any windows 10 gamers out there?

Board 8

Board 8 » any windows 10 gamers out there?
banananor
09/20/2025
08:13 PM
#1
windows 10 is losing support in a couple weeks, and for various reasons my (awesome) desktop isn't eligible for 11 by default. anyone else in a similar spot?

i'm debating my options, which seem to be
1) upgrade to win11 anyway using workarounds, risking incompatible updates/security flaws
2) pay for win10 "extended support" and assume my computer dies by '28
3) stay on unsupported win10 and risk getting 9999 viruses
4) switch to some kind of linux os with proton, which while leagues better than it used to be still seems imperfect and can become a huge hobby unto itself

there're probably better forums for this, but don't know them and figured i'd see what you all are doing first
You did indeed stab me in the back. However, you are only level one, whilst I am level 50. That means I should remain uninjured.
Paratroopa1
09/20/2025
08:20 PM
#2
Ah fuck it's in a couple of weeks? I just kinda hoped this day would never come or something. I desperately don't want to switch to windows 11.
Xiahou_Shake
09/20/2025
08:36 PM
#3
Linux is a true nightmare to use even as someone who excitedly and earnestly has attempted to seriously engage with it multiple times. I seriously do not recommend it.

Are you 100% certain your current desktop is totally ineligible and you don't need to enable TPM 2.0 in BIOS? It's off by default on a majority of boards, even my own which is quite modern.
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banananor
09/20/2025
08:49 PM
#4
Paratroopa1 posted...
Ah fuck it's in a couple of weeks? I just kinda hoped this day would never come or something. I desperately don't want to switch to windows 11.
yepp, october 14th is the final free security update. it did feel like it was going to eternally be a year or two down the road. also, slight correction- "extended support" appears only available until '26 for personal users. till '28 for organizations

Xiahou_Shake posted...
Linux is a true nightmare to use even as someone who excitedly and earnestly has attempted to seriously engage with it multiple times. I seriously do not recommend it.
I believe it. I mucked around with ubuntu well over a decade ago and it was no fun. I also have a friend that went full linux and it sucked up so much of their time.
How long ago was this/what versions? The only reason I even mentioned it is because I've heard Valve has dumped a ton of money into improving things in the past handful of years
Are you 100% certain your current desktop is totally ineligible and you don't need to enable TPM 2.0 in BIOS? It's off by default on a majority of boards, even my own which is quite modern.
Good question! I'm fairly- but not 100%- sure. WhyNotWin11 says the CPU itself is a problem, which seems wild because I've had zero problems running anything so far

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/3/36e4bd4b.png
You did indeed stab me in the back. However, you are only level one, whilst I am level 50. That means I should remain uninjured.
foolm0r0n
09/20/2025
08:51 PM
#5
1 easily. I did it on my comp years ago and had pretty much no issues. The lack of TPM is technically a problem but not for home use.
_foolmo_
he says listen to my story this maybe are last chance
_stingers_
09/20/2025
09:06 PM
#6
you can buy an oem key for like $3 or something if you just dl windows 11
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MacArrowny
09/20/2025
09:10 PM
#7
Just keep using Windows 10. People kept using 7 for years after it lost support.
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LavaLord
09/20/2025
09:13 PM
#8
I still use 7 on a computer, screw 11.
MZero
09/20/2025
09:20 PM
#9
I still use Windows 95
MartinFF7
09/20/2025
09:33 PM
#10
I'd be using XP if I could

I have the same "can't upgrade" situation, claims my CPU isn't supported. Some run of the mill Intel CPU from when I built my pc in 2017 isn't good? They got a list of what felt like hundreds if not thousands supported CPUs and sure enough it wasnt there. I dont get it.

Debating between extended support and doing nothing.
banananor
09/20/2025
09:38 PM
#11
foolm0r0n posted...
1 easily. I did it on my comp years ago and had pretty much no issues. The lack of TPM is technically a problem but not for home use.
that's a good sign. hopefully i'm being a little overly paranoid.

_stingers_ posted...
you can buy an oem key for like $3 or something if you just dl windows 11
i have indeed seen some stuff where you just download the ISO and work from there

the risk is theoretically either a future update insecurely putting (without standard encryption) something important in a "tpm" that doesnt exist, or some future update ruining performance or bricking everything. i imagine if something like that were to happen i could just wipe & restart with a different OS

MacArrowny posted...
Just keep using Windows 10. People kept using 7 for years after it lost support.
LavaLord posted...
I still use 7 on a computer, screw 11.
Awesome. Idk why I'm surprised that free 7 support only ended in 2020, extended support only 2 years ago. You didn't/don't have issues with viruses?

MZero posted...
I still use Windows 95
you kid, but i do remember companies/governments using windows XP for roughly a bazillion years, particularly in intranet/air-gapped scenarios
You did indeed stab me in the back. However, you are only level one, whilst I am level 50. That means I should remain uninjured.
TeamRocketElite
09/20/2025
09:42 PM
#12
MacArrowny posted...
Just keep using Windows 10. People kept using 7 for years after it lost support.


People also keep botnets of insecure, infected IoT devices that actively participate in attacks. Don't be people.
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banananor
09/20/2025
09:46 PM
#13
MartinFF7 posted...
I have the same "can't upgrade" situation, claims my CPU isn't supported. Some run of the mill Intel CPU from when I built my pc in 2017 isn't good? They got a list of what felt like hundreds if not thousands supported CPUs and sure enough it wasnt there. I dont get it.
i'm doing a little research. it sounds like the cpu being "not supported" doesn't necessarily mean it'd fail- it's also possible it simply wasn't part of their testing program. so while not a guaranteed fail, it'd be a big roll of the dice. question is... how lucky do we feel?
You did indeed stab me in the back. However, you are only level one, whilst I am level 50. That means I should remain uninjured.
Wanglicious
09/20/2025
09:52 PM
#14
banananor posted...


1) upgrade to win11 anyway using workarounds, risking incompatible updates/security flaws
2) pay for win10 "extended support" and assume my computer dies by '28
3) stay on unsupported win10 and risk getting 9999 viruses
4) switch to some kind of linux os with proton, which while leagues better than it used to be still seems imperfect and can become a huge hobby unto itself


no reason to get off W10 is the short answer. but going 1 by 1...

1) W11 is legit just plain worse so i don't bother with the idea of upgrading.

2) don't pay for shit because "extended use" is gonna keep being extended due to corporate usage still being mostly W10. worst case, just get the updates that these versions get.

3) you won't be getting 9999 virues because the thing being limited is Windows updates, not Windows Defender updates. these are completely independent companies internally i think XP still gets defender updates even, 7 absolutely does. so if there are W10 exploits known in the kernal or the OS somehow, yes that'll be a problem. yet as long as you aren't being dumb about it, shouldn't really be an issue and any major problems will be handled.

4) Linux Mint seems to be the most user friendly option and it looks pretty good. just note that the biggest issue Linux has honestly is that it doesn't work on every Wifi driver; if it's Intel you're probably fine, if it's not you might be needing an external USB for it.

like my answer honestly is the dirtier one - just find a way to "upgrade" your PC to a version that gets later EOL updates, or just so happen to aquire the ones until 2026 because... well, those will exist. and that's even if you're going to genuinely be concerned about it, any major W10 exploit will be reported on and fixed because most are still on it. personally i'd just say skip W11, wait for W12 which should follow the usual Microsoft roadmap of being 1000x better than the black sheep before it.

"Maybe it's a tentacle, molesting the planet itself. - Aschen Brodel.
banananor
09/20/2025
11:04 PM
#15
TeamRocketElite posted...
People also keep botnets of insecure, infected IoT devices that actively participate in attacks. Don't be people.
right? that's the scenario i'm trying to avoid. have seen competent professionals lose servers (temporarily) to spam bots, I'm not gonna pretend I'm better than them. feels like i'm risking something no matter what I do here

Wanglicious posted...
the thing being limited is Windows updates, not Windows Defender updates.
that's interesting, didn't realize that distinction. i really don't want to rely on being careful, but I guess I already do most of my limited sailing in a VM anyway so the option's not completely off the table.
the biggest issue Linux has honestly is that it doesn't work on every Wifi driver
thanks for the heads up. i am indeed on intel, but it's a non-issue since this comp's always connected to ethernet for latency gainz anyway
i'd just say skip W11, wait for W12 which should follow the usual Microsoft roadmap of being 1000x better than the black sheep before it.
that would be nice. i don't know why, but my spidey senses are telling me the enshittification of everything has gotten so bad that not enough users care, and they're in no rush to get to 12. might end up pinging you for a little more advice if i go that route
You did indeed stab me in the back. However, you are only level one, whilst I am level 50. That means I should remain uninjured.
foolm0r0n
09/20/2025
11:08 PM
#16
iirc when I did my W11 TMP hack I did actually miss out on windows defender updates. I got regular windows updates though.
_foolmo_
he says listen to my story this maybe are last chance
LavaLord
09/20/2025
11:51 PM
#17
banananor posted...

Awesome. Idk why I'm surprised that free 7 support only ended in 2020, extended support only 2 years ago. You didn't/don't have issues with viruses?


I've never had an issue with them. Probably because I play it relatively safe with what I download/deal with on it (and use a fair number of addons and other protection for browsing), but still. I run checks every few months and nothing ever pops.
Wanglicious
09/21/2025
12:05 AM
#18
i mean windows 12 keeps being rumored because despite how it seems, Windows 11 has been around for 4 years now (2021) and has had some major changes. it's just that nobody wants to move to it. for perspective, 7 released in 2009 and 10 released in 2015. meaning within those 6 years we had Vista, 8, and 10 come out. currently, W10 is running on a decade of changes and it took 3 years for it to become the market leader over 7 (which finished its EOL in 2020). meanwhile W11 just became the market leader a few months ago.

in terms of underlying functions, it was actually last year when Microsoft updated that in a major way. so much so that its the last official version for Windows 11 SE, unless they change their mind with the upcoming one (which is possible as it appears these changes aren't too taxing). getting into the weeds here but 24H2 updated W11 to a newer system under the hood and the upcoming 25H2 is based on that system too. it's unknown what happens after that but it's entirely possible that 26H2 would be the last W11, setting the stage for 6 years between W11 and W12 and for the extended EOL to kick in. personally i just see that extension as their way of saying "yeah Windows 12 after this is done, Windows 11 will be done beta testing everything."
"Maybe it's a tentacle, molesting the planet itself. - Aschen Brodel.
MartinFF7
09/21/2025
12:24 AM
#19
Wanglicious posted...
2) don't pay for shit because "extended use" is gonna keep being extended due to corporate usage still being mostly W10. worst case, just get the updates that these versions get.

Just to be clear, is "get the updates that these versions get" referring to corporate versions of W10? because those require paid extended security updates too, there's no free updates anymore (unless i'm misunderstanding something). And the business licenses are treated separately since they've already committed to them lasting through 2028 vs 2026 for the consumer/home versions.
Wanglicious
09/21/2025
12:29 AM
#20
MartinFF7 posted...
Just to be clear, is "get the updates that these versions get" referring to corporate versions of W10? because those require paid extended security updates too, there's no free updates anymore (unless i'm misunderstanding something). And the business licenses are treated separately since they've already committed to them lasting through 2028 vs 2026 for the consumer/home versions.

at the very least you should be able to find the major 2026 updates just fine with whatever you've got, Home or Pro. if you wanna get it through '28 then yeah you'd have to find a way to get an Enterprise key. how you do that is on you, whether it's through grey market shenanigans or the usual tools.

i think the main thing you might be misunderstanding is that i don't have issues with piracy, especially when it's dumb shit like this.
"Maybe it's a tentacle, molesting the planet itself. - Aschen Brodel.
MartinFF7
09/21/2025
12:36 AM
#21
oh it never crossed my mind that pirating security updates could even be a thing, lol. fair enough!
Xtlm
09/21/2025
01:57 AM
#22
I've tried to use linux mint for a few months now.

It's overall ok, but I can't get half my games to work, even ones that state they should on protondb, and even after downloading the user made protons that everyone says to use.

And video editing seems to be a nightmare. I finally figured out how to install Resolve but not how to get certain codecs and whatnot to actually work in it. So it's still useless at the moment. But at least it loads! That was pretty cool when I got it to load lol

And now for a rant, for as "Customizable" people clamor Linux to be....there are things I want but just do not exist and asking anyone why its basically "Why would you want that". For example, I have a OLED monitor and it would be nice to have a screensaver more then a clock but that does not exist, neither does having different wallpapers on each screen. But also middle click scroll is just gone if not in firefox. I could go on but I digress.

There is also a lot I do like as well in Linux, some things are easier and it was also cool that by just plugging in a Hard Drive it found deleted/lost files that I've been trying to recover forever immediately. I like how my computer is very silent while using it. It's does not have bloat.

I do want to try SteamOS but have not got around to it yet.

Also, I am looking into the Windows 11 LTSC version which is supposed to be a version without all the bloat (And ai stuff?).
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Wanglicious
09/21/2025
04:14 AM
#23
MartinFF7 posted...
oh it never crossed my mind that pirating security updates could even be a thing, lol. fair enough!

oh for sure, it goes hand in hand with just getting the OS in general like that. i just assume every major update that gets hit you can just find in a number of places. depending on how they do their paid EOL, i can even see keygens just update to having "Windows 10 Extended EOL" versions, or some other registry hack or something to just say "yes I'm legit now gimme." Microsoft doesn't really care, they're just desperately pushing people to 11 right now. personally i've got Windows 10 Pro so if i wanted to make the switch to Enterprise it's pretty easy but... i don't see much reason to yet.
"Maybe it's a tentacle, molesting the planet itself. - Aschen Brodel.
PeaceFrog
09/21/2025
10:22 AM
#24
I planned to continue using 10 on my personal desktop. I had to upgrade to 11 on my work computers and it's annoying, even after spending hours trying to make the settings more like windows 10. It feels like a huge step backwards from 10 in multiple ways
~Peaf~
redrocket
09/21/2025
10:44 AM
#25
5) Throw your computer in the trash and go mobile only until W12 releases.
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GranzonEx
09/21/2025
11:21 AM
#26
11 isn't too bad, I've been using it since 2022. It did initially have that annoying half second delay when trying to bring up shift right click menu on the desktop, but that seems to have been fixed a year ago. I've never had a blue screen using 11.

And here I thought my 11900k was on the older side now, I guess there's still many people using 7th gen and earlier.

I've also been dual booting Mint on the same machine and it's only ok for light work. You can't do any serious stuff on it. I've tried other distros and honestly it's not worth spending time ricing. If you want to work on stuff just get a Mac and if you want to game just stick to Windows.
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PrinceKaro
09/21/2025
11:38 AM
#27
It let me extend security updates through next year for free, you should all check to see if that the case for you.

There should be a new notice about support extension in the windows update setting page, if you don't see it, force an update and then reopen the window.
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Congrats to azuarc on being really good at predicting stuff
FL81
09/21/2025
02:25 PM
#28
I have a beefy gaming desktop, but I'm fully aboard the Linux train at this point, purely out of principle. Not to mention, I'm not letting anything like Adobe software anywhere near my PC in the first place.
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DireKrow
09/21/2025
04:10 PM
#29
I could upgrade if I bothered turning TPM on in the BIOS. Everything else is fine. But I'm probably going to go with option #3 in the OP. I think the only thing that would make me upgrade is a major unfixable security vulnerability OR if games/software I'm interested in stopped working on W10. Or if W12 releases and is better than 11.
MartinFF7
09/21/2025
04:16 PM
#30
PrinceKaro posted...
It let me extend security updates through next year for free, you should all check to see if that the case for you.

There should be a new notice about support extension in the windows update setting page, if you don't see it, force an update and then reopen the window.

Confirmed! I saw the link previously but wasn't clicking it since I didn't realize it was free.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/4/4e282fd6.png

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/072ef65f.png

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/b/b2460cc5.png

Crisis averted and procastination wins again...
DireKrow
09/21/2025
06:04 PM
#31
Enrolled in the security update extension too, now. Thanks for the tip!
banananor
09/21/2025
06:36 PM
#32
I did read about about that

my understanding is that to get updates until '26, you can either pay $30 or agree to back everything up on OneDrive which seems sketchy, but I haven't looked too deeply into it

edit: however, i found someone explaining you can do this with a throwaway/empty account and then use a different one on the same device. so maaaaaybe i can kick this can down the road another 12 months. still not 100% convinced this is a panacea/not sketchy, but will do more research
You did indeed stab me in the back. However, you are only level one, whilst I am level 50. That means I should remain uninjured.
FFDragon
09/21/2025
06:41 PM
#33
They had to claw 7 out of my hands and they will have to do it with 10 as well

I completely avoided 8 and hope to do the same with 11.
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MartinFF7
09/21/2025
06:45 PM
#34
banananor posted...
my understanding is that to get updates until '26, you can either pay $30 or agree to back everything up on OneDrive which seems sketchy, but I haven't looked too deeply into it

well I definitely didn't read the "Extended Security Update TOU" before agreeing to it, lol...

I always quit out of oneDrive anytime it pops up after I reboot and never use it. Maybe it'll start forcing us to after October 13 based on what you're saying? But that sounds kind of weird.
banananor
09/21/2025
07:21 PM
#35
It seems as long as you have a onedrive account with them and have backed up at least once they're happy

Just tried creating a onedrive account, and the process decided to hang forever on one of the final steps. Internet says I have to muck around with my router's firewall to allow it, but unfortunately (for MS?) I'm unwilling to put that work in for now
You did indeed stab me in the back. However, you are only level one, whilst I am level 50. That means I should remain uninjured.
Paratroopa1
09/21/2025
07:22 PM
#36
Oh, ugh. I absolutely DO NOT want to interact with OneDrive at all
MartinFF7
09/21/2025
07:42 PM
#37
my reading of the "free" situation was that you "Use Windows Backup to sync your settings to the cloud" - which is a separate thing from oneDrive?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/1/16866bd6.png

The Windows Backup settings are for stuff like Accessibility, Personalization on colors/font settings, Language preferences etc (under Accounts > Windows Backup). Had it toggled on since I assume that was the default and then toggled everything off.

I really don't think I've ever used or even signed into oneDrive so maybe it's not needed and doing that "Windows Backup" on the settings with the bare minimum will be sufficient to get the free enrolling...
Grand_Kirby
09/21/2025
08:05 PM
#38
1000 Microsoft points is pretty easy to get too
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BlueCrystalTear
09/21/2025
09:11 PM
#39
I'm not gonna bother upgrading because it says I have two issues to fix... I tried fixing them and followed the instructions, but the option it said to use didn't exist. So I gave up.
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banananor
09/21/2025
09:25 PM
#40
MartinFF7 posted...
my reading of the "free" situation was that you "Use Windows Backup to sync your settings to the cloud" - which is a separate thing from oneDrive?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/1/16866bd6.png

The Windows Backup settings are for stuff like Accessibility, Personalization on colors/font settings, Language preferences etc (under Accounts > Windows Backup). Had it toggled on since I assume that was the default and then toggled everything off.

I really don't think I've ever used or even signed into oneDrive so maybe it's not needed and doing that "Windows Backup" on the settings with the bare minimum will be sufficient to get the free enrolling...
That tracks

I ended up going through with it and getting the year of support on a new/empty windows login. Literally just windows key --> windows update --> enroll for extended whatever --> associate account

Idk if I'll have to log into it periodically to get the updates

It managed to grab the account settings, "installed apps" (which I assume means windows store apps, of which I have none) and the account's empty documents and pictures folders first, so I probably messed up something, but fine whatever.

I'll save everyone's advice from this topic, I appreciate it all. That being said, it's possible I'll be in the same spot again in September 2026, checking if anything has changed
You did indeed stab me in the back. However, you are only level one, whilst I am level 50. That means I should remain uninjured.
MZero
09/22/2025
02:55 AM
#41
Looks like I've redeemed 77,000 Microsoft Rewards points so I'm good
Board 8 » any windows 10 gamers out there?