLE functions and iscpusupported, modifying the return response.

Thus, the WuFUC patch disables the "Equipment Not Supported" message in Windows Update, and allows you to continue to install updates on Windows 7 and 8.1 systems.

On the website of Microsoft, you can see an advertisement about the Windows life cycle. Many are interested in which Windows 7 will be supported until the year? It must be understood that the previously organized support was completed in January 2015. After the termination of the main support can be resorted to extended. It includes paid services.

Windows 7. What year will the system support?

Each is windows products It has its own life cycle. Knowing its key dates, you can take a reasonable decision on the period of updating and the time of making other changes in programs. The completion of supporting the company calls stopping the release of corrections, as well as updates.

Time flies very quickly. Package for windows updates 7 released several years ago. Extended support continues to operate until January 14, 2020. The recommended package is considered to be Service Pack (SP1) or Server 2008 R2.

Users are interested in the duration of system support with SP1 package. It is carried out two years after it was released another package with updates, or before the end of the life cycle of the system product. Get a package possible with special Page. At the same time, it will be necessary to get acquainted with reference documentation and step-by-step installation instructions.

The reasons for the transition to SP1 besides the possibility of using technical support

Windows 7 SP1 is required to users for reliable and secure computer performance. The 2008 R2 SP1 server consists of an extended set of functions relating to virtualization for computing on corporate level. Microsoft Remotefx technology is calculated here, as well as dynamic memory.

The use of these two update packs allows you to:

  • timely installation of emerging new updates under Windows seventh version
  • receipt technical support For software
  • simplify installation of accumulative types of package with updates
  • applications full set Virtualization technologies
  • ensuring comfortable I. mobile work Computer
  • facilitating a packet reversal with updates and improvements efficient work Internet technologies specialists

The new version of the Windows system will be released by the end of 2018.

Today, the main support period of the entire line of Windows 7, as well as server versions - Windows Server 2003, 2008 and 2008 R2 is completed. The appropriate notification appeared on the Microsoft website. Corphemes for critical vulnerabilities remain available for free for another five years as part of extended support.

Microsoft policy regarding the duration of the relevance of their products does not change from June 1, 2004. For operating systems and development tools, they are divided into two periods of five years. First there is a stage of basic support. During the first five-year plan, all users get free of all updates for free, regardless of their type. Some expand the functionality of familiar tools, others add new system utilities and change appearanceAnd the third correct mistakes of different levels of danger. Additional support is also available on request - the search for solutions of typical problems and remote advice on specific issues.

If during this time it appears a new version Product, then the deadline for the end of the support is previously revised and set as 24 months from the start of sales of the hear. The same applies to fix packs. The desire to quickly part with the support burden of Windows 7 is one of the reasons why the second service pack did not come out for it.

After the end of the five-year period from the moment of the official start of sales, the OS occurs the period of its expanded support. Only critical patches remain free, and the download of all others already requires a separate paid license. In fact, it is a way of mild forcing users to migrate to newer products. Traditionally, the majority of users prefers the developed and proven OS new and always damp products. The most notable changes in the latter usually concern interface and stability, and not in best side.


According to NetMarketShare, the share of Windows 7 among all operating systems for desktop computers exceeds 56%. The total proportion of Windows 8 and 8.1 is held on a modest 13.5%. This is lower than the current result of the old Windows XP, officially buried last year. In other words, the sales of the "eights" appeared two years ago with a lot of concept innovations still go extremely sluggish.

Due to the use of fixed service time following the XP, the company removes other "working horses" from the stage, seeking to concentrate customer attention on new products. Home users are offered Windows 8.1 and acquaintance with Windows 10 Technical Preview. A table with explanations about the deadline for the end of the support and ends - the offer "To buy Windows 8 today". Apparently, a typo is allowed here as retail windows sales 8 were discontinued on October 31, 2014. Now you can purchase only version 8.1.


In turn, corporate customers orient on Windows Server 2012 and the Azure cloud platform. It is noteworthy that the day before the end of the support period of old server versions Windows prices At Azure in Russia were elevated by 44%.