This is not a test/typo: Support for Windows 8.1 Ends in a month!

This is not a test/typo: Support for Windows 8.1 Ends in a month!
It hasn't really been reported much, but just after Microsoft sort of stopped releasing patches for Windows XP last month, we now have to get going on the next phase-out: Windows 8.1! [In a first version of this diary, I stated that support ends tomorrow. As a reader points out in a comment, Microsoft announced earlier today that it extended the deadline by a month] [5] As Microsoft wraps it in beautiful marketing speak: "Since Microsoft wants to ensure that customers benefit from the best support and servicing experience and to coordinate and simplify servicing across both Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 RT and Windows 8.1, this update will be considered a new servicing/support baseline... beginning with the May Patch Tuesday, Windows 8.1 user's devices without the update installed will no longer receive security updates." [1] To make things a bit more interesting, there are 3 different versions of what people commonly refer to as "Windows 8": "Windows 8" , "Windows 8.1" and "Windows 8.1 Update". I guess in the old days, "Windows 8.1 Update" would be considered a "Service Pack". But then again, that would be something people are used to and not all that confused by, so Microsoft figured to mix it up and call this one "Windows 8.1 Update". Sadly, there are reports that individuals have problems installing Windows 8.1 Update. You can now even deliver Windows 8.1 Update via WSUS, even though Windows 8.1 initially broke WSUS. [2][3] So with WSUS fixed, and Windows 8.1 Update only breaking some of your systems, you will now be in grant shape for making Windows 8.1 Update your new baseline as this will be the last patch Tuesday for Windows 8.1 Pre-update patches. Haven't upgraded to Windows 8.1 and still not missing the "Start" button? You should be good until 2023. Lots of time to get used to the new interface. But Windows 8 will only be available for retail sale until end of October [4]. [1] http://blogs.technet.com/b/gladiatormsft/archive/2014/04/12/information-regarding-the-latest-update-for-windows-8-1.aspx [2] http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/springboard/archive/2014/04/16/windows-8-1-update-and-wsus-availability-and-adjusted-timeline.aspx [3] http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2959977 [4] http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/lifecycle [5] http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/archive/2014/05/12/windows-8-1-update-requirement-extended.aspx ------ Johannes B. Ullrich, Ph.D. SANS Technology Institute Twitter I will be teaching next: Defending Web Applications Security Essentials - SANS San Francisco Spring 2020	Johannes 3737 Posts ISC Handler
Subscribe	May 13th 2014 5 years ago
Hi. It's been extented to 10th of June. Source : http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/archive/2014/05/12/windows-8-1-update-requirement-extended.aspx	Anonymous
Quote	May 13th 2014 5 years ago
Hasn't Microsoft postponed this deadline another month or am I mistaken? http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-pushes-back-windows-8-1-update-deadline-by-another-month-7000029336/	Anonymous
Quote	May 13th 2014 5 years ago
Well said. Microsoft may actually still be making significant infrastructure products. But sadly, decisions on product support, user interface designs, licensing, not forsaking the customer base, etc. do significant harm. Nothing stays the same.	Anonymous
Quote	May 13th 2014 5 years ago
Interesting, "they" (MS) continue to feed the fire. Windows 93 (we never saw it) Windows ME, Vista and now their new frag-ship, 8.X >. (No typo) Here is a link that has been bookmarked for years, when I first read it thought wow, can all of this be true, well... the legacy continues. Quote:None of this has stopped Microsoft from presenting all these minor updates as new products and pushing them as recommended upgrades. "Windows [n.] - A thirty-two bit extension and GUI shell to a sixteen bit patch to an eight bit operating system originally coded for a four bit microprocessor and sold by a two-bit company that can't stand one bit of competition." http://www.vanwensveen.nl/rants/microsoft/IhateMS_1.html But I digress..	ICI2Eye 52 Posts
Quote	May 13th 2014 5 years ago
I just surfed over to: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/lifecycle and followed a few links for Windows 8.1. Did not see a single mention of the 8.1 Update debacle. Just End of Extended support for 8.1 is Jan 10, 2023.	Jim 3 Posts
Quote	May 13th 2014 5 years ago
Well Windows 9.0 will be with us soon, then 9.1 in January, then 9.2 in February. By this time next year we'll be rolling out Windows 9.5 (again)	Anonymous
Quote	May 13th 2014 5 years ago
"Haven't upgraded to Windows 8.1 and still not missing the "Start" button? You should be good until 2023. Lots of time to get used to the new interface. But Windows 8 will only be available for retail sale until end of October [4]." Actually, no. If you are at Windows 8.0, you have until 1/12/2016 to upgrade to 8.1 upgrade X before updates end. Consider 8.1 a service pack, and 8.0 RTM, then it makes more sense. https://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/search/default.aspx?alpha=Windows+8 https://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifecycle-Windows81-faq	Anonymous
Quote	May 13th 2014 5 years ago
As mentioned, on top of this ridiculously short life cycle, many users are reporting trouble with installing this mandatory "service pack", myself included. There are several stories about it on InfoWorld, for instance these: http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsoft-windows/windows-81-update-woes-pile-errors-80070020-80073712-800f081f-80242fff-800f0922-240249 http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsoft-windows/microsoft-confirms-its-dropping-windows-81-support-240407	Vincent T 14 Posts
Quote	May 13th 2014 5 years ago