Windows 11’s new hardware requirements say a lot, but they don’t say that.
“It’s all about Microsoft wanting to sell new computers… and creating more ewaste.”
“MS is working with PC manufacturers to force new hardware sales.”
“All about forcing more expensive computers on us.”
“My graveyard now has a perfectly good XP, Vista, and soon to be two Windows 10 computers. I’ll be forced to buy a new computer when I already have four perfectly good computers.”
All of the above are examples of comments relating to Windows 11’s new hardware requirements. The perception is that if our existing computers aren’t capable of running Windows 11 we’re being forced to throw them away and buy new ones. Some even believe it’s a conspiracy to sell more PCs.
No one is being forced to do anything. You do not have to get a new machine. You do not have to throw away your old machine.
And there’s no conspiracy.
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Keep your Windows 10 computer
Windows 11’s hardware requirements aren’t a conspiracy to force new computer sales. You don’t have to upgrade or throw away your old machine. Windows 10 will keep running after support ends, and you can stay secure with good practices and extended updates, or even switch to Linux. Panic, or even irritation, is not required.
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What Happens at Windows 10 End of Support?
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Option #1: Keep using Windows 10
This is my most common recommendation when I see people complaining about being forced to get a new machine.
Don’t.
Stay with your existing machine running Windows 10. It’ll keep running just fine.
Here’s a complete list of everything that happens at Windows 10 end of support:
- Beginning October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will receive no further bug fixes, even if security related.
That’s it. Period. The machines will keep running. More importantly:
- Security software, including Windows Defender, will continue to work and get updates.
- Other Microsoft software, including Office, and potentially other Microsoft utilities included in Windows, will continue to work and get updates.
- Non-Microsoft software will continue to work and get updates.
- Software for your hardware (aka drivers) will continue to work and get updates.
How long that will all be true is an open question and will vary depending on the specific hardware/software involved, but it will most assuredly not all come to an end on October 14. In fact, much of that may continue for years — just ask folks still using Windows 8 and Windows 7.
The only thing you might need to do is realize that “Windows 10 will receive no further bug fixes, even if security related”, meaning that you’ll need to be extra security conscious as you move forward. Do all the things to keep yourself and your technology secure.
That includes everything you should already do anyway, so even that represents little (if any) change.
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Should You Sign Up for Extended Security Updates for Windows 10?
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Option #1a: Extended Security Updates
Microsoft has announced that you will be able to purchase one year of extended security updates to Windows 10 for $30.
For people who purchase the “ESU”, as it’s called, it changes this statement:
- Beginning October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will receive no further bug fixes, even if security related.
To this statement:
- Beginning October 14, 2026, Windows 10 will receive no further bug fixes, even if security related.
That’s the only thing that changes. Everything else I discussed above remains the same.
At this writing, Microsoft has not released any further details, and the ESU is not yet available for purchase.
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Should I Switch to Linux?
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Option #2: Install Linux
This is perhaps the single most common comment made on my YouTube videos discussing a variety of Microsoft and Windows 11-related issues: switch to Linux.
Many of those commenters either have or plan to switch to Linux when Windows 10’s end-of-support date rolls around.
It’s a legitimate, reasonable option…
…and it may not work for everyone. Oh, it’ll definitely install and run on your existing Windows 10 machine. But… it’s not Windows.
- It’s a similar but different user interface to get used to.
- Windows applications do not run on Linux.1
- You will need to find Linux alternatives for the program you rely on.
- Good support and documentation can be difficult to find.2
But depending on how you use your computer, Linux can most definitely be an option. No new machine required.
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Option #3: Hack Windows 11
I have mixed feelings on this one.
There are techniques to install Windows 11 on hardware that technically doesn’t support Windows 11. I have written articles on a couple of techniques, and they appear to work.
The issue is that Microsoft, of course, doesn’t like this. They have suggested that Windows 11 installed on hardware that isn’t supported by Windows 11 will not receive updates. Right now, that doesn’t seem to be the case. It’s also unclear which updates Microsoft is talking about: only Windows 11 updates? Updates for Windows Security and Windows Defender? Anything that’s updated via Windows Update?
We just don’t know at this time.
If this is a risk you’re willing to take, I’d rather you stick with option #1. Sticking with Windows 10 seems less risky than not getting updates to an operating system in active development.
Option #4: Switch hardware
I know I said you don’t have to buy new hardware, but you can, of course, choose to buy new hardware.
There are generally three options that people consider at this point.
- Get a Windows 11-compatible machine. While you’ll have to “get used to” the changes in Windows 11, this is likely the easiest.
- Get a Mac. There’s much more to get used to, and in many ways, this is similar to switching to Linux, but Apple has a much higher reputation for quality in both its hardware and software. This can be pricey, but for people tired of Microsoft’s antics, it may well be a reasonable option.
- Consider a ChromeBook. The best way to describe a ChromeBook is as an Android phone masquerading as a laptop without the phone. If you primarily use your computer for web surfing and email, this can be a safe and less expensive alternative.
Or you could keep using your Windows 10 machine running Windows 10.
Do this
My honest recommendation is that if you’re at all concerned, choose option #1: keep using Windows 10. Someday you’ll bump into a reason that might force the issue, or get a new machine with a future version of Windows pre-installed, but until then, there’s no reason to panic.
And certainly no reason to throw away perfectly good hardware if it’s working well for you.
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Footnotes & References
1: Some Linux users will jump in and say “WINE!”, but in my experience, it’s hit or miss on compatibility and speed, and not something I’d recommend as a panacea or safety net for average consumers leaving Windows. It’s worth playing with, for sure, but not something I’d recommend relying on.
2: I know: support for Windows isn’t that great either, but it exists, and because of the much larger user base is typically more extensive.
I have 3 computers that are over 5 years old and originally came with Windows 10 installed. A Dell Inspiron 3880 desktop, a Dell Inspiron 3793 laptop and a HP Notebook laptop.
The laptops came with a TPM installed and active. I had to go digging into the UEFI/BIOS settings to find and turn on the TPM on the desktop. All three now run Windows 11.
What I find interesting is that Dell is continuing to provide driver updates even though both computers were discontinued to be produced a couple of years ago.
HP dropped support for my laptop altogether. The only updates I’ve gotten for it have come from Windows Update and those were only for BIOS. HP no longer even has the drivers available to download for that model. I do have a folder with the necessary drivers that I’d downloaded and save years ago. Talk about forced upgrades!
I would advise anyone who fears that their computer won’t run Windows 11 to check to see if there is a TPM installed, even if it is not enabled as my 3880 was.
I have an article in the queue about TPM possibly being present but disabled by default in your UEFI/BIOS.
I have two older computers. One is an Acer Aspire laptop running a 7th Gen Core i3, and the other is an HP Elite Desk 800 G1 running a 4th Gen Core i5. Neither passed the Microsoft test for upgrading to Windows 11. That said, I plan to upgrade both of them to Windows 11 using readily available information on how to do it. I will clone the existing SSD SATA drives using Macrium Reflect X (10.1) and put the full image backups aside. I will proceed with my preferred method for an “unauthorized” upgrade to Windows 11. I expect that to work on both computers, but if it doesn’t, I can swap the SSD SATA drives out and put the cloned SSD SATA drives in the computers. I like getting 10-15 years out of my computers.