This secret version of Windows 10 still gets updates until 2032

Laptop Magazine ^ | May 31, 2025 | Rael Hornby

[fireman15]

No Copilot, no ads, no bloat, no AI — and seven extra years of official support. It sounds too good to be true, but there's a reason most haven't heard of it.

Microsoft won't advertise it, and you're highly unlikely to stumble across it by accident, but there's a version of Windows 10 that drops the ads, the AI, and will be officially supported for years to come — long after most are forced to upgrade to Windows 11.

For those unaware, Windows 10 is due to be retired by Microsoft on October 14, 2025. Beyond this date, the operating system will lose access to any technical support, future feature drops, and vital security updates.

While your computer will run as normal, and you don't actually need to leave Windows 10 behind, any potential system vulnerabilities discovered after the end-of-support date will remain exploitable forevermore. It'll be open season on your data, hardware, and privacy, and your copy of Windows will be about as secure as a piñata at a party packed with sugar-lusting Little Leaguers.

Microsoft's ideal solution is for Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11. Those whose devices don't meet the operating system's minimum specs can alternatively opt into the company's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which offers regular consumers an extra year of security updates for $30.

((Paragraphs cut to make the body of thread short enough.))

It's the version of Windows 10 Microsoft never wanted you to use, and, even though it's entirely capable, it was never designed to run your laptop or desktop machine. Still, that doesn't mean you can't do it anyway.

[fireman15]

You had what I felt were legitimate reasons for leaving it off the ping list. But he video link that I provided gives very clear and easy to understand instructions. One just needs to change the registry values from those given in the video to the ones that I provided to take make sure that your license ends up being for the IoT version that lasts until 2032.

As far as the difficulties with the large number of Windows Updates that are installed with this method... it is irritating but about the same thing will likely happen if you use any Windows 10 ISO file that was released in 2021 or before to update an old system. This does not happen when you do a clean install with Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2021 LTSC because the IoT version does not normally receive all of those updates. This method seems to end up doing fresh installs of every update that your computer has ever taken.

Basically, you end up with a fresh and updated Windows 10 Pro system (in my case) with Windows 21H2 at its core instead of 22H2. For whatever reason... in my computers this boots faster and runs cooler.

I forgot to mention that when I ran Disk Cleanup by Pressing Windows + S, and typing Disk Cleanup I was able to give my bloated system about 40GBs back mostly from the Windows.old directory. My other more typical installations did not get this much space back. If you started from a newer Windows 10 ISO and do not have as much installed the process goes more smoothly.

[Still Thinking]

Secret? That’s my daily driver.

[fireman15]

I just want to know why I can't get my camera to work.

I started having difficulties with my laptop's IR facial recognition camera months ago. After “upgrading” using this method it started working fine again. I assumed it was a corrupted driver, but nothing that I tried fixed it. Now for whatever reason it works fine again.

[Fledermaus]

Mine does then doesn’t. I assume it is the website.

I tried a stand alone but it is old. Figured this laptop, newer one, doesn’t recognize it.

Glad I don’t need it for Zoom, etc. Never use them.

[fireman15]

Secret? That's my daily driver.

I should have given you credit earlier. The first I heard of using Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2021 as Desktop OS was from you in a thread that I posted in February.

Windows 10 has a year (8 months) left to live – but are users prepared to upgrade to Windows 11?

“To: fireman15

Just get LTSC IoT. Good till 2032."

122 posted on 2/24/2025, 12:14:46 PM by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4299866/posts?q=1&;page=101

I had bought into the lie that it was not suitable for desktop and laptop users. Thanks for putting me on this path. I started using it shortly afterwards, but it was not until a few days ago that I realized that you could install it over the top of a previous Windows installation and still have all of the functionality and features of Windows 10 Pro.

[Moltke]

My prefered tool for this is Macrium Reflect Free

Thanks for the pointer (besides the Win10 info, of course)! (Best/most used I've gotten here on FR is VoidTools "Everything" - use that dozens of times per day.)

[threefinger]

The same thing happened to WinXP because there were so many ATMs and POS systems (etc.) running XP embedded. And there was a registry hack created to make your run-of-the-mill XP report itself as the embedded version so it could continue to receive those long-term updates.

And the exact same thing has happened with Win10. There already is a Powershell script that will cause your garden-variety Win10 to report itself as IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 and receive those ‘secret’ updates until January 13th, 2032.

[StAnDeliver]

What’s the point other that overwrought zero-day updates? And on top of that, make no doubt that the Win11 sneak-surprise upgrade code will be inside every update.

[fireman15]

That is not an accurate or likely synopsis of the situation and illustrates only foolish speculation. Microsoft will certainly not be trying to get bank machine or vending machine owners to update to windows 11 with completely inappropriate hardware.

[fireman15]

There already is a Powershell script that will cause your garden-variety Win10 to report itself as IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021.

That is what changing the registry values that I posted actually does... I could easily have written a Powershell script that would have done the same thing. But this is not the same as actually installing the operating system and activating it. This is not a valid or workable solution that will do anything but foul up your system in unpleasant and unpredictable ways.

You can verify this by running the following administrative script in Powershell. This script will not change any values but it will retrieve and display the current Windows edition information without modifying anything. If you look at the script it simply goes to the part of the registry that I modified and reports back the values.

# PowerShell script to display current Windows edition information
$os = Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_OperatingSystem
$edition = (Get-ItemProperty -Path “HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion”).ProductName
$build = (Get-ItemProperty -Path “HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion”).CurrentBuild
$releaseId = (Get-ItemProperty -Path “HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion”).ReleaseId

Write-Host “Operating System: $edition”
Write-Host “Build: $build”
Write-Host “Release ID: $releaseId”

If you have further information that contradicts this, please share it.

[dennisw]

For at least 10+ years the specs for DisplayPort output have been higher than for HDMI. DP has supported higher HZ (refresh rate) higher resolutions. Dell has been in the forefront of pushing DP over HDMI in its business desktops (OptiPlex) and business laptops (Latitude). You can easily see this at Ebay by looking at 2x (even 3x) DP outs in most OptiPlex starting years ago. (the lowest grade OptiPlex usually have a DP and an HDMI out)

[fireman15]

4K HDMI has resolution, refresh rate, and performance that is more than good enough for my aging eyes.

[dennisw]

https://tinyurl.com/73zvy7tk — from eBay >>>> Dell Latitude 5520 15.6” FHD i7-1185G7 3.0GHz 256GB SSD 16GB RAM NO OS
US $186.28
or Best Offer
____________

I own one just like this one. I would buy this one above but I am wary of the small crack (flaking) near one hinge.

What are its PLUSSES?>>
—2x USB-C (Thunderbolt) that you can use as high grade DisplayPort outs. That can be used to charge the laptop.
— 400NITS display for using outdoors under shade
— i7-1185G7 has better onboard Iris graphics than any Intel desktop CPU. Dittos for the i5-1145G7
—2x USB-C can support simultaneously 2x DisplayPort monitors at high refresh rates
— Laptop also has an HDMI out and 2x USB-A ports

Only buy OptiPlex and Latitude at eBay where seller shows Dell tag number in his photos or his text. You take the number to https://www.dell.com/support/contractservices/en-us/?msockid=31ecd9cacef667eb2a84cc22cf7d6608 to see if warranty is still intact and to see all the original specs on the Latitude or OptiPlex or Precision

[dennisw]

“4K HDMI has resolution, refresh rate, and performance that is more than good enough for my aging eyes.”

High refresh is better for yr eyes. 4k monitor your refresh should be 60Hz minimum. You might be at 4K/ 30hz

I usually use a 27” QHD monitor with 100HZ refresh rate. I get this full 100hz (that I paid for and wanted) with my DisplayPort connections in my laptops/desktops. I only get 60hz via HDMI connection.

[fireman15]

You have found a very good buy, but I purchased a Dell Inspiron 16” Touchscreen Laptop - AMD Ryzen 7 8840U - FHD (1920 x 1200) - Windows 11 on a Black Friday special for Costco last November. She loves it.

We paid $500 for it was brand new and the Ryzen 7 8840U is far more capable by every measure than the i7-1185g7. This is especially true when you compare the AMD Radeon 780M integrated graphics to the integrated Iris Xe graphics. I have three computers with three different generations of Ryzen processors the capabilities of the integrated graphics in all of them have amazed me.

I have laptop with a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700HX and a GeForce RTX 4060 that I use for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The GeForce RTX 4060 is very capable, but boy can it suck down the watts when it is under load.

[fireman15]

The monitor in my “gaming laptop” runs at 144HZ. I really cannot tell the difference and usually turn it down to save power and performance for use it where I can detect a difference.

Some people become accustomed to certain features and begin to believe that they need them for a pleasant experience. 60hz is more than good enough for my eyes and perception.

[dennisw]

We paid $500 for it was brand new and the Ryzen 7 8840U is far more capable by every measure than the i7-1185g7. This is especially true when you compare the AMD Radeon 780M integrated graphics to the integrated Iris Xe graphics. I have three computers with three different generations of Ryzen processors the capabilities of the integrated graphics in all of them have amazed me.

Those graphics are 7104 passmark and the Intel G7 Iris XE is about 1800. Check display properties in Windows 11 for her laptop. I will bet the refresh rate is at least 100hz. It might have high NITS too....... Actually internet says 300NITS. My cheap Jack Latitude is 400NITS for use outdoors under shade.

[fireman15]

We are both perfectly happy with it. Most of our laptops do not have especially bright displays.

[fireman15]

And I am happy that you are pleased with your laptop.

[fireman15]

I am currently installing Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2021 LTSC on my “travel laptop”. “It is an ancient Lenovo G560 from 2010. The original case basically fell apart. I had upgraded the processor to an Intel Core i5-520M and increased the memory to 8GB of DDR-3 memory. When I migrated to a better case that I salvaged from an identical but screwed up model from eBay, I added a new 500GB SSD. This gave it lots of extra pep and I added the full complement of Microsoft Office programs to it, along with some imaging editing software and Ubuntu Studio in a dual boot setup. I also added a dual USB3 PCMIA card long ago which greatly speeds up imaging the SSD hard drive. It also has a physical DVD writer that can be used to boot from Hyren’s boot CD/DVD.

Most of the value is in the effort that I have invested in keeping the old gal going. If it gets lost or damaged on a trip it will be no big deal... but to me it is worth the effort to upgrade the OS to one where I will continue to receive security updates.

I just finished imaging the hard drive to a USB3 flash drive. Now I am going to modify the registry and then install the new OS from the USB Drive. I will let you know how this goes on this ancient (15 year old) laptop which originally came with Windows 7.