# Is anyone planning on sticking with Windows 10 and exercising prudence while taking their chances? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 20, 2025, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889 "2025-03-20T21:15:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/1 "2025-03-20T21:15:52Z")
I know, Prudence should take care of her own exercise program… When I worked, my laptop was my life, my brain, and indeed, my whole being. I had multiple clients for 35+ years, and all of their stuff was in my computer. Blahblahblah, you get the picture. This is a honking big and powerful computer because I did a lot of graphic design. I’m completely retired now and don’t do stuff for anyone else anymore. I practice safe computing (don’t visit porn, dating, auction, or crypto-bitcoin-blood diamond sites), have a good antivirus program, don’t do any social media except here and occasionally Reddit. Yeah, email. And I use Quicken. This is at least my 8th laptop _(never had a desktop-- needed to be completely mobile)_, and _I DON’T WANT A NEW COMPUTER AND YOU CAN’T MAKE ME GET ONE!_ I’d like to lope carefully along with this one, like the little old lady (I am one, after all) who drives her antique Porsche only to bingo on weekends. Is anyone else planning to follow this strategy, or non-strategy? I have a friend who is still using Windows 7. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/2 "2025-03-20T21:25:56Z")
It isn’t a good idea of course once Windows stops updating 10, but you might be OK. FTR: End of free support will be October 14, 2025. You can probably buy an extra year of support for $30. If updating to Windows 11 is out of the questions, not sure what to tell you. My old 2014 Windows 10 laptop will be retired by October, I barely ever use it. But I mainly live on my desktop and a tiny little nothing of a win 11 computer that hangs off a monitor in my game room. At least consider a cheap Windows 11 Laptop for your Internet browsing and Email come November. You can keep doing your finances on the old one, not sure what else you’re using on it that is keeping you on that old machine. Basically, I would upgrade or retire the Windows 10 machine. BTW: Adjusting to Windows 11 from Windows 10 is very easy. Not much involved. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/3 "2025-03-20T21:28:44Z")
I think our laptops at work are 10, and it’s IT’s decision when to upgrade, not ours. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/4 "2025-03-20T21:43:51Z")
My answer to your question is that, no, I’m not planning on “sticking with Windows 10”. **I’m planning on sticking with Windows 7!** 😃 As I said in another thread (or maybe several) this may be a terrible idea for the typical user, and in any case is **not** a recommendation for anyone. But I’ve had no trouble with it, despite the Edge browser being now unsupported and Firefox on ESR (Extended Support Release). I run an enterprise-grade anti-virus and anti-malware with proactive threat protection and network and host exploit mitigation, and it updates daily. I don’t engage in any risky internet practices. My main reason for continuing to run Windows 7 on my main daily-use desktop is that, as I’ve said elsewhere, this is a really beautiful, utterly silent machine with a gorgeously vivid 24" IPS monitor and I will only abandon it when absolutely necessary. I do have a cheap new Dell Windows 11 laptop that I was so incredibly excited about that after it arrived (I think back in January) I never even bothered to power it on or set it up. 😁 My only reason for having it is that my tax software no longer works on Windows 7. I regard it as a strictly utilitarian device. I also happen to hate Windows 11 with a passion. Windows 7 was one of Microsoft’s rare moments of peak functional and aesthetic design. Everyone’s situation is different. This is an ultimate case of “YMMV”. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/5 "2025-03-20T21:51:44Z")
I’m not planning on replacing my 2016 Windows 10 system until I have my debt consolidation loan paid off in September of next year, so I’m just gonna have to be careful until then. Of course, these days I mainly just use it for Youtube, social media, reading, and single-player retro games. I don’t plan on surfing to freerussianbonerpills.biz or MAGAcryptogold.sex any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/6 "2025-03-20T22:08:02Z")
I have a Win10 device thay can do Win11. But it’s long in the tooth. I am resisting upgrade until I either replace the box, or Win10 stops being supported. The next morning, Win10 is a walking disaster in the making. Only a fool would continue running it past that date. So I either upgrade or replace. Probably replace. I utterly reject @wolfpup’s wacky and profoundly dangerous ideas. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/7 "2025-03-20T22:13:13Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > As I said in another thread (or maybe several) this may be a terrible idea for the typical user, and in any case is **not** a recommendation for anyone. But I’ve had no trouble with it, despite the Edge browser being now unsupported and Firefox on ESR (Extended Support Release). I run an enterprise-grade anti-virus and anti-malware with proactive threat protection and network and host exploit mitigation, and it updates daily. I don’t engage in any risky internet practices. Do yourself a favour - do not login to CRA, your bank, or anything else that could have a negative financial impact on you. If we see a Bitcoin pump’n’dump thread on The Dope from you, we’ll know you were compromised. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/8 "2025-03-20T22:21:08Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I utterly reject @wolfpup’s wacky and profoundly dangerous ideas. Reject away! If I’ve been living “profoundly dangerously” for each and every day for more than five years, maybe the totality of the situation is not as “dangerous” as you think. Again, I’m recounting my own experience, not offering advice for others. > [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > Do yourself a favour - do not login to CRA, your bank, or anything else that could have a negative financial impact on you. If we see a Bitcoin pump’n’dump thread on The Dope from you, we’ll know you were compromised. I log in to the CRA frequently and my bank almost daily. Both are super-security conscious and neither have had a problem with my security protocols or credentials. I think maybe some of you have bought into the security hype just a little bit too much. If I’m being really stupid about this, I’m willing to be educated, but not on the basis of vague popularized generalities that ignore my specific situation and my specific protections. As I mentioned elsewhere, I know of a major bank that’s still running Windows 2000 in all its front-office systems, albeit with the aid of a major support contract with Microsoft. ETA: I hope I was clear that I am in no way suggesting that it’s not important to upgrade to a supported OS. In general, it is, and for most people, it’s downright imperative. What I’m saying is that there are tradeoffs, and sometimes the tradeoff favours staying with the older, unsupported OS, for whatever benefit it brings, if you understand the issues. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/9 "2025-03-20T22:23:39Z")
I’m still using my old W10 laptop, but without any internet connectivity. I need it for using my scanner because the Epson Scan software won’t work on W11. There are third-party apps that are compatible with the hardware but they don’t have all the functionality of the original bundled software. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/10 "2025-03-20T22:23:39Z")
Isn’t the military still paying Microsoft for support for Windows XP? Or have they finally made the leap to Vista? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/11 "2025-03-20T22:29:19Z")
I just recently retired and was given my old desktop which was stuck on Windows 10. I decided to install Mint Linux on it and I’m turning it into a Plex multimedia server. But it’s also good for surfing, which I’m doing right now on the SDMB. It has Libre Office on it and that would probably work for 99% of MS Office documents but I use Google’s office suite instead. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/12 "2025-03-20T22:34:46Z")
I had no idea what version of windows I am using. But this thread motivated me to google how to find out, and I just did so. I’m using _Windows 11 Enterprise_. Seems fine to me. Although there are things I can’t figure out, I do have an IT guy at work who can usually help me. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/13 "2025-03-20T22:35:27Z")
My work forced an upgrade to Win 11 and I used that for a while before I upgraded my home computer (a desktop) to Win 11. It’s been fine. No loss of files or any functionality that I, a non-power users, can detect. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/14 "2025-03-20T22:40:19Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > My answer to your question is that, no, I’m not planning on “sticking with Windows 10”. **I’m planning on sticking with Windows 7!** 😃 😲 My kinda guy. Walk on the wild side, baby. * * * > [@Smapti](#): > > I don’t plan on surfing to freerussianbonerpills.biz or MAGAcryptogold.sex any time soon. Dang. I’m getting a bad case of FOMO. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/15 "2025-03-20T22:42:26Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I think maybe some of you have bought into the security hype just a little bit too much. If I’m being really stupid about this, I’m willing to be educated, but not on the basis of vague popularized generalities that ignore my specific situation and my specific protections. I’m a Microsoft partner and I can’t risk any of my staff connecting to any of our clients environments or Azure with a computer that’s not fully patched and with a supported BIOS, our Cyber insurance requires it. I use the same philosophy for home. I’ve seen compromises through hacked USB devices that can compromise a computer in seconds. Unless you are running an EDR/XDR, you likely don’t know what your computer is doing. With virtually everything being TLS encrypted, even stateful firewalls have a hard time blocking connections to remote command and control nodes. > [@Smapti](#): > > Of course, these days I mainly just use it for Youtube, social media, reading, and single-player retro games. I don’t plan on surfing to freerussianbonerpills.biz or MAGAcryptogold.sex any time soon. Until you click on a link you think is YouTube or accidentally click on an ad that’s infected with malware on Facebook. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/16 "2025-03-20T23:13:45Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > I’m a Microsoft partner … And therefore – everything else being equal – probably inclined to shill for Microsoft, no? > [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > I’ve seen compromises through hacked USB devices that can compromise a computer in seconds I don’t use questionable USB devices. > [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > Unless you are running an EDR/XDR, you likely don’t know what your computer is doing. As I said, I run a state-of-the-art enterprise-grade endpoint protection that includes proactive threat protection and network and host exploit mitigation and it updates daily. It tells me all I need to know about what my computer is doing. XDR is irrelevant to me. Not trying to start an argument here. Yes, in general, people should upgrade to the latest version of Windows and keep it updated. I’m just objecting to the accusations that my personal policies in my specific circumstances are “wacky” and “dangerous”. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/17 "2025-03-20T23:23:14Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > And therefore – everything else being equal – probably inclined to shill for Microsoft, no? I don’t sell hardware or support desktops, so I have no dog in this fight. I do know that I’ve run this company for 27 years and we have never had a virus infection that has spread or caused any damage, no spam bots, and no ransomware attacks. Maybe I’ve been lucky, maybe I just know what I’m doing and take security seriously. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/18 "2025-03-20T23:28:26Z")
I was in a similar situation. I have a beefy 12-core system that I was using for lengthy compilations when I was working. It cost $6800 when I bought it 8 years ago. (It reduced my compilation time from about 2.5 hours to 20 minutes, so it was totally worth it at the time.) But it’s not compatible with Windows 11. After some dithering, I finally decided I could afford to get a new system to limit the disaster that could result if my system were compromised, so I bought a new computer a few weeks ago. It’s approximately as powerful as the old one, but cost less than $2000. I’m not happy about having to do that, but I believe I made the right decision. We can all blame Intel for the CPU issues that made them vulnerable to Spectre, Meltdown and related issues, which obsoleted our CPUs. I am extremely careful with what software I allow on my computer, but one mistake could practically ruin my life, so I’m willing to spend the money for the upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/19 "2025-03-20T23:30:03Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > I don’t sell hardware or support desktops, so I have no dog in this fight. I do know that I’ve run this company for 27 years and we have never had a virus infection that has spread or caused any damage, no spam bots, and no ransomware attacks Well, how about that, neither have I! What does that tell us? Frankly, damned if I know what it tells us. But here I am, typing on my Windows 7 desktop, and last I checked (a few hours ago) all the money in my bank account was still there and not transferred to the Bitcoin wallet of a Nigerian prince. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889/20 "2025-03-20T23:35:58Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > Until you click on a link you think is YouTube or accidentally click on an ad that’s infected with malware on Facebook. Heck, I got a ransomware bug once when my cursor happened to slide over an infected ad; didn’t even need a click. My computer shop fixer got rid of it with no damage, but you can bet I’m veeeeery careful about swiping the cursor now. I’m running Win10 on one lightly used desktop till I’m forced to update or replace it, have Win11 on the other desktop and on both laptops. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-planning-on-sticking-with-windows-10-and-exercising-prudence-while-taking-their-chances/1015889.md?page=2)