Still Using Windows 10 Beyond Oct.14th 2025 ?

[Judge]

A comprehensive presentation of what you need to know relative to whatever options you perceive. Also an apparent impassioned plea not to migrate to Windows 11 presently. Worth hearing whether you have opted to extend Windows 10 security updates for only a single year.

One thing for sure, you don't want to sit on this unsupported OS without formal security updates.

I once did an experiment of accessing the Internet with Windows XP about six months after support formally ended. - It wasn't pretty. Luckily I was already using Windows 7 on another computer.

 

[Dagan]

I was looking into it all, but alas, I cannot. I have to upgrade. Every software that I prefer using for various instances of audio / visuals and even screenwriting software are going to require that I upgrade because they have already rolled out patch notes of what's to come...some pre-patches have even been DL overnight here and there for some things that I have found out.

I'll wind up watching all of those videos, essentially. Worst-case-scenario, I do go back and wind up watching any of the rollback how-to videos. I'm sure there will be those by the dozens.

PS - most interesting to me are the ones on if/how to turn off any of the AI features. I do not wish to be forced using AI features at all. Let me decide, please, thank you. I wish to keep the "humanity" feature turned on.

 

[Judge]

I was looking into it all, but alas, I cannot. I have to upgrade. Every software that I prefer using for various instances of audio / visuals and even screenwriting software are going to require that I upgrade because they have already rolled out patch notes of what's to come...some pre-patches have even been DL overnight here and there for some things that I have found out.

I'll wind up watching all of those videos, essentially. Worst-case-scenario, I do go back and wind up watching any of the rollback how-to videos. I'm sure there will be those by the dozens.

Yes, "French Nick" as I call him pointed out that if you feel you have no choice, upgrade to Windows 11. But in doing so, make sure beforehand that in fact your hardware platform will support Windows 11.

It would seem a lot of users didn't pay particular attention to this unfortunate possibility.

As for all those AI features of Windows 11, good luck trying to get rid of them. They are being forced on users, with Microsoft eventually addressing whatever registry hacks are claimed online to circumvent uber-spyware features like "Co-Pilot" and "Recall". Plus any attempt to use a local login rather than apply the Microsoft Account they are clearly forcing on users as well.

Ironically it appears quite likely that Microsoft will again force their users to upgrade yet again to another hardware platform that requires a neural processing unit (NPU) for their continued development of AI. All for what is being referred to as "Windows 12". Which may come sooner than later given the continuing disaster known as "Windows 11".

 

[tkcartoonist]

Something someone mentioned in one of my IT groups.

"Hey, fast heads up. Windows 10 has continued security updates for the next year as an opt-in. You can find the link in Windows Update."

Personally, I'd migrate to a non-Windows OS ASAP.

 

[Judge]

Personally, I'd migrate to a non-Windows OS ASAP.

Given so many issues with Microsoft, it does seem to be the best alternative. Provided a user has the fortitude to abandon Windows and most of the software it requires.

Then again if one feels "married" to Microsoft, extending coverage for a year might be the best band-aid to what amounts to as a festering wound Microsoft has created for so many users. But only to buy time more than anything.

I was planning to get Windows 11 just to use as a gaming platform. But even those hopes seemed rather dashed given so much endless bad news about Windows 11. That even for gaming it just isn't worth the hassle. especially when I run Linux with very few issues and far more security. Though I also accept that Linux isn't for everyone. Though there are still other store-bought alternatives like Mac.

I just hope Windows 10 users understand how precarious it is now to run that OS without further security support. And that as time goes on, things will get worse for them unless they either extend support or move onto another operating system entirely. Not a matter of if you get hacked, but rather when you get hacked and how badly.

 

[Outdated]

Personally, I'd migrate to a non-Windows OS ASAP.

20 years now, I'd never even consider Windows again.

I was planning to get Windows 11 just to use as a gaming platform. But even those hopes seemed rather dashed given so much endless bad news about Windows 11. That even for gaming it just isn't worth the hassle.

You can play most of the same games in Linux. Install Steam if you want to play online games, or buy stand alone versions of games from GoG and just install them with Wine.

I can help with Wine problems if you need.

 

[Judge]

20 years now, I'd never even consider Windows again.


You can play most of the same games in Linux. Install Steam if you want to play online games, or buy stand alone versions of games from GoG and just install them with Wine.

I can help with Wine problems if you need.

Thanks. So far none of the games I own would install using Wine. Though these were very old 32 bit games. One in particular I really wanted to work was Tiger Woods PGA 2003. But that doesn't even support 1920 x 1080 resolution. I suppose much newer titles might yield better results, though it has been discouraging given I can run a 27 year old Photoshop in Wine. Go figure.

I've been inside the Steam website a number of times...but I may also consider a few games that run natively on Linux.

The main games I wanted to play were IL-2 flight simulations...which as far as I know are not supported on Wine. There were others as well, but online they require windows as the OS. I still may purchase through Steam the one golf simulation that can run natively on Linux.

 

[Ghostinthemachine]

I am still using 10 but thinking I'll change to Linux mint to avoid 11

 

[Dagan]

I am seriously looking into Mac products for audio / visual work. There will be a cost to switchover, but so far, it seems that all licensing for the software that I use, they all will allow me to DL the mac versions at no extra cost.

 

[Outdated]

So far none of the games I own would install using Wine. Though these were very old 32 bit games. One in particular I really wanted to work was Tiger Woods PGA 2003.

I've had much less trouble with games later than around 2008 or 2010. Anything before then takes a bit of work to get running. I do have a running copy of a PGA Tour game a bit older than yours - 1996, and it runs just as it's supposed to, but NOT using a default Wine setup.

I had to create a specific 32 bit wine prefix for it. A lot of games from back then require very specific versions of DirectX, Visual Basic, etc, so your Wine prefix not only has to be 32 bit, it also has to have installed the exact versions of runtime files that that game needs and only those runtimes.

I have about 6 different wine setups needed by different games from different eras. It's a bit of mucking around to set them up but once you've installed the game and have an icon for it on the desktop it plays like any other game.

 

[velociraptor]

One thing for sure, you don't want to sit on this unsupported OS without formal security updates.

I'm okay with it (looks over shoulder at two systems with Win 7 running without issues).

 

[Jumpinbare]

Im just going to keep windows 10. I have malwarebytes premium and dont do much other than games and videos so I'll be fine. Thats my desktop at least. My laptop cant even run windows 11 apparently.

If you go online at all you won't be safe without opting for the extended support.

 

[Jumpinbare]

Personally, I'd migrate to a non-Windows OS ASAP.

XP was my last "live" Windows. I still run it occasionally without Internet connection to run the 1 or 2 programs I haven't yet gotten working with Wine. They're low priority, and it only takes minutes to boot the XP machine to run them.

 

[Judge]

Im just going to keep windows 10. I have malwarebytes premium and dont do much other than games and videos so I'll be fine. Thats my desktop at least. My laptop cant even run windows 11 apparently.

Once it's public knowledge that an OS developer has ceased monitoring and continually fixing its security leaks, it opens hackers up to finding such leaks and capitalizing on them, as time goes by well beyond the date support ends. (Which was yesterday). Sadly many users don't understand just how vulnerable they become once their OS is unsupported.

-No matter where you go online or how safe a domain may appear to you. Just being online broadcasts your type and version of whatever operating system you are running.

Tragically this may prove to be the most lucrative time ever for hackers given the number of Windows 10 users who haven't subscribed at cost to extended security and either haven't or can't upgrade to Windows 11. You are precisely the kind of victim they are looking for. It will be just a matter of time.

It will be worth your time to read such articles. Particularly how hackers can scan the Internet to locate you:

How Outdated Software Is an Open Door for Hackers

How do Hackers and Security Researchers Scan The Internet For Vulnerable Servers and Devices?

The good news? Odds are you can probably run a version of Linux on your existing computer. Though you have to deal with Linux as a completely different OS compared to Windows. A challenge for some, a pleasure for others. And much better security compared to all other operating systems.

 

[Judge]

I'm okay with it (looks over shoulder at two systems with Win 7 running without issues).

Why Running Windows 7 in 2025 Is a Security Risk You Can't Ignore

 

[velociraptor]

I've been ignoring it for years.

 

[Judge]

I've been ignoring it for years.

Or you've been compromised before but don't know it, and have nothing they want at the moment. Some operate similar to identity thieves in that respect.

 

[velociraptor]

Or you've been compromised before but don't know it,

Please. I used to manage 20,000 users on five continents. I'd know.

I also know how to secure a DMZ.

 

[Judge]

Im not a big computer person so I dont understand what most of this means or how to edit operating systems. But windows wont let my laptop update to windows 11 so theres not much I can do.

Last I saw you can extend the most basic security concerns for Windows 10 for one year supposedly for a cost around $30. Probably your best bet at the moment.

At least it will buy you time to safely migrate to another computer and OS later on.

Microsoft publishes Windows 10 $30 ESU (Extended security updates) in the Store

 

[Outdated]

Back in the 90s Win95 was released with a suite of security packages called Dr Nortons. Microsoft did not have permission to distribute that software, no license, and they also refused to pay Norton for it's use. Norton took them to court.

Microsoft kept stalling and stalling the court cases, buying themselves more time. During that time they started buying up shares in Norton, by the time court deadlines were coming up Norton's majority shareholder was Microsoft and they made the executive decision that they didn't want to sue themselves.

That created a massive conflict of interest that in most counties in the world would be illegal.

A world dominating operating system that is known to have many security problems is now making money from not fixing those problems. If you buy Windows then you also have to buy security software to go with it, it's a massive industry.

In contrast - there is no virus protection software in Linux. Why? Because it can not get a virus. If you're running a Secure Environment linux then you can't even create your own virus to run on your own system, it will quite simply refuse to let anything corrupt it's system files.

There is a sort of virus software for Linux called Clam. It doesn't remove any viruses, it doesn't need to, Linux is immune. All it does is point them out to you so that you don't accidentally email infected files to some poor dickhead still running Windows.