Consumer Reports Asks Microsoft To Keep Supporting Windows 10 (theverge.com)
- Reference: 0179297832
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/09/16/206245/consumer-reports-asks-microsoft-to-keep-supporting-windows-10
- Source link: https://www.theverge.com/news/779079/consumer-reports-windows-10-extended-support-microsoft
> As noted by Consumer Reports, data suggests that around 46.2 percent of people around the world still use Windows 10 as of August 2025, while around 200 to 400 million PCs can't be upgraded to Windows 11 due to missing hardware requirements.
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> In the letter, Consumer Reports calls Microsoft "hypocritical" for urging customers to upgrade to Windows 11 to bolster cybersecurity, but then leaving Windows 10 devices susceptible to cyberattacks. It also calls out the $30 fee Microsoft charges customers for "a mere one-year extension to preserve their machine's security," as well as the free support options that force people to use Microsoft products, allowing the company to "eke out a bit of market share over competitors."
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> Consumer Reports asks that Microsoft continue providing support for Windows 10 computers for free until more people have upgraded to Windows 11.
[1] https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/research/consumer-reports-calls-on-microsoft-to-extend-support-for-windows-10/
[2] https://www.theverge.com/news/779079/consumer-reports-windows-10-extended-support-microsoft
Microsoft could avoid a lot of this.... (Score:2)
The machines that can run Windows 10 but not 11 really have no legitimate reasons they're incapable of using 11. It's generally artificial barriers put up by Microsoft because the chips lack a feature or two they're trying to make a new standard.
In a few cases, it's literally nothing more than an oversight! My co-worker was just telling me about a specific model of Xeon CPU he's got that has some long "sub-model" vs a simple model number like 5360 or 5500 or what-not. It has every single function in it tha
Re: (Score:2)
The issue is TPM 2.0, a hardware device and a security issue.
There is the CPU, the Chipset, and the features the manufacturer builds into the computer - it isn't "just" the CPU, the chipset supporting the CPU needs to be capable of supporting TPM 2.0 AND the MFG needs to have implemented TPM 2.0 in the chipset.
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Yet apparently Windows 11 works fine without it.
I'm guessing it's just a way for Microsoft to create DRM that takes control of the PC from its owner?
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I have a desktop which has TPM 2.0 but the CPU is a 7th gen I5 so it refuses to run Windows 11. It's still a very capable desktop for basic needs...thankfully Rufus [1]https://rufus.ie/en/ [rufus.ie] enabled it to run Windows 11.
[1] https://rufus.ie/en/
Re: (Score:2)
This isn't *really* a requirement. I've been able to upgrade all of my family's computers, and those of extended family, using an open source tool called Rufus. [1]https://theideaplace.net/using... [theideaplace.net] It creates a Windows 11 installer from an official Microsoft Windows download, but tweaks a few registry entries to make it work, even on "unsupported" hardware. Once upgraded, I've never seen a compatibility issue, despite the purported requirements.
[1] https://theideaplace.net/using-rufus-to-install-windows-11-on-unsupported-hardware/
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Security is at best the secondary purpose behind DRM. Also you can bypass the requirement and Windows will still work.
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There are ways around the requirements for updating from Windows 10 to Windows 11.
You can change some registry settings, or use [1]a utility to modify the ISO automatically [rufus.ie].
My laptop doesn't have a TPM, but otherwise met all of the requirements for upgrading to Windows 11...
[1] https://rufus.ie/en/
Re: (Score:2)
Or, if they want them off Windows 10, they could relax the compatibility requirements to upgrade. It's very possible. In fact, you can do this yourself using an open-source tool called Rufus to make a tweaked Windows 11 installer that bypasses the compatibility checks. [1]https://theideaplace.net/using... [theideaplace.net] I've used this on a number of machines of varying ages, and have experience no issues.
[1] https://theideaplace.net/using-rufus-to-install-windows-11-on-unsupported-hardware/
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Proven by the fact that a few have hacked Windows 11 to run fine on machines that supposedly can't run it.
I wouldn't trust those hacks in production, but they prove the possibility. Of course, I don't trust ANY Windows in production.
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Youre way overstating things. Its not that much worse than Windows 11.
Good Luck (Score:1)
Asking Microsoft, like Oliver Twist saying "More sir? ", will fall on the same deaf ears. So the, now what? One can go the Virus Scanner route and hope. One can finally pitch Moneysoft and go Linux, but then everyone has to become a Sysop... yeah, right.
Most of them (Score:2)
are very well supported under Linux .. Just typing this for a friend .. ;)
For free? (Score:2)
Supporting Windows 10 costs MS money, and that money has to come from somewhere. And it's surely not going to come out of the CEO's salary!
Everyone start handing out DVDs and USBs of Linux. (Score:2)
It takes an hour or two to reimage most systems to run a modern Linux distro that will run FOOS versions of most software, all the browser based stuff, and more and more games every day (many games are running BETTER under Linux then Windows 11).
It's free, easy, and unchains people from Microsoft and Apple.
It just takes people making the plunge to install it as a dual boot option on their system until they no longer requires the Windows installation.
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Not always. I have a laptop whose Wifi refused to work correctly under Linux. Spent a couple hours trying to get it to work correctly too.
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A USB Wifi stick that is supported by Linux is like $10. Don't wrangle drivers, but look for a cheap USB stick and do a short search if it has a Linux supported chipset. Today most of them are well-supported out of the box and you just plug it in and get asked which Wifi you want to connect to.
Re: Everyone start handing out DVDs and USBs of Li (Score:1)
The problem is, that this is EASY for a Unix/Linux Sysop. It is IMPOSSIBLE for the standard Windows user. They are NOT ignorent, nor is this comment a slam at Windows useres, it's a "We don't get it!" issue. So unless you want to go door to door and do the work, for free, then come up with a viable solution instead of being dismissive and calling it "easy".
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Installing Windows or *any* OS is IMPOSSIBLE for the standard Windows user. Using a word processor and browser, on the other hand, is about the same on either platform. As anecdotal evidence I offer my neighbor who is 80 years old and computer illiterate. Has just as much success (and trouble) navigating Cinnamon on Linux Mint as he did on Windows. So far he's been running Mint for five years and I have to drop by about once a year usually to provide some assistance, but I used to have to do more than t
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So a person that is running a ten year-old computer should just partition their drive, install a new OS and learn Linux? That's your answer?
While they're at it, why not re-arrange they keys on their keyboard to be Dvorak layout, since, as we all know, the the QWERTY keyboard was designed to intentionally slow-down typists, Dvorak was designed to increase typing speed.
You're acting like a suitable replacement PC for most users isn't available off Amazon for about $100-200 and fits in an overcoat pocket.
I lov
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Now I'm a linux desktop guy for 25+ years now, Gentoo even, and I'm all for getting rid of the smell of piss in the subway.
That being said, the actual imaging part of the systems is not where the effort is. But gathering user requirements, testing out the hardware, fiddling with it to make work what does not want to work, and finding and funding replacements where needed... Then creating the imaging infrastructure and training the users... And most importantly, rolling all of that back once it turns out you
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Don't be a fool. Linux is NOT easy. There's no way a person who is computer illiterate manages to successfully replace Windows with Linux.
Plus, there is still very little native game support.