Running Windows 10 on an Intel Atom-based 2-in-1? You may be in for a spot of Creators Update aggro

Not being able to upgrade to the March Creators Update to Windows 10 is no loss, but users may also be barred from security updates

A number of two-in-one devices upgraded free to Windows 10 less than two years ago have had support stopped and won't be able to install further Windows 10 updates.

It comes after Intel discontinued its Atom low-power microprocessor line, which means that it is no longer updating drivers accordingly.

That's according to ZDNet, which claims that Microsoft's Creators Update, released in March, but still slowly rolling out to users, is "incompatible" with some Intel Atom-powered 2-in-1 devices released between 2013 and 2014.

When they try to install the update, devices powered by Intel's Atom Clove CPUs (Z2760, Z2520, Z2560 and Z2580) are being thrown up a confusing message.

"Windows 10 is no longer supported on this PC," the message reads, before adding: "Uninstall this app now because it isn't compatible with Windows 10."

However, there is no app to uninstall and it appears that the old hardware is simply incompatible with the first of Microsoft's Creators Update releases.

As you'd expect, owners of what are now, effectively, defunct devices are not entirely happy and have taken to Microsoft's forums to register their disgruntlement.

One wrote: "So what's the plan Microsoft? Now that you are orphaning processors from the one current build philosophy. Are we going to see a fragmentation a la Android in the future?"

Another moaned: "Microsoft has zero respect."

Acer, whose devices have been affected by the Windows 10 update borkage, has spoken out about the problem on its support pages and has indicated that Microsoft is working on a fix for the problem.

"Microsoft is working with us to help provide compatible drivers to address this incompatibility. If you install the Windows 10 Creators Update, icons and text may not appear at all, or may show up as solid blocks or bars," said Acer.

"If you have already installed Creators Update and are experiencing problems, you can use Windows 10 recovery options to restore your system to the previous build."

Microsoft hasn't yet returned V3's request for comment, but a paragraph on its support pages suggests that the company could, if it's happy to deal with a PR backlash, do nothing.

The page says that "a device may not be able to receive updates if the device hardware is incompatible, lacking current drivers, or otherwise outside of the OEM support period".

We'll update this story if we hear back from the company.