Windows 10 is reaching end of support on October 14, 2025, so if you’re still using Windows 10 – and let’s face it, if you’re somehow forced to still use Windows, better 10 than 11 – your time is running out. Luckily, end of support is a bit of a nebulous term when it comes to Microsoft products, and many among you, especially those managing larger fleets of systems, will know Microsoft offers something called the Extended Security Update (ESU) program, wherein you get additional security updates even after end of support.
Microsoft just unveiled the prices for this program for Windows 10. While there’s several schemes, the one most of you will be interested in is this one:
With the 5-by-5 activation method, you’ll download an activation key and apply it to individual Windows 10 devices that you’ve selected for your ESU program. Manage it via scripting or the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT), among other methods. You can use on-premises management tools such as Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) with Configuration Manager to download and apply the updates to your Windows 10 devices.
The 5-by-5 activation subscription will establish the Year One list price of ESU for Windows 10.
This is the base license and will cost $61 USD per device for Year 1, similar to the Windows 7 ESU Year 1 price.
↫ Jason Leznek
Honestly, that’s not an egregious price, but do note that this price doubles every year for three years total, and note that if you want to start using ESU in year two, you’ll have to pay for year one as well. In other words, pricing ramps up fast. Furthermore, this program only includes security updates – no new features or anything like that, and it doesn’t include support either.
So, if you’re still using Windows 10 after October 14, 2025, you’ll either have to pay up, have an insecure system, downgrade to Windows 11, or move to a better alternative. Choice’s yours.
I have one windows NT3.5 machine, one windows 7 machine that got its latest update last month or so, and one windows 10 laptop that i will install void linux on eventually and replace windows. The windows machine is mostly for testing wine compatibillity and troubleshooting and is not connected to the internet by default, (only via a secureNAT if needed for said testing) and the NT3.5 machine has no internet connection at all, but is also very rarely booted unless i want some nostalgia.
NT3.5, not 3.51? What’s the reason?
I love the performance and “purity” of 3.5 for not having any Win95 era controls, but…3.51 is functionally the same with a lot more available software.
yeah it is 3.51 and the unofficial patches, so it lists itself in version info as 3.53.
0patch.com is faster and cheaper for the pro version. I have it on all of my PCs as Microsoft all too often is late to patch zero days, while 0patch is quick and effective.
“…downgrade to Windows 11…”
LOL
It is true though. Still a rather funny comment.
Windows 11 offers nothing that a power user wants compared to windows 10 so far. Nor does windows 10 for the most part compared to windows 7. Windows 7 has the best ui of all windows versions, it boots really fast if you get it to work on EFI and has none of the cruft that 10 does. Also it has sane settings controls instead of forcing everything into a very poorly designed settings app that still relies on the same windows 3.5 controls in many cases for any useful settings.
Windows 7 has a big drawback though, as people has stopped compiling for it, and the kernel and the dll’s are not open source many programs will not run any more, even though it is mostly artificial, like with chrome, firefox and some games.
Most dx12 games works just fine in windows 7 with you use DXVK vulkan libraries, so the system requirements is often a lie (MAss effect 3 remake and andromeda is an example of this, they work just fine with said sollution, same with the mafia games and just about any other that allows for a separate dll to be supplied) The performance in dx12 is on par or just below proper directx 12, but it works.
“Nor does windows 10 for the most part compared to windows 7”
Mostly true, but playing around with Windows 7 on some old machines, I find myself missing at least the following features:
– Multiple desktops by default (Winkey + Tab, Ctrl + Winkey + Left/Right)
– Clipboard manager (Winkey + V)
– Quick link menu (Winkey + X)
autohotkey or litestep solves that issue with only 76kb ram usage in the latter part. Yeah litestep64 works just fine in windows 7 but not in windows 8,10,11 that is another benefit of windows 7. Old shit works.
I totally agree with you. I really prefer Win7, unfortunately can’t use it anymore due the security reasons and mostly compatibility issues with some software. The only machine I have running win11 is a laptop, which I don’t use often, only in emergencies or on vacation. Win10 is now just ok, but far better in usability than win11 in my opinion.
Sometimes you just have to use Windows because of school or work using the Microsoft applications and data formats.
The EOL of W10 puts many between the hammer and the anvil (french expression); a secure W10 becomes really expensive and only delays things, many older laptops are still perfectly fine but can’t run W11, and a non-Windows OS is not always an option. So for many it is a choice between not getting security updates anymore and spending a lot of money on W10 ESU or on new hardware…
If network access isn’t (directly) needed, you could use that perfectly fine laptop (that doesn’t have the right CPU or TPM according to Microsoft) and install Linux on it and use KVM to run your Windows on top. 99% compatible with a bare metal Windows installation and your base OS is supported. Just exchange the needed files from Linux to Windows and you don’t need to connect your Win installation directly to the internet.
“the right CPU or TPM according to Microsoft”
I’m pretty sure Microsoft’s CPU guidlines are made up. I managed to run Windows 11 just fine on an Acer Aspire V3-771G from 2016, equipped with a third generation i5 CPU, even though officially, it will complain if you try to upgrade from Windows 10 on anything less than an eight generation Intel CPU.