Its a shame that Windows10 is coming to its end...

[RCM]

My mum's pc can't be upgraded, and there's no way she's buying a new pc just because ms tells her to.

I was planning on giving her my pc, but that's not w11 compatible either, but it was seeming like updates were going to be possible via enablement packages so I could do that for her, but for the latest version there's no enablement package so I'd be looking at having to do a clean install every year for her, too annoying.

So now what...

Obviously you can go to 11 if you really want to, whether the PC is officially compatible or not. Several ways around the restrictions. May be a problem if the PC is really old though.

A lot of people that are still on 10 are on it by choice. For them, something like IoT LTSC Win 10 would be an option, although it's not exactly legit for home users.

 

[throwaway4372]

Yeah I know I'm on 11. Problem is if yearly releases require a fresh install I'd have to do it for her every year.

 

[andshrew]

Yeah I know I'm on 11. Problem is if yearly releases require a fresh install I'd have to do it for her every year.

You don't need to do a fresh install, you just need to manaully start the installer for whatever feature updated you're installing (ie. 25H2). It will then upgrade the OS in the same way that it would when it upgrades automatically.

 

[RCM]

You don't need to do a fresh install, you just need to manaully start the installer for whatever feature updated you're installing (ie. 25H2). It will then upgrade the OS in the same way that it would when it upgrades automatically.

Yes, no need to reinstall every year, that was one of the pluses from Windows 10 onwards. If you still had the same OS, you could have installed every major update from the release version of Win 10 up to 11 24H2 without a single reinstall.

Upgrades will be offered eventually, even for unsupported PCs (at least mine have been). Most of my Win 11 installs still haven't been offered 24H2, but I'll leave it until they are.

 

[throwaway4372]

So how are you upgrading unsupported hardware without a clean install?
I could do it for 23H2 because there was an enablement package, but that doesn't exist for 24H2.
I did a clean install because I saw no other option.

 

[ED209]

So how are you upgrading unsupported hardware without a clean install?
I could do it for 23H2 because there was an enablement package, but that doesn't exist for 24H2.
I did a clean install because I saw no other option.

I've never done it myself but I think you download the latest ISO from Microsoft and run that

It will contain the 24H2/25H2 and should update Windows.

 

[throwaway4372]

Today I did the clean install, downloaded the iso, created usb with rufus turning off the system requirements.
Booted to USB.
First thing I had to do was create a selectable partition - which required deleting all existing partitions to select free space to install to.
No mention of updating an existing install to 24H2. Obvs once the partitions are gone there's nothing to upgrade anyway.

 

[mattyfez]

My mum's pc can't be upgraded, and there's no way she's buying a new pc just because ms tells her to.

I was planning on giving her my pc, but that's not w11 compatible either, but it was seeming like updates were going to be possible via enablement packages so I could do that for her, but for the latest version there's no enablement package so I'd be looking at having to do a clean install every year for her, too annoying.

So now what...

Give linux a test drive..if its just used to open a web browser like a lot of parents PCs are, theres really nothing to using it, install from the popular distros work pretty much out of the box... ONly reason im still dual booting my win10 machine is if i want to play horizon 5 I cant get the bluetooth to play nice with my xbox pad.

 

[RCM]

Today I did the clean install, downloaded the iso, created usb with rufus turning off the system requirements.
Booted to USB.
First thing I had to do was create a selectable partition - which required deleting all existing partitions to select free space to install to.
No mention of updating an existing install to 24H2. Obvs once the partitions are gone there's nothing to upgrade anyway.

Have a read of this article.

You actually do the upgrade from the desktop, booting to the ISO will only perform a clean install.

 

[Vimes]

The thing about any incoming nags in the next few months is they won't be able to entice or force a lot of 10 users to go to 11 because their machines won't be officially supported.

Whilst there are options to circumvent install restrictions this particular machine would probably struggle with 11, due to its age and spec.
There is the LTSC option for 10, although not really meant for home use.

It can seem to be a situation where there are no wanted choices, just more of damage limitations that I keep putting off, for now.

 

[RCM]

Whilst there are options to circumvent install restrictions this particular machine would probably struggle with 11, due to its age and spec.
There is the LTSC option for 10, although not really meant for home use.

It can seem to be a situation where there are no wanted choices, just more of damage limitations that I keep putting off, for now.

This time round people are going to have to get creative, buy new hardware, or stay on unsupported Win 10. The first option is the lesser of the evils, whether that's unsupported Win 11, LTSC Win 10, Linux, or something else.

 

[andshrew]

This time they are selling ESU to home users in addition to businesses, so if you really want to stay on Windows 10 for another year you can pay then $30 for an additional year of support.

 

[Vimes]

This time they are selling ESU to home users in addition to businesses, so if you really want to stay on Windows 10 for another year you can pay then $30 for an additional year of support.

There is a post on the previous page....

I'm trying to imagine how bad windows would have to get for me to use linux. It's going to have to get a lot worse.

so, for me, it would indeed need to get a lot worse before I would consider linux.

On one machine, stuck in the loft acting as a restricted local server, that is running Windows 10, I can leave it knowing it has zero access to anything other than a limited LAN. Other machines will need some creativity applying, at some point.

 

[darael]

I'm hoping to upgrade my PC in the next year, as my 7th gen i5 is starting to get a bit long in the tooth for some things - but on the whole, it's doing well. When I reinstall, I will be dipping my toes in the Window 11 waters - but I've no real reason to commit to 11 to be honest, other than security updates.

 

[GregI]

I thought I would give my experiences and research on the matter of keeping Windows 10. It was probably discussed before but I have additional hands on experience of it all now.

At first I did try Linux. I tried 5 different distros and don't get me wrong it's good but every distro lacked something. The closest I came to being content was with CachyOS, especially if gaming is something you want.

The easiest method is to look into ESU. Now I doubt I can give direct links but it's very easy to get this via a powershell script. I'll just be a mass in my grave by that time though

LTSC is quite interesting and I was able to actually keep files and folders from my Windows 10 Home install (updating took awhile though): https://i.imgur.com/BsqAjDX.png

The only problem I really know of with LTSC is gaming if you have a newer processor than the LTSC version is based on. For example a 9950X3D will perform quite poorly since the scheduler isn't assigning cores properly. Even Windows 11 2024 LTSC has this problem but latest Windows 11/10 do not. I would highly recommend either the quick and dirty ESU trick or if you want full peace of mind and hardware bought around 2020 or so, get Windows 10 LTSC 2021. I did not get 2019 LTSC because Marvel Rivals will not run on it.

If anybody needs any assistance or links then pm.

 

[Farore]

Windows 11 was poor. Maybe Windows 12 will be good?

 

[m4cc45]

Windows 11 was poor. Maybe Windows 12 will be good?

What's poor about it?

I like Windows 10, I have no issues with Windows 11. It's slightly different but, at the end of the day, it's still windows.



M.

 

[Rroff]

10/11 don't respect the end user or that the primary reason for an OS is to enable the end user and everything else is secondary to that. Fragmented half-complete UI and settings, etc. where they never finish one idea before moving on to the next, far too much background activity, forced telemetry, etc. poor implementation of store and updates. The Start Menu on 11 is a joke with the bare minimum of useful functionality and nothing more, lots of wasted space with the Recommendation area which for many users isn't a useful feature but can't be configured to do something useful with it.

I could go on and on.

 

[m4cc45]

Ever since Windows 95 I've had the Start Menu how I like it, you know what? I don't actually ever use it now. Windows Key + R for running stuff such as CMD or powershell, anything useful is pinned to the taskbar (i.e. Steam / Games and Office Apps). You can keep fighting it but, in the end, you'll find it's actually quicker to move on. Like in the old days I'd have Start Menu\Games\Game Name now it's just pinned. It's longer to go via the Start Menu. Even clicking the Start Menu and then the game name is more long winded that a single click on the game.

I get it's down to the way you want to use your PC and you have utilities, such as Classic Start Menu, that will enable you to have it how you want it and Windows 11 isn't stopping that. A lot of the telemetry you can stop in the installation but then you can get a firewall (such as Windows Firewall Control) and block all outbound, you can then just allow what you want outbound rather than everything. It's not a perfect but every company out there, such as Google and Apple, have been doing this for years. If you don't want it then you have the options to stop it but you just need to put in a little work. Hell if you want to completely stop it then there are a ton of telemetry apps out there:

O&O ShutUp10++ - O&O Software GmbH

O&O ShutUp10++: Free antispy tool for Windows 10 and 11 Download Version 1.9.1444, File size 2074KB. Released on: 02/12/2025 O&O ShutUp10++ means you have full control over which comfort functions under Windows 10 and Windows 11 you wish to use, … Continue reading →

www.oo-software.com

The Ultimate Windows Utility

Having Fun with Technology

christitus.com

Etc.


M.

 

[Rroff]

Ever since Windows 95 I've had the Start Menu how I like it, you know what? I don't actually ever use it now. Windows Key + R for running stuff such as CMD or powershell, anything useful is pinned to the taskbar (i.e. Steam / Games and Office Apps). You can keep fighting it but, in the end, you'll find it's actually quicker to move on. Like in the old days I'd have Start Menu\Games\Game Name now it's just pinned. It's longer to go via the Start Menu. Even clicking the Start Menu and then the game name is more long winded that a single click on the game.

I get it's down to the way you want to use your PC and you have utilities, such as Classic Start Menu, that will enable you to have it how you want it and Windows 11 isn't stopping that. A lot of the telemetry you can stop in the installation but then you can get a firewall (such as Windows Firewall Control) and block all outbound, you can then just allow what you want outbound rather than everything. It's not a perfect but every company out there, such as Google and Apple, have been doing this for years. If you don't want it then you have the options to stop it but you just need to put in a little work. Hell if you want to completely stop it then there are a ton of telemetry apps out there:

O&O ShutUp10++ - O&O Software GmbH

O&O ShutUp10++: Free antispy tool for Windows 10 and 11 Download Version 1.9.1444, File size 2074KB. Released on: 02/12/2025 O&O ShutUp10++ means you have full control over which comfort functions under Windows 10 and Windows 11 you wish to use, … Continue reading →

www.oo-software.com

The Ultimate Windows Utility

Having Fun with Technology

christitus.com

Etc.


M.

And then an update comes along that resets or re-enables things you've disabled or adds new things to disable in terms of things like telemetry. Then you have updates that breaks compatibility with 3rd party modifications (albeit that one doesn't happen often but it does happen).

For me the fastest way of doing a lot of stuff is to have things grouped into categories on the Start Menu (not in folders), albeit they never polished it up and it was lacking any proper group management features but 10 was actually a good step on from 7 in that regard and then they went with the half-arsed joke of a rip off of the Android app dock in 11... "moving on" doesn't have any useful meaning in this context when there isn't a comparable or better approach available.

I actually break out run to start things like notepad and calc LOL as that is old muscle memory from way back, I have my most used things pinned to the taskbar like Firefox, image editor, media player and Spotify, but it defeats the purpose if you start pinning too many things to the taskbar, then I like to have things grouped on the Start Menu i.e. for doing electronics stuff I'll have a category with PCB design software, schematics software, couple of different circuit simulators and a shortcut to my documentation folder with datasheets, etc. which is the fastest and most efficient way of working for me.