Windows 10 2004 is nearing the end of the road. Time for a Windows 11 upgrade?
- Reference: 1636569906
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/11/10/windows_10_2004_end/
- Source link:
The impending demise of Windows 10 2004 has been etched, since its debut, in the calendar of the administrators who elected to install it. While its numbering might imply origins almost two decades ago, the 20 indicates the year 2020, while the 04 means April. So obviously it wasn't until May that year before users got their hands on the code.
Microsoft's early Christmas present for administrators will come on 14 December when security updates and patches will cease. The advice from the Windows behemoth is to upgrade to Windows 11 if possible; an option sadly not available to all. These include users of Microsoft's own Surface Go, which was on sale as 2020 opened. The original Go was equipped with an [2]Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y CPU , which sadly does not appear on the infamous [3]hardware compatibility list for Windows 11 .
[4]
Later Surface Gos can cope with the wunder-OS.
[5]Microsoft touts Windows 11 SE: A locked-down OS to give Chromebooks a run for their money in schools
[6]Let us give thanks that this November, Microsoft has given us just 55 security fixes, two of which are for actively exploited flaws
[7]New year, new OS: OneDrive support axed for old versions of Windows from 1 Jan 2022
[8]Microsoft issues patch to Insiders to undo carnage caused by expired digital certificate in Windows 11
As of October, Window 10 2004 was installed on 14.1 per cent of PCs, according to [9]AdDuplex's survey . Upgrading to a later version of Windows 10 should be relatively straightforward; [10]an enablement package can be applied to activate the limited number of new toys that await.
"Versions 2004, 20H2, and 21H1 share a common core operating system," said Microsoft, even though version 2004 is for the chop in December.
[11]
Windows 11 should be easier to follow, with feature updates coming on an annual basis in the second half of the year and 24 months of support on tap for Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, and Pro Education edition. Education and Enterprise editions get 36 months of support. Windows 10, on the other hand, enjoyed feature updates [12]twice a year receiving 18 or 30 months of support depending on lifecycle policy.
Windows 10, the pig upon which Microsoft applied the Windows 11 lipstick, will continue to be supported [13]until October 2025 , more than a decade after the OS first made its debut. ®
Get our [14]Tech Resources
[1] https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/reminder-end-of-servicing-for-windows-10-version-2004/ba-p/2943891
[2] https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/surface/devices/surface-go/tech-specs
[3] https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-intel-processors
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YYxPGeM7rNNQkIyafW@SpAAAAMg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/10/microsoft_windows_11se/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/09/microsoft_spreads_patch_tuesday_joy/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/08/onedrive_end_of_support/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/05/windows_insider_cert_fix/
[9] https://reports.adduplex.com/#/r/2021-10
[10] https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/kb5000736-featured-update-to-windows-10-version-21h1-by-using-an-enablement-package-75a01e67-3b5f-4677-8efe-42852e41c7cf
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YYxPGeM7rNNQkIyafW@SpAAAAMg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/release-information
[13] https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/lifecycle/products/windows-10-home-and-pro
[14] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Upgrade? Nah!
There's many of us who are still using Win 7. It's stable and not crap shoot on what works and doesn't work. And many of us are still using legacy "buy once, use forever" software instead of bug ridden subscription stuff.
As the articles point out.. Win 11 is still Win 10. Can't hide a pig with a face lift.
I do have a Linux box waiting for one or two more bits of software before I yell "FREEDOM!!!!" and kill the Windows box.
Thin ice
I am just a couple of apps away of fully migrating to Linux.
Unfortunately manufacturers of some of the apps don't yet consider making a build for Linux. But if everyone starts adding pressure...
Microsoft may suddenly find themselves empty handed.
Re: Thin ice
Until such time as Linux or any other alternative operating system is as easy to use as Windows (and yes, I say that with a bit of tongue in cheek) the hoi polloi of average users (by which I mean people who basically use it for browsing and email) will not be switching. Oh, and it had better come pre-installed. I was thinking that it would be more likely for people to switch to IPads, but I then realized that those who would do that have done that.
Re: Thin ice
I think the 'pre-installed' phrase is the key one among the email/browsing/farcebork only crowd.
But as for ease of use...... installing linux mint from a USB stick was pretty easy.
Boot up with stick in port....
Select install option (full disk or use a bit of it)
Press go
.
.
Log in
And away you go
(i did a win10 install on the same disk first..... and as ever.... restart restart restart restart update restart printer wont talk to win10 update driver install restart)
I upgraded last night
I quite like it. Simple, clean and once you've added a few decent browsers, eminently enjoyable.
Re: I upgraded last night
The best feature of the "upgrade" is that soon we'll see no more "upgrades" to Windows 10 which means that life will be so much better when you turn the PC on ... everyone will be able to just get things done, not waiting for the "upgrade" to cause new problems.
Re: I upgraded last night
So you didn't run two monitors with the taskbar docked to the right of one of them then.
Upgrade? Nah!
At least that is what all my friends who still use Windows are saying. They are ALL sticking with Win 7 until they can move away from the Windows platform entirely.
These are not just normal users but hardcore developers with decades of experience on everything from Mainframes to embedded microcontrollers.
I know from chatter on other forums that these are not alone.