End of support for Windows 10, what to do with your PC?

The end of Windows 10 is near. After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will stop providing free software updates, technical support, and security patches to its operating system. Now is the time to think about what you want to do with your old PC. Should you throw it away and buy a new one, pay for extended support, or force the migration to Windows 11? We are taking stock of the possible options in this matter.

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Continue to use Windows 10: it’s possible, but there are risks!

It’s tempting to want to stick with a familiar operating system and postpone the inevitable migration to Windows 11. However, this decision comes with a significant security risk. Indeed, Windows updates are not limited to new features or aesthetic changes. They play a crucial role in protecting your system against cyberattacks. Software, no matter how sophisticated, inevitably contains vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities are continually exploited by cybercriminals to break into your systems and steal your data. Updates therefore help fix these vulnerabilities and keep your system safe from the latest threats.

If you still decide to continue using Windows 10 without updates, it is essential to take additional steps to strengthen the security of your system. A quality antivirus and firewall are essential to detect and block threats. It is also crucial to remain vigilant against suspicious emails, not to click on unknown links or download files from dubious sources.

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Additionally, other software installed on your system should be regularly updated to fix its own vulnerabilities.

Pay for Windows 10 Extended Support

If the idea of ​​migrating to Windows 11 doesn’t excite you and you absolutely want to extend the life of your Windows 10, there is another option: the extended support program which allows you to benefit from security updates and of fixes until 2028.

However, there are a few conditions. First of all, if you’re currently using a consumer version of Windows 10, you’ll need to upgrade to a professional, enterprise, or education version. Although it is possible to find legal licenses at attractive prices (less than €15), this represents an additional cost. Additionally, the extended support itself is paid. For a period of three years, it will cost $427. It is therefore essential to carefully evaluate your needs and budget before making a decision.

Migrate to Windows 11

This is the solution recommended by Microsoft. The tech giant even offers a free upgrade from Windows 10 if your PC meets the minimum requirements for Windows 11.

To check if your hardware is compatible, you can download PC Health Check (official Windows 11 compatibility tool). If this is not the case, it is technically possible to bypass the restrictions and force the installation of Windows 11 on an older computer.

However, this approach carries risks and drawbacks that must be carefully weighed. By forcing the installation, you may experience performance issues. Windows 11 being more resource intensive than its predecessor, your computer could experience slowdowns, especially with the most demanding tasks.

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Furthermore, since the 24h1 update, Windows 11 requires the presence of the POPCNT instruction set, a feature generally present on processors from 2007 for AMD and 2008 for Intel. If your processor does not have this feature, it will be impossible to install Windows 11 correctly, even by forcing the installation. It is also important to note that forcing the installation of Windows 11 on non-compatible hardware may result in incompatibilities with certain drivers or software, which could cause malfunctions or instabilities.

In short, if you really want to upgrade to Windows 11, we recommend that you check if your configuration is compatible and consider upgrading your hardware if necessary.

Switch to Linux

The last alternative that we offer you for your old PC is the adoption of Linux. This family of operating systems, of which Ubuntu is the best-known representative, offers a free, secure and customizable alternative.

Linux distributions are regularly updated to fix vulnerabilities and offer new features. They are also designed to run on machines with limited resources, making them an ideal solution for giving a second life to old computers. Additionally, the user interface of modern distributions has become intuitive and user-friendly, moving away from the austere environments of early versions.

However, although the free software ecosystem is rich and offers many options for proprietary software, some specialized applications are not available on Linux. To remedy this limitation, an interesting solution consists of combining the advantages of Linux and cloud computing.

By installing a lightweight Linux distribution on your old machine, you will benefit from a secure and efficient system. At the same time, you can subscribe to a service cloud computing (Microsoft offers some) to access a powerful virtual computer running Windows 11.

With this solution, you will be able to run the most demanding applications without having to invest in a new computer. However, you will need very high speed connections and will still have to pay for the subscription.

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