Microsoft forces Windows 8.1 Spring Update - else no more patches

Microsoft will force users to install the Windows 8.1 Spring Update if they want support on their Windows 8 PC. Users that don't install the Spring update will not receive any other updates to the operating system starting next month.

myce-wzor-windows8.4

ADVERTISEMENT

In a post on its site Microsoft writes, "Failure to install this Update will prevent Windows Update from patching your system with any future updates starting with Updates released in May 2014."

The company has not disclosed why it forces users to upgrade, but the company likely wants to focus its development on improving Windows 8 or working on new versions of Windows. By getting more users to upgrade it also avoids the platform gets fragmented, but for enterprise users updating can be a arduous task.

The Windows 8.1 Spring update was released yesterday and brings new features and fixes to Windows 8. Computers without a touchscreen boot directly to the desktop and Metro applications can be pinned to the taskbar. Metro applications now also have buttons to minimize and close at the same top right location as desktop applications. On the Metro start screen users can now change the size of tiles and uninstall apps with the right mouse button.

ADVERTISEMENT

Support for Windows 8 is scheduled to end in 2016, while extended support for the OS is planned to end by 2023. It appears to be the first time for Microsoft to no longer support unupdated PCs this short after the release of an update. 

No posts to display