4 minutes ago, topt said:

It was announced 2 weeks ago for the EU. However elsewhere I thought you still had to sign in/One Drive or whatever, or has that changed?

Yes it has changed. You have to sign in to sign up for ESU - but after that you can sign out and use the PC as a local user with no login required. 

11 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

I think the PC will be too slow - it might work but not work well - and then rolling back could be an issue.

 

That's what I thought.

Thanks for confirming. I am not upgrading.

So ESU is free? Has it been mentioned on here how to sign up? 

Will need to re-read the entire thread.

Thanks!

 

23 hours ago, Jingthing said:

In any case, Microsoft obviously wants to "persuade" as many windows users as possible to join them in their OneDrive ecosystem.

You do not have to use One Drive if you do not want.

I, however, think it is great. ALL my data files are up there in't Cloud, also on my local hard drives, and on back-up drives. I can access any of those files from anywhere, on any PC I can log into with my Microsoft account/password, and on my phone. Thanks Mr Gates.

Just now, save the frogs said:

That's what I thought.

Thanks for confirming. I am not upgrading.

So ESU is free? Has it been mentioned on here how to sign up? 

Will need to re-read the entire thread.

Thanks!

 

Me too - not worth the risk.

My recommendation is to use a microsoft email address (not your main one and if you have only one get another 1-2) and sign up for ESU. Let let it do its thing and let the PC run for a day or so, and then logout and use the PC as a local user going forward.  That is what I will be doing when I return from this trip. 

4 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

There's an app called PC HEALTH CHECK.

It tells you if your PC is compatible with WIndows 11.

I just ran it and confirmed that mine is not. 

 

So many ways around it though. Try the Rufus method.

@TroubleandGrumpy It was I who supplied that "brilliant video" to @save the frogs in the first place. I posted it in this very thread two hours ago. Now perhaps you understand why I didn't understand your posts. You were going over and contradicting things that were already posted as fait accompli.

That video is over two months old, so that means the option was offered more than two months ago. June if I remember correctly.

So it was weird that you were announcing it as if it just happened. You weren't properly following the thread.

 

https://community.spiceworks.com/t/windows-10-esu-is-now-free/1217996

You can get a win app that works on an iPad just for fun 

10 minutes ago, JakeC said:

@TroubleandGrumpy It was I who supplied that "brilliant video" to @save the frogs in the first place. I posted it in this very thread two hours ago. Now perhaps you understand why I didn't understand your posts. You were going over and contradicting things that were already posted as fait accompli.

That video is over two months old, so that means the option was offered more than two months ago. June if I remember correctly.

So it was weird that you were announcing it as if it just happened. You weren't properly following the thread.

 

https://community.spiceworks.com/t/windows-10-esu-is-now-free/1217996

Lets not argue BUT - Microsoft announced that ESU was free for Home users in EU on 27th September - less than 2 weeks ago. But as the guy in that video posted 2 days ago stated, he just found out it is also now free in US and worldwide - not sure when MSoft caved in.

 

But yes - I was answering several replies at once and got some 'crossed wires'.  All good now - ESU for Win10 is free for at least 12 months - IMO  that will be extended to 2028 (same timeframe as the agreed Windows Defender support for Win10).   

No @TroubleandGrumpy I've already described what you need to do. There is no need to let the PC run for a day or so. You are just writing tin foil hat stuff.

You can sign out of and remove all traces of the Microsoft sign-in immediately afterwards. As soon as anyone here starts talking about their years of experience in IT...caveat emptor.  

 

@save the frogs's CPU is from 2017, if their PC has an SSD there won't be any issues for upgrading to 24H2. 25H2 comes as an Enablement Package, so no issues there either. Rolling back is also not an issue.

 

I don't know anything about your CPU.

 

 

 

 

Again @TroubleandGrumpy The EU announcement was for the caveat of having to use OneDrive to back up their settings.

It's frustrating having to constantly correct when people just skim through and end up providing misinformation.

 

Windows 10 users in the European Economic Area (EEA) will be able to receive extended security updates until October 14, 2026, without having to pay for them or to back up their settings, apps, or credentials to the Microsoft cloud.

Just now, JakeC said:

No @TroubleandGrumpy I've already described what you need to do. There is no need to let the PC run for a day or so. You are just writing tin foil hat stuff.

You can sign out of and remove all traces of the Microsoft sign-in immediately afterwards. As soon as anyone here starts talking about their years of experience in IT...caveat emptor.  

 

@save the frogs's CPU is from 2017, if their PC has an SSD there won't be any issues for upgrading to 24H2. 25H2 comes as an Enablement Package, so no issues there either. Rolling back is also not an issue.

 

I don't know anything about your CPU.

Stop being so argumentative - take a pill and chill mate.

In my experience with IT&T anything like this is best dealt with slowly - things happen and things go wrong - let it 'settle'. But up to you.

My laptop is 'not compatible' - the latest update is 22H2. Upgrading to Win11 requires a 'workaround' on my PC and not worth doing given Win11 has no real advantage and ESU is free (for a while).     

2 minutes ago, JakeC said:

Again @TroubleandGrumpy The EU announcement was for the caveat of having to use OneDrive to back up their settings.

It's frustrating having to constantly correct when people just skim through and end up providing misinformation.

 

Windows 10 users in the European Economic Area (EEA) will be able to receive extended security updates until October 14, 2026, without having to pay for them or to back up their settings, apps, or credentials to the Microsoft cloud.

Please stop arguing - we are all learning and passing on our opinions and advice. Take it or leave it. 

Microsoft backtracks, makes Windows 10 ESU program free in the EEA | Windows Central

Major backtrack as Microsoft makes Windows 10 extended security updates FREE for an extra year — but only in certain markets
Published September 25, 2025
In a major move, Microsoft is making access to Windows 10's extended support updates free for regions in the European Economic Area. No cloud backup required.

11 hours ago, JakeC said:

@save the frogs's CPU is from 2017, if their PC has an SSD there won't be any issues for upgrading to 24H2. 25H2 comes as an Enablement Package, so no issues there either. Rolling back is also not an issue.

 

I don't know anything about your CPU.

 

So you're saying I should still upgrade with a 6 year old computer? 

There's too much tech stuff here that's over my head. I'm afraid something will go wrong. 

 

@save the frogs I'm saying that both options are open to you. You should take the updates and then you have some time to prepare for Windows 11 25H2, which will take you up to Oct '27.

 

Sadly @TroubleandGrumpy is just muddying the waters...

3 hours ago, connda said:

Personally I suggest to people to just bite the bullet and install it.  Why?  Because Win11 actually runs better than Win10.  It's a more efficient Operating System.  

Also consider that 11 has already been out there for a long time already so you don't have the issues of a buggy new release.

40 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

 

So you're saying I should still upgrade with a 6 year old computer? 

There's too much tech stuff here that's over my head. I'm afraid something will go wrong. 

 

I agree - get the Win10 ESU and wait to see how things go. Plenty of time now. 

OK I admit this was a paranoid thought but another reason I decided to go for 11 before the deadline was that I haven't ever read a promise from Microsoft that the upgrade will always be free a year from now. Of course there is no rational reason to think it wouldn't be. If they wanted to milk the stragglers, they certainly could, eh? 

On 10/8/2025 at 4:19 PM, johng said:

 

This is the ONLY WAY to go, if you want to be....

 

What the OP calls....

 

COOL

 

Please BELIEVE me.

Thank you.

 

22 hours ago, bubblegum said:

Win 11 is way better than numeri 10. Bit paranoid if you think they spy on you. Easy to turn that of. Yes, local install is also possible. And I have to agree with the poster about the OP being a bit of n ass because multiple people have already told him what to do. 

Yes and no.

My desktop has Win 10 and I can continue to use Microsoft Office that I bought 20 years ago.

My laptop has Win 11 and I need to 'rent ' office if I want to use it. Bill Gates has enough money and I don't want to give him any more 

I installed Libre on the laptop and it works with all my office documents.

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

You do not have to use One Drive if you do not want.

I, however, think it is great. ALL my data files are up there in't Cloud, also on my local hard drives, and on back-up drives. I can access any of those files from anywhere, on any PC I can log into with my Microsoft account/password, and on my phone. Thanks Mr Gates.

You can access all your files anywhere.....so can Mr Gates.

@emptypockets   Whatever gave you the idea that you needed to rent Microsoft Office with Windows 11?

 

https://softwaresupply.net/product/microsoft-office-2024-professional-plus-for-windows

I had to. My edition wasn't compatible. I eventually cancelled the subscription.

1 minute ago, JakeC said:

@emptypockets   Whatever gave you the idea that you needed to rent Microsoft Office with Windows 11?

 

https://softwaresupply.net/product/microsoft-office-2024-professional-plus-for-windows

 

Just now, emptypockets said:

I had to. My edition wasn't compatible. I eventually cancelled the subscription.

 

 

2 minutes ago, JakeC said:

@emptypockets   Whatever gave you the idea that you needed to rent Microsoft Office with Windows 11?

 

https://softwaresupply.net/product/microsoft-office-2024-professional-plus-for-windows

Is that legit?

Bill Gates was charging me around $180 AUD a year rent.

@emptypockets 

 

It works and has a lifetime guarantee. You download the software directly from Microsoft servers.

1 minute ago, JakeC said:

@emptypockets 

I was talking to friend of mine just before, he runs his own computer repair business. He stated if your happy with Win 10 stay with it. The main thing is if you stick with Win 10 there's no support. So make a recovery disk, use a decent anti virus and you're doing what Microsoft calls support. By the way he also stated be more alert than ever.

 

2 minutes ago, JakeC said:

@emptypockets 

 

It works and has a lifetime guarantee. You download the software directly from Microsoft servers.

t works and has a lifetime guarantee. You download the software directly from Microsoft servers.

@Mason45 Your friend has got it all completely wrong. Not only that but you've posted on a thread that completely contradicts everything you've just written.

 

Not sure why you have posted within my quote. It makes it look as if I wrote that nonsense 

1 hour ago, JakeC said:

@emptypockets 

 

It works and has a lifetime guarantee. You download the software directly from Microsoft servers.

Thanks for that. Looks like a bargain.

12 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

I agree - get the Win10 ESU and wait to see how things go. Plenty of time now. 

 

sorry, I forgot.

did you say you're eligible for the ESUs for free?

you can trade data for the ESUs ?? 

or you can redeem MS points, if you have some.

I'm looking into it now.
Otherwise, 30$ is not much.

 

12 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

I agree - get the Win10 ESU and wait to see how things go. Plenty of time now. 

 

You may already know this, but I didn't. So I just watched this.

FYI

 

13 hours ago, emptypockets said:

You can access all your files anywhere.....so can Mr Gates.

If I have anything interesting for him and M'soft, they are welcome to it.