Windows 7 users have been hit with more bad news, with the revelation that Microsoft no longer supports driver updates via Windows Update for the old operating system. This follows another recent move from Nvidia, where Team Green discontinued base driver support for its graphics cards with Windows 7, as well as Windows 8/8.1 for that matter (although all essential security fixes are still provided until 2024). As Bleeping Computer reported, support for Windows 7 (SP1) drivers delivered via Windows Update has now been discontinued, following the expiration of Trusted Root Certification Authority SHA-1 in May 2021. In addition to Windows 7, this it applies to Windows Server 2008. Naim Mohammad, Technical Program Manager at Microsoft, said: “On June 17, 2021, Microsoft will stop releasing drivers for Windows Update for Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2. Note, however, that business users who pay for ESU or the Extended Security Update program (which will run until July 2022) will still be able to deploy Windows 7 drivers through Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).
Code integrity
Microsoft explains that the porting of drivers to Windows 7 has been discontinued because with the aforementioned expiration of SHA-1 certificates, partners that provide their drivers through the Microsoft Trusted Root program could deploy SHA-2 signed drivers instead. , but these are incompatible. If they were to reach Windows 7 devices from Windows Update, it could lead to serious issues such as "degraded functionality" or even completely freezing the machine from booting. As Microsoft points out, "Unpatched systems will have code integrity flaws when presented with a SHA-2 signed driver." So, to avoid potential side effects like this, Microsoft no longer allows the delivery of SHA-2 signed drivers via Windows Update, so driver updates are now effectively closed. Official support for Windows 7 ended in early 2020, a year and a half ago, so consumers still using Windows 7, or businesses that don't pay for extended security support, should of course move to Windows. 10 (soon to be Windows 11) now (or changing elsewhere, maybe checking Linux distros). However, according to some reports, a surprising number of PC owners are sticking with Windows 7, and that terrain will only get more difficult in the future. The best Windows 10 deals right now PRE-PRIME DAY SALE ends in Check out more deals from these top retailers:
