No Windows Updates in Windows 7 and 8 if CPU not Supported

[Brink]

Your PC uses a processor that isn’t supported on this version of Windows" error when you scan or download Windows updates


Symptoms

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When you try to scan or download updates through Windows Update, you receive the following error message:

Unsupported Hardware
Your PC uses a processor that isn’t supported on this version of Windows and you won’t receive updates.​

Additionally, you may see an error message on the Windows Update window that resembles the following:

Windows could not search for new updates
An error occurred while checking for new updates for your computer.
Error(s) found:
Code 80240037 Windows Update encountered an unknown error.​

Cause

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This error occurs because new processor generations require the latest Windows version for support. For example, Windows 10 is the only Windows version that is supported on the following processor generations:

• Intel seventh (7th)-generation processors
• AMD “Bristol Ridge”
• Qualcomm “8996"

Because of how this support policy is implemented, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 devices that have a seventh generation or a later generation processor may no longer be able to scan or download updates through Windows Update or Microsoft Update.

Resolution

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We recommend that you upgrade Windows 8.1-based and Window 7-based computers to Windows 10 if those computers have a processor that is from any of the following generations:

• Intel seventh (7th)-generation "Intel Core" processor or a later generation
• AMD seventh (7th)-generation (“Bristol Ridge") processor or a later generation
• Qualcomm “8996" processor or a later generation

More Information

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For information about how to determine which generation of Intel processor you have installed, go to the following Intel website:

About Intel processor numbers​

For information about how to upgrade your computer's operating system to Windows 10, see Download Windows 10.

See also: Upgrade to Windows 10 - Windows 10 Installation & Upgrade Tutorials

Source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...ch-you-receive-a-your-pc-uses-a-processor-tha

 

[tetraps]

Microsoft's desperation and greed are truly astounding.

 

[z3r010]

:huh: They offered everybody Windows 10 for free, they can't continue to support new tech on obsolete OS's forever.

 

[Layback Bear]

We will all have to upgrade are hardware and operating systems; along with programs.
That is to be expected especially any thing that is computer related.

Windows 7 still works quite well on new hardware but Windows 7 is long in the tooth.
The next batch of newer hardware (IMO) will prefer W-10 whether I like it or not.
That is just the way it's always been and will always be. Constant upgrades every few years is just normal for computers.

Jack

 

[torchwood]

Well im right up the creek.

My 9 yr old lappy, that i run as my major,
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T5800 @ 2.00GHz
doesn't have SataIII, runs on DDR2, NO EUFI boot.

Its miles better than my 3 yr old Asus.


Roy

 

[Brds7t7]

I'm still running Haswell. Still works well for me, does what I need it to do, so I see no need to upgrade for a while.

At least I know 7 and 8.1 will be fully supported until EOL.

 

[lehnerus2000]

I thought that W7 was supported until 2020.

How can anyone be receiving this message?

 

[Brds7t7]

I thought that W7 was supported until 2020.

How can anyone be receiving this message?

I'm a little confused myself, didn't MS say they were reversing that decision a few months ago, and that they WOULD be supporting 7 and 8.1 on those processors until their EOL?

 

[Bertison]

Check my Spec's: I don't need anything more powerful for my computing needs. When either the desktop dies, is moved on, or 2020 arrives, it will be replaced by a fancy new Lenovo laptop running Win 10. Or something. By then I will be 75 and hope to retain enough patience and interest. Or I may just replace my current Lenovo Android tablet with something better, but still Android. Windows, I have been with you since 3.1, but you are no longer the only game in town. Eventually the game may play on without you....

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
MS does more damage through the update system anyway
Good life just got a lot simpler
If the hardware is obsolete why would it work on win-10 hypocrisy at work

 

[ThrashZone]

:huh: They offered everybody Windows 10 for free, they can't continue to support new tech on obsolete OS's forever.

Hi,
Three more years is not forever

 

[lehnerus2000]

This means that ~50% of desktop users can't upgrade to the latest hardware.
I'm surprised that AMD and Intel aren't "up in arms" about losing 1 billion+ customers for their latest CPUs.

They offered everybody Windows 10 for free, they can't continue to support new tech on obsolete OS's forever.

Hi,
Three more years is not forever

Agreed.
MS stated that they were supporting W7 until 2020.

W10 wasn't offered to everyone for free:

• W7 & W8 Series users had to give up their licenses
• XP users got nothing

No doubt there are special unintelligible legal clauses that mean MS doesn't have to stick to their public announcements.

In a sane world, this (when combined with the other annoyances) should cause a user backlash/boycott against W10 (just like the W8 Series) forcing MS to release W11.

 

[RoasterMen]

Microsoft's desperation and greed are truly astounding.

There's no point in using new hardware if the OS is old. I'd use a slightly old hardware with that because that makes sense and saves money too.

 

[Bertison]

Oh, I understand that they cannot support an O/S forever, no matter how much we love it more than anything else MS ever produced. As long as MS understands that we are perfectly free to choose an alternative. The question arises: does MS understand that, or do they believe that we are all slaves to the Redmond machine?

 

[alphanumeric]

https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/help/10737/windows-7-system-requirements

1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor*

* Prior versions of Windows, including Windows 7, have limited support when running on new processors and chipsets from manufacturers like Intel, AMD, NVidia, and Qualcomm. For more information, please see the Support Lifecycle FAQ.

 

[michael diemer]

If Microsoft continues on this road, there will be alternatives. Linux is continuing to evolve. And eventually there will be Linux alternatives for everything, so that it won't be necessary any longer to stay with Windows. for example, music creation, one of the difficult areas in Linux (most music software companies don't make drivers for Linux), already has several Linux alternatives, such as LMMS and Ardour. And a pro level one, Bitwig. And Reaper devs are developing a Linux Native version. That really excites me, as I use Reaper as my music creation software. In time this problem will be solved. But I suggest you start now familiarizing yourself with Linux, so that you will be able to switch permanently when Windows no longer works for you. I recently installed Ubuntu Mate, and with the Redmond desktop it looks and behaves much like W7. And it may be the best Ubuntu yet.

 

[alphanumeric]

No company, including Microsoft, is obligated to make an older version of their software compatible with every new piece of hardware that is manufactured and released after that software was released. The onus is on you to ensure that what ever software you own or buy is compatible with what ever hardware you own or buy. That's nothing new? If you buy a new PC or upgrade the parts make sure those parts are compatible with your software. Plain and simple.

 

[Painter]

I take no umbrage with Microsoft announcing that they will not provide Windows Updates for products they choose not to support with their OS. However, I see no reason for the component manufacturers and OEMs to do likewise. If they choose to take on the responsibility for providing all the appropriate hardware drivers, then why not. Microsoft has no right to be the arbiter.

MS wants to coerce us into new product and OS acquisitions rather than convince us of their value. Maybe they should start behaving like a vendor with a quality product that deserves our attention, rather than threatening us with what best suits their business strategy.

 

[alphanumeric]

Leave the Windows echo system then. Hit them where it hurts. For the record, I don't agree with what they are doing. And there are a few other things they are doing that I don't agree with. But on the other side of the coin, the I wants and the gimmes are getting old. If your running Windows 7 now, you can keep on running it on your current hardware, even after end of support. If that's not good enough move on to another OS. You don't have to use Windows 8 or 10 if you don't want to, you have a choice. If you can't leave Windows, for what ever reason your just going to have to deal with it. This is not the first time for that scenario. People bitched about XP, then Vista and Windows 7. You can't please all of the people all of the time. Plain and simple. There are some of us that have no problems using Windows 10. I can use any version of Windows I so chose, assuming my hardware supports it. I referring to very old versions of Windows as well as the latest. I could run Windows 95 if I wanted, probably not on this hardware though, its too new. I chose Windows 10. If Windows 7 is what you want go for it. Just be aware of the limitations and restrictions. It is what it is.

 

[alphanumeric]

Realistically from what I can see, for a lot of people, the I'm going to switch to Linux is an idle threat. They don't actually follow threw with it. Lots of people run Linux. But how many of those also run Windows on another PC or dual boot with Windows. I bet its a lot. And that's no secret to Microsoft. If Linux was a real threat this thread likely wouldn't exist.
I run Raspbian on my Raspberry Pi's. It's been a slow go for somebody that has never used Linux before. Thus I'm in no hurry to switch my daily user to Linux. I'm likely not alone in that either. If Linux was as prevalent as people make it out to be, that wouldn't be the case. Good or bad that's the way it is. For the most part, people that have never used Linux aren't in a big hurry to switch to it. People bitched that Windows 7 had to many versions. Well look at all the different distro's of Linux out there? Some pay for, some free? And asking which is best is going to get you many different opinions.