Windows 10’s end-of-support date is October 14, 2025. That’s the day that most Windows 10 PCs will receive their last security update and the date when most people should find a way to move to Windows 11 to ensure that they stay secure.
As it has done for other stubbornly popular versions of Windows, though, Microsoft is offering a reprieve for those who want or need to stay on Windows 10: three additional years of security updates, provided to those who can pay for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.
↫ Andrew Cunningham for Ars Technica
Getting users to upgrade from Windows 10 to 11 at that point isn’t going to be easy, because at this point Windows 10 users who can technically upgrade are clearly not doing so for a reason. I also wonder what this will mean for the large number of Windows 10 users who simply cannot upgrade because they have a processor that’s artificially restricted from running Windows 11.
Thom Holwerda,
Presumably microsoft wants users to buy new OEM copies of windows, even if it means discarding working hardware.
Still, I predicted a while ago that microsoft would backtrack on these artificial upgrade restrictions if & when it became more evident that it is harming windows 11 market numbers.
The “Artificial restrictions” are very lax now. 64-bit processor with 1GHz speed. That’s basically everything.
It’s the other restrictions that will bite. Namely the TPM requirement, adn the UEFI requirement. Granted, most machines nowadays are UEFI, but that does also mean that specialist embedded equipment, which often still use old fashioned BIOS firmware, will be left high and dry
Yeah, and is not going to install physical spyware because MS wants it.
You don’t need just a “64-bit processor with 1GHz speed”, you need, you need a certain processor (which is most processors made after January 2017 or so):
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-intel-processors
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-amd-processors
And yes, you can hack around that restriction, but there is no guarantee it will keep working. A related example is how CableCARD DRM worked in Windows 10 (it was a leftover of Windows Media Center in Windows 7/8.1) until it was removed in one update. Similarly, as Microsoft keeps adding and refactoring code to Windows 11, they could push an update tomorrow that breaks your unsupported CPU.
kurkosdr,
I think you are right, microsoft has restricted computers that are still be perfectly usable today regardless of their clock speed.
Microsoft have left the door open to going either way here. While they could break this at any time, I’m not really sure what their true intentions are. Ultimately if windows 11 marketshare ends up getting held back by windows 10, I suspect MS will change tact, perhaps even forcing updates to windows 11 like they did with windows 10.
I had not heard that before, but I sympathize. It sucks when previously working software & hardware stops working after updates.
The artificial restrictions are not lax. The TPM thing is what prevent my computer (core i5 6th gen, GT1070, 16gb DDR4 and 2 ssd) to run Windows 11. So I’ll probably buy a second hand Mac Mini next time.
You can stil installl Windows 11 on that.
Which reminds me, a number of you thought Microsoft’s claim that hardware attacks on the motherboard were increasing was bullshit (and that’s why 11 was needed), and look, Black lotus came around shortly after. Just like Huawei, you won’t know exactly what’s happened because revealing it reveals how they found out about the espionage.
Microsoft can suck my ***! I am forced to use their crap software at work. This change is good in that it forces employers to get new computers. Having a 4790k is super fast still.
I kind of like microsoft killing their own former monopoly.
Well… Nope. Today 4790k isn’t what it used to be.
My AMD 5825u ultrabook is faster than my 4790k desktop. I know, one has 8 cores and the other 4, but still. For instance, last night I ran whisper-faster (which uses a maximum of 4 cores anyway) on both, and the tiny machine is about 5-10% faster than that old beast which is even overclocked.
And I haven’t even included dad’s g3258 in the comparison.
Tears…
Hopefully, 0patch.com will continue to offer their security micro-updates. They charge less than Microsoft does.
Really? Installing patches from a random third-party into your OS? What could possibly go wrong…
kurkosdr,
Do you only get your cars serviced at an authorized dealer? Do you avoid tech repair shops even when they specialize in the types of repairs you need? Why or why not?
I am not affiliated with 0patch, but I will say that when it comes to repairs/bug fixing “official” doesn’t necessarily imply better and more trustworthy. Business models sometimes conflict with user interests and corporations that become too powerful often don’t have our interests at heart. When this goes unchecked, it can even lead to downright malicious exploitation (ie John Deer vs farmers). So IMHO there is room for new companies innovating and providing superior alternatives. Good on them for providing business services predicated on doing a good job and establishing long term relationships. It may not be for you, fair enough, but if they are able to deliver a live patching service that works better than windows update and earn customer trust doing so, then I for one don’t have a problem with that.
You could like, use Linux. Just a thought!
There will always be a security update available for Windows 10 (and 11 and every subsequent version). It’s called “Linux”.
Every single business that buys “enterprise” licenses from Microsoft should have a “Linux Lab” set up to investigate the possibility of moving to Linux, and the Microsoft salespeople should be walked past it every time they negotiate prices.
While there are many ways, and some quite simple, to get around Microsoft’s “hard” restrictions platform wise…. it was still the stupidest move ever on Microsoft’s part. I question their sanity at this point.
And while I’d hope to see “it matter”, that is, people wouldn’t take out an extra mortgage or whatever, to buy “all new” because Microsoft “told them to do so”…. people are sheep.
Well, I still have a computer with Windoes Vista SP2. It has begin to fail, though.
I don’t think that restricting compatibility with older processors is that bad. It allows a better lowest common denominator.