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AMA: Managing Windows updates
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Wednesday, Jun 05, 2024, 09:30 AM PDTEvent details
Managing updates across an organization doesn’t have to be complicated. Have questions on how to control update offerings and experiences? Want to know the best ways to test on a subset of devices be...
Heather_Poulsen
Updated Dec 27, 2024
Dennis Loudon
Jun 03, 2024Copper Contributor
Will there ever be a path for currently unsupported PC's to go from Windows 10 to Windows 11?
Karl-WE
Jun 04, 2024MVP
Hi Dennis, I personally doubt this. The requirements on CPU (like fTPM, SSE 4.2) and HW like Secure Boot (Mainboard + CPU + GPU) and drivers (Core Isolation, HVCI) are crucial for today's security and to mitigate modern attack vectors.
- Joe_LurieJun 05, 2024
Microsoft
Dennis Loudon thanks for the question, and Karl-WE thanks for the correct reply! Today we have no plans to lessen the security requirements which would allow Windows 11 to install on devices that don't have a TPM (or have an older one) or don't support Secure Boot. My recommendation is to make sure these devices are running Windows 10, version 22H2 with the latest security updates, and keep updating it through Oct 14, 2025. As you buy new devices, make sure they are capable of running Windows 11.
- Karl-WEJun 07, 2024MVP
Dennis, it could be that with the EOS of Windows 10 Extended Security updates might become available, at subscription and costs for Home Users to stretch the use of Windows 10 for another 3 years, usually. Questionable if the costs are reasonable in terms of good offers at sale (MS Edge helps here).
The so protected device, by 2028, would be then 13 years old maximum and minimum 11 years, based on the current CPU compatbility list for Windows 11 23H2.
https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/series/95545/7th-generation-intel-core-i3-processors.html
An annecdote on old tech and Windows from 2024:
I am a HW guy. And love legacy games much more than legacy LOB apps in enterprises.
Seeing PCs from 1996 and older, that technically would still run fine, with adapters and blazing fast SSDs. But honestly they are rather accidently internet disconnected by design due lack of TLS 1.2 support.
Recently had a not so fun and time wasting side-hustle to get my Windows 95/98/XP installation and DOS optimization automation running from floppy disks.
What a bummer this automation still worked using a DVD drive and USB floppy drive.
But then with no internet > no drivers > no fun. Didn't care to save a repo for this matter, just the good old games and patches. Bad luck.
Same goes with Windows 10 and older. With the disappointments of 95-XP I tried another modification and Windows 7. And oh boy I forgot about the patching myriad even with Winfuture Update Packs. And again no fun as most games won't run due to SecureRom Driver signing.
Sometimes one has to bury old tech with a shed of water and smile for good old times.
Good news there are competent emulators to close the gap with native games and platforms like GoG.