Microsoft’s Windows 11 upgrade pleas get even more desperate

When Windows 11 arrived on the market in October 2021, it was supposed to revolutionize the popular operating system. Unfortunately for Microsoft, many users still prefer Windows 10 as the better option for their everyday PCs and refuse to switch.

Indeed, the numbers for Windows 11 are continuing to decline and Windows 10 continues to dominate.

Microsoft doesn’t like this, of course, and is using various methods to urge users to switch to Windows 11. In addition to the threatening messages about the end of support for numerous Windows 10 versions and the pop-ups on Windows computers that still aren’t running Windows 11, there’s now yet another clue.

Microsoft recently updated its official support page to further emphasize the disadvantages of Windows 10 compared to Windows 11.

Hanging over everything is the notice that “support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025” and “Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for Windows 10.” This would leave the system vulnerable to malware attacks and other threats.

In other words, Microsoft is emphasizing that switching to Windows 11 is the safest way forward. When comparing the two operating systems, Microsoft explicitly emphasizes the advantages of Windows 11 for things like backing up and restoring data.

Of course, personal preferences - like the Windows 10 interface or the gaming optimizations in Windows 10 - are ignored. The increasingly controversial AI features and ads in the Start Menu are also cause for hesitation when switching to Windows 11.

www.pcworld.com

Google extends a helping hand to Windows 10 users with its auto-updating ChromeOS Flex solution

Microsoft's Windows 11 operating system has been available for almost three years now. However, its adoption has been rather slow for varied reasons, including the stringent system requirements for the OS. 

Windows 10 continues to dominate the market share with a 66.45% stake, while Windows 11 comes in second with 27.83%. Microsoft has been urging users to upgrade to Windows 11 ahead of Windows 10's cutoff date, which is slated for October 2025. The tech giant has heightened pressure on Windows 10 users to make this upgrade, and was recently spotted using full-screen multipage popup ads to further this agenda.

As it happens, there might be an extended lifeline for users who may not be able to upgrade to Windows 11. Google will let businesses install an auto-updating version of ChromeOS Flex on Windows devices that are not eligible to upgrade to Windows 11, while simultaneously ascertaining security and sustainability.

For those unfamiliar with ChromeOS Flex, it's simply a version of Google's ChromeOS operating system that can be installed on x86-64-bit devices. Google has listed several reasons why users should consider transitioning from macOS or Windows OS to ChromeOS Flex, including its capability of extending the lifespan of existing devices thus preventing e-waste, energy efficiency, flexibility, and familiarity.

Google's decision will allow users to continue using their old PCs, even after Microsoft cuts support for Windows 10. Last year, a public interest research group filed a petition asking Microsoft to reconsider its decision to cut support for Windows 10. The group pointed out that over 40% of users still run Windows 10.

Consequently, if Microsoft moves forward with its plan to cut support for the OS, it could potentially lead to "the single biggest jump in junked computers ever." This will push the company further away from its sustainability and environmental goals.

When Microsoft cuts support for its Windows 10, it'll no longer ship updates, new features, or bug fixes to the OS. This will leave users who continue using the OS susceptible to malicious attacks from hackers. However, Google's ChromeOS Flex OS will continue receiving regular security updates and features, thus allowing users to keep using their existing PCs.

www.windowscentral.com

Microsoft will begin forced upgrades of Windows 10 for some users this month

 

Starting this month, Microsoft will begin forcing some users to upgrade to Windows 10 version 1909 or version 2004 if they don’t update their PC manually.

This is coming after Microsoft announced that it’s ending support for Windows 10 version 1903, including Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro.

If you’re on Windows 10 version 1903, you’ll be force upgraded to version 1909 later this month.

If you’re on Windows 10 version 1909, you’ll be forcefully upgraded to Windows 10 version 2004 (May 2020 Update) by the spring of next year.

www.theredmondcloud.com

How to get the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update

Beginning today (17th Oct 2017) at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update will start rolling out to Windows 10 PCs across the world in phases, starting with newer machines first.

As with the Creators Update, the key to our phased approach is actively listening to all available feedback mechanisms and making the appropriate product updates during the rollout. This allows us to provide a high-quality experience for the broadest set of users at an accelerated rate, while also continually increasing the quality and security of Windows 10. This was our approach with the Creators Update released in April and user feedback on this approach was very positive.

For the best experience, we recommend you wait until Windows 10 is automatically offered to your device. You don’t have to do anything to get the update; it will roll out automatically to you through Windows Update if you’ve chosen to have updates installed automatically on your device. Once the download is complete and the update is ready to install, we’ll check with you, so you can pick the right time to finish the installation and reboot.  We do this so we can ensure the update does not disrupt you, and we use active hours to help suggest a good time.

If you don’t want to wait for the update to roll out to you, you can manually check for updates on your personal PC using the steps below. This will only work if your device is eligible to get the Fall Creators Update as part of the initial roll out phase. Alternatively, you can manually get the update today via the Software Download Site. This option is only recommended for advanced users on devices running a licensed version of Windows 10. If you’re using a Windows 10 PC at work, you will need to check with your IT administrator for details on your organization’s specific plans to update.

blogs.windows.com

No more feature updates for Windows 10 – version 22H2 is final

Windows 10 is reaching the end of the road, with the current release – version 22H2 – confirmed as the final one, and support for the platform is scheduled to end on October 14, 2025.

Microsoft disclosed in an update to its client roadmap that there will be no further feature updates for Windows 10, and so the current version, 22H2, will be the final build of this version of Windows.

The ultimate end of the Windows 10 lifecycle has been known about for a couple of years, when the Redmond outfit updated its product lifecycle pages to show that Windows 10 Home and Pro, as well as the Enterprise and Education editions, will all be retired on 14 October 2025 .

But it wasn’t clear until now how long before the final cut-off deadline Microsoft would continue to deliver updates to the platform, which was first released in 29 July 2015.

The good news is that all Windows 10 editions will remain in support with monthly security update releases through that date, while long-term servicing channel (LTSC) releases will continue to receive updates beyond that date based on their specific lifecycles.

However, Microsoft has made it clear that it would like users to “transition to Windows 11 now as there won't be any additional Windows 10 feature updates.”

Meanwhile in other news: Microsoft will be dropping it's own label peripherals, and switch branding to it's Surface range.

www.theregister.com

Not even the ghost of obsolescence can coerce users onto Windows 11

 

Windows 10 may be just over a year away from the axe, but its successor, Windows 11, appears to be as unpopular as ever.

The end of Windows 10 support is getting closer. Unless the company blinks, October 14, 2025, will be the end of the line for the Home and Pro editions of the operating system, yet users seem reluctant to move on to Windows 11.

There was a marked reluctance by users to move from Windows 7, back in the day, but some of the reasons for hesitancy this time are different.

The move to Windows 10 usually required the purchase of new hardware. It tended to be unavoidable – 7 could run on far lower-spec devices than later versions. The move from Windows 10 to Windows 11 will also require new hardware, but for different reasons.

Infamously, Microsoft axed support for a raft of hardware with Windows 11, including older Intel CPUs, on security grounds. The result was that hardware that will run Windows 10 perfectly well will not accept the new operating system. And this is not due to performance problems (who remembers trying to run Vista on XP hardware?) but rather because of Microsoft's edict.

The result? A collective shrug from PC users. Windows 10 does the job. Why upgrade?

www.theregister.com

Broken wizard forces Microsoft to issue out-of-band Windows 10 patch

Microsoft released an emergency out-of-band update on November 11 to fix a malfunctioning enrolment wizard that prevented eligible Windows 10 users from accessing Extended Security Updates (ESU).

Despite months promoting the ESU program as the solution for Windows 10 devices after end-of-support from October 14, Microsoft failed to ensure its enrolment system actually worked. For affected users, the broken wizard meant security updates would stop flowing entirely — a critical failure requiring an urgent fix.

So it came to pass, that on the first Patch Tuesday after free support for Windows 10 ended, Microsoft released KB5071959 for consumer Windows 10 devices not enrolled in the ESU program. Whoopsie.

Microsoft has made several concessions to Windows 10 consumers over the past year. In September, it offered a free year of ESU updates to users in the European Economic Area (EEA). It also allowed users to qualify by syncing settings to Microsoft's cloud or spending 1,000 Microsoft reward points. Otherwise, consumers were asked to pay $30 annually for twelve more months support.

Affected users must now install the emergency update, re-enroll their device, and then the Windows 10 November 2025 security update should be available.

www.theregister.com

Windows 11 still struggling for market share - even with sneaky upgrades!

 

Windows 11 may be the newest operating system from Microsoft, but it's far from the most used. Windows 10 has hovered around a 70% market share for well over a year, according to Statcounter. Interestingly, the latest stats showed a large increase in Windows 10 users in February 2023.

Windows 10 market share increased from 68.86% to 73.31% between January and February of this year. That spike brings the operating system to its highest share since June 2022.

Windows 7 market share in February plummeted from 9.55% to 5.33%. Notably, Windows 7 extended support ended in January 2023.

While other factors may be at play. Users are likely moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10 because their systems do not meet the strict hardware requirements of Windows 11. PCs that originally shipped with Windows 7 are unlikely to have the components necessary to upgrade to Windows 11, such as a TPM 2.0 chip.

Windows 10 will still be supported until October 2025, so anyone running the operating system has a while before worrying about finding a system that can run Windows 11.

Geeky fact of the day time! While talking about Operating Systems, let's briefly look back from the current duff one (Win11) to through the Microsoft "Wall Of Shame" to Windows Vista... Did you know that the Windows Start up Sound in Vista was composed by Robert Fripp? The start-up sound in Vista was the best thing about that version of Windows!

www.windowscentral.com

US Consumer Reports calls on Microsoft to extend support for Windows 10

Consumer Reports sent a letter to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella calling on the company to extend its support of Windows 10 devices given the security threat posed by leaving millions of operational devices unprotected.  On October 14, these computers will be stranded when Microsoft transitions from the Windows 10 operating system to Windows 11. Windows 10 is currently used by an estimated 46% of Windows computers, and a significant percentage of these machines are unable to run Windows 11.

Consumer Reports is calling on Microsoft to provide free extended support for consumers who have not — and often cannot — make the transition, and to continue providing that support for free until more users have transitioned off the older OS. In the attached letter we explain why Microsoft’s decision to provide paid support only for one year is a security risk, and how the lack of backwards compatibility for certain Windows 10 machines sold only a couple of years ago is a blow to consumers’ pocketbooks. Microsoft should do the right thing and continue supporting Windows 10 without charging consumers.

advocacy.consumerreports.org

Microsoft teases new Windows 10 User Interface in video celebrating 1 billion users

Microsoft's Chief Product Officer, Panos Panay, has today shared a video celebrating one billion users on Windows 10 that gives us an interesting look into what Microsoft is thinking about when it comes to UI design on Windows 10. Panos Panay recently took charge of the Windows user experience, and in this video, we see a number of new user interface designs that may hint at where Microsoft is taking the Windows 10 UI in the future.

The video opens with a brief history of Windows' boot screens, dating back as far as Windows 1.01. From there, it cycles through all the different Start button designs, before showing us what Windows 10 looked like when it first launched. The video then begins transforming those Windows 10 intefaces with more modern design, simplifying things like the System Tray, and showcasing a number of new app designs including a new File Explorer, Photos app, and Calculator.

www.windowscentral.com

Microsoft is finally ditching its Windows 95-era icons

 

Microsoft is finally preparing to refresh its Windows 95-era icons. The software giant has been slowly improving the icons it uses in Windows 10, as part of a “sweeping visual rejuvenation” planned for later this year. We saw a number of new system icons back in March, with new File Explorer, folder, Recycle Bin, disk drive icons, and more. Microsoft is now planning to refresh the Windows 95-era icons you still sometimes come across in Windows 10.

Windows Latest has spotted new icons for the hibernation mode, networking, memory, floppy drives, and much more as part of the shell32.dll file in preview versions of Windows 10. This DLL is a key part of the Windows Shell, which surfaces icons in a variety of dialog boxes throughout the operating system. It’s also a big reason why Windows icons have been so inconsistent throughout the years. Microsoft has often modernized other parts of the OS only for an older app to throw you into a dialog box with Windows 95-era icons from shell32.dll.

All of this work to improve the consistency of Windows is part of Microsoft’s design overhaul to Windows 10, codenamed Sun Valley. The visual changes are expected to appear in the Windows 10 21H2 update that should arrive in October. Microsoft has not officially detailed its Sun Valley work, but a job listing earlier this year teased a “sweeping visual rejuvenation of Windows.”

www.theverge.com

Microsoft won’t support Office apps on Windows 10 after October 14th

 

Microsoft says it will no longer support Office apps, known as Microsoft 365 apps, on Windows 10 later this year. The support cutoff coincides with Windows 10’s end of support on October 14th, and will mean businesses and consumers that rely on Microsoft 365 apps will need to upgrade to Windows 11.

“Microsoft 365 Apps will no longer be supported after October 14, 2025, on Windows 10 devices,” says Microsoft in a blog post. “To use Microsoft 365 Applications on your device, you will need to upgrade to Windows 11.”

While support will end for Office apps on Windows 10 in October, it doesn’t mean the apps will suddenly stop working. Microsoft notes in a support document that was updated in December that “the applications will continue to function as before” after Windows 10 support ends, but that there could be “performance and reliability issues over time.”

www.theverge.com

Windows 11 still unable to escape the shadow of Windows 10

 

Many users are still steering clear of Windows 11 as Microsoft continues to shovel AI into its flagship operating system and prepares updates to mollify regulators.

The latest figures from Statcounter – there are no official numbers from Microsoft itself – paint a grim picture for the Windows vendor. Windows 10 does not appear to be going anywhere: in December 2022 it accounted for 67.95 percent of the market share and by December 2023 the figure was 67.42 percent.

Despite the updates lavished on Windows 11 during that twelve-month timeframe, Windows 10 still reigns supreme.

Windows 11 grew from a market share of 16.97 percent in December 2022 to 26.54 percent in December 2023, although it is debatable how much of that came from Windows 7 hardware being retired. The obsolete operating system's share dropped from 11.2 percent to 3.35 percent in the same period.

Hardware refresh remains a challenge. Microsoft's stringent hardware requirements are a blocker for some users who might otherwise consider moving from Windows 10 to Windows 11. A PC capable of running Windows 10 would likely be just as capable of running Windows 11 if not for Microsoft's insistence that a recent CPU and other hardware are necessary.

www.theregister.com

Windows 10 v21H2 (November 2021 update) is now available for download & install

 

While we are excited for the next generation of Windows with Windows 11, we are also focused on supporting the more than 1.3 billion monthly active devices on Windows 10. Today, we are introducing the next feature update to Windows 10: Windows 10, version 21H2.

Windows continues to play an important role in people’s lives as they continue to work, learn and have fun in hybrid and remote environments. Our goal is to provide new features and functionality via a fast and reliable update experience to help keep people and organizations protected and productive. Version 21H2 will continue the recent feature update trend of being delivered in an optimized way using servicing technology. Today I will share details on scope, how we plan to service the release and next steps.

Windows 10, version 21H2 will have a scoped set of features focused on productivity and security, prioritized to meet our customers’ needs based on feedback. New features focused on productivity, management and security include:

* Adding WPA3 H2E standards support for enhanced Wi-Fi security

* Windows Hello for Business introduces a new deployment method called cloud trust to support simplified passwordless deployments and achieve a deploy-to-run state within a few minutes

* GPU compute support in the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and Azure IoT Edge for Linux on Windows (EFLOW) deployments for machine learning and other compute intensive workflows

www.windows.com

Windows 10 Start Menu may lose its Live Tiles according to new report

Live Tiles used to be one of the distinctive features of Windows Phone, but Microsoft bringing them to Windows 8 and later Windows 10 didn’t really have the same kind of impact. The Windows 10 Start Menu still allows users to customize it with Live Tiles that can display useful pieces of information such as recent emails or calendar appointments, but Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 10X OS won’t support Live Tiles at all.

Microsoft accidentally shipped last year a Windows 10 preview build that came with a redesigned Start Menu with no Live Tiles. We haven’t seen this new UI in recent Windows 10 preview builds since then, but Live Tiles may be on the chopping block if we believe a new report from Windows Latest.

www.onmsft.com

Windows 11 - is coming soon!

On June 24, 2021, Microsoft unveiled its newest operating system, Windows 11 - almost six years after Windows 10 debuted. The company's latest OS will offer several updates and new features including a simpler design intended to increase productivity, ease of use and creativity; ways to connect to people faster; better PC gaming experiences; faster ways to get information you need; an all-new Microsoft Store; and a more open ecosystem unlocking new opportunities for developers and creators.

What’s the difference between Windows 10 and Windows 11? Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes with new tools, sounds and apps. Every detail has been considered. All of it comes together to bring you a refreshing experience on your PC. Click here to read The Register's take of Microsoft's latest version of it's desktop operating system.

NB: Windows 10 Home and Pro follows the Modern Lifecycle Policy. This applies to the following editions: Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations. The retirement date for Windows 10 is 14th October 2025.

www.techrepublic.com

Microsoft starts rolling out Windows 10 November 2019 Update

12th Nov 2019: Microsoft started rolling out the free Windows 10 November 2019 Update. For those keeping track, this update is Windows 10 build 18363 and will bring Windows 10 to version 1909. You can grab it from Windows Update when it’s served to you, or try to download it manually (when available in your region).

Windows 10 is being developed as a service, meaning it receives new features on a regular basis. Microsoft has released seven major updates so far: November Update, Anniversary Update, Creators Update, Fall Creators Update, April 2018 Update, October 2018 Update, and May 2019 Update. The eighth one arrives this month.

Update - PM 15/11/2019: I have updated my laptop to Win10Pro v1909 - a really fast upgrade: 5-10 mins including download, install & reboot! No visible differences - some minor changes.

www.venturebeat.com

Oh Microsoft why don't you do the right thing for once? Future Windows 10 updates will cost $61 per device!

Microsoft has quietly updated a support document on how the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 will work and how much it will cost - and for some it might cause their stomach to churn.

Administrators and accountants alike will be looking glumly at the prices that Microsoft announced in 2024 if their organizations still require Windows 10. In the company's reworked list, it spells out some of the ways whereby users might dodge the fees. If, for example, you have a Windows 10 endpoint connecting to a Windows 365 Cloud PC, ESU could be free.

Windows 10 virtual machines running Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop are also entitled to ESU for up to three years, provided the user has an active Windows 365 subscription license.

Microsoft also updated the support document to confirm the cost to keep the security updates flowing for commercial customers: $61 for Year One per device, a figure that will double for every subsequent year for a maximum of three years. And no, it won't be possible to save money by leaving it for a while before signing up: "If you decide to purchase the program in Year Two, you'll have to pay for Year One too, as ESUs are cumulative," said Microsoft.

Grrr... I mentioned it on this blog a while ago: Microsoft seems to be making all their decisions as bad decisions. I've worked with Microsoft systems for 30 years & been a partner since 1998. They've done some crappy stuff over the years - but this is the worst I've seen.

www.theregister.com

Great news: Microsoft adds another year to Windows 10 extended update program!

Microsoft ended official support for Windows 10 in 2025, but the company may have a harder time than expected putting the operating system out to pasture. After promising a year of optional extended update support, Microsoft has changed its policy, tacking on another year to its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. If you are still clinging to Windows 10, you don’t have to do anything but enjoy that extra year.

The last regular updates rolled out to Windows 10 in October of last year, but the Internet can be a dangerous place for unpatched Windows machines. That was a problem for Microsoft, as Windows 11 usage had only barely surpassed Windows 10 when support ended. Microsoft’s solution was to give everyone on the old OS a free year of extended updates.

That program was set to end on October 12, 2026, but Microsoft has updated its policy with hardly a whisper, pushing back the end of extended updates to October 12, 2027. The ESU support page was updated with that date, and Microsoft’s blog post on the program has a new editor’s note confirming the change.

www.arstechnica.com

Windows 7 to 10 migration starts to kick into high gear

A month after Windows users took a break from dumping Windows 7 for Windows 10, in July they put shoulders to various wheels and ... shoved.

According to web metrics vendor Net Applications, Windows 7's share of all personal computers plunged precipitously last month, falling 3.6 percentage points - the second-largest amount in a single month for the aged OS - to end July at 31.8%. Meanwhile, Windows 7's portion of only those PCs running Windows also plummeted, falling to 36%, a number not seen since late 2011 when the operating system was barely two years old and busily nibbling away at Windows XP.

(The second number is larger than the first because Windows does not power every PC; in July, Windows ran 88.5% of the world's machines. All but a tiny fraction of the rest ran macOS, Linux or Chrome OS.)

At the same time, Windows 10's share jumped by 3.1 percentage points to 48.9% of all personal computers and 55.2% of those running Windows. The monthly increase was the second-largest ever for Windows 10 (first place went to March 2019), while both percentages were records for the OS.

Still running Windows 7? End Of Support is 14th January 2020!

Time is running out to plan for upgrades or replacement systems.

Contact Donline to get the wheels in motion.

www.computerworld.com