Windows 8.0 status as abandonware

[gtgamer468]

When does Windows 8.0 (not 8.1) RTM build 9200 becomes an abandonware? Since it was released in 2012 and Microsoft replaced it with Windows 8.1, I'm not sure when.

[Edness]

Windows 8 was released in 2012, so 2022 of course. 8.1 was it's own thing that happened in 2013, so 2023 for that

[Overdoze]

When does Windows 8.0 (not 8.1) RTM build 9200 becomes an abandonware? Since it was released in 2012 and Microsoft replaced it with Windows 8.1, I'm not sure when.

The 10 year rule still applies regardless, so as Edness said, in 2022.

[gtgamer468]

I was thinking of 2022 as well. I wasn't completely sure with myself, however, but thank you.

[JimOlive]

2012 + 10 = 2022, as already mentioned.

[YueLing11]

No. Windows 8 has ended support in 2016 but 8.1 still have support until 2023. They decided to end support for Windows 8 earlier because 8.1 is a update for 8.

[mrpijey]

Windows 8 and 8.1 (RTM) will not be released on BA earlier than on August 23, 2023.

[JimOlive]

Windows 8 and 8.1 (RTM) will not be released on BA earlier than on August 23, 2023.

8.1 is not the same as 8.0, just like 3.1 and 3.0.

[mrpijey]

Windows 8.1 has the same EOL as Windows 8. Extended Support for Windows 8 ends at January 10, 2023, but Windows 8 was also released on August 23, 2013. It has to reach 10 years old before it's put online. So no earlier than August 23, 2023.

[3155ffGd]

8.1 is not the same as 8.0, just like 3.1 and 3.0.

As long as Microsoft offers the free upgrade from 8.0 to 8.1, it's really no different from say, Windows XP RTM and Windows XP SP3. They also are not the same operating system, but Windows XP RTM could only be uploaded here after XP SP3 went EOL.

[Random_User]

but Windows 8 was also released on August 23, 2013.

Actually, the RTM build of Windows 8 was compiled on July 25, 2012; released to manufacturing on August 01, 2012; and released to the general public on October 26, 2012.


I think you are mistaking Windows 8 with Windows 8.1 (though that too is slightly off). The RTM build of Windows 8.1 was compiled on August 28, 2013; released to manufacturing on August 27, 2013; and released to the general public on October 17, 2013.

[AlphaBeta]

Microsoft gave Windows 8.1 a status similar to Service Packs, so you won't see Windows 8 on the FTP as long as Windows 8.1 is supported, no matter whether it was released on the 23rd or 27th:

Windows 8.1 falls under the same lifecycle policy as Windows 8, and will reach end of Mainstream Support on January 9, 2018, and end of Extended Support on January 10, 2023. With the general availability of Windows 8.1, customers on Windows 8 have two years, until January 12, 2016, to move to Windows 8.1 in order to remain supported.

I think that pretty much sums it up.

[LarryTN7722]

As others said, I think Windows 8 will become abandonware on October 26, 2022, Windows 8.1 on October 17, 2023.

[Caveria]

Yea, 10 years after releasing the operating system, it is abandonware.

[AlphaBeta]

Yea, 10 years after releasing the operating system, it is abandonware.

Yes, I guess that explains why XP wasn't admitted to the FTP until 2014...

[mrpijey]

Yea, 10 years after releasing the operating system, it is abandonware.

Only if it's also not supported in any way.

[LarryTN7722]

Yea, 10 years after releasing the operating system, it is abandonware.

Only if it's also not supported in any way.

So, Windows 8 will become abandonware on January 10, 2023.

[RabidSnake]

The fact that a version of windows looses support does not mean it becomes abandonware Windows 2000 only recently became abandonware, and Windows XP is not as of yet fully abandonware as neither is Vista the software will become abandonware when microsoft no longer sees it as a competitor, mind you some organizations still use XP and i would have already downloaded Server 2003 if it was abandonware.

[mrpijey]

Actually it's exactly what it means. When there's no more support, no more sales, no more service packs etc then it's per definition abandoned. When Microsoft products reach EOL (End Of Life) then it's out of support, and sales stopped a long time before that. Of course you can then debate the legal ramifications etc but that's an another discussion and doesn't change the fact. Windows 2000 reached EOL back in 2010, Windows XP reached EOL in 2014, Server 2003 in 2007 (2009 for R2).

Here is the Microsoft Product Lifecycle site:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/search

The term "abandonware" is not a fixed definition either, BetaArchive defines abandonware differently from other sites and communities, but that's because we also include a safety line to make sure that none of the titles we publish are sold, in support and old enough for no one to care about it.

[win32]

Windows 2000 reached EOL back in 2010, Windows XP reached EOL in 2014, Server 2003 in 2007 (2009 for R2).

Server 2003 support ended on July 14, 2015. The 2007 EOL applies to the OS without service packs.

[mrpijey]

Quite right, their tables are a bit messy and should have had direct links to the service pack "editions".

[YueLing11]

Windows 8.1 has the same EOL as Windows 8. Extended Support for Windows 8 ends at January 10, 2023, but Windows 8 was also released on August 23, 2013. It has to reach 10 years old before it's put online. So no earlier than August 23, 2023.

Wrong. It's Windows 8.1 not 8.0. Windows 8.0 has already unsupported as of January 12, 2016 and 8.1 will reach EOL in 2023. Windows 8 and 8.1 lifecycles isn't same. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lif ... indows%208

[AlphaBeta]

Wrong. It's Windows 8.1 not 8.0. Windows 8.0 has already unsupported as of January 12, 2016 and 8.1 will reach EOL in 2023. Windows 8 and 8.1 lifecycles isn't same. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lif ... indows%208

Wrong.

Windows 8.1 falls under the same lifecycle policy as Windows 8, and will reach end of Mainstream Support on January 9, 2018, and end of Extended Support on January 10, 2023. With the general availability of Windows 8.1, customers on Windows 8 have two years, until January 12, 2016, to move to Windows 8.1 in order to remain supported.

[YueLing11]

Wrong. It's Windows 8.1 not 8.0. Windows 8.0 has already unsupported as of January 12, 2016 and 8.1 will reach EOL in 2023. Windows 8 and 8.1 lifecycles isn't same. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lif ... indows%208

Wrong.

Windows 8.1 falls under the same lifecycle policy as Windows 8, and will reach end of Mainstream Support on January 9, 2018, and end of Extended Support on January 10, 2023. With the general availability of Windows 8.1, customers on Windows 8 have two years, until January 12, 2016, to move to Windows 8.1 in order to remain supported.

You're misleading. It said "With the general availability of Windows 8.1, customers on Windows 8 have two years, until January 12, 2016, to move to Windows 8.1 in order to remain supported." aka you need Windows 8.1 in order to get supported. https://imgur.com/zbAv0hd (sorry can't upload due to limitation)

[AlphaBeta]

You're misleading. It said "With the general availability of Windows 8.1, customers on Windows 8 have two years, until January 12, 2016, to move to Windows 8.1 in order to remain supported." aka you need Windows 8.1 in order to get supported. https://imgur.com/zbAv0hd (sorry can't upload due to limitation)

I actually think you might have misunderstood the point of the thread. Nobody disputes the fact that Windows 8 is no longer supported. The dispute lies in the BetaArchive definition of abandonware, which states that the software must be at least 10 years old and not supported in any form (including service packs).

Considering Microsoft apparently considers Windows 8.1 to be a "service pack" for Windows 8, it seems logical to conclude that Windows 8 won't be abandonware according to the BA form until Windows 8.1 reaches end of extended support, as the no-support criterion is not met until then.