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PKCano wrote:

There is no Security-only Update for Win8.1 ESU subscriptions.

There are no longer security only updates for Windows 8.1 server? I read the link that was in Abbodi86’s post that was linked to. The link was dated Jan 2022, so weird that there was still security only thru Oct 2024 – almost two years later. Too bad no one I know of  has been able to extract the security only patches from a CU.

So what do all of you suggest? I have been Group B since 2016 in the GWX fiasco. I have skipped every update that had any tracking in it… so I would hate to use the CU’s now. I remember vaguely that Woody said that there was a way to disable the tracking if you did get the CU’s but I don’t remember much about that or if it got rid of all that tracking or just some. I was planning on keeping Windows 8.1 thru 2026 then move to Linux.

Moderator Edit: Edit to remove quote of entire Reply. Please do not quote the entire post. Highlight the pertinent part and quote that.

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail

jitterdither wrote:

This doesn’t necessarily impact everyone’s use cases, but it’s still worth keeping in mind that browser vendors have either already dropped (Google Chrome) or are dropping (Mozilla Firefox) support for Windows 7/8.1, so even though one’s OS can still be patched, their browser will most likely not be.

There are other browsers out there than just chrome and firefox that will make continuous updates. Waterfox has gone back independent and I have seen no mention of them discontinuing support for Windows 7/8.1. There is also the Tor Onion Browser if all else fails (yes I know it will be slow) not to mention Pale Moon and Sea Monkey (which may not patch as often but still do. I think K-Melon still patches and works on XP

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail

2 users thanked author for this post.

jburk07, rick41

@PKCano also does it matter if I use the embedded or the windows server version? The are both the same file size so I guess it doesn’t but I just want to make sure.

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail

@PKCano, now that I am doing patching 100% manually, how do I tell which version of .Net I have? Most are for all versions but the OOB has specific versions. I looked in my registry under .Net Framwork Setup > NDP> and under v2.0 > 1033 it lists under version, 2.0.50727.4927; under v3.0 > 1033 it lists under version, 3.0.30729.4926, under v3.5  > 1033 it lists under version, 3.5.30729.4926 and under v4 it lists under version, 4.8.03761. So I suppose I have .net versions 2.0.5, 3.0.3, 3.5.3 and 4.8.0. Is that correct?

For these ones I understand that .Net updates had no privacy issues in the Quality versions. Is that still true or should I go with security only?

Are these Quality .Net updates, roll ups where If I install the June one, I don’t have to install the February one. Will the next one include the OOB one?

Thank you!

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail

Thanks to all! Sounds like a useful tool. I am doing the security only, now that the focus of AskWoody has shifted from Windows 7 & 8 to 10 & 11, is anyone reporting telemetry on the ESU updates as was done in the past?

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail

@abbodi86  @PKCano  I just figured it out. Where it says optional to put the downloaded stand alone updates in the same folder as the .cmd file was not optional for me. Once I put it in the same folder it started working.

One question: Once I installed the first set of update, this file showed up on my desktop: RunOnce_W10_Telemetry_Tasks.cmd

What is that about and why did it show up? The very reason I am sticking with 8.1 is because I am avoiding telemetry as much as possible and this is not a W10 computer. I dare not click on it, but haven’t deleted it until I know why its here.

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail

@abbodi86 @PKCano I am still struggling with the Windows 8.1 ESU updates. I have gotten as far as the cmd window and hitting 0 to start the process; however the 0 immediately disappears and nothing happens. I tried downloading an update just incase it worked and I can get it mostly installed but then it just rolls it back. Any help is appriciated.

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail

So I downloaded the W81ESUI_0.1 zip file. I don’t know much about cmd scripts and running them. I did read thru the read me files but didn’t really understand them. I feel comfortable modifying things I have never done before with good, detailed instructions. I have followed and successfully performed registry edits following instructions when I have never been exposed to them before.

Anyways, I clicked on the cmd script in the zip file. It gave me a warning which I clicked on run anyway. It then said to run as an administrator. I tried right clicking on the file to open but a “run as administrator” was not one of the choices. My desktop is not set up with a separate administrator account (Yes I know I should) so it should be in administrator mode. I found online that I could possible run it by typing the command below.

runas /user:Administrator "W81ESUI"
I did that and it asked for my administrator password and I don’t have one so I just hit enter. It seemed to accept that as the box disappeared but noting else happened. I am not sure it this was successful. (I never removed the .cmd file from the zip folder) I then downloaded the two Feb Windows 8.1 security only updates. Once downloaded, I opened them to start the installer. The installer ran and I see these updates listed in “View installed updates” Is everything installed the way it should be?

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail

Bill, I am going to stick with Windows 8.1 for a while. I will never go to windows 10 or above as I don’t like the telemetry collecting who knows what. Looks like I am moving from Group B to Group W. I also like to have control over my PC and update what, when and if I decide it’s best for me.

I will keep 8.1 so long as I can keep a decent antivirus suite and browser that can be updated. Antivirus should be easy as suites like Norton are still updating definitions for Windows XP. They are in maintenance mode where you get no features but still get definitions. For browsers, currently I use Brave, it will be updated thru February. Once that stops getting updates, I will move on (grudgingly) to Firefox ESR. I got rid of them a couple years ago as I didn’t like the stance they took which made me question a few things. Once their gone I may look into browsers like Waterfox or Palemoon. They kept XP around until 2019 I think. K-Melon is still updating their XP compatible browser to this day. I just want to know more about these to decide how long to use 8.1. Oh and I have Office 2016 which will be updated thru Oct 2025.

I am hoping to find a way to keep security updates for 8.1 if someone can figure out how to allow it to get windows 8.1 POS (thru July or October this year) or server 2012 which might get them thru 2026. After all this I’ll go move to Linux. Not sure which version yet… Looking at a few recommendations.

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail

3 users thanked author for this post.

Cybertooth, kandb, Charlie

When I first saw it, I literally thought GWX was malware. It was an application installed on my computer that I did not install myself, which IMO is the definition of malware. I didn’t even know at the time that the links it showed on GWX were legitimate or not, and I was taught never to do so… so I wasn’t going to click on them to find out. GWX was what actually led me to Ask Woody where I learned a lot from Woody and others about many underhanded and unethical privacy violations and the secretiveness of MS didn’t help. I went from downloading updates but let me install to eventually automatically installing them due to a lack of time I had, to after GWX, manually doing all updates and since 2016 security only ones.

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail

Yes, it’s the personal info for why I will never put W10 or 11 on my machine. Every since GWX appeared on my computer and I thought it was something malicious installed, I have no trust in MS.

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail

Thanks Susan, yes I am extremely careful of these. I will be moving to Linux when I can, there are several factors involved. I am not sure about if it would be a license break or not, I would pay for this if MS would allow it.

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail

Looks like what they are now referring to as Windows 8.1 embedded industry is supported until July 11, 2023.

Mainstream support for the Embedded Industry edition of Windows 8.1 ended on July 10, 2018 and extended support will end on July 11, 2023. – per Wikipedia.

Also server 2012 is supported until Oct 10, 2023 without ESU and Oct 13, 2026 with an ESU.

• Extended support until October 10, 2023<sup id=”cite_ref-slc_4-0″ class=”reference”>[4]</sup>
• Windows Server 2012 R2 is eligible for the paid ESU (Extended Security Updates) program (free for Azure Virtual Desktop users). This program allows customers to purchase security updates in yearly installments for the operating systemthrough at most October 13, 2026 only for volume licensed editions.

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail

@PKCano are you working on a way to do this?

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail

I don’t use Google Chrome but would this affect Brave since it uses the Chrome engine? Any idea if other browsers have announced the same thing or is google the first one to end support?

Windows 8.1 Group B, Brave & Mozilla ESR - grudgingly & Protonmail