Windows 10: Microsoft will enforce Windows 10 version 1903 upgrades because of end of support

Windows 10 version 1903 will reach end of support next month on December 8, 2020 for all supported editions of the operating system. The version of Windows 10 was released on May 21, 2019 and Microsoft has released three newer versions of Windows 10 since that date.

End of support means that Microsoft won't release security updates anymore for the version of Windows 10. Systems that are not updated may be vulnerable to security issues discovered after support for the version of Windows ends.

Windows administrators have two main options when it comes to the upgrades: Windows 10 version 1909 or Windows 10 version 2004/20H2. The first is a smaller update that should complete in a matter of minutes, the second a full update that will take longer. Downside to installing Windows 10 version 1909 is that it will run out of support in May 2021 if a Home or Pro edition is installed.

Enterprise and Education customers get 30 months of support for the second feature update of a year, while Home customers get only 18 months regardless of time of release.



Microsoft will enforce updates of systems that have run out of support or are about to run of support. A reminder was published to the Windows Message Center on November 6, 2020 about the upcoming end of support:

Reminder: End of service for Windows 10, version 1903 - December 8, 2020

All editions of Windows 10, version 1903 and Windows 10 Server, version 1903 will reach end of service on December 8, 2020. After this date, devices running these editions of Windows will no longer receive security updates. We recommend that you update these devices to a supported version as soon as possible to continue to receive monthly quality updates with security and non-security fixes.
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The latest Ad Duplex stats have Windows 10 version 1903 listed as the third-most installed version of the operating system. Windows 10 version 2004 is placed first, Windows 10 version 1909 second. About a fifth of all installations are still on Windows 10 version 1903 according to the statistics. The statistics are collected by a third-party and may not be entirely accurate. Microsoft does not release information about the distribution of Windows 10 versions to the public.

Systems will be updated automatically using the built-in update functionality of the operating system if it is enabled and not blocked somehow. According to German site Dr. Windows, systems will be updated to version 1909 and not a newer version. The reason given is that it speeds up the updating process and that the update is less prone for causing issues.

Now you: do you use Windows 10? Which version are you on?

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Microsoft Botches Up UEFI Support for Windows 7 on ASUS Motherboards



Microsoft suggests updating to Windows 10 to patch Windows 7

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• Chris Merriman
• 
  @ChrisTheDJ
• 05 May 2016

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MICROSOFT HAS confirmed a potentially lappy-borking problem that it won't be fixing, because Windows 7.

Woody Leonhard, the respected Windows columnist, points to a problem involving Asus motherboards, which also appear rebadged in a variety of other manufacturers' machines, and the activation of UEFI Secure Boot for Windows 7 in a patch KB3133977.

Short version: install update, welcome to Borksville, population you.

Both Asus and Microsoft acknowledged the problem. Microsoft entitled the article "BitLocker can't encrypt drives because of service crashes in svchost.exe process in Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2", but we prefer to just call it "Trevor for brevity."

The firm's advice was that it's an optional update, leave well alone, you'll be fine, or alternatively turn secure boot off.

Then Microsoft did a silly, silly thing.

It moved the update from 'optional' to 'recommended' and anyone who reads this site regularly will know what happens when Microsoft does this. That's right boys and girls - it makes it automatically install, unless you've specifically told your machine not to.

So now, if you have one of the affected motherboard and you keep your security updates automatic like wot Microsoft recommends, then your machine will stop working properly.

We should add it's not permanently bricked, but it will take some mucking about in the BIOS to fix and that's a pain even for an experienced computer user.

Microsoft has, by offering a workaround, suggested heavily that it won't be fixing the problem, though we have asked the question, so expect a response in about a fortnight.

But the real kicker is this piece of advice: "Note The Secure Boot feature is supported in Windows 10. To learn more about the security advantages of this feature and about the upgrade path from Windows 7 to Windows 10, go to the following Windows website"

Holy toledo, this company really knows how to rub people up the wrong way.

After all - if the advice is to manually avoid the update or move to a version of the operating system where there's virtually no control over updates, then Microsoft is dealing in massive contradictions.

A more cynical site would suggest that it's yet another example of Microsoft running Windows 7 into the ground and adding built in obsolescence to encourage quicker updates. But we're not that sort of site.

Its the patching to force secure boot that is the problem win 7 does not support secure boot
hence it borks systems and well microsofts answer is Cactus >your Asshole > insert

from the inquirer

 

Windows 10

you don't have to use a Microsoft account....
I know I'm not.

 

Version 1903 end of support December of 2020 ?

See this link:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...cle-fact-sheet


Windows 10, version 1803 end of service November 12, 2019
Windows 10, version 1809 end of service May 12, 2020
Windows 10, version 1903 end of service December 8, 2020


Code:

This may refer to:
Windows cumulative updates
Windows updates of non-Microoft drivers
Microsoft defender
etc.


https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...-not-supported


Will I still be able to use Windows after support ends?

Yes. If you continue to use an unsupported version of Windows, your PC will still work, but it will become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. Your PC will continue to start and run, but you will no longer receive software updates, including security updates, from Microsoft.