Article illustration 1

Main article image: A symbolic hourglass representing dwindling time for Windows 10 support. Credit: wragg/E+/Getty Images

October 14, 2025, marks the end of an era: Microsoft has officially terminated support for Windows 10, its most widely deployed operating system with over 1 billion installations. This milestone leaves countless PCs—particularly those failing Windows 11's strict hardware compatibility checks—exposed to unpatched security vulnerabilities. For developers, IT administrators, and everyday users, immediate action is non-negotiable.

The Stakes: Security Vacuum & Legacy Hardware Traps

Windows 10's retirement follows Microsoft's decade-long support lifecycle. As documented in Microsoft's Modern Lifecycle Policy, the OS will receive no further security updates, non-security fixes, or technical support. This creates critical risks:
- Exploitable vulnerabilities will accumulate monthly
- Regulatory compliance issues for businesses
- Potential warranty voids for enterprise hardware

Compounding the crisis: Microsoft blocks Windows 11 upgrades on PCs lacking specific CPUs (post-2009 Intel/post-2015 AMD), TPM 2.0 chips (with limited exceptions for TPM 1.2), or UEFI Secure Boot. This traps functional hardware in obsolescence.

Five Technical Paths Forward

  1. Extended Security Updates (ESU): The Stopgap
    Microsoft offers paid security patches:

    • Consumers: Free for 1 year via Windows Backup or Microsoft Rewards ($0), expiring October 2026
    • Enterprises: $61/device first year, doubling annually ($427 total for 3 years)
    • Education: $1/$2/$4 per device over three years

  2. Hardware Refresh or Cloud Shift
    New Copilot+ PCs offer AI capabilities, but Windows 365 provides a hardware-agnostic alternative:

    "A Windows 365 subscription works on Windows 10 and includes extended security updates... costing less than a new PC" (ZDNET)
    Starting at $28/month, this virtualizes Windows 11 in Azure.

  3. Forced Windows 11 Upgrade
    Bypass compatibility checks via: 

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup]
"AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU"=dword:00000001

    Or use Rufus 4.10+ to create modified installation media disabling TPM/CPU checks. Note Microsoft's warning:

    "Your PC will no longer be supported... Damages aren't covered under warranty"
    Despite this, millions have successfully upgraded "unsupported" hardware.

  4. Linux Migration
    Distros like Linux Mint or Zorin OS offer low-resource alternatives. Critical considerations:

  5. The High-Risk Option: Do Nothing
    Third-party tools like 0patch (€24.95/year) can mitigate threats, but experts warn:

    "Being extra careful and using third-party antivirus software will NOT protect you from unpatched OS vulnerabilities" (ZDNET)

Article illustration 2

Why This Matters Beyond Individual PCs

Windows 10's demise forces a reckoning with tech sustainability:
- E-waste concerns: Functional hardware discarded due to artificial OS limitations
- Enterprise cost cascades: $427/device ESU fees could cripple SMB budgets
- Security precedent: Microsoft’s paid patches may normalize monetizing legacy dependencies

With 34% of enterprise PCs still running Windows 10 per industry data, the scramble for solutions underscores a harsh truth: in modern computing, expiration dates are enforced not by hardware failure, but by software policy. As one chapter closes, the choices made now will define security postures for years—making informed action the ultimate imperative.

Source: ZDNET