Windows 10 Gapped

[Jimmy Higgins]

So, I took home my old Work PC, which was dated, but required a good graphics card, which meant the power source was solid and 16 GB ram. I upgraded the video cared to 1060 Super (I think), and it has been playing the games I've wanted very well, as well as being my setup for the digital pinball machine I have.

My trouble is, it is too old to run Windows 11. I think it could technically run it, but Windows has the Boot crap going on now and it doesn't like my Xeon processor. I got this thing for nothing, the video card meets my needs. What risk am I at with this thing being hooked to the internet? I can feasibly disconnect and there will be no risk which will work fine for the pinball, but due to how video games are distributed today, most of the stuff I have, I won't have access to because no online connection.

Am I doomed or can I fine tune the Networking to only point to certain services, effectively making the machine only available to Steam and the like?

 

[ZiprHead]

If you're just going to use it as a game machine, I don't see a problem.

I know 10 is done being updated but it doesn't worry me. I still have two computers running 10 connected to the internet.

 

[James Chapman]

Windows 10 is still getting security updates (until October 14, 2025). 22H2 was the last feature update.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Windows 10 is still getting security updates (until October 14, 2025). 22H2 was the last feature update.

That is mucb better than I thought. That'll buy me some time now.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

So apparently this was done across the board to try and confuse people. link

Microsoft has been running a campaign for a few months now, which shows full-screen warnings that Windows 10 will shortly be dropping out of support, so how about that upgrade to Windows 11? It appears that the company has widened the campaign to urge Windows 10 users to actually purchase that Windows 11 PC, judging by social media posts that have cropped up in recent days, and also by the full page ad pictured above that has just dropped on your reporter's Windows 10 device.

I need to be better at picking on up on this stuff. I'm usually not so easily manipulated.

 

[steve_bank]

I dread the day I have to go to W11. My next machine will be Linux.

You can turn off the MS W11`pop up upgrade announcement.

Remove Windows 11 Upgrade offer in Windows 10 Update Settings - Microsoft Q&A

Hello. We blocked Windows 11 Upgrade for our Windows 10 clients via GPO and registry but some clients got the Win11 Upgrade offer before we blocked it and it seems not to be possible to remove this if it is shown once. So if the offer occured once, it…

learn.microsoft.com

 

[Coleman Smith]

How to upgrade an 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11: Two ways​

 

[bilby]

How to upgrade an 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11: Two ways​

All you have to do is edit the registry, and replace some dlls with empty files, and do everything with elevated priveliges, and check that you have the right BIOS and TPM and that UEFI security is configured in the correct way and this kind of fiddly shit was exactly the thing that was what put ordinary home users off from installing Linux ten years ago.

Meanwhile, you can now just install Linux by downloading it, running the installer, and following some simple prompts - you know, like you could do with Windows XP ten years ago...

Unless they are avid gamers, most home users would be far happier with Linux Mint and Libre Office, which can do (free of charge, and with less hassle, and more securely) all the things they want to do with Windows 10 or 11 and MS Office, and for which Micro$oft will charge through the nose.

Micros~1 was always fairly shit, poorly secured, hugely bloated, and massively overpriced; But now they are just taking the piss.

 

[Coleman Smith]

How to upgrade an 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11: Two ways​

All you have to do is edit the registry, and replace some dlls with empty files, and do everything with elevated priveliges, and check that you have the right BIOS and TPM and that UEFI security is configured in the correct way and this kind of fiddly shit was exactly the thing that was what put ordinary home users off from installing Linux ten years ago.

Meanwhile, you can now just install Linux by downloading it, running the installer, and following some simple prompts - you know, like you could do with Windows XP ten years ago...

Unless they are avid gamers, most home users would be far happier with Linux Mint and Libre Office, which can do (free of charge, and with less hassle, and more securely) all the things they want to do with Windows 10 or 11 and MS Office, and for which Micro$oft will charge through the nose.

Micros~1 was always fairly shit, poorly secured, hugely bloated, and massively overpriced; But now they are just taking the piss.

I have both Windows and Linux Mint, Libre Office and MS office.

I also like to use Google Docs because I can use the microphone to dictate lengthy documents.

Also, it spells a lot better than I do.

 

[bilby]

https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/21/windows_11_fs_ad/

While Microsoft's ads extol the virtues of buying a new Copilot+ PC or the joys of Windows 11, they do not mention the fact that customers can keep the security updates flowing via the Extended Security Update (ESU) program. Nor do they go into the consequences of sticking with Windows 10 past October 14, 2025. Other than a halt to updates (although some editions of Windows 10 will continue to receive security updates) nothing will happen. PC's won't spontaneously shut down. They will simply stop being updated.

Despite M$ pushing Windows 10 users towards upgrades, it seems that there is no real urgency to do so.

And that what little urgency there is is entirely artificial - M$ want you to upgrade so that they and their hardware 'partners' get lots of nice dollars from your wallet, rather than because you will actually gain anything whatsoever from doing so.

Unless you consider a more slim-line wallet to be a huge benefit.

 

[ZiprHead]

So, I took home my old Work PC, which was dated, but required a good graphics card, which meant the power source was solid and 16 GB ram. I upgraded the video cared to 1060 Super (I think), and it has been playing the games I've wanted very well, as well as being my setup for the digital pinball machine I have.

My trouble is, it is too old to run Windows 11. I think it could technically run it, but Windows has the Boot crap going on now and it doesn't like my Xeon processor. I got this thing for nothing, the video card meets my needs. What risk am I at with this thing being hooked to the internet? I can feasibly disconnect and there will be no risk which will work fine for the pinball, but due to how video games are distributed today, most of the stuff I have, I won't have access to because no online connection.

Am I doomed or can I fine tune the Networking to only point to certain services, effectively making the machine only available to Steam and the like?

Microsoft just announced Windows 11 can now be updated on older computers lacking TPM and other bullshit requirements.

I wonder how many people went out and bought new computers because of that crap and now find out they didn't need to.

 

[bilby]

So, I took home my old Work PC, which was dated, but required a good graphics card, which meant the power source was solid and 16 GB ram. I upgraded the video cared to 1060 Super (I think), and it has been playing the games I've wanted very well, as well as being my setup for the digital pinball machine I have.

My trouble is, it is too old to run Windows 11. I think it could technically run it, but Windows has the Boot crap going on now and it doesn't like my Xeon processor. I got this thing for nothing, the video card meets my needs. What risk am I at with this thing being hooked to the internet? I can feasibly disconnect and there will be no risk which will work fine for the pinball, but due to how video games are distributed today, most of the stuff I have, I won't have access to because no online connection.

Am I doomed or can I fine tune the Networking to only point to certain services, effectively making the machine only available to Steam and the like?

Microsoft just announced Windows 11 can now be updated on older computers lacking TPM and other bullshit requirements.

I wonder how many people went out and bought new computers because of that crap and now find out they didn't need to.

I wonder why more people didn't first try the free option of upgrading to a nice modern Linux distro.

I use Mint; It's an ideal replacement for Windows. But there are other distros aimed at Windows users - Zorin Linux apparently comes with something called Windows App Support, which will install and pre-configure WINE for you - so you can run your existing Windows software on it.

It's increasingly unnecessary to use Windows at all, and it costs nothing to try out one or more Linux flavours to find one that suits you.

 

[James Brown]

I wonder why more people didn't first try the free option of upgrading to a nice modern Linux distro.

I tried, but my laptop's hardware wouldn't accept it.

I used to have a hard-and-fast rule--never upgrade an existing system's OS. But I was led to believe it wouldn't be an issue for Ubuntu.

 

[ZiprHead]

Windows 11 Update Finally Lets You Install on Older PCs

Microsoft is making a surprising shift in its approach to Windows 11, and it’s one that’s being welcomed by many users. The latest update finally opens ... Continue Reading →

jasondeegan.com

 

[bilby]

I wonder why more people didn't first try the free option of upgrading to a nice modern Linux distro.

I tried, but my laptop's hardware wouldn't accept it.

I used to have a hard-and-fast rule--never upgrade an existing system's OS. But I was led to believe it wouldn't be an issue for Ubuntu.

I have done it many times, never had any issues.

I would always make a full backup first, mind you.

You should be doing that regularly, even if you're not upgrading your OS, for that matter.

 

[ZiprHead]

I ran across this:

Here it is.

Last ace up your sleeve... create a hybrid Windows 10/11 USB flash drive. Use Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to create a Windows 10 64-bit USB. Then download latest Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft support site and mount it (Open with File Explorer). Navigate to folder sources and copy the file install.esd Open the same folder in the USB, delete the file install.esd from the folder and paste the one from the ISO. That's it. Boot with this USB to install Windows 11 without compatibility check.

Who needs rufus or regedits etc.

Nice one. It opens like Win 10 but it is actually doing Win 11. I tried it on a 6th gen Inspiron. Will try it on a 2nd gen Optiplex or Core 2 duo soon

 

[bilby]

I ran across this:

Here it is.

Last ace up your sleeve... create a hybrid Windows 10/11 USB flash drive. Use Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to create a Windows 10 64-bit USB. Then download latest Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft support site and mount it (Open with File Explorer). Navigate to folder sources and copy the file install.esd Open the same folder in the USB, delete the file install.esd from the folder and paste the one from the ISO. That's it. Boot with this USB to install Windows 11 without compatibility check.

Who needs rufus or regedits etc.

Nice one. It opens like Win 10 but it is actually doing Win 11. I tried it on a 6th gen Inspiron. Will try it on a 2nd gen Optiplex or Core 2 duo soon

It's this kind of complexity that people usually cite as their reason for not wanting to use Linux.

Now it's a feature of Windows, but has disappeared from most Linux distros (certainly from all the more common ones adopted by ex-Windows users).

 

[Coleman Smith]

It's this kind of complexity that people usually cite as their reason for not wanting to use Linux.

The problem I have with Lennox is that I have been using Quicken for years and have a very large quickened file which is very important in managing our finances. Quicken will not run on Lennox.

Additionally, on an older Laptop but I had Lennox could not detect a wifi even though I had upgraded the wifi connection by buying a wi fi device that plugged into a port.

I do like the software that I could use With the Linux but since I am referring to Liberia office I can use that to with Microsoft.

I also have Microsoft access database for tracking gas mileage which is inconsistent with Linux.

I tried duplicating this program with the Liberal Office database and it worked for several years until for some reason it simply failed So I went back to Microsoft Access.

 

[bilby]

It's this kind of complexity that people usually cite as their reason for not wanting to use Linux.

The problem I have with Lennox is that I have been using Quicken for years and have a very large quickened file which is very important in managing our finances. Quicken will not run on Lennox.

Additionally, on an older Laptop but I had Lennox could not detect a wifi even though I had upgraded the wifi connection by buying a wi fi device that plugged into a port.

I do like the software that I could use With the Linux but since I am referring to Liberia office I can use that to with Microsoft.

I also have Microsoft access database for tracking gas mileage which is inconsistent with Linux.

I tried duplicating this program with the Liberal Office database and it worked for several years until for some reason it simply failed So I went back to Microsoft Access.

Well, it's a good thing MS Access never fails.

Oh, wait.

Shit.

 

[Coleman Smith]

Well, it's a good thing MS Access never fails.

No system is perfect.

I've had four more issues with Linux than Windows.

I'm particularly happy with the onedrive because I use a single subscription on both my desktop and my laptop a period that means I can conveniently access all my files from either device.

I am aware that I could do this using Google Drive but then I would have issues with the compatibility again.

I did have Linux on my old computer which I replaced about a week ago. Slater or later I will download Alec's distribution just to evaluate it.