Microsoft has officially extended its Enhanced Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 until October 12, 2027. Originally, the support was set to expire on October 14, 2025. This decision comes as a direct response to the slow migration to Windows 11, predominantly hindered by stringent hardware requirements that many older, yet functional computers cannot meet.
Hardware Barriers to Windows 11 Transition
The strict mandates for TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot pose significant challenges for older devices still in use. Additionally, rising RAM prices exacerbate hardware upgrade costs, making the transition to newer systems even more daunting. Although Windows 11 eclipsed Windows 10 as the most-used desktop operating system in July 2025, current statistics reveal that about 30% of HP computers continue to run on the previous version.
Home users can activate the ESU program at no cost using a Microsoft account or by redeeming 1,000 Rewards points. Alternatively, there is a €30 option that covers up to ten devices. Industry observers speculate that Microsoft may extend this program until 2028 if adoption rates remain sluggish.
Linux Ecosystem Focuses on Efficiency
While Windows users grapple with hardware issues, the Linux community is making strides in optimizing performance for older systems. Valve developer Natalie Fog recently released a “VRAM Management” patch for the Linux kernel, specifically aimed at AMD and Intel GPUs. This update enhances gaming performance on graphic cards with eight gigabytes of VRAM or less.
Internal tests conducted with an RX 6600 GPU demonstrated significant improvements. For instance, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p, the “1% Low” performance metric jumped from 55 to 77 frames per second. These enhancements are accessible via the “KCHOS” tool within the KDE Plasma interface.
Transitioning from Windows to Linux
Despite Windows 10 still running on a significant number of computers, the support will only continue until 2027. If you’re considering whether to switch to Linux, our checklist will help you activate the free ESU updates while assessing if Linux could rejuvenate your hardware.
Notably, SteamOS 3.8 is also progressing and now offers improved compatibility for Intel and AMD hardware. Although official Nvidia support for SteamOS is not expected until 2026, the Fedora-based project “Bazzite” presents an alternative, providing a SteamOS-like experience with existing support for Intel and Nvidia in dual-boot configurations.
Desktop Enhancements and Kernel Innovations
Desktop developers are also focused on stability improvements. The upcoming KDE Plasma 6.7.2, slated for July 2026, promises to resolve KWin crashes on multi-monitor setups with variable refresh rates and rectify issues in Nvidia systems. Plasma 6.8 will fully embrace Wayland, implementing triple buffering for Nvidia hardware by default.
On the kernel level, Qi Zheng, an engineer from ByteDance, has proposed a “Reserved THP” function (Transparent Huge Pages). This aims to combine the benefits of HugeTLB with the swap support of THP, reducing memory waste during “hot upgrades” of processes where large amounts of RAM are reserved but not utilized.
Affordable Hardware Alternatives
If your PC is too outdated for Windows 11, there’s no need to worry. Our checklist illustrates how to safely utilize Windows 10 until 2027, while also highlighting Linux alternatives that could breathe new life into your hardware.
Fluctuating component prices are influencing the market for affordable hardware. For instance, Cytron has introduced a “Special Value” version of the Raspberry Pi 4 priced around €80, down from the standard price of €100. However, this discount has its trade-offs; the CPU now operates at 1.25 GHz instead of 1.8 GHz.
The manufacturer cites increased RAM prices, which have also escalated the costs of standard boards. The slower boards may sacrifice up to 30% performance in compute-intensive tasks but remain fully compatible with Raspberry Pi OS and HAT extensions, targeting embedded projects where maximum clock speeds are not crucial.
With Microsoft’s extended support for Windows 10, users have additional time to plan their next steps, whether they decide to upgrade their hardware or explore the Linux ecosystem as a viable alternative.
