This Hack Brings Windows 7 Updates to Kaby Lake and Ryzen PCs

MakeUseOf

By Ben Stegner

Published May 3, 2017

If you're using a brand-new processor with Windows 7 or 8.1, you might not receive updates anymore. Here's how to fix that and get your updates back.

Image Credit: arka38/Shutterstock

It's obvious that Microsoft is pushing Windows 10 really hard. Even though it was free to upgrade from Windows 7 or 8 for a year after Windows 10 launched, many people refused to do so. Of course, while Windows 10 is getting new feature updates, Windows 7 and 8.1 are still supported and receiving security updates until 2020 and 2023, respectively...

...unless you have a cutting-edge Intel Kaby Lake or AMD Ryzen processor in your machine. Users with those CPUs have stopped receiving all Windows updates on Windows 7 and 8.1, which is both an inconvenience and security risk.

This is a controversial move that's understandable on Microsoft's part, but frustrating at the same time. Windows 7 could easily turn into another Windows XP situation, where people use the OS long after Microsoft abandons it. To circumvent this, Microsoft is slowly phasing support for Windows 7 from modern hardware. If you're building a PC with the best components inside, it has to run Windows 10.

Chances are if you're building your own PC, you'll put Windows 10 on it anyway. But in case you're still using Windows 7 or 8.1 with a modern processor, you can use a third-party workaround to enable Windows Updates.

GitHub user Zeffy has published a small patch that modifies a few system files on your machine to trick Windows into thinking that your CPU is still supported. You can find details on his research on the project page, but it just takes a simple install to fix the problem.

He notes that you'll have to run the patch every time the wuaueng.dll system file has an update. Also, making this change may trigger errors in the SFC command, since Windows will see the change to a system file as a problem.

It stinks that Microsoft is cutting support for older operating systems on new machines before their support lifecycles end. While this will hopefully mean a quicker death for Windows 7 when the time comes, this workaround will suffice for now.

If you're still using Windows 7 or 8.1 on a modern system, you're missing out. Check out the new Creators Update for Windows 10 and all the cool features it offers.

Did you notice that your Windows 7 or 8.1 system stopped receiving updates? Let us know if you'll try this workaround or upgrade to Windows 10 down in the comments!