Articles about Windows 10

New year, new Microsoft OS -- the stunning Windows 26 is everything Windows 12 should be

Windows 26

Every so often, we get hints about Windows 12, but Microsoft has yet to announce it. Now that the tech giant is only officially supporting one Windows OS, perhaps that will change.

But as 2025 draws to a close, and with a new year on the horizon, it’s time to look forward to fresh beginnings and groundbreaking innovations. It’s time for a new Microsoft operating system. Let me introduce you to Windows 26.

Continue reading

The first Extended Security Update for Windows 10 is here

Embossed Windows 10 logo

The end has been nigh for Windows 10 for what feels like an eternity, but Microsoft finally pulled the plug on mainstream support last month. After a confused period of communication and a few niggles, the company has now released the first Extended Security Update for the operating system.

With the release of the KB5068781 update, Microsoft is now only addressing problems with Windows 10. With the ESU program now in operation, no new features should be expected.

Continue reading

Free tool fixes Windows 10 ESU registration issues and restores Microsoft security updates

Windows 10 laptop

Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10 last month, leaving most systems without regular updates. For users in the European Union, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland, the software giant offers free Windows 10 ESU (Extended Security Updates) patches to keep PCs protected. Unfortunately, for many who qualify, the ESU registration option doesn’t appear in Windows Update.

The missing registration prompt issue is typically the result of incomplete system updates, disabled Windows services, or files required for the registration process going AWOL. If your Windows 10 installation isn't fully up to date or certain services aren't running, the ESU registration won't automatically appear.

Continue reading

Microsoft hits Windows 10 users with misleading ‘end of support’ messages

Windows 10 laptop

Given the publicity Microsoft has given to the end of mainstream support for Windows 10, there are few users who are unaware if this fact. And with the promotion of the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, most are also aware that there is still a way to get updates.

So, there was a mixture of surprise and anger when users signed up to receive Extended Security Updates started it see a message informing them that “Your version of Windows has reached the end of support”.

Continue reading

Microsoft says irritating update and shutdown bug has been wiped from Windows 11

Windows 11

Like many people, you’ve probably put off installing Windows 11 updates because you need to get on with something else. And if at the end of the day you have selected the “Update and Shut Down” option in the Start menu, you may well have questioned yourself when Windows chose to restart instead.

But this was not you; it was Microsoft’s fault. The company has just admitted to the long-standing issue while quietly fixing the bug that has irritated users for a surprisingly long time.

Continue reading

Mozilla commits to updating Firefox on Windows 10

Firefox logo closeup

Microsoft may have all but abandoned Windows 10, but this is not true of its users. There are still millions of Windows 10 systems in use around the world, causing security concerns for many. But not all software developers are turning their backs on Windows 10 – Mozilla included.

The company has announced that “Firefox will continue to support Windows 10 for the foreseeable future”.

Continue reading

Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates slide into the Microsoft Store

Microsoft Store Windows 10 Extended Security Updates

The day has come and gone: Microsoft no longer supports Windows 10 for users who are not signed up for Extended Security Updates. Much has been made of the price and availability of these updates, including the difference between the EU – where they are free – and the rest of the world.

There are various ways to access and sign up for Extended Security Updates (ESU), and Microsoft has just added a new one. It is now possible to access the ESU program via the Microsoft Store – but there is no change to pricing.

Continue reading

Windows 10 support has ended, but Zorin OS 18 is here as the ultimate alternative to Windows 11

Zorin OS 18

Want to know a secret? If you don’t like Windows 11, you don’t actually have to use it. With Windows 10 support officially ending today, millions of PCs are being left behind. For users who want to keep their existing desktop or laptop, Linux offers another way forward, and Zorin OS 18 arrives just in time as one of the best Windows replacements available.

Zorin OS 18 is one of the most user-friendly Linux distributions around and introduces a new design, updated features, and improved compatibility with more of the tools people rely on every day.

Continue reading

RIP Windows 10 -- Winux 'W10EOL' is the Windows 11 clone that runs on Linux and makes your old PC feel new again

Winux 11.25.10 “W10EOL”

Windows 10 meets its end of life tomorrow, and from then anyone still using the hugely popular OS will have to accept that -- unless they pay Microsoft for extended support -- they will no longer receive security updates, putting their computers and data at risk.

Microsoft would like Windows 10 users to switch to Windows 11, but for many older laptops and desktops, Windows 11 is simply not an option. This is where Winux comes in. Winux 11.25.10 “W10EOL” is the latest version of the Windows-style Linux distribution that offers a familiar environment and runs much faster on aging machines.

Continue reading

Apple, predictably, thinks Windows 10 users should move to macOS – here’s why

Apple Pride 2025 collection

The day on which Windows 10 is no longer supported is finally upon us, and there is no shortage of advice about what the best course of action is. Microsoft wants Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11, Windows 10 users want Microsoft to provide updates for longer.

Fans of Linux are using the death of Windows 10 to push for more people to adopt their favorite distros, but we’ve not heard a great deal from Apple. When asked, though, the company is happy to suggest that Windows 10 users being abandoned by Microsoft should consider switching allegiances and embracing macOS. And Apple has reasons.

Continue reading

Oops! Microsoft confirms Windows 11 media creation tool is broken for Windows 10 users

Windows 10 and Windows 11 logos

Tomorrow, October 14, is the day on which Microsoft ends mainstream support for Windows 10. As such, there is a lot of interest – perhaps not quite as much as Microsoft might like – in switching to Windows 11 and potentially using the Windows 11 media creation tool.

So, the news from the company that the “Windows 11 media creation tool might not work as expected on Windows 10” could not really have come at a worse time. Microsoft has some advice and help for anyone affected by the malfunction, however.

Continue reading

Oreon 10 gets a timely update as Windows 10 reaches its end of life -- download the alternative operating system now!

Oreon 10 2510

Windows 10 reaches its end of life in a couple of days, on October 14, 2025. Users who haven’t yet upgraded to Windows 11, perhaps due to compatibility issues with older hardware or a general dislike of Microsoft’s new OS, now face a choice between running an unsupported system without ongoing security updates or moving to a new operating system.

Alternatives include Linux distributions like the recently updated Ubuntu and Linux Mint, both of which are popular choices and for good reason. We’re big fans of Oreon 10, a Linux distribution designed for Windows users, and it has just rolled out a new feature update, Build 2510, in time for Windows 10’s end of life.

Continue reading

Windows 10's end of life is only days away -- WhyNotWin11 explains why your PC may not qualify for Windows 11

WhyNotWin11

It’s been a long time coming, but Windows 10 is now only days away from reaching the end of its lifecycle, marking the end of updates and security support for one of Microsoft’s most widely used operating systems.

For millions of users still running the OS, this change raises an important question: what’s next? While upgrading to Windows 11 seems like the natural path forward, not every PC meets Microsoft’s stringent system requirements.

Continue reading

Windows 11 installation no longer lets you skip creating a Microsoft Account

Windows 11 laptop

With just a week to go until Windows 10 reaches the end of mainstream support, attention is increasingly turning to Windows 11. And with the release of the latest Dev build of the operating system, Microsoft is making changes to the OOBE.

The Out Of Box Experience is what Microsoft calls what most people refer to as the installation and setup process. With the latest changes, Microsoft is closing loopholes used to create local accounts, thereby forcing the use of a Microsoft Account.

Continue reading

Microsoft makes Windows 10 ESU completely free... for a year... for some

Microsoft logo

With just a month to go until the official end of support for Windows 10, Microsoft has been forced to cede ground. The company will now offer a year of ESU (Extended Support Updates) available completely free of charge, no strings attached, for people living in the European Economic Area (EEA).

While free access to the ESU program is available in other parts of the world, it is only available with conditions. In Europe, these conditions no longer apply.

Continue reading

BetaNews, your source for breaking tech news, reviews, and in-depth reporting since 1998.

© 1998-2025 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. About Us - Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy - Sitemap.