Here are your options if you’re still running Windows 10
Q >> I have an old PC and am still happy running Windows 10 on it. It works fine. But I hear that Win10 is going to be cancelled by Microsoft after all these years! What are my options?
A >> You are correct that Microsoft has announced that “Windows 10 will reach end of support on Oct. 14, 2025. The current version, 22H2, will be the final version of Windows 10, and all editions will remain in support with monthly security update releases through that date.”
Between now and then, you can likely keep using it without too much of an issue (as long as you follow good digital hygiene, as I’ll explain shortly). After that date, however, the biggest issue is that security updates are going to stop so whether hackers find an obscure bug that is present on 0.001% of Windows 10 systems or a gaping security hole that’s on 99%, no-one’s going to be updating the system to patch those holes.
If you never add programs and never go to strange or suspicious Web sites, you might be OK for even six to 12 months after that date, but eventually you’re going to get malware, ransomware, or worse. Imagine turning on your PC and it won’t power up nor can you access any of your precious files, documents, or photographs. ¡No bueno!
The real solution is to upgrade to a more modern Windows 11 system in the next 18 months. Remember, Windows 10 was released back in July of 2015, so a decade’s a good lifespan. If you’ve been using that same PC for years, an upgrade will startle you with a dramatic performance boost, but it’s going to cost. Even a budget PC from Costco or Walmart will set you back a few hundred dollars minimum.
The most important step for good digital hygiene is to ensure that you’re constantly checking and installing updates. Use the search box on the Taskbar to regularly look for “check for updates.”
Can your PC run Windows 11?
Microsoft requires certain hardware for you to be able to run Windows 11, most notably something called a Trusted Platform Module. If you don’t have a TPM, you can’t run Windows 11.
To check if you can update your PC to Win11 use Microsoft’s “PC Health Check” utility. You can download a free copy at aka. ms/getpchealthcheckapp.
Can’t proceed? You’re not alone, and at least you’re being proactive in dealing with the upcoming end-of-life.
Can’t update? Here are your options
If you’re feeling adventurous, you could try replacing Windows with one of the many Linux variants. It’s free, but it’s a big jump with new apps, a new user interface, and an often rough-aroundthe-edges user experience. Learn more at linux.org
The long and short of it is that you can get another year out of your old PC, but at some point you’ll need to budget for an upgrade. Much better to spend a few hundred dollars on a new computer than a few hundred dollars on having an expert try to salvage your hacked, locked, or encrypted files, folders, documents and photos.