Windows 10: Breaking: Consumers will be able to extend Windows 10 Support

Microsoft announced a moment ago that Windows 10 consumers will be able to extend the lifetime of their products after October 2025.

Windows 10 is running out of support on October 2025. This means that Microsoft won't distribute security updates or any other update over Windows Updates anymore.

When Windows 7 reached the fate in 2020, Microsoft offered Enterprise and business customers extensions. Called ESU, Extended Support Updates, customers could subscribe to extend support of the operating system on specific devices for up to three years. Consumers, home users, were not allowed to extend the support lifecycle of their devices though.

This changes in October 2025, as Microsoft just revealed that consumers will also be able to extend support for Windows 10.

Microsoft writes on the Windows Lifecycle FAQ website: "If you are an individual consumer or an organization who elects to continue using Windows 10 after support ends on October 14, 2025, you will have the option of enrolling your PC in the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. The ESU program enables PCs to continue to receive Critical and Important security updates (as defined by the Microsoft Security Response Center) through an annual subscription service after support ends. More details including pricing will be provided at a later date."

In other words, individual consumers and organizations may extend the support period of Windows 10 beyond October 2025. Microsoft confirms that the option requires a payment, but has yet to reveal any details in that regard. It is also unclear for how long support can be extended. It is almost certain that Microsoft will give customers at least three years worth of extended security updates though.

Closing Words

The move is surprising, as it is the first time that Microsoft is offering an extension to consumers. The situation for Windows 10 users is different from Windows 7, however. Windows 7 users always had the option to upgrade their devices to Windows 10 to stay supported.

Not all Windows 10 devices are compatible with Windows 11 on the other hand. Estimates suggest that several hundred million devices may not be compatible with Windows 11. Owners of these devices would have had only a few options at their disposal, if they wanted to continue using their devices. Besides upgrading to Windows 11 by circumventing the compatibility checks and running a version of Windows 10 that is getting less secure with every passing month, it is a migration to Linux that is also possible.

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Breaking: Consumers will be able to extend Windows 10 Support appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

read more...

 

Microsoft Increases Windows Vista & 7 Consumer Support to Ten Years

Redmond-based software giant Microsoft Corp. has recently updated its support policy for both Windows Vista and Windows 7 and will be offering extended support to the consumer versions of the two operating systems.

Previously, Microsoft provided 5 years worth of 'mainstream support' for consumers while only businesses got an extra 5 years of extended support. Now, all Windows users will be able to get security updates for 10 years after the operating system's release.

As a result of the policy change, Windows Vista's consumer support was extended to April 11th, 2017. Windows 7 support will end on January 14, 2020.





Source: ZDNet

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.

 

Quantum Break is coming to Steam, Windows 7 supported and boxed retail.

"We have confirmed with Remedy that the Steam version of Quantum Break will support Windows 7, meaning that the game will support DirectX 11, and will not be a UWP game. "

Below are the PC system requirements for the Steam version of Quantum Break.



MINIMUM:

• OS: Windows 7 - 64 bit
• Processor: Intel Core i5-4460, 2.70GHz or AMD FX-6300
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 or AMD Radeon R7 260x
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 68 GB available space

RECOMMENDED:

• OS: Windows 10 - 64 bit
• Processor: Intel Core i5 4690, 3.9GHz or AMD equivalent
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 390
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 68 GB available space

Special Edition of Quantum Break for PC Hitting Retail and Steam on September 14 - Xbox Wire
Hardware & Tech News - OC3D.net