Earlier in the week, Microsoft snuck an update in on one of the support notes. If you’re running on of Intel’s 7th-generation processors, an AMD “Bristol Ridge” or Qualcomm “8996" processor, Windows Update will display a message telling you have reached the end Windows Update road.
If you are still running Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 and have one of those processors in your computer, then it’s time to move on to Windows 10. Microsoft says “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”.
"Your PC uses a processor that isn’t supported on this version of Windows" error when you scan or download Windows updates [Microsoft Support]
Originally published in Lifehacker Australia on 17 March 2017: https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2017/03/the-curtain-is-falling-on-lots-of-old-windows-builds/