As touched on elsewhere here, support for Windows 10 ends on 14th October.
It is entirely possible to enrol for another year of security updates, free and with a few conditions.
Essentially, you must have a Microsoft Account, and your PC must know it (either by you using it as a login, or if you use a local account, by it being associated with your product key).
Then, you must agree to using Windows Backup to back up at least your settings.
You enrol via an option, which should be available to you if you qualify, on the Windows Update page.
I've done 5 machines so far, all of them successfully, but not all of them without some pain.
The first two were fine, and very easy. The other 3 had varying (and different!) issues, mainly arising from the nebulous relationship between Windows Backup and OneDrive.
Essentially, in some cases I found that it was extremely difficult to turn off the backup of (all) my folders in Windows Backup (something I definitely didn't want), it seemingly insisting on that particular setting being only changeable in OneDrive. Invoking OneDrive and trying to change the settings in there resulted in it immediately starting to move everything to the Cloud, and stopping it doing so was messy (and different) on all three machines.
The worst was SWMBO's laptop, which had started what turned out to be an unstoppable move of all her data, and I finally resorted to deleting it all, then resetting OneDrive parameters successfully, and restoring it all from my daily backups on the NAS.
In other cases, sign-in to Onedrive to try to change the parameters just looped, and a few "behind the scenes" adjustments were required before I was able to. In both these cases OneDrive then tried to move everything to the cloud before I could change the settings, but it allowed me to change on the fly, and asked me if I'd like it putting back!
Once the Onedrive settings were changed to inhibit folder backup, the (unchangeable) settings in Windows Backup disappeared, and referred to OneDrive.
So, all 5 machines are now enrolled (updates until Oct '26). I have consistent Windows Backup and OneDrive settings (with no folders going to the cloud - it's all on my NAS anyway), and it all looks OK.
So, what should be a simple enrolment process turned out to be not so for 60% of my sample.
(I've always hated OneDrive anyway).
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I've decided to say sod it and replace.
The current one is pre-pandemic and getting glitchy.
Just need to spec up/price up and wield my payment card.
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Unless you need Windows for a very specific reason, any reason you couldnt give Linux a go? Its free so nothing lost in trying. I have recently updated some very old computers for relatives (dating from approx 2019, 2014 and 2008!) which were buckling under the weight of Win10 but now run Linux Mint. Even the proper old fossil one runs acceptably well indeed.
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Don't know about Linux. Must find out how easy it is (for a non-computer person like me) to get it installed and working. Oh, I did get the 12 month Windows 10 extension for my laptop and desktop (both purchased in 2016).
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Linux is fine if you are computer savvy*, only want to use your PC for social media, email, web browsing, and run an MS office clone and stick with that. In those cicumstances it works well, is tolerant of low horsepower hardware.
*the savvy bit when it comes to getting it on and set up.
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That would probably be the majority of people then. My experience of getting it on and set up was pretty easy although I would more IT savvy than the average.
Linux Mint have a guide here, linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html, but the jist of it is, get a usb drive (>8GB), download a .iso image of your chosen distro, make the usb bootable using an idiot proof imaging tool such as Balena Etcher, pop the usb in the target computer and boot. Alternatively, identify a younger, nerdier relative and throw a few £ their way to do it for you :-)
I suggest linux as an alternative simply as a way of being able to repurpose hardware folks may already own rather than chucking it in the bin once Win10 is finished, avoiding e-waste and all that.
As a case study, my 85 year old grandmother is now happily running Linux Mint on her old AIO pc, however her needs are limited to browsing QVC and playing Mahjong. And she didnt have to fork out any money. I havent received any calls or pleas for help yet so I assmume its working out ok.
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I don't play games, but browse a few websites and go on a couple of social media sites. Hopefully that meagre use of the computer won't tax it too much.
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>> That would probably be the majority of people then. My experience of getting it on
>> and set up was pretty easy although I would more IT savvy than the average.
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>> Linux Mint have a guide here, linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html , but the jist of it is, get a
>> usb drive (>8GB), download a .iso image of your chosen distro, make the usb bootable
>> using an idiot proof imaging tool such as Balena Etcher, pop the usb in the
>> target computer and boot. Alternatively, identify a younger, nerdier relative and throw a few
Link not working.
404 Documentation page not found
Last edited by: Webmaster on Thu 9 Oct 25 at 12:57
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Ah I see the problem, the comma at the end is getting pulled into the link inadvertently, hope this one works a little better
linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
I've fixed the broken link in the previous post
Last edited by: Webmaster on Thu 9 Oct 25 at 12:58
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>> Ah I see the problem, the comma at the end is getting pulled into the
>> link inadvertently, hope this one works a little better
Links from this site can easily be messed up that way; old timers are used to it :-P
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>> I've decided to say sod it and replace.
I've decided to say sod it and keep.
I have installed Bitdefender and I will see how I get on.
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A very old 32-bit box used for ripping/burning cds (don't ask - SHMO still uses them) hasn't been offered the ESU yet and I guess it won't, only 64-bit machines will.
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I may, if I get bored over the winter months, build myself a new PC and slap W11 on it, but I dont feel any need or pressure to move from Win 10
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Last Saturday SWBO turned on her laptop and started browsing Next for sweaters.
Suddenly, loud beeping and big popup saying "You have been viewing illegal sites and all your data is encrypted"-or similar.
Two other small popups on right-saying Click to run McAfee.
The source appeared to be from a long row of letters and numbers ending.in.
Decided it was malware and ran Malwarebytes-scan said all OK.
Loaded free Total AV.
Scan said all OK!
Took said PC to our helpful local Computer shop and advised Microsoft and Google will soon prevent access to any financial site.
Old Win 10 laptop now scrap.
Today I picked up an MSI Modern 14 on offer at Argos for £319 and am now whiling away time while it updates, after a struggle to get it to connect to our Wifi.
I ditched my Win 10 laptop in June when it started running slowly and screen switching on and off due to loose bevel and screen insecure.
Managed to set up new Acer Swift3 so having a go with this other new one.
Last July we ditched the landline as to keep it would have cost almost twice as much as going on to fibre from cabinet at 50mbps.
I am developing a visceral hatred of US Tech firms, their greed and total contempt for users.
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So you believed your local computer shop and then blame US tech companies?
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advised Microsoft and Google will soon prevent access to any financial site.
Old Win 10 laptop now scrap.
Dont think thats correct, think its sales speil.
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>> advised Microsoft and Google will soon prevent access to any financial site.
Seems pretty implausible; in whose interest would such a move be?
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Windows 10, is, well 10 years old. As much as I dislike Microsoft and the way it has insiduously changed its OS to tie the experience to its own infrastructure, and control the user, 10 years is a lifetime in OS world.
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>> Windows 10, is, well 10 years old. As much as I dislike Microsoft and the
>> way it has insiduously changed its OS to tie the experience to its own infrastructure,
>> and control the user, 10 years is a lifetime in OS world.
Agree with that and am in process of choosing a replacement PC as mine won't run 11 due to chip type/model age.
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Please let us know what you get Brompy, as I am in the same boat.
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I was in the same situation in the spring this year, with an elderly PC running W10 whose motherboard and processor were unable to run W11.
As with the older machine, I bought a replacement from PC Specialist, who make custom machines and whose website allows the prospective purchaser to configure a new machine, find out which components are compatible and instantly know the price.
The reason I went for a custom build is that I use a music notation program whose playback facility relies on large sound samples and therefore plenty of RAM is needed (I have 64 GB). I also specified a second, separate storage drive (both drives are SSD), silent cooling fans and a decent graphics card.
After the machine was delivered, I continued to run the old one, thinking I would get the maximum value from it, only to have it fail completely shortly after (it would not boot). After 11 years it had not done too badly, I suppose.
I am lucky to have a computer consultant living next to me who is able to fix problems and provide advice. I don't really understand much about computers.
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Last year scrapped my ex-work Windows XP desk-top (screwdriver and hammer). Graduated to sons' cast-off Acer Aspire Windows 7 Home premium laptop with 3 GB of RAM. Works OK for me, albeit a bit slow - like me. No problem accessing our multiple financial sites, most now send a code to my rarely used pay-as-you-go Oppo phone (son's cast-off) for access. Keeps telling me it won't work unless I upgrade to W 10 0r 11...but it does.
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Just accessed my Bank account, and paypal, with my old Windows 8.1 system.
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>> Yes, I can see that.
LOL, Wat are you going to do with all that fake bitcoin?
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I love Window XP. This was Microsoft at their best. Windows XP has turned 25 and I am still trying to understand, what improvement they made to Windows over these 25 years.
I have switched to an Apple Mac. It look like an impressive experience.
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You should consider an Apple Mac. It is brilliant. I am impressed. Windows 11 is a waste of money.
Have a look at the Mac Mini M4 (or M2, which is the one I bought). It is tiny powerful. The Apple Silicon winning battles with Windows machines.
Of if you want a laptop Argos have got a Black Friday deal for £699 for the M2 or £899 for the newer M4 model.
Apple is discounting, which they don't normally do. They are trying to catch Windows users.
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"Windows 11 is a waste of money." what do people pay for it? Cost me nothing, unlike a piece of Apple gear which often cost multiples of what an equally capable Windows machine would cost.
And what's so bad about Windows? It has many millions of uses worldwide...
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I am a Macbook Air user, have been for 15 years. Built like tanks, (on my third, (M2) one dropped and stood on, one sparked to death after having a cup of coffee spilt in it) but you pay a premium. They work well comes with a good video editing suite (but getting worse) useless sound editing programe, pathetic office suite. Third party application offerings are patchy, and not immune from major OS cock-ups (quickly fixed tho). Like them, will always have one in my IT life.
Have a windows office machine I built. Windows 10 was probably MS best ever offering, did everything I wanted of it, easily and usefully, and despite the whines, it was current for a very long time. Planning to stick with it.
Windows 11, dislike intensly hate the way MS are trying to tie down and hook the user into revenue streams.
Have a linux machine I built, its acting as a NAS and a DNLA server, another Linux machine acting as a Ham radio hub.
HAve a spare windows 10 laptop (HP, a sloth makes it look active) a tiny laptop with windows 7. I have a copy of OS/2 Warp I play with from time to time, and every copy of Dos from 1.1 to 3.1 and a copy of every Windows offering from 2.1 upwards.
Last edited by: Zero on Sun 2 Nov 25 at 09:05
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>I have a copy of OS/2 Warp I play with from time to time, and every copy of
>Dos from 1.1 to 3.1 and a copy of every Windows offering from 2.1 upwards.
Nothing running MVS?
You could install Hercules in a VM you know.
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>> Nothing running MVS?
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Probably not advanced beyond MFT/MVT ;-)
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>> Nothing running MVS?
No, nor OS/390. Not even a copy of VM/370 or VSE. I did have a 9370 in my garage for a while tho.
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I imagine that for most people, installing a linux version would be sufficient for their needs. The latest version of Ubuntu can be opened using a configured usb stick to try it out and to use is quite 'Windows-like'.
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Sorry I'm a bit late for the party.
Thanks for this. All it took was a couple of mouse clicks from the security update page and I'm now enrolled to get extended security updates until Oct 2026.
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Windows 10 Extended Security Updates - Bromptonaut
