edevils wrote on 01/21/2016 3:13 PM:
On 20/01/2016 23:32, . . .winston wrote:
edevils wrote on 01/20/2016 2:52 PM:
On 18/01/2016 03:27, . . .winston wrote:
...snip...
The take-away and probably more important than the above(which I
mentioned in a post last July prior to Win10's release which some here
and in online forums seemed to disagree with or take exception to) is
the interpretation of Win10's support for the life of a device.
- Repeating it again - it does not mean in perpetuity for the life of
the o/s on all devices(via free upgrade, OEM pre-built, or user
built or
System Builder built with full version media)but only as long as the
***device** is supported.

Looks like they also changed the meaning of "support lifecycle" for
Windows 7/8x.
So far, it used to mean: Windows is supported on any hardware during the
(10-year) support lifecycle.
From now on it is: Windows is only going to be supported on hardware
contemporary or previous to that Windows version's cycle of sales, not
on newer hardware, even if the newer harder is released before the end
of that Windows version's support lifecycle.

That's where folks misinterpret the policy. Support lasts until the
hardware is no longer supported - that decision can be made by MSFT or
the OEMs or the hardware manufacturer's (always has, always will).
Additionally, the hardware and the o/s needs the ability to receive and
install updates.

You are technically right. Even in the past any new hardware could lack
support for a Windows version, even during that Windows version's
support lifecycle.

Still, did it ever happen for CPUs?

Yes, but the information was not as upfront as this one for Skylake nor
near as global requiring a bit more digging to determine impact.

8.1 and 10 had unique support requirements that hinged on the the
processor (see the two below).
• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz)* or faster with support for PAE, NX, and
SSE2 (more info)
•To install a 64-bit OS on a 64-bit PC, your processor needs to
support CMPXCHG16b, PrefetchW, and LAHF/SAHF




Besides, did they ever *trumpet* the lack of support? :-O

Don't you think there is something new and disturbing in the way MS
announced the lack of support on future silicon?



What has changed and only changed(and a discomfort to those with the
latest 6th Gen Skylake Intel processor released in 3rd Quarter
2016[circa August]) is the loss of support on Windows 7/8.1 for the
Skylake devices after July 2017. Support is restored if the device is
upgraded to Win10.

Yep, that's definitely a change. True, the change is limited to a
specific processor, but I get the feeling it is setting a new course.

Could be...though as noted - this whole Skylake 'only Win10 support'
looks like an industry buy-in (Intel, OEM's and MSFT) with MSFT being
the primary communicator and imo taking away some of the pain from the
other involved companies - i.e. Send your big brother to protect you.


What's unnerving about this policy change is it being coincidental with
the problems Intel has been having with the chip which impacts support
across the full spectrum (Intel, the OEMs, and Microsoft). By limiting
its use to Win10 after July 2017 those same entities who all provide
support (warranty, contractually) reduce their need (and cost) to
address Win7/8x issues.

It would be a pipe dream to believe that all the above (Intel,
OEMs-HP,Dell, Lenovo, and Microsoft) don't wish to reduce the support
necessary for 7/8x devices.

There's no doubt in my mind that support is headed in the direction of
being available for the current and previous hardware and
software(Skylake being the current exception).

I understand, but they should have told users about the forthcoming loss
of support *before* they started selling that processor.

Intel sells the processor and at this time its unknown if earlier
testing prior to release (Skylake in Aug 2015) yielded concerns or set
the stage for the Skylake Win10 only announcement.



Now you support it, now you don't!





--
...winston
msft mvp windows experience