Microsoft Ends Mainstream Support for the somewhat failed Windows 8.1

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 01/12/2018 09:33 AM | source: | 25 comment(s)

Microsoft halted supporting Windows 8.1 this week, the OS will continue to remain in an ‘extended support’ for a few years state though, which will be prolonged towards 2023.

By halting mainstream support Microsoft simply will not introduces new features for the OS. In Windows 8.1’s extended support phase, that will last 5 years, Microsoft will offer security updates for the operating system, the company advises on its Windows Lifecycle Page. Microsoft always offers 5 years of mainstream support and 10 years of extended support after the initial release of a Windows version.

Back in the year 2015 Microsoft halted mainstream support for Windows 7, the OS will remain in extended support till January 2020. Windows 10 will continue to receive mainstream support till October 2020 and extended support till October 2025

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Darkiee
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#5509981 Posted on: 01/12/2018 10:28 AM

So, what happens few months before MS ditches mainstream support for W10? New age W11? Oo

BlueRay
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Posts: 250
Joined: 2015-11-18

#5509988 Posted on: 01/12/2018 10:56 AM

So, what happens few months before MS ditches mainstream support for W10? New age W11? Oo

They do. They end support for older Windows 10 builds. There won't be Windows 11 for years if ever.

nevcairiel
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Posts: 376
Joined: 2015-05-19

#5509999 Posted on: 01/12/2018 11:24 AM

So, what happens few months before MS ditches mainstream support for W10? New age W11? Oo

The time gets extended everytime a new Windows 10 release appears, so as long as they keep making those twice a year, it will be a long time before its out of support.

rl66
Senior Member

Posts: 1857
Joined: 2007-05-31

#5510034 Posted on: 01/12/2018 01:15 PM

They do. They end support for older Windows 10 builds. There won't be Windows 11 for years if ever.

They won't end support for W10 and it won't extend the W10's support time.

W10 is supported with latest public build, and it's logical: why spend money with a build if the correction is in latest build? (i know some prefer build 15**, but it's like that for general use build 17** is faster and correct a lot of issue).

It was already like that with previous Windows like even XP wich latest support were SP2 for X64 and SP3 for X86 version only.

lucidus
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#5510049 Posted on: 01/12/2018 01:32 PM

Big deal. Their mainstream support doesn't amount to much these days anyway.

CoMmAnDrX2
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#5510071 Posted on: 01/12/2018 02:22 PM

As much as I hated Windows 8/8.1 at release it has been a much more reliable OS compared to Windows 10 imo. Only real issue I've had with 8/8.1 was no Start Menu which was resolved with installing Start8.

Turanis
Senior Member

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#5510077 Posted on: 01/12/2018 02:32 PM

Still will have security patches until 2023.

"...

for the somewhat failed Windows 8.1

Ricepudding
Senior Member

Posts: 432
Joined: 2017-02-17

#5510112 Posted on: 01/12/2018 03:46 PM

Still will have security patches until 2023.

"...

for the somewhat failed Windows 8.1

" After the failure of Windows 10,after 2 years of his release,Windows 8.1 is really good now for gaming or else.Windows 7 will be alive even after 2020.
ClassicShell 4.3.1 is a good choice for Start menu,which includes Windows 7 Start button.

I've used every windows since 95, and 10 has been pretty darn amazing so far. fast and stable. last one that was this stable was XP service pack 3, and then maybe 7 (though i had some issues here and there on this one) 8.1 was good its just 10 is better in almost every way

craycray
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#5510138 Posted on: 01/12/2018 05:02 PM

Hey Hilbert,
How about keeping the opinions out of the headlines? Be like BBC not Fox.

Thanks.

RzrTrek
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Joined: 2012-04-16

#5510144 Posted on: 01/12/2018 05:11 PM

Another reason for my backworld friend to upgrade to Windows 10.

Ricepudding
Senior Member

Posts: 432
Joined: 2017-02-17

#5510145 Posted on: 01/12/2018 05:12 PM

Hey Hilbert,
How about keeping the opinions out of the headlines? Be like BBC not Fox.

Thanks.

This is a fourm and tech site made for debates and opinions. That's what makes this site so great, don't like it move on.

Anyway it is a known fact that windows 8/8.1 was a commercial failure. it never held up as well as 7/10 has

asturur
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#5510199 Posted on: 01/12/2018 07:25 PM

If 8 wasn't a failure, they would not rush a win 10.

CrazY_Milojko
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Joined: 2013-02-26

#5510210 Posted on: 01/12/2018 07:44 PM

Looking from MS's financial perspective it was a failure, no doubt they haven't milked market enough with Win8/8.1 as they expected they could/should. Win7 was adopted more than MS could handle when Win8 and later Win8.1 was released, they couldn't do much about it, Win8/8.1 sales were poor so only solution for them is to drop mainstream support for Win7 and now Win8.1, release something "fresh and revolutionary new" in shape of Win10 and start milking the market once again. But Win7 is still way to strong, despite free Win10 upgrade window (Assistive technology) expiring iirc 16. January 2018.

But if you ask me Win8.1 is a really great OS, matured in every way. Atm it's my favorite/main OS both for daily use, HTPS, bussines purposes... Fast, relieable, can't complain on anything honestly. All of my home (kids) gaming rigs are running Win8.1 Pro 64bit except my daughter's gaming PC because she refuses to let go Win7 SP1 64bit, everything else in my house is running either Win8.1 64bit or Win8.1 Pro 64bit. Silly Win8.1 Start menu is replaced with Classic Shell 4.3.1. All of my rigs i.e. Win7 or 8.1 licences on those, and that's a lot of them, few months ago are registered for future Win10 upgrade when time comes but guess not all of them are ever going to see Win10.

Fender178
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#5510234 Posted on: 01/12/2018 08:37 PM

So, what happens few months before MS ditches mainstream support for W10? New age W11? Oo

Overtime they drop support for older Windows 10 builds. With me and build 1607 which I had on my desktop Windows warned me that my build was out of date and told me to update. Which said to me that support for that build is ending pretty soon.

anticupidon
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Joined: 2008-03-06

#5510237 Posted on: 01/12/2018 08:40 PM

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