People often delete old computers and there are reasons for this, because they stop working properly. However, if you cannot install Windows 11, you do not need to get rid of your old computer. There are many scenarios that can extend the life of your computer, and 24 Channels will tell you about each of them as worth considering.

Why should you upgrade to Windows 11?

People won’t be able to use Windows 10 forever because its support is scheduled to end. when will it happen Windows 10 will stop receiving any updates from Microsoft. These are not only new features and bug fixes but also security patches.

If major vulnerabilities are found in Windows 10 after the end of support period, Microsoft will not fix them (unless, perhaps, they are very serious). This in itself will encourage people to abandon Windows 10 and upgrade to Windows 11. Unfortunately, upgrading to Windows 11 is not an option for everyone.

Strict hardware requirements of Windows 11

Some users did not upgrade to Windows 11 because Microsoft did not allow it. If you open Windows Update on a relatively old computer, you’ll likely see a message saying you can’t upgrade to Windows 11.

If the scan detects that your computer is too old to run Windows 11, won’t let you install a newer operating system. A hardware upgrade can help extend the life of your computer, but if your system is really old, too many components may need to be upgraded. Laptop owners have no chance.

How to give new life to a computer with Windows 10

So what do you do with a Windows 10 computer that can’t be upgraded to Windows 11 but you don’t want to throw away because it has great hardware (at least enough for your needs)? Fortunately, there are many ways to save your Windows 10 computer from the trash.

1. Pay for Windows 10 support

While it’s not ideal, you can pay for additional Windows 10 support time. At the time of this writing, we don’t know how much this will cost, but there will be an annual fee that will extend your protection until 2028. Going forward, Microsoft will release fixes for critical vulnerabilities.

Considering that paid support will also expire over time, this plan is best if you need to buy some time until you can buy a new computer with Windows 11 support. This option is perfect for businesses and entrepreneurs.

2. Bypassing Windows 11 system requirements

You can bypass the Windows 11 system requirements. This allows you to bypass the Windows 11 hardware check and install it on any computer you want.

This solution is also not ideal, as Microsoft Corporation assumes that all computers running Windows 11 meet the system requirements. Therefore, you may notice that Windows 11 runs slower than Windows 10 and some features do not work properly. But it’s still probably safer than using Windows 10 after its expiration date.

3. Try Linux or ChromeOS Flex

The term “Linux” is enough to make any Windows fan cringe, but things have changed over the years. Modern Linux distributions are much more user-friendly. Best of all, there are tons of lightweight Linux distributions that work on older computers.

If choosing a Linux distribution is not the ideal solution for you, you can try ChromeOS Flex. This is similar to turning your computer into a Chromebook running ChromeOS, with a few differences.

4. Turn it into a media center

You can also enable attackers to hack your Windows 10 computer by turning it off from the internet. From now on, you can turn your computer into a media center that will continue to serve you even after you buy a new computer.

As horrifying as the news that 240 million computers could potentially end up in landfill sounds, it’s up to you to decide what happens to your computer when Windows 10 reaches its end of life. It can find good use using various alternative methods.