Microsoft will upgrade Windows 10 21H2 users whether they like it or not -- Also, Windows 12 might be on the way, so buckle up

The Register ^ | May 15, 2023 | Jeff Burt

[dayglored]

Those still using Windows 10 version 21H2 have about a month until support ends, which means there will be no more security updates or other measures after that.

Their options essentially are to upgrade to Windows 10 22H2 or make the move to Windows 11, which would make Microsoft happy.

Servicing and support for the Windows 10 21H1 Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro Workstation editions ends June 13, with the June 2023 security update – due out that same day – being the last one for those editions.

"After this date, devices running these versions will no longer receive monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats," Redmond writes in a reminder.

And no worries if you forget to upgrade the OS. Microsoft says it will automatically update those using Microsoft 10 21H1 to a supported version of Windows. You're welcome.

The automatic update is for "consumer devices and non-managed business devices that are at, or within several months of, reaching end of servicing," Microsoft adds. "This keeps your device supported and receiving monthly updates that are critical to security and ecosystem health."

The timeline for the forced changeover is unclear, though the company says users can choose a time for the upgrade that is convenient to them.

Microsoft reckons users should upgrade to at least the latest version of Windows 10 but no doubt would like to convince as many as possible to make the leap to Windows 11. According to StatCounter, Windows 10 is still used by more people than any other version of the operating system, by a large margin.

Over the last 12 months, use of Windows 10 has remained relatively steady, reaching about 71 percent last month. It was just over 73 percent in March 2022. Meanwhile, Windows 11 use has jumped from almost 9 percent in March to 23 percent in April.

At least use of Windows 7 and 8.1 continue to fall.

Windows 10 22H2 is the last version of Windows 10 and support for it will continue until October 2025.

No OS iteration lasts forever. Even as Windows 10 continues to wind down and Microsoft makes the push for Windows 11, the speculation – Microsoft hasn't confirmed anything – is that Windows 12 could make its debut next year, three years after Windows 11 came onto the market. ®

[bitt]

++

[Rurudyne]

Switch to Linux.

[threefinger]

"I recently looked at a few Windows 10 and 11 machines. They all seem to be app-based. And it seems like you can only download new stuff from the Microsoft App Store. Oh, and you can only rent Microsoft Word now."

I can't understand what you're saying but I've never got ANYTHING from the Microsoft store and my Win10 has everything on it I want or need, and then some.

I don't want or need M$ Word, I use Libre Office instead.

And Microsoft CAN'T force an upgrade on my Win10 because the entire update circuit was removed BEFORE it was installed (absent from the installation media). The only way humanly possible to do updates is with a 3rd-party app called WSUS Offline.

https://download.wsusoffline.net/
https://archive.org/search?query=subject%3A%22windows+10%22+ame

[cva66snipe]

When you click START a POP UP window opens just below dead center on your screen. To understand I guess you need to go by a Wally World or office supply place and try it. It is as if MS went out of their way to make W 11 as annoying and time consuming as possible to figure out.

Don't get me wrong I know security issues sometimes mean a new OS. Ok fine but I wish they would stop messing with the screen layout. Or at least for those who just love having everything moved around that option and for others a consistent Classic option.

[threefinger]

I despise the Linux pimps, the clowns who answer every question about fixing with Windows with “Install Linux instead,” but threads like these come up in this forum every couple of months. It boggles the imagination that more of you aren’t considering ditching Windows.

I still use windows, too, but I don’t have most of these problems that people keep hand-wringing over because I use installation media that corrects most of them. M$ doesn’t approve of it but that’s their tough luck. The don’t sell software, they only license its use, and they can’t demand that you only use a certain installation media. Their OS is closed source specifically because that allows them to strongarm you into doing anything they want, and then they scream bloody murder when anybody circumvents their will (which is what the Window Ameliorated installation media I linked to abode does).

[musicman]

BTTT!!!

[ansel12]

Try going to settings, personalization, taskbar behaviors, and move taskbar alignment from “center” to left.

[Basket_of_Deplorables]

Thank you!!!!

[Mr Rogers]

“They all seem to be app-based. And it seems like you can only download new stuff from the Microsoft App Store. Oh, and you can only rent Microsoft Word now.”

There is a cheap program to make 11 look like 7 or 8. You can download from anyone. And I’ve been on LibreOffice for years. I won’t use Office (or Word) for free any more.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/switching-out-of-s-mode-in-windows-4f56d9be-99ec-6983-119f-031bfb28a307

[ducttape45]

I’m pretty much to that point. My main computer is a tri-boot with W7, W10 (1903) and Linux. I use Linux now for all financial transactions done online, and Windows for apps I can’t run on Linux.

[cva66snipe]

Thanks that helps that part of it. They only hid it 4-5 layers deep. LOL

[Spktyr]

Your impression is incorrect except for some tablets and when Windows is in a special mode (which it often is for locked down public demo machines). 10 and 11 still load any app you want, etc. Office (Word, Excel, etc) is still available for a one time purchase fee, but they *are* trying to make it subscription only - and that goes for all versions of Windows.

[minnesota_bound]

If they force an update then do not support Windows 10 afterward will they then put up a message that the computer can no longer be used as it cannot be updated to Windows 11?

[minnesota_bound]

#5 You can buy a one time purchase version of Office now. You can buy it cheap too. I got my Office 2021 Pro for $35 while others here posted they spent around $20. This was around Thanksgiving and or Christmas. You can buy Office 2016 at Ebay and other sites cheap too. Hardly any difference between the versions. You can buy the cd or a separate license then download. Microsoft will have you create an account and when you log in you can see your licensed for Windows 10 or 11 and Office so if you had to reinstall you will automatically be licensed.

Some software is only available in the Windows Store but there still is 99% that you can get elsewhere. I installed the free “Pin Files” app that allows me to pin files from my desktop or folder to the Start Menu in Windows 10. Microsoft had taken away the easy way of just dragging a file to the Start button... Many free apps and also paid for ones.

You can choose the Classic windows theme but in is not XP look. You need to go to the Stardock WindowBlinds site and you can download a 1,000+ themes which can have the XP look or Windows 7 look etc or many different looks. https://www.stardock.com/products/wb6/themes.asp

You do need to upgrade as the web browsers have stopped updating for Windows 7 and earlier this past February. Eventually sites like your bank or credit card site where you pay your bill or sites you want to buy products from will tell you that you need to update.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Windows 7 was a gem to work with. 8 was okay. 10 sucked. Can’t wait to see how complicated 11 is. Glad I saved my Windows 5 disks.

[Openurmind]

So many willing to beat that dead horse...

[daniel1212]

My question: Is there an option with the newer machines to make their desktop behave like an older one?

Yes indeed, as answered here many months ago (look for latest versions of the well-regarded software:

Like the the over 200 tweaks available in Ultimate Windows Tweaker 5 class="icon_svg-stroke" stroke="#666" stroke-width="1.5" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">(quicker download here from Major Geeks) for Windows 11 from the Windows club (Windows 10 users should use Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4.8).

Add to this Right-Click Extender (add items to many right click menus),

Also, there are the many Winaero features of the Winaero Tweaker (but best to leave those dealing with color alone).

Plus Open Shell (click on Releases>Latest on middle right side) to replace the Windows 11 start menu (though in W/11 22H2 right clicking for properties in the start menu stopped working for me), and Explorer Patcher (look for Releases on the right here) that restores the Windows 11 taskbar to be exactly like Windows 10, and with it I use the Windows 7+ Taskbar Tweaker which provides more customization.

Resulting in these expansive quickly accessible layouts (composite image of desktop view in Windows 11: Start and Right-Click menus, default Device manager; task bar via Explorer Patcher. Thank God for such — to be used for good — and those who provide them):

Versus these examples of more limited, less compact, if scrollable, menus (and the sparsity of the Mint right click is not worth showing - Puppy is better) of Mint (equivalent start “Menu’ and ‘System Settings”)

But which is far better than the Windows 11 default Start menu

Even under “All apps:”

You can also turn off telemetry in Windows 10

Meanwhile T-Clock Redux works in W/10 far better than the default Windows clock, or any I have seen for Windows or Linux, but does not work for me in W/11 as yet.

Then there are free utilities such as AutoHotKey which does involve finding out some basic coding to create scripts which will do such things as remap (due to much typing and operations with stiff arthritic fingers) Caps Lock to ctrl+c, and Esc to ctrl+v ; NumLock to Esc and the middle mouse button to ctrl+x:

CapsLock::^c

(NumLock::Esc

Esc::^v

mbutton::^x

Also, I like more right click options on files, and even menu shortcuts:

And being able to quickly see and actually go the source of program executables in Windows via a right click on the menu icon, hit Properties and Open file location and go there.

Why? For one, because we should be able to. One of the first things I do in Windows is go to folder options and select Show hidden… and deselect Hide extensions… And I also sometimes want to edit something in the folder of programs.

Note that you can also create a Quick launch menu for your taskbar, either for a custom folders or the default Quick launch (buried in %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch) . Right click on your taskbar and hit Toolbars and then New Toolbars and navigate you the folder of your choice,

You can also make and send folder or program shortcuts to the Send to folder (%UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo), whereby you can send files as images or documents (such as web pages) to be opened by these programs, which may be better than the default Open with or navigating dialogs.

To do so, click on the Send to folder in %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\ and then place that shortcut in the folder itself. Then you can right click on program shortcuts such as to image viewers, editors, and send them to the Send to folder, and then if you want to open up an image or document in one of a program designed for it other than the default then you can right click on it and point to Send to and one of the programs you placed there for such.

.

I thank God for the tools we have, and those who create and improve and provide them. May they only be used for good, expressing God, the source of all that is Good.

[Political Junkie Too]

I have a Microsoft Surface Pro 7 that doesn't support Windows 11. I hope they continue to support that machine for a few more years.

-PJ

[Carriage Hill]

I’m still very comfy with my 2009 Win-7 Pro x64.

[Baldwin77]

I still have my Windows 7. Love it.

I also have a few Macs.

I’m good.