In case you haven't heard yet, as of 14 October 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free Windows Update software updates, support and security fixes for Windows 10.
Nothing abnormal so far, but this has been one of Microsoft's most rapacious moves in recent years. Many users will not be able to upgrade to Windows 11. This affects a good number of users of Windows 10, the last best version (with apologies to Windows 7 Pro 64bits) which still has more than 60% market share.
What is worrying is the end of security updates. From that date, the system will be at risk and the danger will increase as the months go by. In addition, there will be the usual incompatibility issues as developers stop supporting potential Windows 10-compatible software versions.
In case your Windows 10 machine is a bit old, or not so old, upgrading to Windows 11 is complicated by the fucking TMP 2.0 requirement. Although you can upgrade by losing support and future updates. In a pinch you can always go around reinstalling the operating system from the fresh ISO, but this is not something the average user would consider.
Another way is to abandon Windows and switch to Linux (you know, this is the year of Linux on the desktop XD) and if you need Windows for something specific, leave it installed on a partition and don't connect it to the internet much. This move is also not something simple within the reach of the average home user.
The alternatives for companies that do not want to renew hardware are to pay for the Extended Security Update(ESU) programme, an extension of the Windows 10 security updates for one year and for a period of time to be determined.
These are the emails that Microsoft sends to Windows 10 users. Basically it says that if it is not possible to install Windows 11, to buy a new computer.
I won't go into this any further because there are tons of links on the net where you can soak up the subject. The point is that, in my case, neither my motherboard nor my processor can run Windows 11 anymore and that would mean replacing both things and therefore also the RAM. In short, the three most expensive things in the machine.
I have been exploring the different alternatives and regardless of the fact that Windows 11 doesn't make me happy, I have decided to do a hardware renovation, buy the components and install it in a new box because the whole thing is already quite worn out after almost 14 years.
It pisses me off because it works perfectly well, with its limitations and shortcomings due to its age, and I could probably have used it for another 10 years, but there are tools that I don't want to stop using for my work and that have a bad replacement under Linux. Besides, I already have a modest Raspberry Pi 400 with a meagre 4GB of RAM for Linux tinkering and an old inherited laptop that is no longer compatible with Windows 11.
It can be said that the decision has also been influenced by the "whim" factor and that my consolation for the expense (or investment, depending on how you look at it), is that I will save a good deal of money by using my current power supply, fans and graphics card and installing it myself.
After saving a few euros and doing a thorough price check I have already bought the necessary components and I have bought the board, processor, CPU fan and case (which is already showing signs of age and has some handmade restorations).
My intention is to explain here the assembly when the time comes to leave advice and opinions about my experience, which is what I usually do to have my own source of consultation when I need to fix or modify something. And in case it is useful to someone else.
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