Bypass Microsoft's update block for Windows 7, 8.i PCs running Kaby Lake, Ryzen

GitHub user Zeffy created a custom patch to defeat Microsoft's update cake for Windows seven and eight.1 users using devices powered by next-gen processors.

Although Microsoft blocked Windows updates to Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs powered past new CPUs, one unhappy user found a way around the block and then devices with next-generation processors can continue to become security updates for the older operating systems.

Microsoft warned users several times that they needed to jump on the Windows 10 bandwagon. That didn't go over very well, so Microsoft extended Windows 7 and viii.1 support on some Skylake-powered devices.

Nonetheless, the Redmond, Washington, giant stuck to its guns about forcing devices with the new processors Kaby Lake or AMD Ryzen onto Windows 10. The company said, "7th Gen Intel Core (Kaby Lake) processor family unit and AMD's 7th generation processors (e.g. Bristol Ridge) will only be supported on Windows 10, and all hereafter silicon releases will require the latest release of Windows 10."

When this month'south patches were released, Windows vii and 8.one users with new processors saw the beneath unsupported hardware warning:

Your PC uses a processor that is designed for the latest version of Windows. Because the processor is non supported together with the Windows version that you are currently using, your system will miss the of import security updates.

That didn't please GitHub user "zeffy". Zeffy dug into the March rollup updates and plant a changelog that stated, "Enabled detection of processor generation and hardware support when PC tries to scan or download updates through Windows Update."

Zeffy wrote:

Which is just Microsoft's nice way of telling everyone who'd rather keep using Windows 7 or viii.1 on their Intel Kaby Lake or AMD Ryzen systems to spiral themselves. There accept even been people with Intel and AMD systems from 2015 who have reportedly been locked out of Windows Update considering of this!

When the April patches came out final week, Zeffy tested his scripts and found that they worked. In essence, Zeffy constitute a style to stop Microsoft's CPU detection and so Windows vii or 8.1 users can continue to get security updates.

All-in-one script lets new processors receive security updates for Windows 7, 8.ane

Notwithstanding instead of following all the original steps, Zeffy simplified the process by releasing an all-in-one patch for KB4012218, KB4012219, KB4015546, KB4015547, KB4015549 and KB4015550.

"There is now only ane script which includes all the various .xdelta files for patching different versions of wuaueng.dll on Windows vii and eight.1 (x64 and x86), and it will figure out which one to apply automatically," Zeffy wrote.

The script includes support for the monthly security rollups for Windows 7 and 8.1, likewise as the security-only quality update for both of the older operating systems.

In assuming print, Zeffy emphasized:

Delight note: I have only tested this on Windows 7 x64 and a Windows 8.i x64 virtual machine. If you desire to try the patch out, please create a system restore bespeak outset, or use it in a VM. Always be very careful when you are modifying system files!

Also annotation that this patch volition not magically brand updates work that are truly incompatible with adjacent-gen CPUs. Though I haven't heard of whatever such updates yet, it is still worth mentioning.

I take not tested Zeffy's scripts, but information technology may be worth trying if y'all received the warning when trying to update your machine and you resent Microsoft trying to force y'all onto Windows x.

Ms. Smith (not her real proper name) is a freelance writer and developer with a special and somewhat personal interest in Information technology privacy and security issues.

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