Windows 10 End of Support

As you may have heard, the time has come and Microsoft will be discontinuing support for Windows 10 on October 14th, 2025.

Most importantly, don’t panic.

Windows 10 reaching end of support does not mean that your computer is going to stop working overnight. What it does mean is that after October 14th, Microsoft will no longer be patching bugs and security holes in Windows 10. As time goes on, this will make the computer more susceptible to infection and intrusion.

You have a few options moving forward:

1. You can continue to use the PC as-is. This is not recommended long-term, and if you choose to run the Windows 10 PC, be sure you use a solid antivirus, an ad blocker in all browsers, and never install anything from a questionable source.
2. If you need to hold on to that computer for just a year, Microsoft is offering an Extended Security Update program for $30 that extends support for one more year, at which time this option may no longer be available.
3. You can purchase a new Windows 11 PC. Despite Microsoft claiming an easy transition, there can be a lot of information to transfer, and applications must be manually installed. In addition, they will likely require you to use a Microsoft account and cloud storage. There may be ways around this if you’re uncomfortable with using the cloud, but technician assistance may be required.
4. If the old PC is only going to be used for basic use, a modern Linux-based operating system such as Linux Mint can be installed. This involves backing up your data, erasing the PC, installing Mint, and restoring the data back. There may be a learning curve to this option. Mint is very easy to learn and use, but familiar applications such as Microsoft Office will not run on Linux, and so alternatives such as LibreOffice may be required.

Whichever route you choose to go, know that you’re not alone, and I’m here to help.