Although I am a little irritated about it... There are multiple choices for dealing with the upcoming Windows 10 end of life event. The most obvious is to purchase alternative is to purchase a license for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC which will be getting security updates until 2032. I have purchased one license from a place that has served me well for years and will probably getting a couple more depending on how some other options work out.
I am grateful to Microsoft, Apple, Linux developers and the many computer software and hardware companies that came before them. We have so many choices and as people on this forum like to remind us, antiquated Operating systems and hardware are still fun to play with.
This is true even if precautions must be taken to keep sensitive data from falling into the hands of criminals and in prevent your old system from being hacked. Your old TI994a, Commodore 64 or Apple 2 probably is not going to be on many malcontents’ radar screen if you can actually figure out how to do something fun with them over the internet.
Visiting questionable sites on an old computer running Windows 7 even using a browser like Firefox and up to date antivirus software is likely a bit risky, because a lot of people still do it. If you don't get too adventurous and don't go off the beaten path probably not so much. I would guess that sites like Free Republic pose little if any risk.
I love old games and programs. I like to use them both on emulators and working original equipment. I have a huge pile of old original equipment along with a treasure trove of old programs to run on them. And why shouldn't I? Browing the internet wasn't even a thing when I was using some of this equipment.
Many times, fixing the power supply by installing a few new capacitors is all it takes. And old equipment typically has components that you can see even without your 100x electronic microscope. (Speaking of that I just bought a new one for $100 that is absolutely amazing for soldering and inspecting using a laptop, tablet, LCD TV, or an old monitor.)
Threads like this always surprise me a little because of the number of bitter people griping about what are actually very minor issues. But it seems to be part of the human condition to be unsatisfied no matter how great we have it.
Thanks for the info, and
you can enroll those PCs in the paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program. ESUs allow you to receive critical and/or important security updates for Windows 10 PCs .. You can purchase ESU licenses for Windows 10 devices that you don't plan to upgrade to Windows 11 starting in October 2024, one year before the end of support date. The price of the ESU program will double every consecutive year, for a maximum of three years. If you decide to jump into the program in Year Two, you'll have to pay for Year One too, as ESUs are cumulative. The 5-by-5 activation subscription will establish the Year One list price of ESU for Windows 10. - https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/windows-itpro-blog/when-to-use-windows-10-extended-security-updates/4102628
https://www.zdnet.com/article/cant-quit-windows-10-you-can-pay-microsoft-for-updates-after-october-or-try-these-alternatives/: Business customers will need to pay dearly to stick with Windows 10. A license for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is sold as a subscription. For the first year, the cost is $61. For year two, the price doubles, and it doubles again for year three. That Microsoft blog post doesn't do the math on those, probably because the total is uncomfortably high. A three-year ESU subscription will cost $61 + $122 + $244, for a total of $427 per PC. .
Consumers will be able to sign up for a one-year ESU subscription for $30. That's roughly half what businesses will pay for that first year. The deal comes with two significant restrictions, however. First, it's available only for "personal use," a move that's obviously designed to discourage business customers from trying to get security updates at a discount. Second, the subscription can't be renewed after that first year. On October 25, 2026, security updates will stop for good on those consumer PCs....Microsoft says that ESU program enrollment for consumers will be available closer to the end of support date.
First, it's available only for "personal use," a move that's obviously designed to discourage business customers from trying to get security updates at a discount. Second, the subscription can't be renewed after that first year. On October 25, 2026, security updates will stop for good on those consumer PCs.
Education customers are getting off much easier. The rules are the same, but the price for the first year is $1. It doubles to $2 in the second year and doubles again to $4 in the third and final year, for a grand total of ... $7 per PC.
Are there any alternatives to ESU subscriptions?
An ESU subscription entitles customers to receive updates delivered automatically through Windows Update. If Microsoft follows its customary practices, those updates will also be available for download individually through the Microsoft Update Catalog.
It's a tedious process, but a customer who's determined to save money could set a calendar reminder to check for new updates a day or two after those updates are delivered on the second Tuesday of the month and install them manually.I am running Q/11 Pro which is a result of buying an upgrade from XP to W/8 for $29 (New Egg) years ago. Which was on the Retail Channel and thus legal to be removed from one PC to another without limits. And I thank God for the safe free options to regard lost functions and other aspects that "updates" removed.