Microsoft Extends Win10 life (but there's a catch)

Dks01

Windows 10 Extended Security Updates: A bridge to your Windows 11 experience
We understand that moving to a new PC can take time, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. The Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is designed to help keep your Windows 10 PC protected after support ends on Oct. 14, 2025. ESU delivers monthly critical and important security updates to help you stay secure during the transition. However, it’s not meant to be a long-term solution—it doesn’t include new features, non-security updates, design change requests or technical support.

As we shared last October, for the first time ever, you can enroll your personal Windows 10 PC in the ESU program and receive critical and important monthly security updates for one year after support ends in October.

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2025/06/24/stay-secure-with-windows-11-copilot-pcs-and-windows-365-before-support-ends-for-windows-10/

Commentary: https://www.askwoody.com/newsletter/a-one-year-extension-to-windows-10-almost-free/

Andyross

Another story from a non-Microsoft viewpoint:
https://www.techspot.com/news/108439-microsoft-extends-free-windows-10-security-updates-2026.html

px_eliezer_

Windows 11 should have been an easy upgrade - Microsoft chose to unleash chaos on us instead

https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-11-should-have-been-an-easy-upgrade-microsoft-chose-to-unleash-chaos-on-us-instead/

px_eliezer_

As I commented earlier (whether here or back on DSLR), rather than send any more money to Microsoft, I am using these folks (the Paid version), and have been very satisfied:

https://blog.0patch.com/2024/06/long-live-windows-10-with-0patch.html
https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/0patch-explained-how-it-works-and-what-it-means-for-the-end-of-windows#

^ Please note, that’s for 0patch, NOT to be confused with OPatch (a command-line utility provided by Oracle).

OverBurn

I’m still running Win7 Pro on 3 PC’s and a Laptop. First time I’ve ever held on this long. I got WIn 10 on one PC and play around with Win11 in several different VM’s.

AMDUSER

OverBurn I’m still running Win7 Pro on 3 PC’s and a Laptop

I’m still running Win 7 Pro on on newer hardware.. due to the massive performance difference between Win 7 pro and Win 10/11 on the same exact hardware in my tower. [With 64 gig ram.] I increased the amount of ram in my Dell laptop from the factory 8 gig to 64 gig G.Skill.