Downgrade back to 10, remove all the automatic update features, and you'll be set. Unless you're in a corporate environment and NEED updates on a regular basis, turn them off and use a nice antivirus to keep your computer safe. I've never had ANY of my windows copies do updates and I've never had any security issues.
There have been discussions online where Microsoft removed those computer checks before you installed 11 but I guess they're back now.
[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 02-15-2025).]
I see no reason to switch from w10 to w11, tho I do have 1 new laptop with w11 on it as well as my wife's 1 yr old lap that cam with w11. My go to (this one) still does fine with w10. For that matter, her old laptop with w7 on it still does fine too.
I don't much care if I ever have to endure another win update. + to Avast and malwarebytes tho!!
I was in the same boat, my i7-7700K *just* didn't make the cut-off, despite being fast enough to do about anything with 64GB of RAM and a 3090Ti GPU.
"An Intel 7th generation CPU is not compatible with Windows 11 primarily because it lacks the necessary security features and hardware capabilities required by the new operating system, including features like TPM 2.0"
Since 13th and 14th gen Intel CPU's turned out to be ticking time bombs, I switched to AMD for the first time since ~2002. I still installed 10 on the new computer despite it being 11 compatible.
You have until October, but I suspect it will get bumped out even further.
Originally posted by IMSA GT: Downgrade back to 10, remove all the automatic update features, and you'll be set. Unless you're in a corporate environment and NEED updates on a regular basis, turn them off and use a nice antivirus to keep your computer safe. I've never had ANY of my windows copies do updates and I've never had any security issues. There have been discussions online where Microsoft removed those computer checks before you installed 11 but I guess they're back now.
I never was able to load 11, so it's still running 10. I've seen short cuts by editing the registry, I'm not doing that. It's just a home computer
Yeah, Windows 11, even on a "brand new" machine, is poop. Haven't heard any reasons to upgrade. it's just an Operating System. Be stable, and silent.
11 seems "ok" stable, but the notifications, offers, advertising, and other stuff is annoying.
MAYBE its "better" for gaming? But to run a video editing app? Audio editing? etc... I want my machines to act like an appliance. offline and no subscriptions and such. Know what I mean?
As we get closer to windows 10 end support, starting to look for a newer laptop. My needs are few, just use the computer normal uses. Not into gaming.
I guess my next question is, What is a good laptop now-a-days ?
Currently have an ACER Aspire E5-575 laptop. It's 8 years old - bios says 2017. 4 GB, I have a 1T external drive.
I see some new laptops now have 16 GB. Wow, do I need that much ?
Looking forward hearing what's out there. Price isn't an issue, just want something that is worth getting.
I hate forced obsolesensce. Have you tried Ubuntu? If you aren't gaming and are just using it for web browsing/etc, you'll find the experience is very similar to Windows. It's very easy to install and doesn't take much to get used to.
How much RAM you need depends on uses. Even on my laptop I generally have some kind of lab environment, and that can be RAM hungry; 16GB would be slim for that. For day-to-day tasks though, 8GB is probably still plenty. I've had pretty good luck with Amazon's in-house refurbished Dells. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Dell...tooth/dp/B09WXZV2T2/ is pretty reasonable and should last you at least another 6-8 years.
If you have all of the latest updates on a Win10 install you will be relatively safe for a few years until another major vulnerability is discovered. You will have to keep an eye on the news in case one does come up. You will have to exercise the usual precautions of not opening email attachments, not going to sketchy hyperlinks and avoiding hostile websites.
I would recommend using a limited account for your day-to-day activities and putting a password on your admin account. Only use the admin account when you need the elevated permissions such as when installing some software.
If/when a major vulnerability is found, then I would remove internet access for that computer. One compromised machine on your network can compromise every other computer and device on your network.
If you want to leave the Windows world entirely, there are a number of new user friendly Linux distributions. I chose Mint myself. You can test out most distributions by creating a live USB drive with the distro on it.
If you have all of the latest updates on a Win10 install you will be relatively safe for a few years until another major vulnerability is discovered. You will have to keep an eye on the news in case one does come up. You will have to exercise the usual precautions of not opening email attachments, not going to sketchy hyperlinks and avoiding hostile websites.
I would recommend using a limited account for your day-to-day activities and putting a password on your admin account. Only use the admin account when you need the elevated permissions such as when installing some software.
If/when a major vulnerability is found, then I would remove internet access for that computer. One compromised machine on your network can compromise every other computer and device on your network.
If you want to leave the Windows world entirely, there are a number of new user friendly Linux distributions. I chose Mint myself. You can test out most distributions by creating a live USB drive with the distro on it.
Originally posted by maryjane: For that matter, her old laptop with w7 on it still does fine too.
I don't much care if I ever have to endure another win update.
This.
I was on w7 for a long time. Now w10 (new computer). I hate having to re-learn my computer. Usually when I get comfortable with it they they say upgrade to w#.
I figure w7 is likely safer from hackers. They try the newer versions. I wounder if hackers even know how hack w7 today.
The same with phones. If my phone doesn't do what it did when I bought it, I will get another one. I sport an I phone 6.
Forced obsolesce is rotten, my Optiplex 7050 SFF is running like a bullet proof rocket, but only has 7th Gen CPU, but I'm going to keep using it, for now.
I built my own computer to run Linux Kubuntu with a KDE Plasma desktop, with the sole purpose of getting away from Windows. A small leaning curve with Linux, but after a couple of days, very much at home.
Sure hope someone figures out a viable 'fix' for those who still have good older computers.
FWIW, I updated my Win 10 to the latest version of 22H2 through my systems settings so it'll be eligible for Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Win 10 when Microsoft releases the ESU for purchase. I really don't want to pay Microsoft $30 for a year of security but I figure hackers are salivating for Oct 14, 2025, and it'll give me an extra year to explore my options, plenty of time to shop after the mad rush to buy a Win 11 computer subsides along with prices.
Windows 10 won't just stop working, but there is risk and eventually newer applications will not work.
If you don't have a 3rd party AV you should look into that before they stop sending defender updates.
quote
Microsoft will stop providing security updates, including those for Windows Defender, for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. This means that after this date, your Windows 10 computer will no longer receive updates to protect against new threats. While Windows 10 will still function, it will become increasingly vulnerable to security risks
I have 2 computers that do not support windows 10. Both are still kick ass machines and I will put some version of Linux on them eventually. It does suck about the laptop as its still a beast but its heavy and I don't turn it on much. Never get a laptop that you cant remove the battery I suspect I will rob the disks and reuse them in the desktop once I put Linux on it. Perhaps the parts can be used to build a nice NAS device. Just have to find the right use for it.
FWIW, I updated my Win 10 to the latest version of 22H2 through my systems settings so it'll be eligible for Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Win 10 when Microsoft releases the ESU for purchase. I really don't want to pay Microsoft $30 for a year of security but I figure hackers are salivating for Oct 14, 2025, and it'll give me an extra year to explore my options, plenty of time to shop after the mad rush to buy a Win 11 computer subsides along with prices.
I selected the option to upgrade for the Extended Security Update, I was surprised it didn't cost me anything. Turns out I used a program awhile ago that aloud me to extend the update to continue to Oct 2026 at no charge. It said I could extend up to 10 computers. I used that option on the three computers we have at home.
So I kicked the pervertible can down the road for another year.
Downgrade back to 10, remove all the automatic update features, and you'll be set. Unless you're in a corporate environment and NEED updates on a regular basis, turn them off and use a nice antivirus to keep your computer safe. I've never had ANY of my windows copies do updates and I've never had any security issues.
There have been discussions online where Microsoft removed those computer checks before you installed 11 but I guess they're back now.
For people like me, that don't have a clue. How does one turn off automatic updates in w10
For those who want to install W11 on older "non-compliant" hardware, there is Rufus. Rufus is a small free program that removes MS checks for W11, allowing it to run on older machines.
Download w11 (the ISO one) and Rufus (different links exist for it)
(Very incomplete instructions)
Get a USB and plug it into the computer. Run Rufus and put the .iso (where it is) in Rufus. Rufus has options for a local account and features to bypass.
Once done, run the Windows install on the computer you want to install 11 on. It installs and runs.
For people like me, that don't have a clue. How does one turn off automatic updates in w10 ?
Turning off the updates gets you nowhere. Extend the updates instead (for free). Good for at least another year. Plenty of YouTube videos explain how to do it.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 10-20-2025).]
I'm losing interest in Windows pretty quickly. The first Windows I used was 3.0, and I remember almost every upgrade since then was pretty exciting... 3.1 introduced sound and multimedia, 3.11 introduced networking, Windows 95 was a whole new thing, 98 SE, 2000, XP, Vista, even 8 was cool in it's own way.
But with Windows 10 and 11... I've been feeling pretty "blah" about Windows. It could be me... just no longer excited by things like this, but honestly... Microsoft has done nothing to get me engaged. I actually feel a little bit like I'm losing my computer the newer versions I upgrade to. I honestly don't even know what version of Windows I even have anymore, and I know I installed it... let me check...
Windows 11 Pro... that's what I have. I can't even tell the difference between my other machines that are Windows 10. If there was a better option, and not going full Linux distro like Ubuntu or something, I'd probably switch right now.
...typing this on a Core2 Quad, running Windows 7.
WTH are y'all talking about?
But all kidding aside, I just installed an "out of the box" version of Windows 10 on a different computer, like two months ago. Its ads are annoying enough. No way I'm "upgrading" to 11, even though 10 is "EOL". There are ways. YouTube is covered up with workarounds. I did desktop support for lots of years. I'm not afraid to go in and tweak a registry, in order to cripple Microsloth. I relish the very idea.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 10-20-2025).]
I wonder when people stopped caring about the OS, their desktop wallpaper and sound themes and such... - probably when many computers became "The Internet Machine".
Plenty are still used for other things, audio/video editing, CAD, document creation, etc...
All I've been doing the past few months is windows updates and upgrades to 11.
Most exciting moment was when I wrote a florpy little batch file to mount and free up space on the SRP (System Reserved Partition) so the installer would run.
Plenty are still used for other things, audio/video editing, CAD, document creation, etc...
Exactly. My HP Workstation was a powerhouse when it came out a dozen(?) years ago. I use it for photo and video editing and audio recording/manipulation. I've upgraded the dual processors and the RAM and the graphics card and gone to SSD drives. It dual boots to either Win 7 or Win 10. It runs my apps exceedingly well. I'm not about to bin this computer simply because Microsoft says it's not a candidate for Win 11. The hell with that. I'm hoping by the time my extended Win 10 updates expire in a year's time that there are other options to investigate.
I'm hoping by the time my extended Win 10 updates expire in a year's time that there are other options to investigate.
Well, Windows 7 was replaced with 8, which was pretty much universally panned/ignored. (What happened to 9?!) 10 wasn't really popular, but it caught on. 11 is now also despised for a lot of reasons. Maybe 12 will be a "keeper". But I don't see it. The way Microsloth (and the rest of the industry) is trending, they'll want to charge subscription fees. Yeah... no to that. They'll have to come up with one hell of a sales pitch.
Chris, you're pretty much still "in the thick of it". What do you see happening?
Well, Windows 7 was replaced with 8, which was pretty much universally panned/ignored. (What happened to 9?!) 10 wasn't really popular, but it caught on. 11 is now also despised for a lot of reasons. Maybe 12 will be a "keeper". But I don't see it. The way Microsloth (and the rest of the industry) is trending, they'll want to charge subscription fees. Yeah... no to that. They'll have to come up with one hell of a sales pitch.
Chris, you're pretty much still "in the thick of it". What do you see happening?
Why no Windows 9?
Are you ready?
"VERSION STRING CHECK"!
compatibility nightmare of historical proportions - (worse than Windows ME!)
"Windows 9" could mean Windows 95, 98, or 98 SE.
so apps and other things that rely on a version string would balk.
also, A certain percentage of the population might think of 95,98, then its Windows 9? 9 is less than 95! (but 7 isn't? this one, I almost would argue)
The Windows 11 installer is so crappy, it doesn't know if it will fail until it is literally 100 installed. Then it reboots and you are still in 10, with 20-40 GB of failed update sitting on the drive. GROSS.
I'm sure I've ranted about the System Reserved partition not being large enough to install the update...
The "future" of windows is "Windows 365" - "your pc in the cloud" - you will log into the machine in front of you, and you will connect to a remote instance of windows that lives in the cloud. you use Onedrive to save your data, none of it is local by default. It's gross and its coming.
They made Windows Update SO debilitating and frustrating, that end users and companies will totally buy into it.
Can't even make a local account on a Windows 11 pc unless you do some shenanigans.
Wish more people "felt" where this is all going.
Remember buying a thing, and then just using it and owning it? A record/LP, cassette, cd dvd, bluray, physical book, etc.
Its not ranting nostalgic about the past.
"Not having a local account being the norm" is shocking to me. I HATE the thought of it.
Thanks very much for sharing your insights and expertise. "9, vs 95, vs 98, vs 98SE". That's hysterical! But after seeing some of the other madness that programmers have perpetrated upon us, I have exactly zero difficulty believing it.
quote
Originally posted by TheDigitalAlchemist:
<snip>
The "future" of windows is "Windows 365" - "your pc in the cloud" - you will log into the machine in front of you, and you will connect to a remote instance of windows that lives in the cloud. you use Onedrive to save your data, none of it is local by default. It's gross and its coming. ... Can't even make a local account on a Windows 11 pc unless you do some shenanigans. ... "Not having a local account being the norm" is shocking to me. I HATE the thought of it.
As someone much wiser than I once said, "Yeah... EFF THAT!" I see exactly zero sense in saving all of my data to "the cloud" - aka "someone else's computer". I'd rather be responsible for my own security and backups, etc. I don't even understand why they're pushing that, except to be able to charge for it on a monthly basis, and being able to hold all your data hostage, if you stop paying. I can kind of understand how some "less than computer-literate" people might find it convenient, but some people - like me - would rather manage our own stuff.
But, having retired from the power company, I wonder how "enterprise users" are going to handle this. I'm not sure what they're doing now, but three years ago, they/we were using Windows 10, and storing all of our data "in-house". I can't imagine that we would be willing to outsource all of our storage. That was looked at, almost ten years ago, and it was decided, then, that it was a bad idea. Security was only a small portion of the concern. I can't imagine that that has changed, just because Microsloth wants everyone to do it.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 10-22-2025).]
But, having retired from the power company, I wonder how "enterprise users" are going to handle this. I'm not sure what they're doing now, but three years ago, they/we were using Windows 10, and storing all of our data "in-house". I can't imagine that we would be willing to outsource all of our storage. That was looked at, almost ten years ago, and it was decided, then, that it was a bad idea. Security was only a small portion of the concern. I can't imagine that that has changed, just because Microsloth wants everyone to do it.
It sucks until the company formats your VDI, Deletes your Citrix profile, pushes a new intune image to your desktop. Then you are so glad that you had one drive turned on, after all its not my stuff right... But for home use? **** that....
I suspect I will rob the disks and reuse them in the desktop once I put Linux on it. 
