End of Windows 10?

[onawah]

I'm in a bit of panic mode. I have an older computer and I am not at all techy, but very dependent on my computer.
There is bad news circulating about the end of Windows 10 security updates being a big problem, such as:

Why the end of support for Windows 10 is uniquely troubling:
Nathan Proctor
2.99K subscribers
Oct 1, 2025

"Tech should last, but unless Microsoft changes their approach, hundreds of millions of computers will be left behind.

Facts referenced in this video can be found here:
https://pirg.org/articles/why-the-end-of-support-for-windows-10-is-uniquely-" troubling/

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****************

Other sources are not making such dire predictions, but advising taking various steps to prevent problems.
Very confusing to someone like me!
Advice from more techy members would be much appreciated.

Windows 10’s Last Stand: Do This Before Support Ends
CyberCPU Tech
322K subscribers
Aug 11, 2025

"If you plan to stay on Windows 10 past its end of support, this video will show you how to increase you security in Windows 10 and make it less likely to fall victim to a security vulnerability."

Then lots of links follow as to what steps to take to protect your PC, which are incomprehensible to someone like me.
It looks like the only real option is to open a Microsoft account and buy a service that will keep Windows 10 running for one year. I imagine that's what I will have to do,but even that seems daunting. Switching to Windows 10 wasn't such a problem as I recall, but I don't really remember much about it.
No doubt switching to Linux will be recommended, but doing that would be yet another nightmare for me.
I don't play games online or do anything other than access this forum, my gmail account, Facebook and youtube, so my needs are fairly simple.
:help:
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[Russian Bear]

The biggest computer pirates, as far as I understand from conversations with foreigners, are Russians. The Europeans, Americans and, it seems to me, the British always act according to instructions, trying to maintain order in production. Well done, it's a good quality.

Judge for yourself: I've been using pirated Windows all my life, for more than 10 years. All my programs are pirated too, and I have a pirated antivirus. I have never received any Windows updates. In any case, you can upgrade by downloading updates from the official website. Besides, I've always had a pirated antivirus. A long time ago, when I was young, I played computer games that I never bought, but downloaded pirated, hacked games from torrents, watched pirated movies, listened to pirated music, and downloaded pirated books. Comrades, don't panic over the little things. Everything will be fine.

Look at me, I've never received technical support from Microsoft at all, and somehow everything worked fine. I still have pirated Windows and no updates.

[samsdice]

I very much doubt that MS will completely stop security updates. There are a couple of ways of mitigating this. You could opt for the long-term support version of W10 for example. MS have a habit of announcing dire end-of-support warnings which turn out to be hyperbole. I still get security updates for Windows 7. My copy is a legal copy. Commercial organisations will be running W10 for years to come too.

[Raskolnikov]

In the same boat onawah, but I just can't bring myself to care. Why does everything Bill Gates brings to the public come with the need for boosters and security updates? Create the virus, sell the bogus protection. There are plenty of videos showing how to keep running your computer with Windows 10. I guess maybe I should actually look at a couple.

I used to get everything for free for a long time too, Russian Bear, using PirateBay back in the day. And then one day I was threatened with a large fine from HBO to cease and desist downloading their series. I try to operate more honestly these days, but where Bill Gates is concerned all bets are off. Maybe you could give a little free advice to the technologically challenged like onawah and myself to continue using Windows without having to follow the Bill Gates booster/security model.

Here's a couple vids I found:

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[Ernie Nemeth]

I have received many warnings for over a year about this impending day.

Since having lost so much work the last time I had an issue, I am not taking any chances.

I got a new computer, a cheap one that uses solid state technology - no hard drive. I also purchased a solid state external hard drive.
I will download all my data from the old computer to the hard drive, then upload the data to my new computer.
And from now on I will be backing up my work on that external drive.

Then when it's less of a risk, I will attempt to switch to Windows 11on the old computer.


I should add that the new computer is in the living room, connected to the TV.
The old computer is in my work room, where I do my writing.

I regularly hang out in the work room....so that old computer is essential.

[Michi]

Alternatively you can just upgrade to Windows 11 if you need Windows. Even on older, unsupported hardware, you can still upgrade via https://github.com/builtbybel/Flyoobe.
Or switch to Linux and run Windows, if needed in a Virtual Machine for example Winboat (https://www.winboat.app).

[ThePythonicCow]

Someone asked me if I had useful advice on dealing with this decline and removal of Windows 10 security updates.

I have no useful advice. Sorry.

[Mike Gorman]

One of the more helpful, and educational UToob channels I have encountered in the field of "Windows" has to be https://www.youtube.com/@DavesGarage this fella built the 'task manager" feature in the Windows operating system, he was one of the original software engineers in the Windows 95/+ projects: he is a very interesting man who also offers support & insight for us 'spectrum' types, just like Dave I never considered myself 'on the spectrum' but my ability to focus to the exclusion of all else on specific subjects together with my aversion to socializing & so forth tallies with this spectrum outcome...I do not consider this any kind of 'disability' - in fact on the contrary e.t.c
Anyway, if you are not familiar with Dave's UToob work, it is well worth a look. oh, and he has a wonderful sense of humor, which for me is always a positive attribute.

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

I'm in a bit of panic mode. I have an older computer and I am not at all techy, but very dependent on my computer.
There is bad news circulating about the end of Windows 10 security updates being a big problem,

I was running Windows 7 for almost five years beyond end of life, without support, updates or patches in all that time and never experienced a problem. I had a good friend whose PC ran Windows XP for a full ten years after support ended. I wouldn't buy into the fear-mongering. :muscle:

[meat suit]

I have a Linux mint laptop and fogotten the password, so have never been able to install or update anything on it.
A couple years ago all sorts of web pages were screaming at me to update firefox or it will stop working..
Still works fine , limping a little here and there but yeah... They are trying to panic us for no good reason mostly when it comes to software updates...

[ThePythonicCow]

https://www.youtube.com/@DavesGarage
Dave's a good listen - and he knows his Windows.

===

I was running Windows 7 for almost five years beyond end of life, without support, updates or patches in all that time and never experienced a problem.
That's what I was doing, back in the DOS and Windows 3.1 days ... when I ran such software.

[Richter]

Someone asked me if I had useful advice on dealing with this decline and removal of Windows 10 security updates.

I have no useful advice. Sorry.

Go to https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/

[Russian Bear]

In the same boat onawah, but I just can't bring myself to care. Why does everything Bill Gates brings to the public come with the need for boosters and security updates? Create the virus, sell the bogus protection. There are plenty of videos showing how to keep running your computer with Windows 10. I guess maybe I should actually look at a couple.

I used to get everything for free for a long time too, Russian Bear, using PirateBay back in the day. And then one day I was threatened with a large fine from HBO to cease and desist downloading their series. I try to operate more honestly these days, but where Bill Gates is concerned all bets are off. Maybe you could give a little free advice to the technologically challenged like onawah and myself to continue using Windows without having to follow the Bill Gates booster/security model.

Download Kaspersky antivirus for your own safety. I can give you a key for the free version. And your computer will be safe. Just don't visit suspicious websites or open links—it's best. Kaspersky easily removes all viruses and worms, preventing your computer from becoming infected. When antivirus software was paid, I used a cracked version.

[HopSan]

I have been using Linux since 1994 in a myriad of computers, old and new.

Not once have any of my computers been attacked.
Recommend, highly. Linux is now OLD and TESTED!

After initial 'newness', everything is much more stable, fast and working than in Windows, ever.
At the moment, I have Ubuntu Studio LTS, for some years.

I can concentrate my full energy to useful things!

[Frankie Pancakes]

you can open linux mint or windows 10 with a dual boot option.
the vid will walk you through it.
I have it and use both for different reasons. Linux mint is bug resistant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gSr8YsJtd0

[onawah]

I accessed one of the youtube videos that showed me how to get the Extended Security Updates for Windows 10 for free, so I did that.
But it also went to a link that had something to do with added Microsoft features, which I stupidly clicked on, and I don't know how to undo it now.
The result being that as soon as I tried to login to my bank, it said my password was invalid.
So it goes with me and tech issues, which are crazy-making for me and for a lot of other seniors, I'm sure, and make me want to :smash: :sad:
I tried converting to Linux once years ago and got completely lost, so went right back to Windows, which at least was familiar.
I am using Malwarebytes now since my bank account got hacked and I had to open a new one.
I couldn't believe all the stress-making complications resulting from that! :facepalm:
One of the more frustrating complications is that when people are really trying to be helpful with techy advice and I have absolutely no idea what they are talking about and I go into a kind of zombie-like state of shock.
They might as well be speaking a different language. :blabla:

[ThePythonicCow]

They might as well be speaking a different language. :blabla:
That's part of why I offered no useful advice. I knew I couldn't, as I am a stranger in a strange land, and my geek words might as well be in the language of the far away, long ago, builders of 3I/Atlas.

[seekingtruth]

Why not just update to Windows 11? I've been getting the message to update for months and put it off, then your vids prompted me to look into it. After a bit of faffing my pc is able to update so I am just backing up my documents and will then update. It is free so not a big deal. Also made a windows 10 install usb in case I decide to go back to 10.

[mountain_jim]

Why not just update to Windows 11? I've been getting the message to update for months and put it off, then your vids prompted me to look into it. After a bit of faffing my pc is able to update so I am just backing up my documents and will then update. It is free so not a big deal. Also made a windows 10 install usb in case I decide to go back to 10.

There is utility to run to see if Windows 11 is supported by the computer hardware (see below)

I have one computer running windows 8 still - it would not pass this, but for what little this computer does it has not been an issue.

Another one used for video streaming to entertainment system I finally upgraded from 8 to 10 because streaming Amazon and Apple had quit working - this one also fails the windows 11 test.

For one that passed this test, I did use the windows update process to upgrade to 11, it went fine but took 3 hours or so, and if it had failed anywhere along the way I could foresee a situation where most folks would be stranded needing help - perhaps me also.


https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/check-if-a-device-meets-windows-11-system-requirements-after-changing-device-hardware-f3bc0aeb-6884-41a1-ab57-88258df6812b

The easiest way to see if a device meets the requirements for Windows 11 after making hardware changes to the device is with the PC Health Check app:

Download and install the PC Health Check app. The PC Health Check app can be downloaded from the following link:

Download the PC Health Check app (https://aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp)

Right-click on the Start menu and select Search .

In the Type here to search text box, enter:

pc health check

Under Best match, select PC Health Check from the list of results.

In the PC Health Check windows that opens, select the Check now button.

It can take up to 24 hours for Windows Update to refresh eligibility info. If the eligibility info isn't updating in a timely manner, Windows 11 eligibility assessment can be manually refreshed.

[samsdice]

Micro$oft's involvement in providing software to the IDF which enables rapid targeting up to 20 times faster is a good reason to switch to an alternative like a Linux distro, MS supplies Azure services to the Israeli military for bomb targeting and target verification. I'm sure MS isn't the only Silicon valley company doing such business, Oracle and others are definitely in the mix.

[onawah]

I tried updating to Windows 11 a while back and it was a disaster, so I went back to Windows 10.
Recently I became concerned when I saw a bunch of videos with dire warnings about how older computers (which mine is) cannot update to Windows 11, but staying on Windows 10 will be dangerous after 10/14/25 since there will be no more security updates.
Then I found a bunch of youtube videos saying there are ways to continue getting updates, but there was conflicting info.
But one of them actually has easy directions I can follow, and so I am (supposedly) OK now using Windows 10 for another year (hopefully).
This youtuber seems to understand how confusing computer tech can be, especially for seniors who didn't get the computer tech genetic update. :nerd:

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Why not just update to Windows 11? I've been getting the message to update for months and put it off, then your vids prompted me to look into it. After a bit of faffing my pc is able to update so I am just backing up my documents and will then update. It is free so not a big deal. Also made a windows 10 install usb in case I decide to go back to 10.

[Raskolnikov]

I did the same onawah. While I now have another year to ponder just how to hang Bill Gates for the inconvenience, this looked like a good idea for those of us with older computers which aren't compatible for the upgrade to 11. Thanks to Mike Gorman for suggesting Dave's Garage YT channel. He recommends making a bootable USB key with the Windows 10 Installer Media on it as your "emergency recovery kit for the future." We have until Oct. 14 to do so and then Windows 10 disappears. Just have a thumb drive of 8GB or more and he walks you through it. It sounds like wise advice for those of us sticking with 10 out of necessity.

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[onawah]

I don't doubt that you are correct and that is good advice, and I watched the video, but it's a perfect example of what I described before as unintelligible to me.
(That guy really needs to stop talking so fast and slurring his words together. It's already difficult enough to understand what he's saying.)
Following his recommended steps for me would only lead to another disaster as those kinds of directions never seem to go according to plan when I try to follow them.
I will probably just continue to see if I can find someone local who has a good rep with computers and pay to have whatever more might need to be done.
I wish I had a good tech-wise local friend I could call on to help with this kind of thing!
On the other hand, I spend way too much time on this computer and could probably find a better way to spend my time.

I He recommends making a bootable USB key with the Windows 10 Installer Media on it as your "emergency recovery kit for the future." Just have a thumb drive of 8GB or more and he walks you through it.

[Kam Sus]

I heard the same wailing and moaning when Windows XP died, then Windows 7, and now Windows 10.
You see, if you use Windows and want it to have security support, sooner or later you'll have to upgrade your computer hardware, and with it, Windows. Of course, we're talking about Windows 11 now.
I used to "hold off until the last minute" too, but then I decided not to. What's stopping you from upgrading your hardware?
My new "chinese DIY kit" cost me only $445: motherboard, processor, RAM, and drive. $445 not a lot of money.
I saved on the case and power supply (from an old computer).

[onawah]

It's become too complicated and too much of a headache, and I have had 25 more years than you have to arrive at that juncture.
A perspective which may become easier to understand in time...:clock:

What's stopping you from upgrading your hardware?

[Kam Sus]

It's become too complicated and too much of a headache, and I have had 25 more years than you have to arrive at that juncture.
A perspective which may become easier to understand in time...:clock:

What's stopping you from upgrading your hardware?


Better sooner than later. Better late than never. :bigsmile:

[onawah]

Famous last words... :bowl:

[Raskolnikov]

What's stopping you from upgrading your hardware? $445 not a lot of money.

When it becomes a choice between hardware or groceries, groceries are going to win.

More than half of American adults have less than $500 in savings

https://www.benefitspro.com/2025/01/29/more-than-half-of-american-adults-have-less-than-500-in-savings/

[Michi]

... $445 - this is way too expensive. You can find way cheaper options. For any advice and/or remote service - PM me. :highfive:

[onevoice]

I saw the following video a few months ago. I have a Windows 10 running on a PC, for which the CPU and the TPM does not qualify for upgrade to the Windows 11. This video explains step by step how to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 without losing anything. After the upgrade, nothing is lost. However, it is best that all the important data is backed up prior to the upgrade process.
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The key enabler for this process is a free software called FlyoobeApp. The link to this is:
https://github.com/builtbybel/Flyoobe/releases/download/1.30.513/Flyby11_classic.zip

I tried it today, and I was able to upgrade successfully from Windows 10 to Windows 11 without losing anything. Everything worked like before, except for the new interface of the Windows 11. So far all my current software is still working.

[onevoice]

As I was preparing to backup my PC Bootable C drive to ensure that I can get back to where I was if something went wrong, I've been looking for a good free backup solution. I found one. It is called AOMEI Backupper Standard. AOMEI offers other higher level backup solutions for additional cost, but the standard version would suffice for most people. This is a full feature backup solution. My C: drive on one of my PC is 89GB. AOMEI's backup folder size after backup is 37GB, so it uses a good compression algorithm to backup the files. Also it is much faster than the Windows built-in backup software, which was developed back in the Windows 7 days.

The link to the AOMEI Backupper Standard software is here (https://www.aomeitech.com/ss/download/adb/AOMEIBackupperStd.exe).

The backup menu looks like this:
https://i.ibb.co/sdd60g11/AOMEI-Backup-menu.jpg

The Tools menu looks like this:
https://i.ibb.co/bDKkvnB/AOMEI-Tools-menu.jpg

In the Tools menu, a bootable Media can be created in case there is a problem preventing normal booting, a bootable media can be created with Windows PE(Preinstallation Environment).

This software does lot more than others that are not free, and works really well.

It is best that the folder containing the backup is on a partition that is on a separate hard drive, but it does not have to be. I've had my share of lost programs and data when I was not disciplined enough to backup my programs and data.

[Raskolnikov]

Looks like we may have been right to avoid Windows 11 onawah.

Windows 11 Is a Lost Cause. Truly Destined for the Garbage. Don't Upgrade from 10

C44iCr6czAo
Video description: Windows 10 Users are now facing the End-of-Life of their OS since their particular computers have been classified as computer junk by Microsoft. So you may be teased to thinking that it is time to move to Windows 11.

But actually it is time to dump Windows for good. In this video, I reveal to you the Microsoft plan for your life and how it will own your computer though you have to pay for it. And they will do everything in their power to prevent you from modifying it.

Account description: I'm the Internet Privacy Guy. I'm a public interest technologist. I'm here to educate. You are losing your Internet privacy and Internet security every day if you don't fight for it. Your data is collected with endless permanent data mining. Learn about a TOR router, a VPN , antivirus, spyware, firewalls, IP address, wifi triangulation, data privacy regulation, backups and tech tools, and evading mass surveillance from NSA, CIA, FBI. Learn how to be anonymous on the Internet so you are not profiled. Learn to speak freely with pseudo anonymity. Learn more about the dangers of the inernet and the dangers of social media, dangers of email.

I like alternative communication technology like Amateur Radio and data communications using Analog. I'm a licensed HAM operator.

[Rawhide68]

I just simply prolonged getting updates for Win10 for another year, by simply clicking a register button in Windows update menu today.

That button wasn't there yesterday, it popped up today. 🙂✨

I think it's a valid solution for all EU members to extend a year til 2026-10-15.



Other solutions like easily upgrade to Windows 11 by creating a Windows 11 USB flash drive via Rufus and choosing to remove the system requirements and you will be able to upgrade easily.

How to Bypass Windows 11's TPM, CPU and RAM Requirements
https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/bypass-windows-11-tpm-requirement

[onevoice]

I just simply prolonged getting updates for Win10 for another year, by simply clicking a register button in Windows update menu today.

That button wasn't there yesterday, it popped up today. 🙂✨

I think it's a valid solution for all EU members to extend a year til 2026-10-15.



Other solutions like easily upgrade to Windows 11 by creating a Windows 11 USB flash drive via Rufus and choosing to remove the system requirements and you will be able to upgrade easily.

How to Bypass Windows 11's TPM, CPU and RAM Requirements
https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/bypass-windows-11-tpm-requirement

I have 2 PCs (custom built by me from individual components) and 2 laptops (many years old but still functioning and doing what I need them to do), so I can afford to experiment with several different scenarios. I have used this very method. The issue with this method is that this method involves a clean installation of Windows 11, so all the existing programs you own will have to be installed again and you will lose all the work history you current have. If you just want to upgrade cleanly from Windows 10 to Windows 11 while keeping your current programs and its associated data intact, then the method described in post #30 will let you do that. Most other methods involves clean installation and you will lose your current programs' associated data and history. Sometimes it is good to just do clean installation to start over and get rid of the bloat that builds up in the user's local history folders. Over several years, that old history data kept in the "C:\Users" folder structure can take up huge amount of storage.

When I did upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 10 as described in post #30, all that bloat stayed around in the "C:\user" folder structure. I didn't like the all that bloat so I decided to do clean installation of Windows 11 over the same PC. After the clean installation of Windows 11, I realized that I had reclaimed over 50GB of data that was sitting around in the "C:\Users" structure. After clean installation of Windows 11 and all my old programs, the used space in C: drive was about 84GB. As any Windows PC is used, the bloat in the "C:\Users" structure keeps growing everyday. Only way that I know of to reclaim this bloat is to perform fresh clean installation. So there's Pros and Cons of each strategy, depending on how much work one wants to invest in the effort. Somewhat like an annual spring cleaning, it is worth it to me every few years to to start over and install Windows and the programs all over again to reclaim disk space and also allow the PC to operate smoothly. The key to starting over and installing from scratch involves good planning, and saving the data from the programs you use often. For me, it is important to backup all my internet browser's bookmarks since I have a lot. Most browsers such as FireFox and Brave have tools to allow backing up bookmarks into an html file and then import them back in after the new installation.

One of my positions in the mid 1990's was being a platform engineer (for a fortune 500 company) during which I integrated all the hardware and software installation for a PC. Then when I was satisfied with the stability and reliability of the final integrated platform, another group of technicians cloned that integrated build and distributed it to the user community.

TurboTax announced this year that starting with TurboTax Desktop 2025, it won't support Windows 10 any more. TurboTax Desktop is an important program I need to use each year to file my taxes, so I don't have a choice about not upgrading to Windows 11 on at least my primary PC. My backup PC still runs Windows 10 just fine and may keep it that way as long as that suits me.

[Rawhide68]

:ninja:I think this got a bit out of forum :wonder:
I have a win7 up puter runing in 5 mins if I want, retro works

C44iCr6czAo

:facepalm::blackwidow:
To be honest I have more than that, Linux included

[Jaak]

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[onevoice]

1980001768965611934
I've removed the Copilot from my Windows 11 installation since I don't want it and for it to track what I search. It is easy to do:

1. In the Windows search box, enter "Control Panel". The "Control Panel" app should show up in the search list.
2. Then click on the Control Panel.
3. Click on the "Uninstall a program" under the "Programs" section.
4. Select the "Copilot" program with the left mouse, then with the right mouse button select "Uninstall".

[Rawhide68]

Your Windows 11 Computer’s Hidden Spy: The Dark Truth About TPM Chips.

Another great, informative clip from Rob Braxman.

"If you're running Windows 11, your computer has a TPM Chip Version 2.0. This is one of the requirements to using Windows 11 and of course Windows 10 has been declared as "End-Of-Life". While you think that Windows 11 is an improvement, wait till you find out what this TPM chip is all about. It is such a giant invasion of privacy that I turned mine off."

t1eX_vvAlUc

We went from running anti-spyware software to finally running the spyware itself as the OS.

[onevoice]

Your Windows 11 Computer’s Hidden Spy: The Dark Truth About TPM Chips.

Another great, informative clip from Rob Braxman.

"If you're running Windows 11, your computer has a TPM Chip Version 2.0. This is one of the requirements to using Windows 11 and of course Windows 10 has been declared as "End-Of-Life". While you think that Windows 11 is an improvement, wait till you find out what this TPM chip is all about. It is such a giant invasion of privacy that I turned mine off."

t1eX_vvAlUc

We went from running anti-spyware software to finally running the spyware itself as the OS.

What Rob Braxman is talking about in the above video is all dependent on having TPM 2.0 chip. All my PCs and laptops are rather old, all more than 7 years old. One of my laptop is 12 years old and still running just fine. However, they are still very capable of running all the programs that I run. Since none of my PCs and laptops have TPM 2.0 chip, I don't have this problem. Also, I don't have Bitlocker on my boot drive on the 1 PC I have running Windows 11. I do use it for an encrypted partition that I keep sensitive information.

I do have Windows 11 running on a PC without a TPM 2.0 chip. There are several ways to install Windows 11 to by pass TPM 2.0 and other Windows 11 checks. The easiest method is what I described in post #30 (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?130482-End-of-Windows-10&p=1688470&viewfull=1#post1688470). The other ways are technically more challenging but doable, like that described in post #33 (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?130482-End-of-Windows-10&p=1688751&viewfull=1#post1688751).