Microsoft is running a promotion on Windows 365 and they mention that, with a subscription, a Windows 10 device will be eligible for the Extended Security Updates at no extra cost.
It is still very expensive and not a good reason (imo) to sign up, but it seems that if a user is already subscribed or has a plan provided by their job then they might be able to stay on Win10 with updates… for an unspecified duration at the whim of M$ and no doubt with lots of Win11 nagging along the way.
The salient parts of their blousy announcement are below, although it is a little unclear if all of the 365 plans are eligible and I can’t muster the enthusiasm to delve deeper. However, it is something that could be mentioned to a user so that they can investigate and judge if it will work for them. (Edit to add: Windows365 is a business/enterprise subscription, so this idea is relevant to people with job-related subs. Had one at our repair cafe today. Article is also vague about which versions of Win10 will get ESUs. Quite possibly only the pro/enterprise versions.)
Windows 10 PCs connecting to Windows 365 will continue to receive critical security updates beyond the official support deadline
This offer runs from May 1, 2025 to Oct. 31, 2025 and is for customers not currently subscribing to Windows 365. The discount is good for either the remainder of the Enterprise Agreement contract period or the first year of the customer’s Windows 365 subscription, whichever is shorter. Transactions must be processed through Microsoft’s operations center before 11:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Oct. 31, 2025.
NOTICE: Microsoft reserves the right to discontinue this promotion, and to modify these policies and the promotion’s terms and conditions at any time.
I used the old build to upgrade an “unsupported” Asus laptop to Windows 11 yesterday. To make it work, just make sure you disconnect from internet, otherwise the setup tool will download updates and block the process.
If you were connected, just disconnect and restart the Rufus process.
Is the Win11 “old build” workaround sustainable? Will it get Win11 security updates just like a “supported” device? If by chance it is getting updates currently, how long before M$ “fixes” that?
In the future, MS probably will most likely block local logins; but up to now there are still ways, but do we want to go down this road?
”Following recent local account restrictions, Microsoft makes life harder for users who don’t want to use an Internet connection and sign in to an online account during Windows 11 installation. However, new ways to bypass the latest restrictions are already emerging on the web.”
Right now I will personally avoid installation of Win 11 on officially unsupported hardware at our Repair Cafe unless the owner is fully aware that it might not last and is happy to go ahead anyway. I think the intersection of people who are (a) already aware of that option, (b) happy to do it, and (c) haven’t done it themselves already is pretty small so I don’t think that’ll be that many cases. For people who want to stay with Windows I’ll recommend one of the ESU options for Win 10. And plant the seed ‘hey why not consider trying a Linux USB over the next year for when 10 truly expires…’. I’d consider unofficial install more of an option to consider next year - with a year having gone by to see how it has lasted.
My experience is that I bought a Windows 11 installed laptop and Microsoft now says my CPU is “incompatable” with the latest version and I cannot upgrade!
I will go back to using Windows 10.
Stephen Adams
I have stopped my support for Windows 10 and 11 devices at repair events. I no longer wish to prop up M$. Happy to advise people on their options and help them find alternatives. As much as I sympathise with people who desire to continue using what they are used to, I do not believe that it is in their interests to continue with M$ products. They are free to pay, sign up or bodge in order to continue with M$ if they wish, but I resent using up my free time supporting the commercial product of a humungous multi-national corporation that doesn’t give a sh*t about people or the environment.
I’m in a repair cafe to help people. With a solution that fits their needs and help them avoiding to buy new hardware, because of the environmental cost of new hardware as well. I’m happy if it is with Linux, but I will not impose my preferences if there are good reasons to stick with MS products.
I’d love to migrate every computer installed with any Windows version to Linux, but I support individuals and small non-profits who need MS Excel (or other pieces of software running on Windows only). Is there a solution to use MS Excel without other MS products ?
Thx
If it was for my shopping lists or other simple worksheets, I’d certainly do it. But I’m supporting non-profit accountants who exchange files with auditors, the ministry of Finances and other partners. They just can’t leave MS Excel.
I also help a semi-professional chess player who uses a piece of software with millions of games, and that runs on Windows only.
For these guys, it’s either finding a workaround to migrate to Windows 11 on ‘unsupported hardware”, or buying new hardware.
I think I’m doing the right thing if I help them continuing to use the same hardware for a while.
BTW, I just read about another way to bypass the checks, using the command “setup.exe /product server”.
I donated a MacBook running Mint Linux to someone who happily uses the online version of Office and Teams. They’ve had no problem adjusting to their new OS for work and home.
Ooh, that’s very useful to know. Office has come up a couple of times, with some hesitant to switch to LibreOffice (others totally fine to give it a go). Have you any reports of people being fine with online Outlook too? I had someone ask who was used to desktop Outlook and I couldn’t give an authoritative answer, just saying that it would probably do most of what they needed.
The desktop version of Outlook is going away soon anyway, replaced by a “web app” that just opens the online version! The web version looks very similar.
They should definitely consider the free options to enrol in an extra year of updates. The other alternative is buying a quality used machine (Thinkpad, HP Elitebook, Dell Latitude) from a reputable source. I’m a fan of Cash Converters, you can easily find a 2020-on laptop with 16Gb of RAM from ~£150. They do still sell a lot of older, unsupported machines so you need to know what you’re looking at but they do usually list the CPU.
I use the free to use Mozilla Thunderbird, which is 300% better than outlook.
It deals with the security logins imposed by Microsoft on accessing outlook services on line.
It also provides message filters to weed out spam, before it it hits your inbox.
It also allows you to have multiple accounts from different suppliers of email.
It is also more user friendly.
Stephen Adams
“If something is free, you are the product.” For different reasons, the people I support are not ready to open a personal MS account and make it the admin account of their computers.
I agree, my computer is MINE, not Microsoft’s, and I want to use it
locally without having to access the internet.
Sometimes it is not possible!
Vodafone took out hundreds of thousands of users when their broadband
went down, but I could still use my computer!
Stephen Adams