If you are running Windows 8 (not 8.1), you need to upgrade ASAP!  The January 12, 2016 Patch Tuesday contained the last updates for Windows 8.  If you are still running Windows 8, it's time to update to Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, or risk exposing your PC to unpatched security risks.

Thanks to a quirk in Microsoft's support lifecycle, Windows 8 is no longer supported.  This is because Windows 8.1 is considered a service pack to Windows 8, and Microsoft provides two years to upgrade to a service pack before discontinuing support for the previous release.  Since the 8.1 service pack was released two years ago, Windows 8 without the 8.1 service pack is no longer supported and won't receive any more security updates.

The upgrade from Windows 8 to 8.1 is unlike any other Windows upgrade; it requires a trip to the Windows Store rather than the normal Windows Update route. The update is free for most users.

Written by Eric Rostetter, Senior System Administrator
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