[awalton]

Err, no. This is 100% Microsoft trying to kill all Windows prior to Win10 by making it virtually impossible to continue to use the older Windows versions (i.e. by blocking updates and removing support for new hardware).

There's nothing technically different enough about these new CPUs that anything significant needs to be done by Microsoft - in fact, it took more code to deny the ability to install on these new CPUs than it would take to allow it.

[downrightmike]

Win10 was 'Free' except now you have no recourse except to buy into the new system. Welcome to the world of tomorrow.