The Death of Windows 10

[Chr1]

I know it will come up. Switch to Linux on your Win 10 hardware to keep it safely useful.

I rely on Foobar2000 and MathAudio RoomEQ for various endpoints, so not really a viable option for me unfortunately.

 

[Blumlein 88]

*3.11 for work groups ?

Or OS2 Warp.

 

[Soniclife]

There is an existing large thread on this.

The Death of Windows 10

When Windows 10 came out it was billed as the final version of windows. Upgrades from Windows 7 were free. Windows 11 was released with free upgrades from Windows 10, but there was a complication. The computer was required to have TPM 2.0. Microsoft has announced it will stop updating Windows 10...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Chr1]

Yes, but from what I can recall there was no discussion on how to airgap and continue to use Win 10 safely on a LAN. Perhaps I am wrong here however.

(Also, perhaps I best start a seperate thread...)

 

[Thomas Savage]

Or OS2 Warp.

Ah , me , ASR and OS2 Warp .., a convergence.

Sorry to mods for dragging thread off course. Thanks for your time .

 

[pablolie]

You can buy a security extension if that's really top of mind. Or third party software protection (which doesn't protect you all the time from OS security holes, but it is prolly pretty secure for most applications). I also read that if you have an Office365 subscription you'll keep getting security updates, but haven't explored it. None of my machines run win 10 anymore.

 

[Berwhale]

Thanks

Do you know of any websites/links that describe how to correctly airgap in this way?

Thanks again.

Solutions would range from simply blocking internet access for these clients on your router/firewall to connecting them to a completely separate physical network, or not connecting them a network at all. It depends what kit you have and how serious you want to get about it.

A quick Google search for yields plenty of discussions, websites and Youtube videos on the topic e.g. https://www.cloudwards.net/air-gapped-computer/

 

[Chr1]

Thanks. I suspect that I may need another router, and possibly some other hardware.
Thankfully I have plenty of time to look into it.
Thanks again.

 

[Berwhale]

Or OS2 Warp.

One of my first proper jobs required me to support a couple of IBM 3270 Gateways, running on OS/2 (I image this was pre-Warp, so OS/2 2.0) on some old (even at the time) IBM PS/2 Model 30 PC's

 

[Berwhale]

Thanks. I suspect that I may need another router, and possibly some other hardware.
Thankfully I have plenty of time to look into it.
Thanks again.

You might also want to investigate minimizing your Windows installation to lessen the things that might need or want an update. I've used Chris Titus's script for this in the past, with some success.

GitHub - ChrisTitusTech/winutil: Chris Titus Tech's Windows Utility - Install Programs, Tweaks, Fixes, and Updates

Chris Titus Tech's Windows Utility - Install Programs, Tweaks, Fixes, and Updates - ChrisTitusTech/winutil

github.com

Chris also has a YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisTitusTech

 

[D2013]

I think you can still upgrade from 10 to 11 for free, if your machine meets the system requirements.

 

[D2013]

How To Get Windows 11 For Free Before Windows 10 Support Ends

As the countdown to Windows 10 end of security support quickens, here’s how to upgrade to Windows 11 for free—without breaking any laws.

www.forbes.com

Microsoft advised that to check if your Windows 10 device is eligible for the free Windows 11 operating system upgrade then you must head for Settings|Windows Update and then select the check for updates option.“If your device is ready for the update,” Microsoft said, “you’ll see the option to download and install Windows 11, version 24H2.”

 

[Berwhale]

I think you can still upgrade from 10 to 11 for free, if your machine meets the system requirements.

The last time I checked, I could still activate a fresh Windows 11 install on new hardware using my Windows 7 Pro TechNet key. Microsoft cancelled the TechNet program in 2018...

 

[Chr1]

Don't think my Beelink MiniPCs are Win 11 compatible as is, tho I realise there are possible workarounds. At this point I am not sure what will be best. As I mentioned earlier, they will only be used as endpoints/renderers to external DACs, so airgap and minimising Windows 10 is probably an option

 

[Petrushka]

The problem is not the cost of upgrading, which is zero. It is the issue of compatibility. Anything older than five years may not qualify.

 

[mhardy6647]

The problem is not the cost of upgrading, which is zero. It is the issue of compatibility. Anything older than five years may not qualify.

since this Lenovo laptop I'm usin' is old enough to still has a couple of vacuum tubes in it, I think, Win11 won't run without intense encouragement.

 

[Chr1]

I now view my Win 10 MiniPCs kinda like Raspberry Pis, in that they will still be fine for their continued minimalist use case.
As they use so little power, they are perfect for the job. No need to be discarding and/or upgrading, I reckon.

 

[Doodski]

My notebook will not accept Win11 without some encouragement/hacking and my desktop will accept Win 11. Is Win 11 really better or is this about big business wanting to streamline OSs?

 

[Chr1]

Personally I don't find Windows 11 any better than Windows 10. I use it on a newer, faster machine, so I am unable to compare on similar hardware myself.

 

[Blumlein 88]

My notebook will not accept Win11 without some encouragement/hacking and my desktop will accept Win 11. Is Win 11 really better or is this about big business wanting to streamline OSs?

I think it is better. Otoh, they sure are turning it into an awfully busy OS. This because they are trying to monetize every aspect of it.