Digital Signatures Issue?

[GrahamKnott]

Hi

Is it true that reinstalling Windows 8/8.1 (or Win 7 for that matter) on to one’s PC is now impossible due to MS no longer issuing the digital signatures for these operating systems? If so, does that mean the owner is now obliged to ditch whatever he or she had and purchase Windows 10?

[Rustys]

Windows 7 and prior yes

Windows 8.1 no since it is still has until January 10, 2023

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-81

does that mean the owner is now obliged to ditch whatever he or she had and purchase Windows 10?

NO just means that they will not receive any updates and or patches for the older operating systems.

They can also depending on the hardware if it is not combatable with Widows 10 or Windows 11 could use Linux.

[GrahamKnott]

Thanks for that. So to clarify matters, NO reinstall of a Microsoft OS previous to Win 10 can now take place. . . with the possible exception of Win 8/8.1?

[Rustys]

You can install it just will not receive updaters and patches. You can however manually download them from the Microsoft site and manually install them that way knowing the proper order the need to be done in.

Like I stated switch to Linux.