Win10 extended support

[badatmath]

Windows 10 support can be extended for either $30 if you don't want a cloud account or free if you use one. Thought this might interest someone.
Microsoft Offers Free Windows 10 Extended Security Updates: Here's How to Get Them

 

[Graybeard]

I've been waiting for about 2 months when I saw a YT video. $30 is a bargain, I'd pay double that, why toss a perfectly usable pc.

 

[stepford]

why toss a perfectly usable pc.

Do you typically toss your PCs when OS support ends? I don't care much about support, but what software will run. Intuit is driving me to upgrade to Win11 since Turbotax 2025 won't run on Win10 (or Linux).

 

[ksr]

This is good news for me. My computer won’t support Win11 and I have been putting off buying a new computer. I will gladly pay $30 to put it off for another year.

Thanks for posting this.

 

[mistermike40]

Thanks for posting this. I wonder why WIndows 11 won't run on my desktop - Ryzen 5 1500X Quad Core (3.5 GHz x4, with 8 threads), 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, etc. I'm guessing it's something to do with the CPU (and/or motherboard) being on the older side.

 

[jollystomper]

On the one hand, I am using the end of support as an excuse to upgrade the hardware. On the other hand, I can use this to keep my "old" platform around for some project. On the third hand, I am trying to reduce the number of servers running in my home computing center, and this does not help that effort. Decisions, decisions...

 

[GenXguy]

There are workarounds to run Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.

 

[Al18]

$30 buys you one extra year of Windows 10 support. It still doesn’t let you run TurboTax 2025. With the tariff situation, do you think new computer prices will drop in a year?

 

[Graybeard]

Do you typically toss your PCs when OS support ends? I don't care much about support, but what software will run. Intuit is driving me to upgrade to Win11 since Turbotax 2025 won't run on Win10 (or Linux).

I want the updates, I would never use an OS that stopped them. My pc runs fine and does what I want so I have no desire to buy a new one. My pc can not be upgraded per MS so without the ESU I'd have no choice but to get a new pc.

 

[jim584672]

Another alternative is to run Win 11 in Virtualbox on your Win 10 machine. That way you can run whatever app you want that doesn't like Win 10.

 

[target2019]

I want the updates, I would never use an OS that stopped them. My pc runs fine and does what I want so I have no desire to buy a new one. My pc can not be upgraded per MS so without the ESU I'd have no choice but to get a new pc.

My first line of defense was to simply buy daughter's Win 11 PC. That takes care of TurboTax and whatever apps go to Win11 only...

I'm on the fence about my Win10 legacy PC. There are 4 options:

1) do nothing
2) workaround the TPM limitation
3) buy a year from M$
4) use MS cloud for settings

I've been thinking about what exactly 4) means.

 

[Texas Proud]

Can you get a free Win 11?

 

[Graybeard]

My first line of defense was to simply buy daughter's Win 11 PC. That takes care of TurboTax and whatever apps go to Win11 only...

I'm on the fence about my Win10 legacy PC. There are 4 options:

1) do nothing
2) workaround the TPM limitation
3) buy a year from M$
4) use MS cloud for settings

I've been thinking about what exactly 4) means.

#4 to means they will take all your data in the cloud and sell it. I wouldn't give MS 1 cent I did not need to, it's bad enough I use their OS.

 

[jim584672]

Can you get a free Win 11?

Download Windows 11

 

[Al18]

Microsoft has offered free downloads of Windows 10 and 11 for many years. However, you’ll need to pay for the activation and license.

 

[GenXguy]

#4 to means they will take all your data in the cloud and sell it. I wouldn't give MS 1 cent I did not need to, it's bad enough I use their OS.

From what I gathered, you could just setup a tiny backup from a dormant account to meet the requirement for ESU.

 

[jim584672]

Microsoft has offered free downloads of Windows 10 and 11 for many years. However, you’ll need to pay for the activation and license.

Even if you never activate it it still runs with a nag watermark on the desktop. If the machine had Win 10 on it it will auto activate with 11.

 

[RetMD21]

My used win 10 machine isn't qualified to upgrade. I was hoping to hold off and get a windows 12 pc. I wonder if it will be possible to buy one in time for 2025 taxes

 

[Al18]

Windows 12 hasn’t been announced - it’s probably a few years off.

 

[Al18]

Seems like this discussion is being repeated. On this other thread I Bought a Refurbished Win 11 Computer I mentioned you could buy a new Beelink miniPC running Windows 11 for about $170. This PC is small enough to sit on your desk, next to your existing monitor and you could use it to run your tax program and securely access your brokerage account, bank account, etc. You could continue to use your old computer for other programs that don’t need the latest security fixes.

 

[GenXguy]

My used win 10 machine isn't qualified to upgrade. I was hoping to hold off and get a windows 12 pc. I wonder if it will be possible to buy one in time for 2025 taxes

Or do the unofficially supported upgrade to Windows 11.

You could continue to use your old computer for other programs that don’t need the latest security fixes.

If it's Windows 10, you could could also use one of the unofficial upgrade methods to Windows 11, or stay on Windows 10 and do the simple cloud backup to get another year of updates.

 

[RetMD21]

Is windows 11 support ending next year? That's what I am getting from this link.

Windows 11 Home and Pro - Microsoft Lifecycle

Windows 11 Home and Pro follows the Modern Lifecycle Policy.

learn.microsoft.com

There are internet rumors of Windows 12 in Q4 or early 2026 but IDK if they are credible

 

[MC Rider]

Mine won't do Win11. I'm still going to Linux Mint.

 

[LarryG]

Seems like this discussion is being repeated. On this other thread I Bought a Refurbished Win 11 Computer I mentioned you could buy a new Beelink miniPC running Windows 11 for about $170. This PC is small enough to sit on your desk, next to your existing monitor and you could use it to run your tax program and securely access your brokerage account, bank account, etc. You could continue to use your old computer for other programs that don’t need the latest security fixes.

I just bought one of these Beelink mini PCs based on your post. I have to say while initially sceptical, I have been VERY pleasantly surprised with it's ease of setup, ease of use, and power. Thanks for bringing this option to my attention!

 

[Al18]

Looks like Windows 11 is supported to 10 Oct 2029 according to Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows