Microsoft updates support policy - Windows 10 on new CPUs

[Corrine]

Ed Bott, Microsoft updates support policy: New CPUs will require Windows 10:

In a change to its longstanding support policy, Microsoft says PCs based on new CPU architectures, including Intel's Skylake chips, will require Windows 10. A list of preferred systems will support older Windows versions on new hardware, but only for 18 months.

[Corrine]

Further explanations in the follow-up article by Mary Jo Foley, New Microsoft Windows support changes: What they mean to business users. 

Of course, it isn't just business users who are affected.  People who need a new PC and have a retail Windows 7 license would also need to take this into consideration.

[ky331]

Okay, I was finally able to read-through the rigmarole, and I hope that the following short summary is reasonably accurate:

New CPUs will require Windows 10 [or the then-current Windows O/S, if they ever release a new version]:  Windows 10 will be the only supported Windows platform on Intel's upcoming 7th-generation "Kaby Lake" processor (to be released in 2016).

NEW consumer-based Intel 6th-generation Skylake devices must run Windows 10 to be supported.

A select list of NEW enterprise-based Intel 6th-generation Skylake devices will support Win7 or 8.1 for a period 18 months, until July 17, 2017, after which those enterprise customers will be expected to upgrade to Windows 10.

Fortunately, older Intel 4th-genertion Haswell and 5th-geneartion Broadwell CPUs will continue to be fully supported for the announced life-cycle of pre-Windows 10 operating systems:  Windows 7 (currently in the Extended support phase) will continue to receive updates until January 14, 2020, and Windows 8.1 will be supported until January 10, 2023.

[Frands]

Hi,

A bit further reading:

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2016/01/15/windows-10-embracing-silicon-innovation/

[Corrine]

Microsoft has published links to Skylake systems supported on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.  Note that Microsoft will update the page as additional OEMs provide links to their supported systems pages.