Windows 7 annoying "Unsupported Hardware" pop ups

You mean just right out of the blue you see a message like this:

Or do you only see it when performing a Windows Update operation?

That feature came along with the optional update KB4012218 which you can read about here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4012218/march-2017-preview-of-monthly-quality-rollup-for-windows-7-sp1-and-windows-server-2008-r2-sp1

Since KB4012218 contains no security updates/features and it is optional it is probably something your system can live without.

Look in Control Panel, Windows Update, Installed Updates and if you see KB4012218 listed, uninstall it, reboot and then see how things look.

If KB4012218 is offered to you again you can right click and hide it so (hopefully) you will never see it again.

The same problem just started on it's own today.  I didn't do a manual update search, that's on auto.  I do not see any updates with that number anywhere.  

After reading MS's page regarding how to fix this problem, I'm as upset as Denver is.  I just built this custom desktop and do not want to go through and redo all my software, etc. again.  This is taking up my valuable time and I'm very upset with Gates.  Does he not have enough money??  I already paid him for a registered copy of 7 that had not been used yet.

The big question is will any future updates be done, or is it just the processor updates, and how will not getting them affect the quality and security of my computer?

These days having Windows Update set to automatic is not the healthiest thing for Windows.

Let's see here...  what details do we know about your new system - nothing.

If you just built your custom desktop is it current with Service Pack 1 and other Windows updates?

What is the link to "MS's page regarding how to fix this problem"?

The issue could also be related to KB4015549 which you can read about here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4015549/windows-7-windows-server-2008-r2-sp1-update-kb4015549

Hi ElderN,

Yes it is KB4015549 that creates this issue. It is not an Optional update but an Important one. I and most users choose to keep Automatic Updates on to avoid having to choose them all the time. The point is Microsoft is trying to force Windows 10 onto all its users. Users should have the option to use whichever Operating System is suitable to them. Windows 10 is filled with bugs that still haven't been fixed. So I prefer to continue using Windows 7.

Good report and that helps.

Mid last year when Windows 10 was offered for free it caused much grief in the community for folks that didn't want it but the notifications and other things kept popping up - how to get rid of them?!  And some updates began to look much like spyware, snooping and data collection on your system but of course none of your personal information or data would ever be collected - really?  Nobody wanted that stuff either.

Many users decided to just set Windows Update to never check for updates, then you are in control of your system instead of Microsoft.  That way you check for updates periodically and install the updates that YOU want instead of what MS thinks you should have.  Still there are folks that just install all the updates offered without looking at them and then come the topics with descriptions like "Windows Update broke my computer!"

For me and many others that would just be only consider installing updates that have the word "Security" in them and only after reading the descriptions.  There will be no more enhancements or bug fixes for Windows 7 - just patches until 2020.

You may find of interest this topic from October about the subject:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/windows-update-how-will-it-change-your-system/6d2ee7f8-908f-4ddb-8fd9-1eab55773141?tm=1476461665170

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.

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.