As a tech company in schools we've been banging out about this for a few years - schools are so far behind it's untrue
My PC is only about 7 years old but cannot be updated to Windows 11 for some technical reason so I bought a laptop with Windows 11 earlier this year and am using that all the time now.
7 years is a pretty long time when it comes to anything to do with technology nowadays, but I'm in the same boat as you. I also bought a new PC about 7 years ago, and it does everything that I need it to do, and it still boots quickly and runs pretty fast. However, I'm not able to upgrade to Windows 11 because apparently my processor isn't supported by it. How effing annoying. If things don't change, I guess there's going to be millions of tons of electronic waste by the end of 2025. Surely Microsoft could handle this better.
I think your Motherboard may need to be compatible, TPM (trusted platform module) if not you can't use Windows11.
Call me stupid, but what's the downside of not updating to Windows 11? I use a laptop that used to be my daughter's and I'm pretty sure it's bumbling along quite happily on Windows 8 (or 9, I forget exactly). Not that I use it too often, and it's mostly spreadsheet and word processing stuff, with a little bit of internet occasionally.
There will be no security updates after 2025. If someone develops a process that exploits a vulnerability within Windows 10 after this, Microsoft will not release a security update that addresses it.
I'm in same boat. PC still runs and starts up fast, runs games at a decent resolution but because Microsoft says so I need a new PC.
I was still using Windows XP until 4/5 years ago...I had to change because Firefox and Chrome browsers wouldn't work anymore.
There is a very simple workaround for this. Use Rufus to create a Windows 11 bootable drive using the official Microsoft Windows 11 install media downloaded from the Microsoft site and select any/all of the options to bypass the TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, RAM, and Microsoft Account requirements to install Windows 11 as required. Many PCs that can run windows 11 seamlessly, say they cant when using the Microsoft Upgrade Assistant to check for compatibility.
I've been putting this off since my laptop (a Dell XPS 13 9350) is still plenty good enough for my day-to-day use, but now I'm wondering whether I should bite the bullet and upgrade it today. Next year would be better, but that would mean hoping that Microsoft see sense and extend that deadline a month so as to be after Black Friday 2025.
Your laptop most likely isn't going to explode or anything the day the official support ends, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. But of course it all depends on what you use your computer for. If you're storing launch codes for nuclear weapons or other top secret information on your laptop, then yes, you should definitely have a look at some Black Friday deals.
I use windows 10 so my support will end next year, just in the same way that my Samsung 7 phone won't accept newer versions of apps any more, eg my bank app. So buy a new laptop and buy a new phone .... is what they say. As someone said, all this tech which will be scrapped. Scandalous.
