When Windows 10 support runs out, you have 5 options but only 2 are worth considering

ZDnet ^ | April 22, 2024 | Ed Bott

[fireman15]

Microsoft will officially end support for its most popular operating system in October 2025. Here's what you should do with your Windows 10 PCs before that day arrives.

In less than two years, Microsoft will draw the final curtain on Windows 10 after a successful 10-year run.

That news shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. The end date is right there on the Microsoft Support document that lists "products retiring or reaching the end of support in 2025." The schedule is defined by Microsoft's Modern Lifecycle Policy: "Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025. The current version, 22H2, will be the final version of Windows 10, and all editions will remain in support with monthly security update releases through that date."

When a Windows version reaches its end-of-support date, the software keeps working, but the update channel grinds to a halt:

There will be no new security updates, non-security updates, or assisted support. Customers are encouraged to migrate to the latest version of the product or service. Paid programs may be available for applicable products.

That part in the middle sounds encouraging, doesn't it? "Customers are encouraged to migrate to the latest version of the product or service." Unfortunately, that's not a supported option for customers running Windows 10 on hardware that doesn't meet the stringent hardware compatibility requirements of Windows 11. If you try to upgrade one of those PCs to Windows 11, you'll encounter an error message. And Microsoft is adamant that it will not extend the support deadline for Windows 10.

Option 1: Ignore the end-of-support deadline completely

Option 2: Buy a new PC

Option 3: Ditch Windows completely

Option 4: Pay Microsoft for security updates

Option 5: Upgrade your old hardware to Windows 11

[dayglored]

What I mean by "Embrace the suck" are the multitude of useful or convenient things about Windows up through Win10 that Microsoft intentionally left our or designed out of Windows 11.

Just one as an example: The ability to resize or relocate the taskbar. Hope you like the new ad-enhanced style and placement.

"You can have any color you like, as long as it's black." -- Henry Ford

ClassicShell (now OpenShell) was a godsend for Windows10. It's an absolute necessity for Windows11.

[butlerweave]

Windows 11 sucks

I use it for games then I boot(Duel-boot) into Linux for everything else

[C210N]

Still using winDoze 7 as well. Works fine

[TexasGator]

“Buy a Mac and quit giving Bill Gates your money, he uses it to support genocide and to buy up American farm land to put it out of production.”

Then you are giving 10x the money to the Chinese slave labor government

[Political Junkie Too]

Ping for later. Thanks for this.

I have one of those Surface Pro 3 machines that had the Cover Keyboard driver corrupted by a patch and it no longer works. I ended up buying a Bluetooth keyboard (Brydge before they went out of business), so I wonder if this install might recover the keyboard?

IDK, because reinstalls of Windows 10 did not help. It would be nice if the original keyboard started working again, but the Brydge keyboard is also nice because it's solid and gives the Surface Pro 3 a much better feel as a laptop that's actually on my lap.

-PJ

[ansel12]

I have one plugged in the wall in each room with decent speakers (audioengine), they are my stereo systems for music or lectures, the kitchen one plays most of the day and is also used for recipes with a wall mounted monitor for reading the recipe and checking security cameras.

[TexasGator]

“And if he doesn’t pay for the upgrades, his house collapses- because it’s “no longer supported”.”

Stupid post

[doorgunner69]

“Buy a Mac “

And support the globohomo movement

[dfwgator]

And you think Microsoft doesn’t?

[Chad C. Mulligan]

“but the update channel grinds to a halt”

Hallelujah! I had to buy a used Win 10 machine only because my medical insurance provider won't compile their web site for XP-Pro. I use it for nothing else except ordering from Walmart and following up UPS tracking numbers. It's infuriating when it refuses to turn off for half an hour because it's downloading an update. (No, I have not learned how to turn off updates in Win 10. I refuse to be bullied into learning a new O/S every year or two.)

[ducttape45]

I have three computers, and they are all configured as dual booting PCs, W7 and W10 1909. I keep them like this because certain software I have will only work on certain O/S's. W11, or W12, will not install on any of them, so I won't bother with either of them.

However, once I reach a point where W10 is no longer needed, which I hope happens soon, I will wipe out that partition and re-install Linux, along with GIMP, MasterPDF and the latest office suite. I'll keep Windows 7, with Office 2016, Photoshop CS5, Adobe Acrobat 10 and a good internet security program and that will suffice for anything that Linux software won't be able to handle.

I'll be cool.

[ansel12]

“”””What I mean by “Embrace the suck” are the multitude of useful or convenient things about Windows up through Win10 that Microsoft intentionally left our or designed out of Windows 11.
Just one as an example: The ability to resize or relocate the taskbar. Hope you like the new ad-enhanced style and placement.”””””

I don’t get that one, to me the task bar is the same, you just have to choose the settings you want for it.

[fireman15]

I have 5 year old HP laptop that is not officially sanctioned for Windows 11 but runs it with no problems at all. Windows 11 is not perceptibly any more demanding than Windows 10 for fairly modern hardware. Older hardware can sometimes present some challenges when trying to hunt down drivers, etc...

It sounds like your 4 year old HP could use a clean install leaving out all the bloatware that HP typically includes. It is also possible that you have some iffy components or bad settings in your UEFI/BIOS.

[NewHampshireDuo]

I'm still runnng Windows 7.

I have several machines on Win 7. For two uses (gov't related) I have Win 10. These may be upgradable but have not checked. I use Linux for most stuff.

[ArcadeQuarters]

My computer is 11 years old and still plays my favorite games due to memory, SSD and video card upgrades over the years. I don’t want a new computer until newer games make the expense worth it. :(

[Montana_Sam]

Using Microsoft Windows 10 or 11 makes as much sense for the home user as wearing a wetsuit to bed to make love.
(I’m being as polite as I can.)

[FalloutShelterGirl]

I have an SP-3 and had an IT friend wipe it and install Linux. It still works great.

[It Aint Easy]

Linux is viable, people just need to not expect the same GUI as Microsoft (they are all similar anyways). It’s a tech downgrade for me if I were to go back to Windows from Linux & BSD for my needs. My wife does just fine for all her desktop/laptop needs with what I have after I showed her how to launch what application she needed.

95% of computer users just want to open their fancy new cardboard box and get going, the issue is familiarity. Microsoft has worsened Windows by trying to provide a similar GUI across multiple platforms instead of taking their kernel and tailoring the GUI to the platform, specifically the slow movement of settings/configuration from ‘legacy’ to the new dashboard.

[George from New England]

What about hardware changes in a box?
That used to require automated support

[fireman15]

There is no support with Tiny11 so what is the advantage?

As far as I know Tiny11 is still receiving updates. If you are talking about a Microsoft support person holding your dainty little hand while you try and install it on hardware that hasn't received the official blessing... then no.