The End of Windows 10 Support Is an E-Waste Disaster in the Making

[Nevilledog]

https://www.404media.co/the-end-of-windows-10-support-is-an-e-waste-disaster-in-the-making/

No paywall link
https://archive.li/Ft9ty

Wednesday’s end of free Windows 10 support is an environmental disaster in the making, with as many as 400 million computers that cannot be upgraded to Windows 11 set to be cut off from receiving free security updates. The move is an egregious example of planned obsolescence that will inevitably result in the early deaths of millions of computers that would have otherwise had years of life left, and it is set to affect as many as 42 percent of all Windows computers worldwide.

“There’s 400 million computers that are going to enter the waste stream. That’s a disaster, just in terms of the sheer volume,” Nathan Proctor, director of consumer rights group PIRG’s right to repair campaign, said on the 404 Media Podcast. “And then you have people who are going to ignore the warnings and use a computer that’s insecure, so there’s going to [eventually] be some widespread security problems with these older, unsupported, no longer getting security updates computers.”

Microsoft has said it “will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.” The problem with this is that millions of computers don’t have the technical specs to move to Windows 11, and some large, unknown number of Windows 10 devices are owned and operated by businesses, governments, and large organizations like schools and nonprofits whose procurement rules do not allow them to operate devices that are no longer getting security updates. This means that these organizations will necessarily have to buy new devices, which has become a big topic of conversation on the r/sysadmin subreddit, a community of IT professionals who manage big fleets of computers.

This inevitably means that many of those devices are going to end up in landfills and e-waste facilities, and that people are going to have to buy new computers, one of the more egregious examples of planned obsolescence in recent memory. Experts have repeatedly made clear that extending the use of any given device, either through repair, software updates, or just keeping a device for longer, is extremely important, because it delays all the carbon emissions associated with mining the raw materials needed to produce a new device and the energy and emissions associated with manufacturing and shipping that new device.

*snip*

[SheltieLover]

1. There are ways to configure 11 to work with older computers

[lostincalifornia]

2. Yes there are, and for those who don't, there are ways to recycle the old computers and

Their components, at least here in California, they have plenty of places to handle ewaste.

[hlthe2b]

3. If you are on a personal win 10 laptop (not commercial), backed up, and not able to upgrade to WIN 11 you may still

be able to get a year extension. I just did (until October 13, 2026).

Go to settings on your laptop, Update & Security, and you should see a toggle to enroll to extended protection. Free if you qualify on all the issues cited above. Worth checking if you have a functional WIN 10 machine that you NEED to continue using (and to keep it out of the landfill).

[ParanoidAndroid]

4. there's always ubuntu linux

ubuntu is free and can do everything almost that windows does, free open source software.
unless you are a dedicated gamer in which case you'd want a newer high end computer anyway

[canetoad]

8. I agree with you

But.... Many older people will find the change too frustrating to deal with.

There are ways of changing the BIOS to allow Win11 to run on unsupported software but again, I believe it is not something that many people will attempt.

BTW, here are instructions https://www.howtogeek.com/759925/how-to-install-windows-11-on-an-unsupported-pc/

E-waste, consumerism, AI - things I hate being forced on people.

[Cheezoholic]

5. Learn Linux. Its as easy as Windows anymore, mostly free and will run on these laptops for another 10 years

Laptops are the ones that will eventually take the hardest hit and they cause the most waste by far. I have a 15 year old laptop I run Ubuntu Linux on and it runs like a dream. I can do nearly everything I do on Windows safely and securely, except maybe some games. Hell, I can still play Halo on it and it looks great lol. As with Windows 7, there will be tons of Ebay stores getting these machines for nearly free, re-loading with Linux and re-selling. I'm really serious when I say these new versions of Linux are really easy. Its no more difficult than a long time PC user switching to a MacBook. Apple's OS is after all based on Linux now anyway

[usonian]

6. People and businesses should be able to donate those systems to schools, or needy people, with linux installed.

Linux runs with way less memory and CPU demand than Windows (depends on the distro, some are extremely efficient) allowing it to run on "windows 10" variety hardware, and earlier systems going back many years, and

• The operating system can be updated as needed. A few distros are dropping 32-bit support (very old machines)
• Linux comes with a complete "Office Compatible" suite, up to date browsers and email apps. Apps get updated.
• Most, if not all, distros come with mathematical and educational apps installed, or easily installed from the web.

Young (and old) people who learn programming "the old way" will run circles around "don't make me think" coders who only "vibe code".
Vibe code almost always has to be "fixed" by real humans, and likely, always will.

I have linux running on a very old compaq laptop (big screen) over 10 years old, with all the apps mentioned above.

[eppur_se_muova]

7. E-waste stream, or Linux stream ?

According to that last para, Linux is better for the environment than Windows or Mac OS ...

[AnnaLee]

9. My Windows 10 all-in-one qualified for the free 1 yr extension.

I wonder if Best Buy is continuing the recycle service through this.

[Intractable]

10. Back in the 1990s, it seemed we had to replace or upgrade hardware every two or three years just to be relevant.

Back then, there were rapid advances in PC hardware.

Now, computer hardware easily goes ten years before becoming functionally old or obsolete.

[hunter]

11. It's a windfall for Linux users. Useful machines for free!

I quit Wndows 98SE for Linux and never looked back. I can upgrade my computers whenever I choose to, not when Microsoft and other commercial software producers decide it's time, or bog my machines down with "features" that are useless to me, or quit supporting features that are.

This is my usual upgrade path:

First, I keep full backups of my machines on at least two external hard drives and my personal networks.

Randomly I'll stumble upon a machine, usually someone else's e-waste, that is significantly better than my current desktop or laptop. I might add more memory or install a better hard drive.

I install Linux. In my case that's usually Debian, but Linux Mint might be friendlier.

Then I drag and drop everything from my freshly backed up home folder to the new machine.

There are a few applications I commonly use that are not included in default installs of Debian or Mint so I install those (for free!) from the repositories, usually when I realize they are missing. Most Linux applications are small and quick to install. There's no hoops to jump through to register them.

That's pretty much it.

I keep everything, and have files going back to the later 'seventies with emulators for most of the computers I once used daily. My favorite 8 bit Atari stuff is one click away on my desktop. So is my DOS stuff.

I've been doing this for so many years, on so many machines, that there may be pitfalls I'm unaware of. Problems with wifi adapters used to be common but that doesn't seem to be the case any more.

It just works for me, possibly because my computer use hasn't changed much since I first signed on to DU. I don't use proprietary photo or video editing software, I find that LibreOffice is more than adequate for my writing and spreadsheet needs, and I don't play modern graphics-intensive video games.