Nearly a billion PCs are still running Windows 10, and half are too old to upgrade

[Jyrkz]

Win11 is full on spyware + now its updated with agents that read your private files.. Why would anyone ever use win11 is unknown to me.
Show microsft the finger and stay on win10 or go linux. The ship is sinking.. know where the lifeboats are ^^

 

[monkeylove]

For now, update using FlyOOBE, maintaining all apps, settings, and data, optimize using Sparkle and Hellzerg's app, and then add Open-Shell and ExplorerPatcher to make it look like Win 7.

 

[Neatfeatguy]

The program is free for OneDrive users...

I haven't touched OneDrive and never will, but I got a free year security for my Windows 10.

 

[TheBigT42]

Many older computers that run Windows 10 just fine lack the TPM 2.0 support Microsoft requires for a simple Windows 11 update. While there are ways of forcing Windows 11 to install on non-supported hardware, those workarounds are complicated enough that the average user will not be able to do them. Any upgrade process that is more complicated than hitting the update button and next a few times will be too much for at least 90% of the population.

That is a POLICY requirement NOT a TRUE technical requirement.
Proven by the fact you can install windows 11 LTSC IOT on these devices WITHOUT any modifications.

 

[SRB]

Many older computers that run Windows 10 just fine lack the TPM 2.0 support Microsoft requires for a simple Windows 11 update. While there are ways of forcing Windows 11 to install on non-supported hardware, those workarounds are complicated enough that the average user will not be able to do them. Any upgrade process that is more complicated than hitting the update button and next a few times will be too much for at least 90% of the population.

Microsoft makes it even more difficult. I put a TPM 2.0 Module on an early Threadripper system so they could update to W11. It passed the check, but Windows would not install it because it was not in the CPU. I finally bypassed it for the install. Microsoft does what it does best, rather then the install checking for the necessary items, it only looks at the CPU and aborts if it's not on the list. Why look at each system if you can use a simple list. (And yes, Threadrippers all have POPCNT)

 

[BadThad]

MS can KMA! We were told that Windows 10 is the last OS, then they dream-up Windows 11 and attempt to cram it down our throats. I've migrated NONE of my computers to 11 and will never for the foreseeable future. Back-up the data and let the cards fall where they may. We have not had a virus, malware or other issue in the past 10 years. Smart users go a LOT farther in crap mitigation than some chump security "fixes" doled out by MS.

 

[nismo91]

People haven't upgraded windows in 10 years? yeah that's what happened when the hardware is good enough to last a decade.

from 2005 to 2015 I've went through XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10. personally it feels weird to be using the same OS for so long, hence the reason I switched to 11 a year after it came out. previously I always use the new OS when it RTMed.

and come on... people complaining about older system without TPM. we're talking about >8 years old devices here. these people must be very young. they didn't went through the winxp-vista/7 driver chaos. countless hardware (which is less than 8yo) stopped working because nobody wrote a new driver for them. and yes, those hardwares combined usually cost more than the windows itself.

 

[netman]

"Many PC users are stubborn or simply ignorant to the dangers associated with not installing the latest security updates."

It's all hyped...! There is Absolutely No Danger of using older Windows OSs especially Windows 7 and Windows 8.1...!

Windows 11 and Windows 10 are less safe...!

 

[HofyPC]

I am sticking with Windows 10 for now too. I would love to go 100% Linux, but I have several proprietary software programs that will NOT work in Linux, even in emulation.

 

[kinetix]

I still don't see any reason to upgrade to Windows 11. Windows 10 LTSC is more than adequate.

 

[Win7User]

Microsoft intentionally created this artificial problem. Microsoft needs to be harshly punished for doing so.


Everyone can get the extra year of updates, they have to jump through a few of Microsoft's hoops to get them, but they are available to everyone. Your veiled insults at "Americans" are what is ignorant.



Given the percentages, it's more like 50 or 60 million if not more.

Yeah, okay. I was jjust taking a stab at it. But, I'm one of those who still uses Windows 7 Pro on my 14-year-old Acer 17" laptop! Still, works good, albeit a bit slower now.

 

[DekkB]

Half a billion PC's are NOT too old to run Windows 11.
They have been RESTRICTED from running Windows 11.
And the owners of the other half billion PCs not running Windows 11, know a lemon when they see one.

 

[DekkB]

"Windows Lemon"
...the rebrand by those not loving Windows 11

 

[DDG4005]

Anything Kaby Lake and older has been cut off. Lots of folks still running 7th Gen or earlier still.

Not true. I was able to upgrade both my PCs to Windows 11 Pro for Workstations (no more watermarks saying my hardware was unsupported like before) back in the summer. To be fair, it did surprise me since my desktops have 7th-generation Intel CPUs, but I'm sure having TPM 2.0 modules helped. It's possible that the requirement for specific processors has been unofficially relaxed so long as a complaint TPM is present.

 

[NancyLu]

I cannot afford a new PC, and my Windows 10 PC is not compatible with Win 11. So I will continue to use Win 10! I am not being stubborn, I am just poor! Haha

 

[amstech]

Not true. I was able to upgrade both my PCs to Windows 11 Pro for Workstations (no more watermarks saying my hardware was unsupported like before) back in the summer. To be fair, it did surprise me since my desktops have 7th-generation Intel CPUs, but I'm sure having TPM 2.0 modules helped. It's possible that the requirement of specific processors has been unofficially relaxed so long as a complaint TPM is present.

Very possible.

 

[spam joe]

I won't upgrade because I'm not interested in buying a new computer based on Microsoft's arbitrary hardware requirements for Windows 11. Just back off the reqs...

 

[LemmingO]

"Well, Of Course I Know Him. He's Me."

 

[Loadedaxe]

With RAM prices climbing, upgrade cycles are only going to slow down further.

If Apple was smart, they'd take advantage of this and release a wave of low to mid-range hardware to capture the users abandoning Windows hardware requirements.

It would be hilarious to watch if Apple gained PC market share simply because Microsoft pushed people away with unnecessary hardware restrictions.

While I agree, Apple taking market share would be hilarious...they aren't any better, they start dropping support for machines after 7 years.

 

[MakeMSGreatAgain]

While I agree, Apple taking market share would be hilarious...they aren't any better, they start dropping support for machines after 7 years.

Yes but they don't constantly stab their users with ads, forced changes, removing features and functions, broken updates, and all the other realities that is an OS that has been abandoned as far as any real power user is concerned. I used to really like Windows, but since Windows 8 and Server 2012 (a.k.a. Server Tablet edition) it has been going down the crapper. It is clear all M$FT cares about is control and money. Apple isn't a fantastic company by any means, but they aren't ticking us off in the same way.

Furthermore, Apple silicon has brought their system performance up and their prices down. Now you can get a good Apple computer for cheaper than some crappy to moderate PC.

I would prefer to use Linux overall, or even a Unix based OS like Nomad... but Linux still requires some fiddling and doing things in terminal for some more advanced functions. MacOS in general just works, and all the apps generally just work as well - things just seem to work better than on Windows. I don't have to spend time dicking with MacOS like I do Windows, or even Linux. So for general everyday use it is the least frustrating I think.

As for years of support, 7 years is pretty decent... and even still you can still keep using the OS and generally not experience issues. I used a 2010 Macbook up until 2023 and the only reason I got a newer one was I was getting annoying with the lack of speed.

 

[acrossthestars]

There is no such thing as "too old to upgrade".
*Any* computer capable of running Windows 10 can be upgraded to Windows 11, or have Win11 installed clean.

This statement isn't true even for the computers it applies to. The are a lot of computers that can absolutely run Windows 11 were it not for the TPM 2 requirement, and then there are machines that can barely run Windows 10 and are absolutely not fit for purpose under Windows 11 right now. Sure, there's more of the former than the latter and they might have had a viable upgrade path in months gone by, but we have to realistic about how many computers Windows 11 can actually run on currently. The OS is not getting lighter or less demanding, as time goes on.

 

[Coisa]

The market has thrown a wonderful Monkey wrench into Microsoft's planned obsolescence for Win 10 (which was completely unneeded). The 500 million Windows 10 PC's that are not Win 11 compatible are going to be even more prohibitively expensive to replace because of AI and its RAM induced shortage. I was lucky enough to build a Win 11 PC in July - 32GB of ram was $82. Today it's $389 and headed north. The ram increase hasn't seemed to hit off-the-shelf PCs; buy before it does if you must have a new Win 11 device.

 

[trparky]

Yes but they don't constantly stab their users with ads, forced changes, removing features and functions, broken updates, and all the other realities that is an OS that has been abandoned as far as any real power user is concerned. I used to really like Windows, but since Windows 8 and Server 2012 (a.k.a. Server Tablet edition) it has been going down the crapper. It is clear all M$FT cares about is control and money. Apple isn't a fantastic company by any means, but they aren't ticking us off in the same way.

Furthermore, Apple silicon has brought their system performance up and their prices down. Now you can get a good Apple computer for cheaper than some crappy to moderate PC.

I would prefer to use Linux overall, or even a Unix based OS like Nomad... but Linux still requires some fiddling and doing things in terminal for some more advanced functions. MacOS in general just works, and all the apps generally just work as well - things just seem to work better than on Windows. I don't have to spend time dicking with MacOS like I do Windows, or even Linux. So for general everyday use it is the least frustrating I think.

As for years of support, 7 years is pretty decent... and even still you can still keep using the OS and generally not experience issues. I used a 2010 Macbook up until 2023 and the only reason I got a newer one was I was getting annoying with the lack of speed.

I agree with damn near everything you said.

The changes in the industry is seriously making me think about jumping ship to the Mac. Someone needs to check Hell. Is the temperature cooling down there?

 

[ZedRM]

"Windows Lemon"
...the rebrand by those not loving Windows 11

Let's be fair, Windows 11 started out ok. It wasn't until 24H2 things started going very wrong..

 

[Loadedaxe]

Yes but they don't constantly stab their users with ads, forced changes, removing features and functions, broken updates, and all the other realities that is an OS that has been abandoned as far as any real power user is concerned. I used to really like Windows, but since Windows 8 and Server 2012 (a.k.a. Server Tablet edition) it has been going down the crapper. It is clear all M$FT cares about is control and money. Apple isn't a fantastic company by any means, but they aren't ticking us off in the same way.

Furthermore, Apple silicon has brought their system performance up and their prices down. Now you can get a good Apple computer for cheaper than some crappy to moderate PC.

I would prefer to use Linux overall, or even a Unix based OS like Nomad... but Linux still requires some fiddling and doing things in terminal for some more advanced functions. MacOS in general just works, and all the apps generally just work as well - things just seem to work better than on Windows. I don't have to spend time dicking with MacOS like I do Windows, or even Linux. So for general everyday use it is the least frustrating I think.

As for years of support, 7 years is pretty decent... and even still you can still keep using the OS and generally not experience issues. I used a 2010 Macbook up until 2023 and the only reason I got a newer one was I was getting annoying with the lack of speed.

Apple Silicon is great, and the base model price/performance is surprisingly solid. But Apple also locks things down harder than Microsoft ever could, soldered storage and ram, their own repair rules, zero hardware freedom, and an ecosystem where you must play by Apple’s rules. That’s a different kind of “control,” just one people tolerate because the polish is good. I can't deny that.

Linux is awesome if you want maximum freedom, but you’re absolutely right.... some tasks still require more hands on setup. macOS lands in that sweet spot of Unix like without having to babysit it, which is why it’s such a comfortable daily driver for a lot of people.

And 7 years of macOS support is decent, though to be fair, Windows machines can also keep running for a decade without major issues, and Windows tends to maintain software compatibility far longer than Apple does. A 2015 MacBook running smoothly in 2025 is great, but you were also locked to older software versions for most apps by then.

In the end it really just comes down to what trade offs someone prefers. macOS gives you polish and stability...Windows gives you flexibility and compatibility...Linux gives you control and openness. None of them are perfect, but each one makes sense depending on what you value.