From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

<https://www.theverge.com/news/779079/consumer-reports-windows-10-extended-support-microsoft>:

... the move will “strand millions of consumers” who have machines
incompatible with Windows 11.

But we already know this.

In the letter, Consumer Reports calls Microsoft “hypocritical” for
urging customers to upgrade to Windows 11 to bolster
cybersecurity, but then leaving Windows 10 devices susceptible to
cyberattacks.

We know that too. But then Microsoft isn’t a charity, is it? As far as
it is concerned, the cost of security failures on obsolete,
unsupported platforms is an “externality” -- something paid by someone else. If a cost doesn’t appear on its own accounting balance sheet, it
might as well not exist.

Why support a company whose interests do not align with those of its
customers? It’s your choice.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

On 9/17/2025 6:55 PM, Lawrence D’Oliveiro wrote:

<https://www.theverge.com/news/779079/consumer-reports-windows-10-extended-support-microsoft>:

... the move will “strand millions of consumers” who have machines
incompatible with Windows 11.

But we already know this.

In the letter, Consumer Reports calls Microsoft “hypocritical” for
urging customers to upgrade to Windows 11 to bolster
cybersecurity, but then leaving Windows 10 devices susceptible to
cyberattacks.

We know that too. But then Microsoft isn’t a charity, is it? As far as
it is concerned, the cost of security failures on obsolete,
unsupported platforms is an “externality” -- something paid by someone else. If a cost doesn’t appear on its own accounting balance sheet, it might as well not exist.

Why support a company whose interests do not align with those of its customers? It’s your choice.

People whose computers can't upgrade to 11 should pay for the extra time
of support of 10, or switch to Linux.
--
Joel W. Crump
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

On Sep 17, 2025 at 6:55:43 PM EDT, "Lawrence D´Oliveiro" <[email protected]d> wrote:

<https://www.theverge.com/news/779079/consumer-reports-windows-10-extended-support-microsoft>:

... the move will “strand millions of consumers” who have machines
incompatible with Windows 11.

This is an absurd lie.

I keep reading "400 million PCs can't upgrade to Windows 11".

The fact is, 400 million computers are being arbitrarily prevented from
running Windows 11. I guarantee that around 390 million CAN in fact run
Windows 11. It is a very simple process to install Windows 11 on "unsupported hardware". I have done it many times.

Microsoft needs to come clean about this. They need to officially endorse the
2 simple settings that allow Windows 11 to be installed. That being, disable the checks for TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. Neither are needed to actually RUN Windows 11. They are only checked for during the standard install.

There are now several methods to do this. I used the Rufus utility, which disables these checks (and optionally several others) and creates a bootable USB stick from the standard Windows 11 ISO.

I have installed Windows 11 on 11 year old hardware. Gen 4 Intel i7 (4 cores,
8 threads), with 16GB RAM and 1 TB SSD. The SSD was added a few years ago. That is PLENTY of hardware to run Windows 11. It runs fine and gets updates.

The only PC I could not install 11 on is a 16 year old desktop tower. It came with Vista, that's how old it is. It has a Core 2 Quad CPU, 8 GB RAM and
SSDs. The install failed due to Windows 11 using 2 CPU instructions that this CPU does not have.

But it runs Windows 10 just fine. It is basically just a server now anyway, so will be fine for my uses.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

On Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:20:12 +0000, Tyrone wrote:

On Sep 17, 2025 at 6:55:43 PM EDT, "Lawrence D´Oliveiro"
<[email protected]d> wrote:

<https://www.theverge.com/news/779079/consumer-reports-windows-10-extended-support-microsoft>:

... the move will “strand millions of consumers” who have machines >> incompatible with Windows 11.

This is an absurd lie.

The fact is, 400 million computers are being arbitrarily prevented from running Windows 11. I guarantee that around 390 million CAN in fact run Windows 11. It is a very simple process to install Windows 11 on "unsupported hardware". I have done it many times.

I’m sure you have. But most people have better things to do with their
lives than keep fighting a company that has unlimited control over the
platform to stop them from doing what they’re trying to do.

Better to put your effort into a platform that enables you to do
things, rather than restrict you from them.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

On 9/18/2025 12:35 AM, Lawrence D’Oliveiro wrote:

On Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:20:12 +0000, Tyrone wrote:

On Sep 17, 2025 at 6:55:43 PM EDT, "Lawrence D´Oliveiro"
<[email protected]d> wrote:

<https://www.theverge.com/news/779079/consumer-reports-windows-10-extended-support-microsoft>:

... the move will “strand millions of consumers” who have machines >>> incompatible with Windows 11.

This is an absurd lie.

The fact is, 400 million computers are being arbitrarily prevented from
running Windows 11. I guarantee that around 390 million CAN in fact run
Windows 11. It is a very simple process to install Windows 11 on
"unsupported hardware". I have done it many times.

I’m sure you have. But most people have better things to do with their lives than keep fighting a company that has unlimited control over the platform to stop them from doing what they’re trying to do.

Better to put your effort into a platform that enables you to do
things, rather than restrict you from them.

I hate to say it, in COLA, but at this point, the hardware requirements
for Windows 11 aren't outrageous. We're years past the TPM 2.0 thing
being standard. My mini PC is running 11 Pro and cost about the same as
a retail Windows Pro license, thanks to the gray market providing these China-based manufacturers licenses that don't depend on Microsoft's
marketing through American OEMs, it's great. I don't have a *product
key*, to be able to transfer the license, but who cares, I could get a
cheap license from Bleeping Computer anytime, if needed. Basically, I
think MS is in the game. I will always love Linux, but I'm not getting
the urge to replace Windows.
--
Joel W. Crump
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

On 9/17/2025 6:55 PM, Lawrence D’Oliveiro wrote:

<https://www.theverge.com/news/779079/consumer-reports-windows-10-extended-support-microsoft>:

https://www.neowin.net/news/the-anti-microsoft-toolkit-maker-for-unsupported-windows-11-pcs-has-a-new-message/

"Cristina Ganapini, the Coordinator of the Right to Repair Europe
coalition, added:

“Microsoft's decision to end support for Windows 10 could make 400
million computers obsolete — not because they’re broken, but because of software. Companies can do this because there are no regulations to stop
them. In Europe, EU Ecodesign requirements for laptops could prevent
this in the future. We need strong horizontal requirements on minimum durability and repairability, with software and security support to
match the potential lifespan - not just for computers, but for all
products with a plug or battery. No more devices designed to break or
become obsolete before their time.”"


I find this interesting. The reality is, MS could support Win10, for
these folks, but they could also just get Linux. I'm not sure the
people trying to regulate are seeing it in perspective, where Linux is a
real option. Microsoft doesn't offer support indefinitely, if people
want to continue using old computers it's a good thing, but they are
old, it's fair to acknowledge that, to recognize that Win11 supports
enough PCs that originally shipped with 10 to cover Microsoft's
obligations, and the remaining ones really are aging.
--
Joel W. Crump
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

On Thu, 18 Sep 2025 02:51:39 -0400, "Joel W. Crump" <[email protected]>
wrote in <%ZNyQ.31482$[email protected]>:

On 9/17/2025 6:55 PM, Lawrence D’Oliveiro wrote:

<https://www.theverge.com/news/779079/consumer-reports-windows-10- extended-support-microsoft>:

https://www.neowin.net/news/the-anti-microsoft-toolkit-maker-for-

unsupported-windows-11-pcs-has-a-new-message/

"Cristina Ganapini, the Coordinator of the Right to Repair Europe
coalition, added:

“Microsoft's decision to end support for Windows 10 could make 400
million computers obsolete — not because they’re broken, but because of software. Companies can do this because there are no regulations to stop them. In Europe, EU Ecodesign requirements for laptops could prevent
this in the future. We need strong horizontal requirements on minimum durability and repairability, with software and security support to
match the potential lifespan - not just for computers, but for all
products with a plug or battery. No more devices designed to break or
become obsolete before their time.”"

I find this interesting. The reality is, MS could support Win10, for
these folks, but they could also just get Linux. I'm not sure the
people trying to regulate are seeing it in perspective, where Linux is a
real option. Microsoft doesn't offer support indefinitely, if people
want to continue using old computers it's a good thing, but they are
old, it's fair to acknowledge that, to recognize that Win11 supports
enough PCs that originally shipped with 10 to cover Microsoft's
obligations, and the remaining ones really are aging.

Missing a TPM2 module doesn't make it an "old computer".

My fire-breathing workstation doesn't have TPM -- when I run windows, it's
in a virtual machine on Linux, with TPM emulated.
--
-v System76 Thelio Mega v1.1 x86_64 NVIDIA RTX 3090Ti 24G
OS: Linux 6.16.7 D: Mint 22.2 DE: Xfce 4.18
NVIDIA: 580.82.09 Mem: 258G
"My other cat is a Jaguar."
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

On 9/18/2025 12:37 PM, vallor wrote:

Missing a TPM2 module doesn't make it an "old computer".

My fire-breathing workstation doesn't have TPM -- when I run windows, it's
in a virtual machine on Linux, with TPM emulated.

Modern CPUs have TPM 2.0 internally, though.
--
Joel W. Crump
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2