Windows 10 safe after 2025 ?

[michaelgb]

My older thinkpad wont run windows 11, otherwise it runs perfect and does everything I need a laptop to do.

If I don't upgrade the laptop or install Linux come 2025 will I get terrorized by hackers ?

I don't frequent any dodgy web places (except the wam and other audiophile sites) and don't open any suspicious email attachment's from Nigerian Prince's. How else would the laptop be at risk ?

 

[dave]

Still running, ehem, windows 7 on a few computers with no issues apart from lack of drivers for new hardware, (smsl D300 sulk), and they still get updates.

 

[StingRay]

I ran Windows 7 for some time without any issues. I then upgraded to Win10 for free after a few years.

I did not get updates for some time, still worked just the same. Cant use 11 on my computer for some reason.

 

[Cable Monkey]

My older thinkpad wont run windows 11, otherwise it runs perfect and does everything I need a laptop to do.

If I don't upgrade the laptop or install Linux come 2025 will I get terrorized by hackers ?

I don't frequent any dodgy web places (except the wam and other audiophile sites) and don't open any suspicious email attachment's from Nigerian Prince's. How else would the laptop be at risk ?

If you get another three years out of what must be an already ageing laptop then just be happy and look to replace it with something better supported when the time approaches. An alternative is to put a long term supported Linux build on it. I recently found ransomeware on a Linux machine with a drive open with SMB1 but they couldn’t affect the device itself, only the shared drive so in my experience Linux is more resilient. A Windows machine would not have fared so well. Out of left field, consider a tablet. My (ageing) laptop only comes out when I need full PC functionality. I use an iPad and quite honestly very rarely miss my laptop.

 

[Rayymondo]

I've looked at replacing my relatively aging Dell windows 10 laptop for a while as it does have a few glitches now and then. However, what I want doesn't seem to be available anymore - namely a 17" inch screen and a built in dvd / cd drive. My laptop is also my hifi "source" in that I use it to send info to my DAC via USB, it's also my only TV screen, used most days to watch Netflix and/ or DVDs. I also use it to rip cds to my hard drive where I store my digital music library (I only use digital these days)
A few years ago I was spoiled for choice - now it looks like my mains options are the all singing & dancing gaming laptops that are about twice as much as I'd like to pay! The One thing I don't need is an illuminated keyboard for Christ's sake! Oh I also need 1TB or storage!

 

[michaelgb]

Looking at Linux which seems pretty polished. POP_OS in particular has caught my eye.