The end of support is becoming more explosive because many PCs and notebooks are threatened with an abrupt end in just over two years. Older computers mutate into electronic waste almost overnight simply because Windows 11 does not run on them due to the significantly higher hardware requirements. And without patches for security gaps that become known, that’s Malware risk enormous. This is all the more true as Windows 10 and 11 are so similar that even security gaps in the newer system can be found in a similar form in the predecessor.

Reading tip: Windows 12 will probably come 2024

It has also recently become clear how Microsoft announced the end of Windows 10 designed. This does not bode well for anyone who wants to continue working with it: The older operating system will not receive any further function updates, so version 22H2 from last fall will remain the last, as stated in an official announcement.

• The version number is important for another reason: So that users of Windows 10 can actually get security updates and patches by the “Deactivation Date” in October 2025 received, must actually be running on the PC version 22H2. Support for the previous version 21H2 ended in June, future security gaps will remain unpatched without an update.

There are several ways to get the version number of Windows. Here are two simple methods:

• About Settings:
  Click on the Start menu and select the gear icon (Settings) to open the Windows settings.
  Click on “System” and then on “About”.
  See “Windows Specifications” for the version number of Windows.

• From the Control Panel:
  Right-click the Start menu and select “System” to open the Control Panel.
  In the Control Panel, click on “System and Security” and then on “System”.
  Look under “Windows edition” or “Windows version” to find the version number of Windows.

In both cases you will see a version number like “Windows 10, Version 21H1” or “Windows 11”

So what to do if the computer refuses to upgrade to Windows 11 and Microsoft’s PC integrity check reports that the system requirements are not met? You don’t have to do anything immediately, after all, support for Windows 10 will run for a good two years. However, you can become active now and still upgrade to the current version – easier than ever!

The upgrade lock is not only easily bypassed, it is usually also technically unfounded. This also applies to most seventh-generation Intel Core i processors, for example. Windows 11 runs quickly and without any problems on it.

You may be familiar with Rufus software for creating bootable USB sticks. With Windows 11, the tool shines with the option to install the operating system on any PC.

Here’s how: Download the installation file for Windows 11 from Microsoft using the “Download a Windows 11 disk image (ISO)” from the official website and add the Software Rufus from the provider.

Step 1: Download Windows 11 ISO file
Visit the official Microsoft website and download the ISO File for Windows 11. Make sure you download the correct version for your hardware.

Step 2: Download and install Rufus
Rufus is a free tool that helps you create bootable USB drives. You can download it from the official Rufus website. After downloading, install Rufus on your PC.

Step 3: Create a bootable USB stick
Insert a USB stick with at least 8 GB of storage space into your PC. Start Rufus and select your USB stick from the drop-down menu. Click the “Choose” button and navigate to the Windows 11 ISO file you downloaded earlier. Ensure that the “Partition Scheme” field is set to “MBR” and the “Target System” field is set to “BIOS or UEFI”. Then click “Start” to begin the process. This will erase all data on the USB stick, so make sure you don’t have any important data on it.

Step 4: Boot PC from USB
Reboot your PC and press the appropriate key (often F12, F2, DEL, or ESC) to bring up the boot menu. Select your USB stick as the first boot device so that the bios starts from the USB stick and not from your old operating system on your HDD or SSD.

Step 5: Install Windows 11
Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 11. During the installation process you will be asked to enter a product key. If you don’t have one, you can click “I don’t have a product key” and continue. You can also install Windows 11 without a product key and activate it later.

Step 6: Install drivers and updates
After installing Windows 11, you should install any necessary drivers and run Windows Update to ensure your system is up to date.

As you have seen, the process is relatively easy to handle. How well Windows 11 will later run on your computer is of course another matter. But relying solely on Microsoft’s compatibility checker is often the wrong approach if your machine is powerful enough. You don’t always have to buy everything new right away, you can also extend the life of older PCs in this way.

Note: If your PC is older than 10 years, it could be problematic with Rufus despite the workaround described, since the hardware here is probably overwhelmed with Windows 11. Google offers (especially for older computers) with Chrome OS Flex its own operating system for desktop PCs.