E-waste or Linux? Charities face tough choices as Windows 10 support ends

You don't even need such an old processor. My son has an 5800X with 3080 GPU (hardly a slow configuration) and Windows tells him it is incompatible with 11. He is going to go with Linux (SteamOS if released in time). It might be the B450 motherboard and TPM nonsense.
Yeah, I don't doubt what you're saying, but the 5800X is definitely supported by Windows 11. You might have to enable TPM in bios or convert his partition table to GPT; however, I won't get in the way of your son switching to Linux though. Right on.
 
Yeah, I don't doubt what you're saying, but the 5800X is definitely supported by Windows 11. You might have to enable TPM in bios or convert his partition table to GPT; however, I won't get in the way of your son switching to Linux though. Right on.
The CPU an intel on is classed by Microsoft as more likely to crash on 11 so the was not on the allowed cpu's. I was surprised but the customer was not bothered as they are not hurting for cash.
 
You don't even need such an old processor. My son has an 5800X with 3080 GPU (hardly a slow configuration) and Windows tells him it is incompatible with 11. He is going to go with Linux (SteamOS if released in time). It might be the B450 motherboard and TPM nonsense.

You probably just need to enable the TPM in BIOS. I'm running Windows 11 on a 3800XT and a B350 motherboard, but I had to enable a setting in BIOS before it would let me install.
 
I am not a fan of these types of articles.

There are so many options to avoid the MS Windows 11 requirements.

Lets start
1. Rufus
2. 0Patch
3. FFS even Linix

Yes I know Linux isnt very "newb" friendly but it really isnt that hard to use if you just RTFM.

Linux Mint has made it that even your grandmother can use it. It has come along way, and I was a naysayer at once, but I do use along Windows 11 with dual boot. All my work is even done on it, google what you are looking for and there is so much help on it. If your not worried about MS and the world having your data stay on Windows.

Now, I am not advocating people rush and install Linux...but ffs, This whole Windows 11 fiasco isnt a issue. If your PC is more than eight years old, as stated by others, beggars cant be choosers. There is a way.
 
Not tough at all; linux is not an option for 99.99% of users. My company just replaced with Windows 11 and old W7/10 laptops were stripped and metal melted for scrap.
 
I dropped Windows as a main OS more than a decade ago and never looked back.

Though I still keep a currently supported Windows OS in it's own hard drive just for checking out games that have running difficulties in Linux. But if Proton and WINE can handle it, I always prefer to run it under Linux. (I'm running Red Dead Redemption 2 in Linux, for eg.)

It's been so long since I moved away depending on Windows for everything. that Microsoft "dropping support" left and right for it's own Windows products doesn't affect me anymore.

That said, I'm still keeping classic machines like 486 and Pentium, and Pentium II and older laptops systems that still run DOS and Windows 95, Windows 98, 2000 and XP for nostalgia sake.

Edit: I find that Windows games run better under WINE & Proton in Linux that Windows itself. Overall, smoother. Linux itself is very fast. Booting and the system getting ready for first user interaction is second to none, compared to Windows. Whereas Windows takes forever to load up all the components and get ready.
 
Charities will always have to face financial challenges especially the smaller ones. I think the smaller ones may just stay with windows in general since they're already familiar with it, it works for them and their workers probably already have windows PC at home. It's the bigger charities that can try Linux as they have a little bit more money.
 
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I dropped Windows as a main OS more than a decade ago and never looked back.

Though I still keep a currently supported Windows OS in it's own hard drive just for checking out games that have running difficulties in Linux. But if Proton and WINE can handle it, I always prefer to run it under Linux. (I'm running Red Dead Redemption 2 in Linux, for eg.)

It's been so long since I moved away depending on Windows for everything. that Microsoft "dropping support" left and right for it's own Windows products doesn't affect me anymore.

That said, I'm still keeping classic machines like 486 and Pentium, and Pentium II and older laptops systems that still run DOS and Windows 95, Windows 98, 2000 and XP for nostalgia sake.

Edit: I find that Windows games run better under WINE & Proton in Linux that Windows itself. Overall, smoother. Linux itself is very fast. Booting and the system getting ready for first user interaction is second to none, compared to Windows. Whereas Windows takes forever to load up all the components and get ready.

Which flavor do you use?
 
I dropped Windows as a main OS more than a decade ago and never looked back.

Though I still keep a currently supported Windows OS in it's own hard drive just for checking out games that have running difficulties in Linux. But if Proton and WINE can handle it, I always prefer to run it under Linux. (I'm running Red Dead Redemption 2 in Linux, for eg.)

It's been so long since I moved away depending on Windows for everything. that Microsoft "dropping support" left and right for it's own Windows products doesn't affect me anymore.

That said, I'm still keeping classic machines like 486 and Pentium, and Pentium II and older laptops systems that still run DOS and Windows 95, Windows 98, 2000 and XP for nostalgia sake.

Edit: I find that Windows games run better under WINE & Proton in Linux that Windows itself. Overall, smoother. Linux itself is very fast. Booting and the system getting ready for first user interaction is second to none, compared to Windows. Whereas Windows takes forever to load up all the components and get ready.
While I will agree that Linux has come a long way, it still has some ways to go.

Gaming is much easier, although it is important to "read the manual" on install, it has become easier. There are still issues with fonts, mouse cursors (hardware support) etc. and some good alternative apps for some situations but I would not make it my daily driver and only go to.

But yes in a pinch one could use Linux.
The bottom line here and OT.
No one supports hardware and older PCs. phones, laptops, tablets etc more than seven years anymore. W10 was supported for 10 years. People need to realize we are not in the 80s 90s and 2k anymore.

You guys really think MS is required to do so?....why?
Explain why they should invest millions into an OS that is 10 years old, no one else does and that is ok!

Come back down to earth, I know you love your beloved W10, just like you did W7 (and hated W10 on launch) and XP, but time does not stand still for anyone!
 
Linux will be perfect. 99% of Win10 machines simply run Google Chrome web browser and MS Office on-line.

For those who insist on using Office off-line, OnlyOffice is perfect. Unlike LibreOffice where you have to go through a few hoops if you want your files to automatically save in DOCX etc format, that's the default with OnlyOffice.

Unfortunately most distros include only Firefox and LibreOffice.

Users want an easy switch away from Win10, leaving it is hard enough without Linux trying to force them into strange relatively unknown apps.

I install Kubuntu with Google Chrome and OnlyOffice on Win10 computers, and I've never had anyone chuck that and buy a new Win11 device.
 
Lol you clearly don't do IT. It would be extremely easy, and you don't have to open the computer. You just have to clone a drive with windows 11, then use the cloned drive to boot in an older computer. I have literally done this, what I am saying is true and accurate despite your lack of knowledge.

Also, I never said to have two internal drives. Please increase your reading comprehension skills before you quote me again.
I did something similar, I built a new computer with a B550 board, cloned my SSD from my B450 board with Windows 10 on it to a new SSD and Booted the cloned drive in the B550,ran all the board drivers and Windows 10 found all the rest. All my programs still working fine two years later!😍 Gave the B450 and a CPU to my Brother!😍
 
Yeah, I don't doubt what you're saying, but the 5800X is definitely supported by Windows 11. You might have to enable TPM in bios or convert his partition table to GPT; however, I won't get in the way of your son switching to Linux though. Right on.
True, 5800X and a B450 board is definitely supported by Windows 11, I had that board and turned TPM ( on AMD it is called "AMD CPU fTPM", make sure it is enabled) off to keep windows 11 from harassing me. Some boards it is disabled by default!
 
While I will agree that Linux has come a long way, it still has some ways to go.

Gaming is much easier, although it is important to "read the manual" on install, it has become easier. There are still issues with fonts, mouse cursors (hardware support) etc. and some good alternative apps for some situations but I would not make it my daily driver and only go to.

But yes in a pinch one could use Linux.
The bottom line here and OT.
No one supports hardware and older PCs. phones, laptops, tablets etc more than seven years anymore. W10 was supported for 10 years. People need to realize we are not in the 80s 90s and 2k anymore.

You guys really think MS is required to do so?....why?
Explain why they should invest millions into an OS that is 10 years old, no one else does and that is ok!

Come back down to earth, I know you love your beloved W10, just like you did W7 (and hated W10 on launch) and XP, but time does not stand still for anyone!
I know some people still running XP and Windows 7. I have thrown all my Windows 7,XP, vista, 98 and 95 disks in a box in the attic!🙄🙄
 
What is Windows 10 LTSC 2021???

It's a version of Windows 10 and 11 Enterprise. I especially like that it doesn't have all the app store junk included. The Start Menu is nearly empty on a fresh install. From Wiki:

Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) is a long-term support variant of Windows 10 Enterprise, released every 2 to 3 years. Each release is supported with security updates for either 5 or 10 years after its release, and intentionally receives no feature updates. Some features, including the Microsoft Store and bundled apps, are not included in this edition.
 
I do IT for a makerspace, and this is a real headache for us. Switching to Linux isn't an option for most of our systems; they're used to run control software for tools, the software is Windows-only (except for the 3D printers, where good Linux software is available and we're already using it), and since it runs external peripherals it doesn't tend to work with WINE. We're faced with somehow coming up with replacements for a bunch of systems like that, which means spending money we don't have to replace systems that are still functional.

We also have a bunch of older computers that used to be the primary CAD systems until we recently got a grant for new ones. Alas, they are 7th gen, so no 11 for them. Otherwise they're still quite usable here and now; i7-7700 CPUs and 16 GB RAM, but we can't use them to replace the even older control computers.
 
Windows 10 LTSC 2021 is supported until 2032. Just thought I'd mention it...
From Microsoft's own support page titled, "How do I purchase Windows 10 LTSC?"

"LTSC version is a corporate product so one need to sign a corporate contract with at least 5 licenses. Please note, one need to have Windows 10 Professional license to install LTSC license so it is expensive enough."

Also, "With the exception of Product Key Cards (PKC’s) distributed with COA’s, Microsoft does not distribute products keys as standalone products. If you see a listing on an auction site, online classified ad, or other online page advertising product keys for sale, it’s a good indication that the keys are likely stolen or counterfeit."

Bearing in mind, a Windows 10 Professional license is/was minimum $200 per computer, sans discount or upgrade from Windows 10 Home Edition, so make of that what you will.
 
I am sure the medical industry is going to be hit hard by Windows 10 going away also! Every time I have been to the different hospitals in my city it looks like they are running old Dells for business management computers!😲
 
The most ridiculous forced upgrade in history! This time I'm protesting in my own way. As long as W10 continues to function, I will use it. I have an image and all my files are backed up in multiple ways. I am very experienced - I ran a computer business for over 20 years. I've not had a single virus over that time period - and I've even connected infected drives to my PC for diagnostics and virus elimination many times. I have no fear.

For what I use my PC for, I don't at all care if I eventually do get hit by something. I will recognize and eliminate the threat one way or another. Bring 'em on haxors, exploit bags, drive encryptors, etc....MS I'm resisting - so you and the attackers can both KMA! :p
 
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