Windows 10 given an extra year of supported life, for $30

The Register ^ | Oct 31, 2024 | iain Tomson

[dayglored]

Microsoft has thrown a lifeline to Windows 10 users ahead of the OS going end-of-life, by offering an extra year of patches for $30.

Support for Windows 10 ends in October 2025 and Redmond is pushing people to upgrade to Windows 11, with mixed success to date – as of last month, Windows 10 had 62.75 percent of Redmond's OS market share, compared to 33.42 percent for the newer version ago.

Perhaps that’s why the software behemoth has decided to offer Extended Security Updates - previously only available for business, education, and government users - to anyone who wants them.

"For the first time ever, we’re introducing an ESU program for personal use as well," wrote Yusuf Mehdi, consumer chief marketing officer at Microsoft. "The ESU program for consumers will be a one-year option available for $30. Program enrollment will be available closer to the end of support in 2025."

This will be a boon to those who don't care to upgrade or who can't because their PCs aren’t capable of running Windows 11.

Enterprise users can pay $61 per device for an extra year of support, but that doubles the next year to $122, and again to $244 in year three. Users in the education sector have it much easier - they pay $1 per license for the first year, then $2, and then $4 per Windows 10 machine.

Windows 11 is one of Microsoft's most poorly performing operating systems, in part due to the powerful hardware it requires. Chipmakers and PC players expect the need for upgrades to bring a payday, but that hasn't happened yet.

Part of the problem, as The Register readers have noted on our forums, is that Windows 11 isn’t a significant improvement over its predecessor. While Redmond repeatedly touts the benefits of Copilot and AI, it doesn't seem to be an incentive for many people to rip and replace their hardware to take care of it.

Microsoft also risks driving users to non-Windows machines. With Apple's market share steadily growing in the US - and the iPhone's popularity - many may consider making the switch.

Or perhaps 2025 will be the year of Linux on the desktop. ®

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Note: My prior attempt to post this thread threw an error that caused there to be no initial "Comment" and no way to reply. Hopefully this one will work.

[Bikkuri]

"How are you running photoshop on Linux?"

There is a program called Lutris, which is for running Windows games on Linux. It has its own versions (plural) of WINE that it uses, and also has installation scripts for most Windows games and applications.
It DOES have installation scripts for Photoshop (I think specifically CS6, which is the one that I use since it is pre-rent/lease version) and MS Office (can't remember if there is a specific version, but I use Office 2021 since that is the last version that is not rent/lease).

I didn't consider the graphics card, so you may be correct. I am running an NVIDIA 4070 with 16g of Vid Ram, so that may make a difference, although, when I was running a 2060, it was fine then too.

Lutris is very handy (for me anyway), and there are very few things that I couldn't get to run.
After you install it, and want to install, say for example, Photoshop, there is a cross (plus shape) on the top left hand side:



















You will need to play around with it to get used to it.. took me about a week messing around with it, but it's pretty straight forward after a bit.
They way it works, is that it can have many different versions of WINE that it uses the one that is needed for whichever application (which the scripts handle). If you install something without the scripts (also possible, and I have done many times), it can test whichever versions of WINE you want, until you get a working version, or even keep testing the versions until there aren't even any hiccups (if there were any).

Especially in the Linux world, you won't know until you try it, 😉

[Bikkuri]

"How did you redo the ISO for Windows 11? I have bypassed the whole Microsoft account and forced a local install for Windows 11 Home, but it was a pain, along with dealing with all the privacy crud. I would love to have a clean ISO, though."

First, I recommend you go directly to the MS Windows download web-page and install the latest ISO from there.

Windows 10
Windows 11


Then go through and read/follow instructions:
Chris Titus: Windows 10
or
Chris Titus:Windows 11


It is a PITA, but, if you really want it, it can be done.
Also, I would give you a copy of mine, but it is NEVER safe to accept an OS (or any app) from anyone else (you need it directly from the source (Microsoft, in this case)), and I cut a lot of stuff out that you may need.

Anyway, do this at your own risk.. (BTW, after you make the changes you want for the new ISO, it may take awhile for it to go through the whole process of redoing it, so be patient 😉)

[Bikkuri]

Also, if I remember correctly, the ability to be able to skip creating a MS account is in there too, but the simplest way, is to totally disconnect from the internet while installing. It will be forced to make a local account instead.

[TChad]

Avoiding Win 11 for $30 sounds like a great deal to me. Jump on it.

[Bob434]

Thank you for the link- I suffer from pretty bad ‘brain fog’ i think from chronic fatigue, and it is hard for me to concentrate for any length of time now- my brain gets exhausted quickly when i tax it like on things like this- but i will check that out and see if it will be too much for a tired mind- it probably will, huh?

[Bob434]

Thank you for the suggestion and link- I will check that out- i woudl much rather run photoshop on linux if i can- kind of a pain switching OS’s just to run photoshop-

[Bikkuri]

I believe he (Chris Titus) also includes videos to help out, although I still prefer reading, so I rarely watch them.

[Bob434]

Yep- watching the video now- Ugggh- i see I’m gonna be doing a deep dive on how to create a stripped down install of 10 now lol- but it’s all good- i need a challenge- just hope my brain can keep up- Thanks again for that link- he has another real step by step video which is 3 hours which i will prob need to go through- but I’ll give it a shot-

[Bikkuri]

BTW, this is a pretty fresh install of the latest Linux I have, so I need to find my Photoshop and reinstall, thank you for reminding me 😉

[Bob434]

the only problem is that that is how it started out with windows 7, a person could pay $30 for updates, but then it got more expensive later- as they tried ot push people off 7 and onto 10

[Bikkuri]

(By the way, I try to avoid VMs, they are a pain in the arse, and it is like driving an 18 wheeler with 15 wheels...)

[Bikkuri]

Oops, I made a typo.. I meant 3 1/4 & 5 1/2..

[Bob434]

Yep i agree- don’t like em myself-

[Bikkuri]

DANGIT.. (I need sleep)
3 1/2 and 5 1/4
(local brain fog must be contagious)

[Bob434]

one quick question- the windows updates- which woudl i need? All of them? There’s like 20 pages of em lol

https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=Servicing%20Stack%20Update%20Windows%2010

[Bob434]

headed to bed, so will check thsi thread tomorrow-

[Bikkuri]

Small correction from my last post to both of you;

"I recommend you go directly to the MS Windows download web-page and install the latest ISO from there."

should say:

"I recommend you go directly to the MS Windows download web-page and DOWNLOAD the latest ISO from there."

Apologies about that 😀


(I seriously need some sleep... That will come after the elections, I suppose)

[Bikkuri]

No prob, and glad it is helpful ;^)

[Bikkuri]

Hmm.. I would just download the current available ISO (which should be up to date), and continue from there.
I corrected one of my previous posts about what to do after you download the ISO... I mistakenly said to ‘install’ it instead of ‘download’ it..

[Bikkuri]

In addition to the above, there is another utility that he made to assist with debloating windows (I think he includes tools in there that also help create a debloated install ISO).
I remember I had downloaded and ran his stuff from his GitHub (https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil .... he includes instructions if you scroll down).
Like I mentioned before, the whole process is tedious and time consuming.. but you do get better and more control of your computer, and close lots of security gabs and spy-crap.



My apologies on all of this extra and confusing info... going to bed now :^P