Question What exactly are the risks from using Windows 10 after end of support? And how, if at all, can they be mitigated?

[Misgar]

closed off laptop being used by my wife, where I'm pretty sure the eMMC drive is soldered on, so it wouldn't be able to be removed.

You're correct. A soldered in (potentially low capacity) eMMC drive makes your wife's laptop all but impossible to update. I had an old Dell tablet computer running Windows 8 in only 32GB eMMC and it became impossible to perform Windows Updates as the drive filled up.

For this reason, I don't buy laptops with eMMC but pay a bit more for a SATA drive (or more recently M.2 NVMe). I also check if the RAM is socketed so I can increase capacity at a later date if necessary.

If you can find a Linux distro that's acceptable to your wife (and she doesn't run any programs that don't work in Linux) this would be the safest option. As already explained, if you continue to use unpatched Windows 10 after October, it will gradually fall behind safety wise, unless you shell out $30 for a year's additional support, Cheaper than buying a new laptop when computer prices might be increasing where you live.

I've just retired a 10-year old Acer Aspire R3-131T laptop with a slow dual core Celeron, because it takes hours to run Windows Update each month. I've changed the old hard disk for a SATA SSD with DRAM, swapped the single 4GB DIMM to 8GB and installed a new battery, then I'll gift it to someone with no internet access.

I've tried a number of Linux builds and have never really got used to the interface, plus the fact I can't run my standard Adobe software. Mind you, on a laptop with eMMC, you've probably only got 4GB RAM and that rules out more sophisticated programs.

Eventually, you might have to buy a new laptop. Sorry.

 

[ThereAndBackAgain]

You're correct. A soldered in (potentially low capacity) eMMC drive makes your wife's laptop all but impossible to update. I had an old Dell tablet computer running Windows 8 in only 32GB eMMC and it became impossible to perform Windows Updates as the drive filled up.

Yep, it's 64 GB if I recall correctly.

For this reason, I don't buy laptops with eMMC but pay a bit more for a SATA drive (or more recently M.2 NVMe). I also check if the RAM is socketed so I can increase capacity at a later date if necessary.

Indeed. But we bought it back in 2017 or so, on a strict budget. If we were to get a replacement, I'd want to get something with a higher capacity drive that's not eMMC. But she's a light user, so it still seems to be working fine for her.

If you can find a Linux distro that's acceptable to your wife (and she doesn't run any programs that don't work in Linux) this would be the safest option. As already explained, if you continue to use unpatched Windows 10 after October, it will gradually fall behind safety wise, unless you shell out $30 for a year's additional support, Cheaper than buying a new laptop when computer prices might be increasing where you live.

She uses Microsoft Word sometimes, and Paint.NET, but other than that most of her use is on the browser. Word can be replaced with LibreOffice and Paint.NET with GIMP, but it'd be a bit of a shame for both, because the former we paid for a perpetual license for and the latter is probably easier for her to use than GIMP would be.

I've just retired a 10-year old Acer Aspire R3-131T laptop with a slow dual core Celeron, because it takes hours to run Windows Update each month. I've changed the old hard disk for a SATA SSD with DRAM, swapped the single 4GB DIMM to 8GB and installed a new battery, then I'll gift it to someone with no internet access.

Nice. But who these days doesn't have internet access? And could still make use of a computer? I guess if you live far out where regular internet providers don't come and don't have or don't want satellite internet.

I've tried a number of Linux builds and have never really got used to the interface, plus the fact I can't run my standard Adobe software. Mind you, on a laptop with eMMC, you've probably only got 4GB RAM and that rules out more sophisticated programs.

There are some distros that aren't too far removed from Windows design language, but there will of course always be differences. Software support or lack thereof is the bigger problem for me.

Yep, it's 4 GB RAM, and a ~2017 Celeron to boot.

Eventually, you might have to buy a new laptop. Sorry.

Eventually, assuming this laptop ever fails or that we can't work something out after end-of-support for 10. I've also got a ~2013 i5 laptop on Windows 10 that still works just fine. It's my only personal portable PC, but I don't find I need the portability of a laptop much. Still, it's a shame that it'll be unsupported soon. Maybe I could try getting 11 on that one, since it has a removable SATA drive.

 

[cAllen]

Would someone be kind enough to point me where to purchase the W10 ESU as a private consumer? My main is running W11, but I have a high spec Precision and my Mother in Laws desktop that will not be replaced for W11. Thanks.

 

[ThereAndBackAgain]

Would someone be kind enough to point me where to purchase the W10 ESU as a private consumer? My main is running W11, but I have a high spec Precision and my Mother in Laws desktop that will not be replaced for W11. Thanks.

It seems they haven't made them available for purchase yet. It's unclear when exactly they'll start, but it'll be sometime this year.

 

[cAllen]

Considering the die date...let's hope so.

 

[Misgar]

Still, it's a shame that it'll be unsupported soon.

Your old laptop will be unsupported as far as security updates are concerned, if you're still running Windows 10 Home and Professional after October unless you pay for ESU, but there's a chance you might get Windows 11 to run on it using Rufus.

A 2013 i5 might be a bit on the slow side, but if the laptop contains a removeable SATA drive and at least 4GB RAM (preferably 8GB) you could remove the old Windows 10 drive, fit a new SATA SSD and attempt a Rufus Windows 11 installation. If it doesn't work, put the old Windows 10 drive back in.

You can use Rufus to remove the requirement for Secure Boot and Trusted Platform Module. You might still be able to remove the requirement to install 11 with a Microsoft Account. Results may vary, depending on the age of the Windows 11 ISO.
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/upgrade-unsupported-computer-to-windows-11-using-rufus

Things to watch out for include the BIOS setting for Legacy CSM/UEFI and IDE/AHCI/RAID. For Windows 11 I'd enable UEFI and AHCI. Rufus will take care of the Secure Boot and TPM requirement.

Alternatively, you should be able to pick a decent 2018 office laptop for $50 to $100 on eBay or similar. I've just bought a second hand Dell 5480 and a Lenovo Thinkpad X250 as gifts for friends. I upgraded the Dell to 16GB RAM and a faster M.2 NVMe drive. The Lenovo now has a bigger SATA SSD.

If you pick the right hardware, you don't have to spend a fortune to switch to Windows 11, assuming you're concerned about ongoing security.

I have a high spec Precision and my Mother in Laws desktop that will not be replaced for W11.

If the hardware is not too old (pre 2010?) you could try using Rufus to install Windows 11 on a spare drive. It's worth a try, even on a cheap 120GB SATA SSD.
https://pureinfotech.com/create-windows-11-bootable-usb-unsupported-pc-rufus/

 

[ThereAndBackAgain]

Your old laptop will be unsupported as far as security updates are concerned, if you're still running Windows 10 Home and Professional after October unless you pay for ESU, but there's a chance you might get Windows 11 to run on it using Rufus.

Honestly, I think I'll probably just keep Windows 10 on it. I just won't do anything online that is a security concern, like accessing bank accounts or email addresses.

A 2013 i5 might be a bit on the slow side, but if the laptop contains a removeable SATA drive and at least 4GB RAM (preferably 8GB) you could remove the old Windows 10 drive, fit a new SATA SSD and attempt a Rufus Windows 11 installation. If it doesn't work, put the old Windows 10 drive back in.

It's 8 GB RAM and has a cheap SSD in it already. The 1 TB hard drive that it came with was repurposed, and has been hooked up to my Wii U for 6 years and still works just fine. I haven't found the older i5 to be burdensome for anything I've used the laptop for.

You can use Rufus to remove the requirement for Secure Boot and Trusted Platform Module. You might still be able to remove the requirement to install 11 with a Microsoft Account. Results may vary, depending on the age of the Windows 11 ISO.
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/upgrade-unsupported-computer-to-windows-11-using-rufus

Things to watch out for include the BIOS setting for Legacy CSM/UEFI and IDE/AHCI/RAID. For Windows 11 I'd enable UEFI and AHCI. Rufus will take care of the Secure Boot and TPM requirement.

Thanks for this information; it'll be useful if I do change my mind and decide to put 11 on it.

Alternatively, you should be able to pick a decent 2018 office laptop for $50 to $100 on eBay or similar. I've just bought a second hand Dell 5480 and a Lenovo Thinkpad X250 as gifts for friends. I upgraded the Dell to 16GB RAM and a faster M.2 NVMe drive. The Lenovo now has a bigger SATA SSD.

If you pick the right hardware, you don't have to spend a fortune to switch to Windows 11, assuming you're concerned about ongoing security.

True, but I use this laptop very infrequently, so right now I have no pressing need to replace it.