In less than two years, Microsoft will draw the curtain on Windows 10, after 10 years of success.
This news should surprise no one. The end of support date is noted in Microsoft’s support documents which list “products retiring or ending support in 2025.” The timeline is defined by Microsoft’s Lifecycle Policy, which is documented on the Microsoft Lifecycle page: “Windows 10 will reach the end of support on October 14, 2025. The current version, 22H2, will be the last version of Windows 10, and all editions will remain supported with monthly security updates until then.”
When a version of Windows reaches its end of support date, the software continues to work, but the update channel stops:
“There will be no new security updates, insecure updates, or support. Customers are encouraged to migrate to the latest version of the product or service. Paid programs may be available for products concerned.
That part in the middle looks encouraging, doesn’t it? “Customers are encouraged to migrate to the latest version of the product or service. Unfortunately, this option is not supported for customers who are using Windows 10 on hardware that does not meet Windows’ strict hardware compatibility requirements 11. If you try to upgrade any of these PCs to Windows 11, you will get an error message. Microsoft is adamant about no extension of Windows 10 support time.
If you are responsible for one or more Windows 10 computers that did not pass Microsoft’s Windows 11 compatibility testing, what should you do? Well, five options are available to you.
Option 1: Ignore the End of Support Deadline Completely
You can do nothing at all: continue using your unsupported operating system and hope for the best. This is a bad idea, and puts you at risk of falling prey to a security exploit. I do not recommend this strategy.
If you intend to do this, consider installing 0patch agent to resolve security issues that are not addressed by Microsoft. This option is free for personal use, but for professional or business use you will have to pay a few euros per month.
Option 2: Buy a new PC
Microsoft and its partners would like you to replace this unsupported hardware with a brand new PC, obviously. If Windows 12 arrives in mid-2024 as planned, you might even be tempted by a shiny new laptop or gaming PC running this next-generation operating system.
But throwing away a perfectly good PC seems like a waste, and that’s not an option if you’re hanging on to Windows 10 because you have critical software that won’t work with the new operating system.
Option 3: Ditch Windows Completely
You can keep your old hardware and replace Windows 10 with the version of Linux you prefer. If you have the technical know-how and experience to manage the transition, this option is worth considering.
But for the overwhelming majority of consumer and business users who have already invested in Windows software, it’s not a realistic alternative.
The last two options are more interesting.
Option 4: Pay Microsoft for security updates
Remember the official support document I cited above? The one who says there will be “no more new security updates” after Windows 10 hits its end of support date? Turns out that’s not entirely true.
Microsoft will indeed continue to develop security updates for Windows 10, but they will not be free. Microsoft announced in December 2023 that it will offer Extended Security Options (ESU) for Windows 10; These subscription-based updates will be available for three years.
How much will these paid updates cost? Microsoft isn’t saying, only promising that more details will be available “at a later date.”
Option 5: Upgrade your old hardware to Windows 11
The Compatibility Checker may prevent you from upgrading your Windows 10 PC in an easy way. But there are ways to install Windows 11. You just need to jump through a few technical hurdles.
Full details can be found in a Microsoft support bulletin titled “Install Windows 11 on devices that don’t meet the minimum system requirements.” This document packs a lot of FUD into just a few paragraphs:
Installing Windows 11 on a device that does not meet the minimum Windows 11 requirements is not recommended. If you choose to install Windows 11 on non-eligible hardware, you should be prepared to assume the risk of experiencing compatibility issues.
Your device may malfunction due to these compatibility issues or other issues. Devices that do not meet these requirements will no longer be guaranteed to receive updates, including but not limited to security updates.
The following disclaimer applies if you install Windows 11 on a device that does not meet the minimum system requirements:
This PC does not meet the minimum requirements to run Windows 11 – these requirements help ensure a more reliable and higher quality experience. Installing Windows 11 on this PC is not recommended and may cause compatibility issues. If you proceed with installing Windows 11, your PC will no longer be supported and will no longer be able to receive updates. Damage to your computer caused by lack of compatibility is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
Don’t let the terms fool you. The document doesn’t actually say that Microsoft will cut off your access to updates; it simply says that your PC is no longer supported and you are no longer “entitled” to these updates. This word is a hint from Microsoft, which declines all legal responsibility without actually saying what it will do.
Installation instructions that allow you to bypass the compatibility check can be found in a separate support article: “Ways to install Windows 11.” To upgrade, you must create the following registry key values:
- Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMSetupMoSetup
- Name: AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU
- Type: REG_DWORD
- Value: 1
You still need a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), but even an old TPM 1.2 chip will do the job. If your PC doesn’t have this hardware, it’s probably more than 12 years old and you might need to replace it.
If you don’t want to touch the registry and are ready to do a clean install, create a bootable installation disk for Windows 11 and use this option, which bypasses the compatibility checker completely. You’ll need to restore your data files from a backup or the cloud, and you’ll also need to install your software from scratch, but it’s no more difficult than setting up a new PC.
To go further on Windows 10
Source: “ZDNet.com”