this post was submitted on 01 Jun 2025
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Privacy

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End of 10 — Windows 10 is reaching the end of its support. Time to make the switch to Linux. (endof10.org)
submitted 2 days ago by Blaze@piefed.social to c/privacy@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/30792652

Support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025. Microsoft wants you to buy a new computer. But what if you could make your current one fast and secure again?

If you bought your computer after 2010, there's most likely no reason to throw it out. By just installing an up-to-date Linux operating system you can keep using it for years to come.

Installing an operating system may sound difficult, but you don't have to do it alone. With any luck, there are people in your area ready to help!

5 Reasons to upgrade your old computer to Linux:

  1. No New Hardware, No Licensing Costs
  2. Enhanced Privacy
  3. Good For The Planet
  4. Community & Professional Support
  5. Better User Control
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[–] Sophocles@infosec.pub 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I started to dual boot LMDE about a year ago, and realized how janky Windows is. So many tweaks and little things that I just "put up with" that I never really paid attention to like when 12 programs all fight to steal focus on startup.

I run hardened windows 10 but now for no reason it's displaying the "Activate Windows" watermark whenever I deny internet access to the system host, which I have done for years without issue. This is the nail in the coffin for me. My system is gonna be pure linux soon, bye bye windows

[–] via_solaris@piefed.social 30 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I learned how to install Linux Mint on my old computer that had been running Windows 10 for exactly this reason. And then I bought a new laptop and installed Fedora on it. Goodbye Microsoft!

(Yes, I had to learn a new skill for this, but it turned out to not be that difficult, and it was worth it.)

[–] aeternum@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 day ago

Yup. It's REALLY easy to install linux these days. Most of the time, you don't even need to fuck around with drivers like you sometimes have to on winblows. It usually just works straight outta the box.

[–] cosmicrookie@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago

Same. I changed my old pc to Linux but just got a new one that i immediately nuked windows on.

I did have a few challenges with the drivers for the GPU though (gtx5070)

[–] amphy@lemmy.ca 19 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Been a Windows user all my life. As Windows has been tanking over the years, I've finally started making the switch as of a few months ago. First was our home theater PC, which was shockingly easy - next was my desktop, which hasn't been as easy but it's been a joy to learn about and make it my own.

I'm happy to pay for a license for anything I use. That included Windows. But, sometimes, the free & open-source route is better - I'm no longer "locked in" to any one solution and it's a fantastic feeling.

[–] Mrkawfee@lemmy.world 21 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I downloaded Mint and am kicking myself I didn't make the switch years ago. It's exactly how an OS should be

I still have a dual boot option as a backup but I'm using windows 10 less and less. It's sad to say goodbye to that OS but the enshittification has been a long time coming and this latest move is the final nail in the coffin.

The next project is to wipe Windows 11 from my ASUS ROG and install Bazzite.

[–] Fingolfinz@lemmy.world 16 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yeah they’re fucking tripping if they think I’ll buy a new computer for an OS

[–] aeternum@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 1 day ago

on the plus side, there's likely going to be a bunch of cheap computers hitting the market that will run linux just fine.

[–] coyootje@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I've been considering making the step myself since the deadline is approaching and I feel my pc isn't at the end of its lifespan yet. How would it work with games and other stuff I have installed? Would I need to reinstall everything? Or would it be able to pick up the game installations seamlessly?

[–] TheLowestStone@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago

You're going to have to reinstall everything. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[–] TerHu@lemm.ee 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

i think that with sone shenanigans you might be able to keep your game installations, but you would need two separate harddrives in your system and some tinkering which i doubt will be easy when it’s your first time touching linux. i have done such thing, but only among different linux installs, and with some linux sysadmin experience. if you got the drives and enjoy the tinkering, id recommend you do that, cuz worst case scenario is you gotta reinstall them which you’d have to do anyways if you didn’t try…

here is how id do it:

  • have a harddrive with the steam library and whatever else you want to keep on it.
  • install linux on a second harddrive within the same system.
  • mount the games harddrive from within linux.
  • go into steam settings and add that extra harddrives steam library.

i think that all but the last step are pretty certain to work. the last one may cause you some trouble. note that it’ll probably only work with steam games.

[–] Sophocles@infosec.pub 4 points 1 day ago

Also make sure your games drive is not formated exfat. I tried this process with my steam library switching from windows to lmde, but Steam on linux needs access to a file sysyem with symlink support (e.g. ext4) to work properly.

[–] onion_trial@europe.pub 8 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Is it possible to play old windows LAN classics like Warcraft 3 and Counter-Strike 1.6?

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 19 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Those two already worked well before Valve revolutionised game compatibility. Nowadays it is almost trivial to run any game. Only a handful of games are problematic. Mostly those with kernel level anti cheat that didn't enable Linux compatibility.

You can check the status of the latter at https://areweanticheatyet.com/.

[–] loutr@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 days ago

Yes ! Counter-Strike 1.6 runs natively on linux. Just install Steam then CS as you'd do on Windows.

Warcraft 3 (original and reforged) should work through Wine. You can install it manually, or with a tool like Lutris.

[–] Thrawne@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Ok, gonna migrate my archive/plex server to linux on the next iteration/rebuild. I do have a question, as it will affect my timeline. I have an 18TB Raid6 array on a HW raid card. I plan on building out a new raid array when i build the new server, but the end of Win10 has advanced my time table. With HW raid card, can i migrate my array to new OS build. I thought about booting a live distro and seeing if it can recognize the array. Probably the safest approach. Has anyone migrated Operating systems with a raid array? Let alone from windows to linux?

[–] pipes@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

Just booting a live usb can't hurt, it could work out of the box. If it doesn't make sure the distro you picked has built-in support (or you can install it on the live) for NTFS (I'm guessing this is the filesystem you're using on your array), easy to test with a simple NTFS formatted pendrive too. If you need help I'd ask the Selfhosted community, there are probably more RAID users there. It helps to know the filesystem, type of hw card, if the card is handling the RAID or not (JBOD mode). Good luck!

[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 days ago

Aurora and Bluefin Linux have been super easy to install and maintain, and they can't "break". Plus, with Flatpak as the default app store, it's very user friendly.

I've converted all my computers to Linux a few months ago, and it's been a great experience.

Just do it™

[–] BlackLaZoR@fedia.io 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

If you're willing to put up with autism of some distro maintainers, go for it.

Right now I ise Manjaro, but I'm going to try out SteamOS once it comes out for general hardware.

[–] Cavemanfreak@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago

I installed Mint this week, but went with btrfs so that it would be easy to just spin up a new partition for SteamOS when that's out.

[–] macaw_dean_settle@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Here we go again.

[–] PM_ME_YOUR_ZOD_RUNES@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Just because support ends doesn't mean you can't keep using Windows 10. Or am I missing something?

I have updates turned off anyways.

[–] tfm@europe.pub 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Bad idea. Have you heard about security updates? They are there for a reason.

[–] amphy@lemmy.ca 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

As long as you're running Windows 10 without an Internet connection, that's totally fine! Have a good time my dude. But if you are using an Internet connection, security updates are foundational, especially on Windows. I know XP is ancient but this was eye-opening for me: https://youtu.be/6uSVVCmOH5w?t=10m32s

[–] morphballganon@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I still have a machine running Windows 7 with no problems. Surely a machine with 10 is no worse off?

[–] Sophocles@infosec.pub 3 points 1 day ago

I feel like so many people will continue using 10 it might not bee a problem. If browsers and antiviruses continue to update W10 versions even past eol, you would be fine if you practiced strict computer hygene and refused to install any new/untrusted programs and never visited unknown websites. Still walking a fine line though

[–] tfm@europe.pub 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Are you sure it isn't already infected?

[–] morphballganon@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

With what?

[–] tfm@europe.pub 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Trojans, Spyware, Cryptominer, ....

[–] morphballganon@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

... like Windows 11?

[–] Matriks404@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

If you don't care about security nothing stops you from doing that, sure.

[–] morphballganon@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Elaborate?

[–] GiraffeNeckInKnot@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Or debloat your computer by using massgrave.dev, change your window version to IoT Enterprise + Sophia script from Github.

[–] Turret3857@infosec.pub 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Why? Like, what practical reason do you have to Use an OS that will run like shit on old hardware. I know you aren't playing fortnite or editing with adobe on that dell optiplex from 2012

[–] GiraffeNeckInKnot@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Anti cheat issue, some games are inaccessible.

[–] Turret3857@infosec.pub 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

For games that have that level of ring-0 anticheat I dont see why you wouldnt just use Windows 11 at that point. You can disable the TPM 2.0 requirement at install, and if you have the knowhow to get the IoT/Enterprise LTS version of Win10, I feel like you would be able to bypass the TPM & debloat Win11.

[–] GiraffeNeckInKnot@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago

I just like the look of windows 10 over 11.

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