Can a Skylake CPU run Windows Vista/XP?

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Sparktown

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I built a PC with a i5-6500 Skylake CPU, Z170 Motherboard and a 250 GB SSD drive. I've only been running Linux Mint 17.3 on it for the time being. I was originally thinking about buying a Windows 10 License and making the PC a dual boot Windows 10/Linux Mint machine.

However, after reading about all the privacy issues with Windows 10, I frankly don't want to support it by buying it. One day, I might have to bite the bullet. However, for now I mostly just need Windows for older games I can't get to run under Wine.

I still have a copies of Window XP 32-bit and Windows Vista 32-bit. I thought about just installing Vista on a separate NTFS partition (Samsung Magician should be able to enable paging on at least Vista, so my SSD should be okay).

However, then I started to read that Microsoft wasn't supporting Skylake CPUs on Windows 7 - 8.1. What does this mean for Windows XP and Windows Vista? Do these operating system simply not support a Skylake CPU? Can I not run XP or Vista on a Skylake system? Would it just run very poorly? Does this just apply to running XP/Vista on a separate NTFS partition? Would I be okay if I ran them within Linux on a virtual machine?

Thanks.
 
Solution
Dark Lord of Tech
http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/16/10780876/microsoft-windows-support-policy-new-processors-skylake
Microsoft says new processors will only work with Windows 10

Windows 7 and 8.1 won't be updated for future processors, starting with Intel's Skylake platform
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Dark Lord of Tech

Dark Lord of Tech

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http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/16/10780876/microsoft-windows-support-policy-new-processors-skylake
Microsoft says new processors will only work with Windows 10

Windows 7 and 8.1 won't be updated for future processors, starting with Intel's Skylake platform
 
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Solution
13thmonkey

13thmonkey

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I read elsewhere that it was just the more enhanced low power states that the OS controls that are unavailable in earlier OS's.
 
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junkeymonkey

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sad thing is you can build that lesser AM3+ and run xp-vista-7-8-8.1-10 Linux heck maybe mac ?? don't know ? old intel may be slightly better but now seem to want to be so proprietary and sems to be working hand in hand with Microsoft to trap you in to 10 ?? [opinion] sad times
 
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13thmonkey

13thmonkey

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So skylake will work, just not be supported, with higher risk updates from third parties. But yes, beyond skylake, different story.
 
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13thmonkey

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The question is why is this happening. If it is a power levels issue and the performance per watt race, then it would require MS to constantly update win7 etc. to cope with these new scenarios, or intel could do it, but then MS has to do some work, so who pays for this? Anything before 10 is being treated as a dead OS. Yes you could go to AMD, and not have the tweaks that reduce power consumption and therefore cooling requirements, but's that the payoff.
 
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junkeymonkey

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also I see guys doing the usb 7 install on non skylakes [like a z97] and running into the same issue as skylake guys were doing that and now I wonder if what was done to prevent that with skylake builds now also affects all the rest doing usb installs ??

http://wccftech.com/intel-skylake-remove-support-usb-based-windows-7-installation-platform-specs/

just seemed funny to me ??
 
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13thmonkey

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junkeymonkey

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same with asus as well '' Use this tool to create a Windows 7 installation file with USB 3.0 drivers preloaded for 100 series motherboards.''

http://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z170-A/HelpDesk_Download/

don't need to look at anything else its a well known fact even from a year ago and do you think they feel toms is a reliable source as well ?? come on man . I'm seeing that here and now , right ??
 
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13thmonkey

13thmonkey

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I'm not disagreeing that it is not happening, try reading the words it helps, what i'm saying is that wccf has a poor reputation in general, yes sometimes they get lucky.

And I never mentioned anything about toms being a reliable or unreliable source, however you are pointing out forum posts with this issue, rather than a review that pointed out the issue, so that's not really toms in terms of it's editorial staff.

However the fix does seem to be remarkable simple. So i'm not sure why the position has been created where it is needed as installing the fix obviously doesn't break anything.
 
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junkeymonkey

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it all good - you point out things as you see them and give advice and a opinion as do I then it up to the guy to do his own research and separate facts out -- thing is Microsoft is getting so $hitty over 10 thing get hidden away and not brought up front and like I said above '' the trap is now sprung''

I pointed these thing out a long time ago and got called stupid -bashed - conspiracy and all but now ''he who laughs last laughs the best '' I just can beleave folks don't see all this from a mile away .. I did and I'm a dumb ass ..

now take all the back door things said about 10 and spying ?? look at your articles on that this week like for encryption laws now figure how all that will go hand in hand down the road ?? as they sat ''the end is near'' lol... and your personal private computer will be a open book [all in the name of home land security - the top 10% need to know if your a enemy of the state , right ??
 
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Supernova1138

Supernova1138

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Your big problem will be driver support for your motherboard. I'm pretty sure there won't be any Windows XP drivers for any LGA 1151 board, as XP was discontinued almost two years ago. Vista you might still be in luck, though as said above, you may run into issues if you try to install the OS via USB, or only have USB mouse and keyboard.

Check the manufacturer's website for your selected motherboard and see if they are providing Windows Vista 32 bit drivers. If they aren't, you might have to either bite the bullet and get Windows 10, or see if you can get your hands on a Windows 7 key.
 
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junkeymonkey

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i'll also say no , unless you hack a lot of drivers and all in and then I really doubt it .. it use to be you bought stuff that supported what you do now you buy to support them -- they now got it all figured out

like AMD there last vista driver for a vid card was way back 13.12 NVidia gtx 9560 still supports down to xp but its big brothers do not --

this is wahy I recommend today still to just do a haswell and then with that your limited down to 7 all I see is a AMD build you can still use down to xp


AM3+ example
http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/990FX%20Extreme6/?cat=Download

a88x example
http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/FM2A88X%20Extreme6+/?cat=Download

still good to go and maybe you don't here anything or anything new from AMD ? may not want to stoop down to Microsoft or intels way of you will just use 10 and 10 only for now on ??

I'm sure they will be strong armed in to it just like the rest of us - all in the name of national security and what we think is best for you..
 
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Sparktown

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Well, I have a Asrock Z170 Pro4s. It doesn't look like it supports Vista...but I'm not 100% sure.

My GPU is an EVGA GeForce GTX 950 FTW . Not sure about this either.

It is starting to look like I'll have to bite the bullet and buy Windows 10 if I want to make a dual boot system. Is there any harm in me just trying to make a Vista partition? Worst case, it doesn't work and I just install Windows 10 over it (or delete the partition and go back to Linux only), right?

Are Vista/XP okay if I run them on a virtual machine on Linux?
 
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Supernova1138

Supernova1138

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You can certainly attempt to install Vista if you want, and just delete the partition or reformat it if you do decide to get Windows 10. You can run XP or Vista inside a VM, though if you're looking to play games on those OSes, you may be limited by what virtualization software you are using, as not all of them are going to support GPU passthrough, and with such a new graphics card you may not be able to get drivers for it to work at full functionality inside the VM.
 
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