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Intel Atom Z2580, Clover Trail+

Prior to the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft had a relatively elementary update process. For the first five years of the OS' lifespan, information technology received both security and feature updates. After this period ended, the Bone however received security updates for another five years. (Windows 8.0 was an exception to this process, every bit part of Microsoft's plan to motility people to Windows 8.i). Windows 10 changed this policy significantly, offer updates for an unspecified period of fourth dimension — back in 2015, Terry Myerson stated that Windows 10 updates would be offered "for the supported lifetime of the device." Now nosotros know what information technology looks similar when devices exit that period of time, and it's not pretty.

Owners of Clover Trail-based Atom 2-in-1s (and possibly a few laptops or netbooks) are existence hit with the following fault when they endeavour to install the Windows 10 Creators Update: "Windows 10 is no longer supported on this PC. Uninstall this app now considering it isn't compatible with Windows 10."

Samsung Ativ Smart PC 500T

Devices like the Samsung ATIV were some of the commencement Clover Trail products.

Clover Trail systems were sold from 2012 to 2015, typically with Windows 8.0 or 8.ane installed. Under the 5+5 update system, a Clover Trail possessor who stayed with Windows 8.1 would receive feature updates through 2018 and security updates through 2023. Nether the new Windows-equally-a-service model, Microsoft just supports previous versions of its operating system for xviii months. Clover Trail got the previous Anniversary Update (1607), but can't install the Creators Update (1703).

Microsoft has pledged to continue offering security fixes for Clover Trail devices that upgraded to Windows 10 through 2023, according to The Verge, only that these products will receive no new features or non-security updates.

When Terry Myerson first made his claim nigh updating for the supported lifetime of the device, it confused rather than antiseptic the situation. Microsoft later issued an updated argument that included the post-obit: "A device may not be able to receive updates if the device hardware is incompatible, lacking current drivers, or otherwise outside of the Original Equipment Manufacturer'due south (OEM) support catamenia."

According to ZDNet's Ed Bott, there's some show that this is a GPU driver issue. Intel used PowerVR Series 5XT drivers for Clover Trail and Clover Trail+, and apparently either Intel or Imagination Technologies (or both) aren't planning to update them whatever time soon. A back up annotation from Acer indicated it was working with Microsoft to add compatibility for these chips, but The Verge appears to have dumped cold water all over that claim.

Where does this leave Clover Trail, Other Atom Devices?

Clover Trail owners volition be express to version 1607 (Anniversary Update) of Windows x. (If you ain an Cantlet, you can check to see if it's a Clover Trail CPU here.) Microsoft will notwithstanding provide security updates through Jan 2023, pregnant no users will exist dumped off the bandwagon early, at least every bit far as security is concerned.

What's less clear is how Microsoft will handle this result with other SoCs. Bay Trail devices began shipping in 2013 and mostly ran Windows 8.1 as well. Merrifield and Moorefield both launched prior to Windows ten and also used PowerVR for graphics (G6430 in this case). Bay Trail used Ivy Bridge-class graphics, but ane of Microsoft's stated reasons for killing product support for Clover Trail was that the devices were no longer supported by Intel. As you lot can see below, some Bay Trail devices have already hit the same "Finish of Interactive Back up" problem.

Intel-Atom-Support

Click to enlarge. The initial Bay Trail SoCs are already at stop-of-life.

In that location's a elementary way for Microsoft to cut through the murk and clarify this solution: Promise to provide security updates to all devices that upgraded from Windows viii.1 through 2023, even if feature updates stop earlier. This would cover other lower-terminate products from AMD and Intel that might otherwise current of air up orphaned.

Given how hard Microsoft pushed people to upgrade, and how willing it was to engage in malware-like tactics (every bit admitted by its own executives) to get its OS on people'due south hardware, it's the to the lowest degree the company can practice. And if MS tin't tell the departure between consumers that upgraded from Windows 7 and those that upgraded from Windows 8.ane, well, treat them the same style. It's not like there'due south necessarily some huge hardware differential between Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.one systems, and Windows 7 was more popular than Windows 8/8.1 through the entirety of the latter's life cycle. The smart move here is to support the customers that fall into this trap through no fault of their own.

Now read: Windows 10: The All-time Hidden Features, Tips, and Tricks