Information publication The Verge, citing its sources today, June 24, reported that Microsoft is preparing to send users of the Windows 8.1 operating system a reminder that support for this version of the system will officially end on January 10, 2023. If you believe the information of the publication, the distribution with the corresponding notification will be launched next month – absolutely all users of Windows 8.1 will receive it. These notifications will be identical to those that Microsoft once sent to users of the Windows 7 system before the end of support for the legendary OS.
It is worth recalling that Microsoft initially stopped supporting the Windows 8 operating system back in 2016, while a slightly more recent version of Windows 8.1 was given much more time – only last year the company announced that support for the OS would be discontinued in 2023. Moreover, and importantly, Microsoft will not offer a paid Extended Security Updates program, so businesses and the corporate sector will not be able to get the required security patches for an additional fee. This means that large companies will either have to upgrade their hardware to a new version of the operating system, or use Windows 8.1 at their own risk.
In addition, there is bad news for home PC owners – Microsoft admitted that many owners of computers running Windows 8.1 simply will not be able to upgrade their operating system to Windows 11 due to rather strict requirements for the processor.
“Most Windows 8.1 or Windows 8 devices will not meet the hardware requirements to upgrade to Windows 11, alternatively compatible Windows 8 and 8.1 PCs can be upgraded to Windows 10 by purchasing and installing the full software” – Official Tech Support Advisory Microsoft.
True, it is worth recalling that although Windows 10 is the only option to update outdated systems, support for the popular OS is also far from eternal – Microsoft has already announced that the “top ten” will be supported until October 14, 2025. This means that even if owners of PCs with Windows 8.1 on board now buy Windows 10 and upgrade their systems, in two and a half years they will still have to completely rebuild their computers to move to Windows 11.
Source: Trash Box
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
