If you’re using a computer with Windows 10 installed you’ve probably noticed all the warnings the last few months from Microsoft to either upgrade to Windows 11 or purchase a new computer, because Windows 10 updates will be stopping. And then the warnings stopped, as did the security updates, as of October 14. And that’s a security problem.
But the good news is that you can postpone the pain of upgrading and migrating to another computer just because Microsoft says so and instead enroll in extended support with Microsoft’s little-known Extended Security Updates (ESU) feature—and so far, it’s been free to do so, though otherwise is expected to cost $30 and sign in with a Microsoft account for many users.
Contact us for help with this if you don’t get the same results. We’ve found both enrollment method and results vary among client computers.
This entire issue has been controversial because many computers are excluded by Microsoft in making the “upgrade” to Windows 11. Microsoft justifies their stance by saying only certain CPUs now qualify for their now more stringent security requirements, which was initially limited to CPUs with the on-chip TPM 2.0 module (commonly built-in as of Intel’s 8th generation CPUs). Then this past February Microsoft ratcheted up requirements that Intel CPUs be at least 11th generation if they’re to run the 24H2 (or newer) versions of Windows 11, as seen in this thread from Windows Forum.
Supposedly this is all about security. But what happens to all the computers no longer receiving updates for Windows 10 and not eligible to upgrade to Windows 11? Apparently that’s not Microsoft’s problem—it’s your problem and your expense. Hence the controversy.
For those who have eligibility problems in moving to Windows 11, contact us, as you may do well keeping your computer and getting free from Microsoft. Linux Mint, for instance, runs quite well on older hardware (even over ten years old). And Linux is inherently less insecure than Windows. And it’s free of cost and open source. So you can keep your computer if you’re willing to learn slightly different apps and ways of doing what you’re doing on the computer already.
But for those who absolutely must run applications that are only available for the Windows environment, your options are to stick with Windows 10 a little longer as detailed above or do whatever is necessary to make the jump to Windows 11. If this is you, please contact us and we can help guide you with what to do with your old computer. Many can successfully run a non-Windows operating system and be used by other people, and we can help keep that computer running for the benefit of others without risk of compromising any of your data.
*Edited to add snapshots and clarity, 251124