The end is nigh for Windows 10 21H2

Microsoft is warning customers still clinging to Windows 10 21H2 that mere weeks of servicing remain for enterprise and education users. Windows 10 21H2 arrived in 2021 as part of the November 2021 update, and support ended in 2023 for Home, Pro, and Pro for Workstation editions. In June 2024, the support plug will be pulled …

[iron]

> users with hardware that meets Microsoft's demands have likely already made the jump to Windows 11

Hardware meets the Win 11 requirements.

Win 11 does not meet my requirements.

A functioning clock that includes seconds when I click on it rather than displaying a notifications panel (why?) would be nice for a start.

[Charlie Clark]

Being able to install it easily without a network and a Microsoft account is another.

[MJI]

Clock

7 Yes

10 Yes

Prefer 7 calendar bit, like the bigger digital of 10.

But the deseconding of Windows is really peeing me off.

[simonlb]

Eligible...

"As always, we recommend that you upgrade eligible devices to Windows 11."

Software vendor: "Why aren't you people upgrading to the latest version? It's been available for nearly three years?"

Also software vendor: "It's a security feature, and if your hardware isn't up to spec, that isn't our problem, so fuck off."

[Roland6]

“ For many Windows 10 users, an update to 22H2 will already have happened”

Trouble is you cannot assume that has happened.

In maintaining a small fleet of circa 50 systems what has surprised me how over the years versions of windows have diverged fro the common image installed in the winter prior to lockdown, even though all had group policy set to permit auto update.

It seems that if users don’t let the Windows update process to restart etc. Windows gives up on the 21H to 22H update. Also with the push to W11, WUP will prioritise that update over the W10 update. As the W11 update requires the user to okay, obviously the W10 update to 22H2 doesn’t happen…

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: “ For many Windows 10 users, an update to 22H2 will already have happened”

Set Target Feature Version. If you tell it you want Windows 10 22H2 then WU shouldn't download anything else, although that probably won't stop the crazies who create Windows 11 installation media.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: “ For many Windows 10 users, an update to 22H2 will already have happened”

I used that to keep a work laptop from getting W11 and breaking stuff that is only certified for W10. It all sucks big time as users should have a simple and reliable mans of controlling how and when updates occur, not when MS has another sh*t sandwich to shove down your throat...

[gzgweilo]

Re: “ For many Windows 10 users, an update to 22H2 will already have happened”

[ as users should have a simple and reliable mans of controlling how and when updates occur,]

Have you tried WuMgr?

Works well for me

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: “ For many Windows 10 users, an update to 22H2 will already have happened”

It is nice it exists, but really why is MS own supplied software such a sh*t sandwich?

[Charlie Clark]

Re: “ For many Windows 10 users, an update to 22H2 will already have happened”

We gave up auto-update years ago and push everything via policy, which involves waiting for at least a week after Microsoft pushes an update because of their tendency to fuck things, especially VPNs. It's a shitty OS that still needs to restart far too often when installing patches. Also, WSUS is shit: we now do most things with ACMP.

[karlkarl]

> Time for 22H2, the LTSC version, or perhaps something completely different?

Is there an LTSC for Windows 11 yet?

I imagine only once that is released many will migrate their Windows workstations to 11. So, if that is coming second half of this year, the timing of the planned obsolescence of 10 isn't too bad I suppose.

[Dostoevsky]

Bring it on!

I'm patiently waiting for a surge in the flood of cheap, now-useless enterprise PCs. My Linux USBs await them...

[williamyf]

Re: Bring it on!

You will have to wait a looooong time.

Because the key word is Enterprise

As the article clearly states, enterprises have choices:

1.) Stick with Win10 LTSC 2121 until 2027

2.) Stick with Win10 LTSC 2019 until 2029

3.) Stick with Win10 IoT 2021 until (jan) 2032

4.) Pay up the ESU to keep vanilla Win10 supported until 2028

SO, if you are waiting for enterprise machines, you may wait a while. Most likely you will see a steady tickle from now until 2029...

And, if you are thinking about average janes' and joes' machines, not only most of them will keep the machine with the original OS until it breaks, but also:

For the first time ever, the ESU option for Windows (10) is available to average peasants like me/you/us.

[Just A Quick Comment]

It's a simple choice - thank you Microsoft

Yes, my choice will be simple - switch to Mint and run the Windows apps I've paid for under Wine. I have a perfectly fine I7 PC, but because it's not to Microsoft's liking it will be obsolete and insecure in October 2025.

I like to smirke though, with the impending release of Win12... Will it offer an upgrade path for us Win10 refuseniks? Probably not. What will it do to Win11 users? I dread to think, but I do like to smirke...

[Sleep deprived]

Should I let this update go?

My W11-capableThinkPad is at W10 21H2 buI I set it as managed by an IT department so updates don't apply automatically. Should I let 22H2 have a go? What are the losses or nuisances? I don't intend to go to W11.

[Charlie Clark]

Re: Should I let this update go?

I'm 100% sure but I think 22H2 finally allows you to switch between users without logging out – I could easily be wrong on this as I only use it in a VM. But there was an update this year that only worked after I deleted and resized partitions! FFS, Microsoft, stop getting GPT to do the updates.

[MJI]

I quite like the windows UI

Of 2000 to 7

Just building a new PC, so due to 11, it is getting Mint.

I just hate 11 / 8 / 8.1 and just about tolerate 10

[prh99]

If 11 was just 10 with some interface tweaks and ridiculous hardware requirements I could probably begrudgingly use it until I got use to it. The account requirement, connecting to ad networks right out of the box, more ads in the UI, and Microsoft cracking down on customization tools like the ones Stardock sells have really put me off.

I am happy with Mint and don't see myself going back.

[chivo243]

No to prop11

I will fork out cash for an Apple for my mom before I let her try Win11. Win10 is bad enough for her as it is. I get half a dozen questions a week, I fear to see what it would be with Win11.

[Vincent van Gopher]

Re: No to prop11

Why not try your mom on Linux Mint Cinnamon? I have several grannies and grandads using Mint, most will have come from Win7 and barely needed any hand holding in the move.

[IGnatius T Foobar !]

Back to their bad old tricks

We've once again arrived at an era where Microsoft is more interested in using Windows as a vehicle to force-feed its users other products and services (their search engine, their "AI", their web properties, etc.) than in simply providing an operating system that works. People liked Windows 7 and 10 because they didn't do that.

The job of an operating system is to load your programs and then get out of the way. That's why people liked Windows 7 and 10. It's also the reason more people flee to Linux when Microsoft doesn't get out of the way.