End of Windows 10

Microsoft ends support for Windows 10 on 14th October 2025.
This means Windows 10 will cease receiving updates, including potentially critical security fixes.
You should stop using Windows 10 on this date.
Have questions? We're here to help!

Does this mean my current PC is no good?

Not at all!
In fact, if your current PC was made after 2010 it's likely to still be perfectly usable without Windows 10, with one of many alternatives!
Don't throw your old PC away, put an alternative system on it and make it good again!

There are alternatives to Windows?

Of course! Most people will be aware of Apple Macintosh ("Mac") computers, but this will only work with new Apple Mac hardware - a new (and expensive) computer. Don't do that!

There is a whole plethora of choice out there with Linux or BSD based operating systems which, for the most part, are free to install and use. Updates are free too!

"Linux" and "BSD"?

These are two different types of underlying system that runs the main operating system.
You shouldn't need to worry about this too much for basic computer usage, but it's nice to publicise both of them.

At Wilde IT, we are experienced in the management and support of both types of system.

Who's using Linux or BSD?

Effectively, most of the world runs on Linux or BSD systems these days. A few key examples are below:

• Amazon largely uses Linux based systems for their entire infrastructure.
• As do Google, Twitter, Facebook...
• even NASA - Linux is in SPACE right now!
• Apple's Mac OS is actually based upon a BSD system.
• Netflix uses BSD based systems to operate their streaming services.
• WhatsApp uses BSD based systems to run their chat platform.
• In fact, almost all web sites you visit will likely be running on top of a Linux or BSD system.

How is it different to Windows?

It's not actually that different!
Yes, it may look a little different, but the concepts of clicking icons and moving windows around are the same. If most of what you do with a computer is browse the internet and use email, you'll get the hang of it almost immediately.

For more advanced tasks you may notice some larger differences. Linux and BSD have tens of thousands of available software packages, many of them you'll be familiar with and more are available via alternative installation methods. However, that does mean everything that is available on Windows is available on these systems.
For example, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.) is not available on these systems. Instead, we have LibreOffice which offers the same type of product (word processor, spreadsheets, etc.) with the same features. LibreOffice is even able to open up Word and Excel files! So you don't need to convert all your files.

OK, I'll try it. What do I need to do?

Installation of Linux or BSD is actually quite straight forward. However, it's always good sense to take a backup of all of the files you want to keep before starting. An Operating System installation wipes the entire storage device and re-configures it, so anything on it will be lost. Make sure you have a good backup of anything important to you before continuing.

With your backup put in a safe place, you can install your new system!

Our friends at End of 10 have some great simple documentation about getting started. Also, they have a list of places and events who can help you get things installed.

Of course, here at Wilde IT we'd be very happy to help you with this installation too!
Get in touch at endof10@wilde-it.co.uk and we can have a chat about what you need, and then arrange a convenient time to install your new operating system on your current PC.