Windows 7 annoying "Unsupported Hardware" pop ups

ElderN,

You have a good point. But my point is that Microsoft should stop forcing stuff onto its users.

Its customer service isn't that helpful either (at least for Windows 10). After one of the Windows 10 update on my laptop the Wi-Fi as well as my LAN got completely screwed up. After complaining to them the asked me to revert back to a previous version. That didn't help. Its been a year now and they keep saying they are working on it. There are so many other bugs I mentioned that they keep ignoring.

So why force such a buggy product on a user? If it was better than Windows 7 overall, it would be understandable.

I can easily uninstall the update and stop the annoying pop ups. But I need Microsoft to stop such sort of promotions or at least add a "Don't remind me again" button.

I have W7 Home Premium 64 bit with service pack 1, and an Intel I7-7700k processor. 

If you click onto "Learn More" when this unsupported popup appears, that will take you to MS's fix, which implies "you better upgrade to 10 or else you won't get anymore of our updates, and your computer will be in serious jeopardy".

"Because of how this support policy is implemented, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 devices that have a seventh generation or a later generation processor may no longer be able to scan or download updates through Windows Update or Microsoft Update.

Resolution

We recommend that you upgrade Windows 8.1-based and Window 7-based computers to Windows 10 if those computers have a processor that is from any of the following generations:

• Intel seventh (7th)-generation "Intel Core" processor or a later generation
• AMD seventh (7th)-generation (“Bristol Ridge") processor or a later generation
• Qualcomm “8996" processor or a later generation"

This worries me: when I try to do a manual update, the MS update screen now gives me an error code "80240037" and says it could not proceed with an update search, which makes me believe that I will no longer be able to get critical updates, although it really doesn't go into any details.  So, am I getting other updates that need to be done to stay secure, or is it not even able to check for any updates?? 

A "don't remind me again" button, as suggested by Denver, may not be a good resolution, since we don't know how that will affect our computers.  And this popup is now appearing at least 3 to 4 times during the first several minutes.

As for trying to self select the important or critical updates, since I'm a home builder, not a computer software programmer, that would be unwise from my perspective.  I still can't find that update number listed anywhere.  Almost all of the updates listed are critical or important.

There is no good reason for MS and Gates to be doing this to the 7 users, other than greed and the "search" for even more money.  I'm sure working with Intel and their new chip designs wouldn't take that much to make them work with 7 and 8.  If I could use any other software to run my cad and other programs, I would.

Thank you for your help.

I think the chances of Microsoft making any enhancements or fixes to Windows 7 (like a "don't remind me again" button are close to zero so forget about that.

Windows 7 will run just fine on your i7 CPU - Microsoft has just created an obstacle to your system receiving updates in the forms of a couple KBs.

I'm not 100% sure since I don't have the problem but I think the annoyance will be "fixed" if you uninstall these updates:

KB4015549

KB4012218

Then if you see those KBs offered again, right click and Hide them.

This is why folks need to take control of Windows Update by changing the Settings to "Never check for updates".

Now you are in control of your system and Windows Update instead of Microsoft being in control.  It is up to you to periodically check for updates yourself and look at each one and you decide if you want to install the update or not.

"Periodically" could be at least after the second and sometimes fourth Tuesday of each month since that is when MS regularly releases security patches which you can read about here:

Patch Tuesday

Hopefully more folks can let us know of uninstalling those two updates "fixes" the problem.

If you have your system set to install updates automatically you are going to keep having problems, especially if Microsoft sends you a hardware driver update that sometimes creates a no boot scenario.

I found the KB4015549 and deleted it.  It has stopped the annoying popup so far, but it did list it as an important, not critical, security patch.  Which worries me, since MS doesn't even have the concern about their users to at least let us know exactly what is, now, not protected, and will Norton's pick up the slack, etc..

For some reason, MS never tried to load KB4012218.

Do you know why the update history list still list's the KB4015549 as being successfully installed after a restart?  I also see several older "important" updates that are listed as "failed".  Makes me wonder about the accuracy of this list.

I know that someday I will have to change over to W10, as I did from XP to W7, but I really like 7 and everything is working.  I hate to load 10 and then find out what Denver has discussed and then trying to go back to 7.  What a mess.  I agree about no more help from MS regarding 7, there just isn't any money in that.   

I have set the auto updates off and will check out Patch Tuesdays.

Thank you for your help.

I think the chances of Microsoft making any enhancements or fixes to Windows 7 (like a "don't remind me again" button are close to zero so forget about that.

Windows 7 will run just fine on your i7 CPU - Microsoft has just created an obstacle to your system receiving updates in the forms of a couple KBs.

I'm not 100% sure since I don't have the problem but I think the annoyance will be "fixed" if you uninstall these updates:

KB4015549

KB4012218

Then if you see those KBs offered again, right click and Hide them.

This is why folks need to take control of Windows Update by changing the Settings to "Never check for updates".

Now you are in control of your system and Windows Update instead of Microsoft being in control.  It is up to you to periodically check for updates yourself and look at each one and you decide if you want to install the update or not.

"Periodically" could be at least after the second and sometimes fourth Tuesday of each month since that is when MS regularly releases security patches which you can read about here:

Patch Tuesday

Hopefully more folks can let us know of uninstalling those two updates "fixes" the problem.

If you have your system set to install updates automatically you are going to keep having problems, especially if Microsoft sends you a hardware driver update that sometimes creates a no boot scenario.

Hi, ElderN --

One thing I've been doing every month is NOT installing any "Quality" updates and doing the "Security Only" releases instead; I think that applies with one of the updates you referenced. Have had no problems.