What Will Happen to Windows 10?

I have Windows 11 on my desktop and primary laptop PCs, dual-booting with Garuda-KDE-Lite GNU/Linux. I have an older Dell laptop that will not meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements, and I currently have Windows 10 and Garuda-KDE-Lite GNU/Linux running on it in a dual-boot scenario. When Windows 10 reaches EOL, I intend to attempt to upgrade to Windows 11, as suggested by Ed Bott. If that succeeds well enough, I'll continue on as usual. If not, I'll drop Windows 10 from that PC, and use it as a GNU/Linux-only machine. These are my solutions. What you choose to do is up to you, but the one thing I certainly do not recommend is that you run Windows 10 after EOL, exposed to the Internet.

My2Cents,

Ernie (Oldster)

No, I will not update as long as computerly possible.

I just moved from my original Windows 10 installation on my Dell Inspiration 3847 to a new installation of ye old Windows 10. With the backups, the installations, the intricate software, and what not, it took me about six months to get my computer functioning reasonably well again. This is not to mention all the serial numbers, the requests to install a new version on a new computer, and more.

I b ought an HP laptop last year with Windows 11. It is okay. However, many things are different just to be different. I can use it, but stay with my desktop for my novel writings, and most other things.

Moving from Windows to Linux Mint is easy. As you said Mint is laid out on the screen like Windows 7. Most things are in the same place with a few things in different spots. A user can download Mint from https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mint, burn it to a DVD, boot from the DVD, and install it alongside Windows. You then choose Windows or Linux when booting up. That way you still have Windows if needed. Plus you can move documents from Windows apps to compatible Linux Apps one at a time so it isn't overwhelming. (Linux can read and write the Windows documents on the Windows partitions of the hard drive. The Linux OS and Apps are free and work well.

As a windows Insider I have been running Windows 11 on unsupported hardware for 2 years. It is faster than Windows 10 and yes they moved everything around but I have grown to like it. I had a slow internet provider and had trouble with updates forcing me to do it manually. I have gigabit provider now and updates are not a problem anymore.

In addition to Linux Mint, a few other Linux distros to consider, as they are easy to learn, like Windows and full-featured: Zorin, Solus, KDE Neon, Deepin Fedora and Nobara.

My PC is still running Win 10 and is incompatible with Win 11. I had to buy a new laptop with Win 11 because my 15 year old laptop just got too old, incidentally it had a shopping list of reasons why it couldn't update to Win 11. I'm still trying to make up my mind between just using my new laptop, installing Linux in my PC or buying a new PC. In other words, I really don't know what I'll do!

My Windows 7 works just fine.
My dual-booted Windows 10 is abominable. Microsoft's teeny-bopper programmers think their OS is some kind of entertainment center competing with TV. My main gripe is that character sizes in text are a mish-mash, usually too small to read.

I did install Windows 11 using Rufus on my desktop. It was fairly straightforward. Rufus fixes several windows 11 problems like demanding a Microsoft account and TPM 2.0. I do like the older version better, but I’ve been saying that since the XP days.

I did install Windows 11 using Rufus on my desktop. It was fairly straightforward. Rufus fixes several windows 11 problems like demanding a Microsoft account and TPM 2.0. I do like the older version better, but I’ve been saying that since the XP days.

I am strongly considering either Linux or going over to Apple. I too am tired of the constant changes MS uses to push products. I am not interested in AI on my computer. I tend to hang onto PCs & laptops longer than most. I hate throwing away things that still work. Thanks for your insight, Bob.

I will replace one of my 10 year old PC's and keep the other one until it dies of old age.

I still have an old XP laptop, several laptops with Win 7pro SP1, two pcs with Win 7pro, a pc with Win 10 and a newer pc with Win 11. No security issues what so ever. Win 7 is my go to favorite and Win 10 second. Can't stand Win 11! I dual boot Win 7 and Zorin on one of the pcs but I will say this: Linux IS NOT Windows, period. Zorin is usable but when you need Windows, you need Windows! By the way, I have had PcMatic (lifetime) antivirus for many years - no complaints. YMMV

At my age, 84, (and a past IT teacher), I don't like having to change. I also don't worry much about future changes.
I will wait for the last possible moment and then ask my computer guy to make any necessary changes, a new computer if necessary. But I will stick with Windows.

My heavily used by me only desktop came into my life on 7-7-10. Yes, 2010! It came with W7Pro and cost $2,345. My long-time computer guy is the best. He gave me up unfortunately so I had someone else install a new hard drive with W10 Pro in November 2019. Zero problems the whole time. I guess the time has come to find a new computer guy (#2 moved to South Carolina and I'm in NJ) and bite the bullet with a new PC or I can pay MS for continued W10 updates. Anyone know a brilliant computer person who'd come to my house in Fort Lee?

BTW, my iPhone 6s is still working fine except for the battery which Apple replaced 18 months ago and is now bad again. I bought it in March 2016! No cracked screen! I'm holding out for an SE, and rumor has it that the 4th generation will come out in early 2025. If not, I'll have to bite the bullet and buy a "full price" small new iPhone. I'm the type that uses my stuff until the wheels fall off. I drove a 2005 Camry from 2008 until I totaled it in August 2024. Now I have a 2025 with all the safety features. My Vizio flat-screen 32" I bought in January 2012 for $290. It ain't smart but it's FINE!

I'm still using Windows 7 and things seem to going okay. I'll stick with it until something happens then move to Windows 10. As it happens, I have a Win10 computer that was my husband's, just sitting around using up electrons. I know I should move to Win10 but I can't seem to find the time to do it. I'm pretty old so maybe I'll expire before it's necessary to do anything.

Not a single word about the millions of Win 10 computers around the world which cannot be upgraded. And the myriad of machines that use Win 10 like ATMs, lifts, railway systems, Air Traffic Control, ICBMs(?) etc., etc.

Also nothing about what security problems could be encountered using Win 10 after next year.

I purchasing new PC because I would like a newer one not because of Windows 11 requirments. I will pay $30 for first year as I like windows 10. Second year I'm switching to Linux.

When the time comes, disconnect the W10 PC from internet. Permanently. For email, internet browsing, file downloading, etc. do that on a new cheap W PC...

I am still using Windows 7 Pro and I like it. There are a couple of websites that I cannot use with W7, while using Chrome but I switch to Firefox and I'm good. I will likely upgrade to W10 and pay for continued upgrades. I still use my business Quickbooks Pro 2015 desktop version and though I closed the business in 2017 I do all my personal bookkeeping on it. I still function on Windows office 2013. These will still operate on Windows 10 (per my computer guy). If I could find personal bookkeeping software that allowed me to do what I do in Quickbooks like schedule and make automatic payments from the payment source of my choice, entry of all spending and deposits with reconcilliation of same and run general journals that make sense, I would be thrilled. I would, of course want it to be free. :)

I come from a time when preserving what you owned was an attribute to be admired. Those days are apparently long past. Sigh......