this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2025
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Fuck em. Install Linux.
If you really definitely gotta stick with windows for some reason: LTSC + massgrave for activation
Beyond pirating, is there a straightforward way to obtain ltsc? Can it be run as an update or does it require a clean installation?
No. It's the best fork that is not supposed to be within reach for us "unworthy individual users".
(Although since massgrave allows you to activate it perpetually it doesn't really matter how many steps they throw for the "right way" XD)
Beyond pirating, is there a straightforward way to obtain ltsc?
become a company and pay lots of money
Off of a clean install is all I’ve done with their scripts, but ymmv
We understand that moving to a new PC can take time,” Microsoft says, “and we’re here to support you throughout the process.
actually i installed linux mint over windows on a friday evening and it wasn't that time consuming at all.
Motherfucker, you can buy me a new PC if you want me to have one so bad. Shit's expensive and nobody has the money to replace something that still works.
heh nice. Mint is great and easy to install. I like PopOS/debian depending on what im doing.
Remember when Microsoft said no Windows 11? https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32658340
Such a money grab.
This continually gets passed around, but it's the result of bad journalism. It was a comment made by one of the developers and was never an official comment/statement from Microsoft.
Just adding for the record that I despise Microsoft, so I'm not trying to defend them. Just always see this referenced and figure it's better to set the record straight.
honestly the hardest part was realising microsoft had a dumb bitlocker thing and having to search for the key (thankfully it was in my microsoft account)
now imagine you getting locked out of your account for whatever reason. as I read multiple people experienced it already.
That's my main reason for not pursuing a VM version yet. While I rarely go into the WIndows side now, I don't want anything to show a different usage and give them a reason to lock the Windows part. I ran into something like that a few years ago, had to go through all sorts of validation with the Microsoft account to get things running right again. Wow, it almost sounds like holding the computer hostage.
Oh that sucks!
As I warned might happen, this free ESU u-turn has triggered a reversal in Windows 11’s recent fortunes, at least according to Statcounter’s indicative data. And while it’s still marginally head of its retiring sibling, Windows 11 is moving in the wrong direction. A free ESU is laudable, but it should have been limited to PCs that cannot upgrade.
Go fuck yourself, Forbes and contributor Zak Doffman.
Yeah, what an incredibly stupid opinion.
"You pay us, and we will protect you"
Don't they usually smash a few Windows before they say this sentence?
Lol didntbyhey have a world wide outage that started from a security backdoor?
I don't think I've ever heard of a global outage of Windows, no.
Hey now. Solarwinds is marketed as a monitoring app. The security backdoor thing was entirely unintentional.
(But, c'mon: if you're giving admin privs to an app that calls home, and you can't see the source, and you can't validate the app on the other end, you're basically asking for pwnage)
I think you're confusing the Solarwinds and Crowdstrike things.
That's right I was thinking of cloud strike!
Fun fact, that event convinced management at work to start moving from Windows server to Linux boxes. Since the only services that were not down for a significant amount of time was the Linux services. Fun times.
Win 10 IoT LTSC 2021 is supported until 2032. the ESU is literally just security updates they will be doing anyway.
if you have any windows software that can't be replaced and needs to be online running IoT is one solution.
protip: Windows runs faster under a VM in Linux than on bare metal. True facts.
There are ads in Windows even if you pay extra for the Pro version.....
God, they are finding even more places to add ads?!?
Microsoft has expanded its free Extended Security Updates (ESU) offer to millions more Windows 10 users. Following the mandatory KB5063709 update, users can now see an “Enroll in Extended Support Updates” option, valid until October 2026. While paid plans start at $30 for up to 10 PCs, most users will likely choose the free offer, linking ESU to their Microsoft account and OneDrive.
The program aims to protect Windows 10 devices after official support ends, helping users transition to newer systems. Microsoft acknowledges that moving to a new PC can take time, and the ESU is meant to bridge that gap. Although an earlier bug caused crashes in the enrollment wizard, this issue has now been fixed.
However, the free ESU may slow Windows 11 adoption. Recent market share data from Statcounter suggests the shift from Windows 10 to Windows 11 has stalled, with the latter even losing ground. Critics argue that free ESU should have been limited to PCs unable to upgrade.
Separately, Microsoft warns that Windows 11 version 23H2 will reach end of support on November 11, 2025. Users must upgrade to version 24H2 or 25H2 to continue receiving security updates.
Separately, Microsoft warns that Windows 11 version 23H2 will reach end of support on November 11, 2025. Users must upgrade to version 24H2 or 25H2 to continue receiving security updates.
Windows 11 23H2 was the last version that supported Windows Mixed Reality. They're really in a hurry to kill WMR.
They're really in a hurry to kill WMR.
isn't it just that any major version is only supported for 2 years?
https://github.com/mbucchia/Oasis-Driver-for-Windows-Mixed-Reality
Theres a sort of replacement out there, closed source, nvidia only (AMD might come later though)
Still sucks they're ripping WMR out. My G2 was awesome for the 150$ I spent on it.
that's a weird repo. It's empty, and has issues disabled while the repo description says that it's an issue tracker
could I get a bit of context for this? not well read in VR things
Microsoft got companies like Samsung, HP and Lenovo to make WMR VR headsets that require the WMR Windows components. There is official support for Steam VR, but the headsets don't work if the WMR components aren't there, and after November there will be no officially supported version of Windows with those components. From what I've read it's basically impossible to get WMR working on 10 LTSC, and I assume the situation is the same on 11 LTSC.
A bunch of VR headsets (including fairly expensive ones) used Windows Mixed Reality as their API to the OS. Without it, many of these headsets simply do not function. Turning your very expensive purchase into a paperweight.
Separately, Microsoft warns that Windows 11 version 23H2 will reach end of support on November 11, 2025.
I.e., the one that still supports WMR virtual reality headsets and hasn't had the functionality for those artificially pulled.
I wonder if the Tarrif + linux news might be spooking them a bit.