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Microsoft: No Driver Updates Allowed for Win7 and Win8

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Re: Microsoft: No Driver Updates Allowed for Win7 and Win8

#91

Apple stopped supporting Mountain Lion, released when windows 8 was released, in 2015.

I assume that doesn't prevent you from using it and installing software and drivers? Just because something stops being supported doesn't mean it should stop working as it did before.

I mean, neither will Windows 7 and 8.

Re: Microsoft: No Driver Updates Allowed for Win7 and Win8

#92

Yet another reason why centralized code signing is anti-user and a net negative. You should be able to easily install anything you want on your computer.

Well, Msft attempts to use HCK/HLK to help ensure that the drivers out there are more stable. Once upon a time, there was no signing and some drivers caused the very unfriendly BSOD and Msft got the blame. There are a lot fewer of those today than there were before Msft insisted upon testing/signing things.

Nvidia drivers were once responsible for 30% of all Windows Vista crashes.

https://www.engadget.com/2008-03-27-nvidia-drivers-responsib...

Re: Microsoft: No Driver Updates Allowed for Win7 and Win8

#93

It's painful to repeatedly witness people voluntarily buy into ecosystems maintained by people with perverse incentives. You can't fault MS, making more money is their raison d'etre. If you care at all, even the smallest amount, explore the alternatives.

What alternatives? There are no commercial alternatives in my domain (vaccines). Windows is the standard.

Re: Microsoft: No Driver Updates Allowed for Win7 and Win8

#94

Yet another reason why centralized code signing is anti-user and a net negative. You should be able to easily install anything you want on your computer.

Can drivers be signed by any CA trusted by the system or does it have to be the Microsoft CA? Shitty solution but if you're installing someone's (otherwise unsigned) driver, you're already placing a lot of trust in them.

Re: Microsoft: No Driver Updates Allowed for Win7 and Win8

#95
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft did (still?) offer a free upgrade path from Windows 7/8 to Windows 10 for years so I doubt this is really for "getting money from our customers" but more "we want to stop supporting these old platforms at some point"

Last I checked (about a year ago) you could still run the upgrade tool, and it'd go through the licensing registration process just fine. I wouldn't do that if it weren't a personal machine, however, because the "official" upgrade process ended a long time ago. Even using it for a home office might put you into questionable legal territory, but it's still possible. I do think your last statement is more accurate, tho…

You can actually crack Win7 and will get a "legit" Win10 license during the upgrade ...

Re: Microsoft: No Driver Updates Allowed for Win7 and Win8

#96

Yet another reason why centralized code signing is anti-user and a net negative. You should be able to easily install anything you want on your computer.

I see it as a reason to applaud centralized code signing. You can install anything you want, anyway, and I want filters so that the drivers I do install aren't shovelware. This certification process is one of those filters.

Re: Microsoft: No Driver Updates Allowed for Win7 and Win8

#98
post #45

It's painful to repeatedly witness people voluntarily buy into ecosystems maintained by people with perverse incentives. You can't fault MS, making more money is their raison d'etre. If you care at all, even the smallest amount, explore the alternatives.

There is Windows and MacOS for users that want a computer that works. FOSS alternatives are for developers and power users that want a computer like someone wants a project car. I say this as a happy Linux user at home. But I need to use Windows for work because of multiple programs that do not run on any other target. In school (this has changed a bit) I need to use Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word. At home I s…

> There is Windows and MacOS for users that want a computer that works.

This may have been true in 200x, but these days, both of those aren't so hot with respect to quality and just working.

Re: Microsoft: No Driver Updates Allowed for Win7 and Win8

#99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assume that doesn't prevent you from using it and installing software and drivers? Just because something stops being supported doesn't mean it should stop working as it did before.

I mean, neither will Windows 7 and 8.

If the policy is followed, it sounds like driver signing will stop working as it did before. Presumably drivers signed before a certain date will work, but drivers signed after that won't. Or something.

Re: Microsoft: No Driver Updates Allowed for Win7 and Win8

#100
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft did (still?) offer a free upgrade path from Windows 7/8 to Windows 10 for years so I doubt this is really for "getting money from our customers" but more "we want to stop supporting these old platforms at some point"

Last I checked (about a year ago) you could still run the upgrade tool, and it'd go through the licensing registration process just fine. I wouldn't do that if it weren't a personal machine, however, because the "official" upgrade process ended a long time ago. Even using it for a home office might put you into questionable legal territory, but it's still possible. I do think your last statement is more accurate, tho…

You don't even need to use the upgrade tool. Windows 10 clean installs from the iso will let you manually input the Windows 7 key you already possess and the activation server will accept it. The 7 key is whitelisted only for 10. It will not work for 8.
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