Windows 10 End of Support Guidance

Microsoft Windows 10 will reach its “end of support” date on 14th October 2025. The operating system will continue to work, but after this date Microsoft will no longer release security fixes and patches¹. Over time, the operating system will become what we describe as inherently insecure. Any devices you have that run Windows 10 must be replaced or upgraded to an operating system that is supported. This article aims to outline the main decision factors.

Replace or Upgrade?

When deciding between replacement and upgrade of your Windows 10 devices, cost-effectiveness will probably be a main consideration, so we recommend that you factor in the age and specification of your desktops and laptops.

The Cost-Effectiveness Factor

While upgrading existing devices to Windows 11 may seem less expensive initially, the total cost of ownership must be considered. Older desktops and laptops suffer from increased hardware failures. Alongside this, we see reduced performance with newer software (so your users are less productive) even with disk and RAM upgrades that may be needed.  The combined costs of the upgrade, potential hardware faults and reduced productivity can often exceed the value of investing in new equipment.

Replace Older Devices

Devices more than five years old are typically less cost-effective to upgrade. From our experience, hardware failures do tend to increase once a device is maybe six or seven years old, with most faults being either the motherboard or onboard graphics – showstopper faults for your users. While you might get a couple of years from these devices with Windows 11, the upgrade costs, performance limitations, and reliability concerns usually make replacement more economical.

Upgrade Newer Devices

Newer devices with adequate specifications can be good candidates for Windows 11 upgrades. These computers likely have years of productive life remaining, making the upgrade investment worthwhile. In some cases, minor hardware upgrades (RAM or SSD) alongside Windows 11 can breathe new life into slightly older devices and extend their useful lifespan. We recommend a minimum of 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD hard disk for Windows 11. Roughly speaking the cost of RAM upgrade, new hard disk and Windows 11 license will be around £150, though the actual costs will depend upon the specification if your PC and this also excludes labout.

Our Five-Year Guideline

We use this five-year mark as a general guideline based on our experience with business hardware lifecycles. When we supply equipment, we prioritise devices designed to perform well for at least five years, backed by manufacturer warranties. However, specifications matter too – some customers may have purchased devices within the last five years that have much lower specifications than we recommend – so may struggle with Windows 11, while some higher-specification devices such as CAD workstations may run it effectively despite being older.

In-Place Upgrade vs. Fresh Install

When upgrading devices to Windows 11, you have two main options. An in-place upgrade preserves your existing programs, files, and settings while updating the operating system – this is typically faster and less expensive as it minimises setup time and user disruption. A fresh install involves completely wiping the device and installing Windows 11 from scratch, then reinstalling programs and restoring data.

For a very detailed breakdown of the pros and cons of each approach, see this related article:

Act Now

With Windows 10 support ending in just four months, now is the time to assess your devices and plan your upgrade strategy. Waiting until closer to the October deadline could leave you scrambling for equipment during peak demand, potentially facing longer lead times and higher costs.

We recommend conducting a device audit within the next 30 days to identify which computers need replacement versus upgrade. Contact us today to schedule a comprehensive assessment of your Windows 10 devices – we can evaluate your hardware specifications, recommend the most cost-effective approach for each device, and create a timeline that ensures all your systems are secure and supported well before the October 14th deadline.