Options
You may well be aware that Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on the 14th October 2025. This means that as from that date they are no longer issuing any further updates, including security updates, to Windows 10 PCs unless a one year only Extended Security Updates (ESU) is purchased from Microsoft.
I thought it appropriate to lay out, with as little jargon as possible, the various options for those of you using a Windows 10 PC.
Please contact me to discuss these options in more detail.
1 – Do Nothing
Whilst this may, on the surface, seem to be the easiest option, it is not one I would recommend as, although your PC will still work as before, it will quickly become vulnerable to external “nasties”, especially as cyber criminals will, no doubt, increase their efforts to hack Windows 10 systems after support ends.
2 – Extend Security Updates (ESU)
Microsoft have released a one year only ESU plan nearer to October, which will be available to users for a one-off payment of $30. This option will give you security updates (but ONLY security updates) for one year, ending on the 13th October 2026.
Microsoft also made the ESU free of charge if your PC meets the following requirements – 1. It must be running Windows 10 22H2 and NOT be supported for Windows 11 upgrade. 2. It must have a Microsoft 365 account. 3. It must have OneDrive setup and logged on, with sufficient capacity to carry out Windows Backup. 4. Windows Backup must be enabled.
3 – Update your existing PC to Windows 11
I am aware of a number of my clients who have Windows 10 PCs that are fully capable of being upgraded to Windows 11 (what Microsoft calls “compliant PCs”) but have chosen to stay with Windows 10. At the moment Microsoft are offering Windows 11 free for any compliant PC. There are 4 main criteria that determine whether a PC is compliant or not, and sometimes a “non-compliant” PC can be made compliant just by, for example, adding some extra memory or changing some of the start-up settings.
4 – Buy a new Windows 11 PC
This option this may not be as expensive as you might think as there are currently some very good deals on both new, and refurbished, Windows 11 PCs.
5 – Change Operating System
You may have heard of an alternative operating system called Linux. Linux is an Open Source (ie generally free) system which was originally aimed at those for whom computers were a hobby, rather than a day-to-day tool. Recently, however, versions of Linux have been released that are user-friendly and look familiar to Windows 10. The version I recommend is Mint Linux Cinnamon. If this option is of interest I have it installed on a laptop and would be happy to demonstrate.