(Microsoft has stepped in to
provide microcode updates, assisting smaller vendors who wouldn't or couldn't provide timely patches.)
Not exact matches
However, as indicated in our latest
microcode revision guidance, we will not be
providing updated
microcode for a select number of older platforms for several reasons, including limited ecosystem support and customer feedback.
Microsoft said Tuesday that it has expanded its ongoing efforts to patch the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities in two directions: by
providing patches for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, and archiving
microcode patches for Intel's Skylake, Kaby Lake, and Coffee Lake chips.
Although most devices will receive this class of updates via firmware
provided by the device manufacturer, Microsoft says it will offer additional
microcode updates from Intel through that KB article «as they become available to Microsoft.»
In general, new CPU
microcode is
provided through updates to the system's UEFI firmware, or BIOS.
When Windows boots up, Windows
provides the new
microcode to the CPU.
So, to solve this mess, Microsoft has worked with Intel to
provide another way to get
microcode updates.
This is a little bit of a cop out, as your PC manufacturer probably will not recommend installing a
microcode update unless they're the ones
providing it to you.