Windows 11
 

Received a notification that Windows 10 will not be supported after October 2025 and my PC (Lenovo 330 ideapad approx 6 years old) does not meet the requirements for Windows 11. Is there a workaround that doesn't require a degree in computer science to accomplish? If not, is it wise to continue to use Windows 10?

Thanks for info.

You will be able to continue to get Win10 updates for the payment of a fee to Microsoft. I don't know how extensive the updates will be. Certainly continued security updates but whether they would patch a fault I don't know - depends upon how serious/insecure the problem is, I guess.

There also a third party company offering to support W10 for longer than Microsoft, again for a fee.

Does it tell you why Windows 11 won't run? It may just be that you need a motherboard update.

Everyone will tell you that you need to upgrade to continue to get free security updates. Whether you need those security updates really depends on what you're doing; if your PC sits behind a home router that does address translation and has upnp turned off and all you do is browse the web from an updated browser without opening randomly downloaded files then you're fairly safe. Possibly safer than you would be with Windows 11 continually downloading new adverts and all the risks that entails.

If that is all.you do then you're better off switching to Linux anyway and not having this problem or Microsoft spying on you.

There are easy workarounds. Rufus will give the required options during downloading of the .iso file.
Otherwise - just Google 'Install Windows 11 on unsupported machines'.

Regarding the second part of your question, I think you'll be fairly safe as long as you follow a few simple rules:
- Install a good adblocker.
- Use a separate anti-virus/firewall package and keep this up to date.
- Don't click on any suspicious links or strange websites.

As has been mentioned, security updates will continue to be made available, but this will trail off and you may not have access to all the newest bells and whistles, but if you can live without that it is certainly an option to stay on Win 10. I have a set of in-laws who are still on Win 7. The challenge of converting them to a newer Windows version is too much hassle compared to the risks they're running. They know not to open any suspicious e-mails, they have nothing on that computer that could do them any damage as they don't use internet banking at all and have never had a credit card. Still going strong after several years like this!

Bit vague but I recall that my last Win10 laptop wasn't Win11 ready but by enabling some feature or other in the system - some software controlling the processor or summat - it quite happily upgraded once Win11 was released.

I don't have details however a know someone who has installed W11 on few unsupported laptops. Don't think it was hard.

Will likely depend on what the exact problem(s) are.

I just had a quick look and while my own computer is not supposed to work with win 11, the same model is for sale, used, with w11 installed!

There are some workarounds in this thread: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/...ted-pc/4173358
I am not sure if the tool that they link to is an option as there is a post stating that that page has been hijacked. But reading through this page at least provides a bit of insight in what is needed to get around the Microsoft limitations. I was thinking it might give a bit of insight as I have a Win 10 desktop that I might want to upgrade at some point. Not sure I want to go down this route though.... I might just swap out some hardware so that I can rely on it for a couple years more.

My old PC received the same message. I looked into the issue and tried changing the BIOS settings but it doesn’t support the required security level that MS require for Windows 11.

A new motherboard might well fix it. Obviously that is likely to need a new processor, new memory card, etc etc.

I’m annoyed by these more frequent mandatory obsolescences. This year I’ve lost the use of my GARMIN satnav after the latest update turned it into a paperweight. I’ve also lost the use of two identical GoPro cameras after they both decided to refuse to boot up after being put on charge. Especially annoying as I’d bought a new battery for the first one that failed, found it didn’t help, bought an identical camera to find exactly the same failure within a very short time.

Updating Windows 10 to 11 on Unsupported Hardware
 

Have a look on YouTube "update windows 10 to 11 unsupported hardware" - Plenty of solutions there!

I have a Windows 10 PC which I have updated to Windows 11 using one of these solutions. I get Windows 11 updates without any problems! But I did add more memory from 4GB to 16GB! I had previously changed my hard disk to SSD which improved performance considerably.

You have to think about how you use your PC, if you are doing lots of video editing or using multiple spreadsheets then you need a proper Windows 11 PC.

However if you use it for a bit of browsing and answering emails you do not need to outlay money on a new PC! Modified PCs may be slow but they work!

I think most Governments will be putting pressure on Microsoft to come up with an approved workround in order that landfills will not be inundated with old PCs

Unless things change then it will come down to choosing between an unsupported version of Windows 10 or an unsupported version of Windows 11 - I doubt there's much difference.

I've a few affected machines.

If the problem with updating to Windows 11 is the CPU type I'm going to force the Win11 upgrade on the assumption that Microsoft just haven't bothered to test that CPU.

If it's the missing 'Trusted Platform Module' then I'm going to 'retire' the machine to an offline role.

Thanks for the answers. Perhaps there will be sufficient pushback against MS to make them do a Trumpian reverse ferret and delay the support withdrawal.

Seriously thinking about switching to Mac (if my brain is not too old to cope with learning the iOS).

This may be a side-issue from a complete Numpty.

MS has been offering me Windows 11 on my (11-capable) laptop for about 3 years. I've declined, because I like what I've got, and hate change.

What actually happens when they "withdraw support". Will it still work? Does it actually need support? Should I just bite the bullet and go-11?

It'll still work. It won't get updates. In particular it won't get updates to the hundreds of hacking vulnerabilities that probably exist undiscovered (or at least unreported). In other words Microsoft will stop fixing all the broken stuff. Microsoft will also stop answering questions about it, but as a consumer they wouldn't have answered your question anyway.

Eventually software manufacturers will stop making software to run on it, or won't allow updates any more. For example Python stopped running on Windows 7 in 2020 when Microsoft stopped paid for support of it.

Be careful about jumping ship if you’re looking for long-term support. Appears MS will have supported Windows 10 in excess of 10 years by the October 2025 date. In contrast, Apple supports its OS’s (macOS, iOS, iPadOS) only for the current annual release version plus the two prior annual releases. Thus, about 3 years; e.g., macOS 15 current, macOS 13 and 14 supported, macOS 12 not supported. As for devices, Apple generally supports devices for about 5 years. After that, you can’t load the latest OS without a hack.

As for learning Mac, shouldn’t be an issue. I’ve used Mac and Windows for 3+ decades and find that, for everyday home use, the two OS’s are more alike than different.

I'm getting SO annoyed with Microsoft's bullying. They killed off Outlook Express, they killed off Autoroute and other software. They've virtually bricked one of my computers with their bloated OS filling up the C-drive, they're now killing off Skype....

Anyway, my trusty old Dell running Win7 is still fine with an anti-virus application and I'm not going to be threatened by this Win11 bullying!

Have never noticed this thread before - interesting reading. I subscribe to a magazine called Computeractive, which appears to target our age range and demographic - some excellent advice, tips and reviews there. Oh, and I buy the paper version so's I can have it open while following instructions; I'm not the best at flipping between browser pages.

FWIW, I switched to Windows 11 on my last 'puter (which just about made the specs required) and moved it seamlessly over to the current one which is coming up to 2 years old. Followed some instructions from the mag and am delighted with my slimmed-down Windows, relatively-bloatware-free. In similar vein, I switch between Brave and Firefox as my main browsers - ditched Edge, bing and whatnot ages ago.

Will probably stick with current laptop and Windows 10 for a while and install anti-virus program. Any recommendations? Norton or MacAfee?

Thanks for info.

Neither. Windows Defender should be adequate !

If the OS is no longer being supported, will there still be Security Updates for Windows Defender?

Yes, virus definition updates to Defender on Windows 10 will continue to at least October 2028

I've been following this thread with interest given I have Win10, which is more than adequate for my needs, and have no wish to upgrade to Win11 unless I have absolutely no choice.

However, when I booted up earlier, there was a full screen message from MS saying my machine does not have the hardware to support Win11...so here's a helpful promotion to induce you to buy.

How does MS know my machine isn't hardware compatible and is this just a "hard sell" on the part of MS ?

- How does MS know my machine isn't hardware compatible -

The upgrade control software checks. Most PCs fail the check on one more of age of CPU, absence of TPM 2.0 chip or no secure boot/EUFI bios.

- .so here's a helpful promotion to induce you to buy.-
TBH that sounds more like the PC/laptop manufacture's app. giving you a 'hard sell'

Windows 10 collects at lot. A huge amount. Processor information. Your web searches. Your local searches. File extensions. What apps you're running.

But you know all this already right, because they're legally required to tell you and give you the opportunity to opt out?

I've got W11 on a PC and laptop but my daily use machine has W10 and I'll be using that until it expires. I started off with 3.1 around 2000 and had all the versions since then except W8. The W11 navigation is a real pain compared to them and a lot of my programmes aren't supported so it'll be little more than a personal data back-up. Why can't the bean-bag barons just leave an easy-to-use system alone? :*

Because they need to do something new to justify their continued employment and what would MS do if no-one HAD to buy new software every 5 years.....................

To answer Discorde's first post, I suggest a viable 'workaround' could be Linux Mint.

Mint is free to download and use (I suggest the Xfce version), and could well make your computer experience faster and more stable than with Windows.

Moreover it's incredibly easy to put onto a USB thumb drive and just trial for a while if you're uncertain. Fully installing it on a machine usually takes just a few minutes and, refreshingly, there's no interminable license keys etc to purchase/find and enter, and the finished install will already have browser (Firefox), office suite (LibreOffice) and email client (Thunderbird) installed. There are many other programs available (including Chrome browser if you want your browsing to be monitored and controlled by G) and little need to spend money, although a donation is usually gratefully received. Additionally it will often work well on older hardware, so you could also resurrect the old PC you have laying around in the garage etc.

I've used M$ since the 1980's and Linux since 1992/3. Many years ago it was arguably difficult to use, the software was limited and 'experimental, and wouldn't work with a lot of hardware, but over time it has become much more mature and universal. Fifteen years ago or more I switched entirely to Linux and have been completely happy with that move. It's not completely perfect, and I'm not being a fanboi here, rather prefer just to recount my experience and satisfaction, and encouragement to give it a try.

FP.

I have recently upgraded to a Win 11 machine and like Win 11. I would say if your machine supports it then definitely upgrade to Win 11.

Ha ! I said the same thing when I was bullied into upgrading to Win 10, until I eventually gave in and then regretted not upgrading sooner.

I'm still on the fence about this... my work laptop has been on Win 11 for a couple of months now. It's got its issues but I can live with it. I tend to use occasions like this to upgrade my desktop to something newer, which is something I rarely do. I think the current setup has been around since Win 7 was released.... but it has served me well all these years and still happily runs Win 10. Decisions... decisions....

OE (albeit rebadged as Window Mail 6) working fine on W7 here. :O

I migrated all my machines to Windows 11 a while back. Not really any heartache, just move the Start menu over to the left and tweak the Start Menu options to taste.

Did MS say your machines were capable of handling it? I get the "this machine can't use W11"

- Did MS say your machines were capable of handling it? I get the "this machine can't use W11" -

On my home built tower PC I had to change the BIOS to enable secure boot. If your PC fails the check due to older CPU or not having TPM2.0 there's workarounds to install Windows 11, check YouTube.

I've been looking to upgrade my plastic monstrosity for quite a while now, but for longevity I have been waiting for the release of Windows 12 so that I can be a assured of compatibility.
Looks like Windows 10 will have to suffice for a while longer.

Out of curiosity, when the rug gets pulled on Windows 10 in October, will this be the 1st time that Micro$oft has only one supported mainstream OS available to Joe Public?

Which gives the choice of running an unsupported version of Windows 10, or an unsupported version of Windows 11.

I was dithering over this until you confirmed that Defender updates will continue on Windows 10 till late 2028. I'm fairly sure now that I'll stay with Windows 10 on machines that don't support 11.

Microsoft will offer three ways to continue getting support for Windows 10 until Oct 2026 (one additional year)

1) Pay for extended support which I expect will be $30 or local equivalent
2) 'Cash in' 1,000 Reward Points from Microsoft account, which you can accumulate by using Bing, Xbox etc.
3) Run Windows 10 with a cloud account and backup the settings to Microsoft cloud

Obviously the last two will be unattractive if you are suspicious of 'the man' and you'll be migrating to Linux Mint

Microsoft gives up, extends Windows 10's support for free if you meet the requirements

Would anti-malware software (such as Norton or MacAfee) give adequate protection to W10 users when MS withdraw all support options?

Or upgrading to, for example, Linux Mint. Some information about this may be seen here:








I have an idea there was another 'better' overview for current M$ users that a friend mentioned to me recently. I will try and find out what that was and (if found) post it in the next few days.

Not trying to start anything contentious here, simply speaking as someone who has used many different OS's over the years, including M$ (DOS, and all versions of Windows), but has also happily used Linux since the very early '90's. In my experience I am quite satisfied that Linux easily covers most if not all needs and often - markedly - improves performance of machines when installed in place of M$ Windows...

FP.