Windows 10 support and updates ending , what to do next

[cliffords]

I am not a computer expert . I have a desktop I bought refurbished about 3 years ago and a 8 year old laptop , both run windows 10 . Both do everything I want , I am retired , write letters , do a few spreadsheets , read news and write on here . Internet Banking etc .I have quite a few pictures on my laptop from my phones over the years, my kids and now grandchildren. . The refurbished desktop was from a company called Stone and its been perfect . They seem to still be going.

Both devices show as not meeting the requirements of Windows 11.

I have seen quite a few YouTube videos of methods of getting Windows 11 on computers that don't have the requirements. I had a go on a very clear one that had a program to help and its was all straight forward . However I did not complete it as it was a server version of Windows 11 with American English and even the fellow said , it was likely that security updates would follow but not guaranteed. I subsequently did a bit more research and Microsoft are saying that devices with 11 on, that do not meet the requirements are unlikely to be able to receive the security updates . So back to where I am now.

My questions are . Will my current kit be subject to a higher risk of malware or virus threat if I keep using 10 . Is it worth just biting the bullet and buying yet another machine but a compatible one ? I actually hate the waste whilst both machines work perfectly. What are the computer savvy doing or going to do ?
Thanks

[xeny]

In the short term I'm planning to follow the instructions at https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/07/how-to-get... to get another year of Windows 10 support.

[Derek Smith]

If you use your computer for browsing, writing and emails, then, as long as you have anti-virus software and stay away from suspicious websites, you'll be fine. Internet banking? I'd be a little nervous.

I keep all important files, including family photographs, and other stuff I would hate to lose, on an external memory source. I've advised all my kids to do the same.

[Funk]

xeny said:

In the short term I'm planning to follow the instructions at https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/07/how-to-get... to get another year of Windows 10 support.

I just force-enabled mine using Flyoobe. I know some baulk at having a MS account but I already do so getting ESU for free was a no-brainer.

[xeny]

Derek Smith said:

If you use your computer for browsing, writing and emails, then, as long as you have anti-virus software and stay away from suspicious websites, you'll be fine. Internet banking? I'd be a little nervous.

I disagree with this. There have been instances in the past of advertising on otherwise legitimate sites being used to serve malicious software without the site owner's knowledge.

If the free option for extended Windows 10 support didn't exist, I'd use one of the various methods to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware - that looks very likely to give ongoing security updates until at the very least the next annual "feature update".

[the-norseman]

Few options,

1- do the win 10 support offer
2- spend ££££££ on new machines
3- try to get Win 11 on them
3 -try a straight forward Linux OS such as Ubuntu.

[nikaiyo2]

You can update most Win10 machines to W11.

I updated a Pentium PC with 1GB of ram last week (it’s unusably slow) but it worked.

https://theideaplace.net/using-rufus-to-install-wi...

https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-install-windo...

I would recommend making a clone of each disk first with something like Acronis so if it does go wrong you can re-install.

[Mr Tidy]

Thanks, I'll have to explore those options for another year.

Can't see the point of getting 11 when 12 is likely to be rolled out next Spring!

[Griffith4ever]

xeny said:

Derek Smith said:

If you use your computer for browsing, writing and emails, then, as long as you have anti-virus software and stay away from suspicious websites, you'll be fine. Internet banking? I'd be a little nervous.

I disagree with this. There have been instances in the past of advertising on otherwise legitimate sites being used to serve malicious software without the site owner's knowledge.

If the free option for extended Windows 10 support didn't exist, I'd use one of the various methods to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware - that looks very likely to give ongoing security updates until at the very least the next annual "feature update".

Decent up to date AV software will mitigate 99% of this. We all managed before Defender, using decent AV. Most of the misleading ads and clickables are on torrent sites and the likes. There are a lot of people out there still on Win 7 and the likes, and they are ok. Advisable? no, doable, absolutely.

Similar to those who think phones are worthless once the updates stop. They are not. Not for many many years anyhow, when apps stop supporting older versions of Android

[xeny]

Griffith4ever said:

Decent up to date AV software will mitigate 99% of this. We all managed before Defender, using decent AV. Most of the misleading ads and clickables are on torrent sites and the likes. There are a lot of people out there still on Win 7 and the likes, and they are ok. Advisable? no, doable, absolutely.

Similar to those who think phones are worthless once the updates stop. They are not. Not for many many years anyhow, when apps stop supporting older versions of Android

Given the extra year of updates is free, I don't see the point in finding out how advisable it is or isn't.

I've got enough online services that are associated with my email account that I have no interest in taking a 1% risk with it. Reasonable Android handsets are ~£150 with three years of security updates. For a pound/week I don't see the cost/benefit in not replacing them if you use it for email, let alone online banking.

[loudlashadjuster]

nikaiyo2 said:

You can update most Win10 machines to W11.

I updated a Pentium PC with 1GB of ram last week (it’s unusably slow) but it worked.

https://theideaplace.net/using-rufus-to-install-wi...

https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-install-windo...

I would recommend making a clone of each disk first with something like Acronis so if it does go wrong you can re-install.

This.

Almost any PC you might feasibily want to use with Windows 11 can be made to work by bypassing some of the artificial constraints MS impose on installations

[Griffith4ever]

xeny said:

Griffith4ever said:

Decent up to date AV software will mitigate 99% of this. We all managed before Defender, using decent AV. Most of the misleading ads and clickables are on torrent sites and the likes. There are a lot of people out there still on Win 7 and the likes, and they are ok. Advisable? no, doable, absolutely.

Similar to those who think phones are worthless once the updates stop. They are not. Not for many many years anyhow, when apps stop supporting older versions of Android

Given the extra year of updates is free, I don't see the point in finding out how advisable it is or isn't.

I've got enough online services that are associated with my email account that I have no interest in taking a 1% risk with it. Reasonable Android handsets are ~£150 with three years of security updates. For a pound/week I don't see the cost/benefit in not replacing them if you use it for email, let alone online banking.

Clearly you are hyper risk averse so that works for you. (your online banking won't support your phone if its recognised as vulnerable btw - and they work on android phones waaay old than 3 years - but you are not going to listen to this - so burn that 3 year old phone at once ;-) )

[xeny]

Griffith4ever said:

Clearly you are hyper risk averse so that works for you. (your online banking won't support your phone if its recognised as vulnerable btw - and they work on android phones waaay old than 3 years - but you are not going to listen to this - so burn that 3 year old phone at once ;-) )

I'm looking at it as a risk matrix kind of thing, the same as met office weather warnings.. Likelihood I agree is low, but impact would be bloody hideous. It costs me more than £50/year for fully comp insurance vs 3rd party, and I'd lose financially and in time from this than from crashing the car.

I take your point about why would online banking be supported, but having my email account is more of a worry to me than just a current account and Google and Apple don't write OS patches for the fun of it.