An association has just launched an online petition to ask Microsoft to extend support for Windows 10. And avoid having to throw away millions of working computers that will not be able to upgrade to Windows 11 or 12.
We know, Windows 10 is doomed. Microsoft has officially announced: its operating system will no longer receive security updates from October 2025, which will make it almost unusable in practice, due to the fact that it will no longer be protected against new threats. . Since January 2023, the publisher has even withdrawn it from its sales circuit (see our article), in order to stop its distribution. While waiting for its funeral, Windows 10 is only entitled to various fixes, even if Microsoft sometimes still offers it new functions, contrary to its grand declarations (see our article), undoubtedly to maintain its great tradition of confusion…
End of Windows 10: forced transition to Windows 11
This ending was obviously expected: Windows 10 was released in 2015, and it will have “lived” ten years before being “unplugged”. And Microsoft is doing everything to ensure that it gives way to Windows 11, its successor released at the end of 2021. A logical and well-known cycle in the world of operating systems.
Except that everything didn’t go as planned. Because as Microsoft imposes hardware requirements that are too strict – and still incomprehensible – for Windows 11, making most old PCs incompatible, many users have been unable or unwilling to take the plunge towards the latest one. And “grandpa” Windows 10 is resisting. Among many individuals, who do not want to change their computer to install a system that does not bring anything very new – yes, let us repeat, Windows 11 remains a slightly revisited Windows 10, with a modernized interface, but without a functional revolution – , but also among professionals and businesses, who have no desire to renew their PC fleets to install Windows 11 when everything works perfectly under Windows 10. No offense to Microsoft, which has not spared its efforts to try to impose Windows 11, success is still not there. And, like Windows XP and Windows 7 before it, Windows 10 pleases its users, especially since it is stable and clean.
But if the resistance can hold out for a few more months, what will happen in 2025, when Windows 10 will no longer be functional? Most will obviously not be able to upgrade to Windows 11 with their incompatible PCs. And even less to Windows 12, its successor which will be released at the end of 2024! Should we throw all these computers in the trash, even though they are still physically usable?
PIRG petition: a reprieve for Windows 10
It is to fight against this technologically and ecologically absurd perspective that PIRG just launched an astonishing online petition. This American association for the defense of the public interest has in fact decided to challenge Microsoft by asking the publisher to reverse its decision and extend the life of Windows 10 in order to avoid scrapping the millions of PCs that it runs, and which are in principle incapable of upgrading to Windows 11. Here is the original text, written in a very American style.
“Dear Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella,
Don’t throw away millions of computers. Microsoft’s decision to end support for Windows 10 could cause the largest increase in the number of discarded computers and prevent Microsoft from meeting its sustainability goals. The new version of their operating system’s strict hardware requirements could result in 40% of PCs in use being left behind.
Microsoft’s decision to stop supporting millions of working computers in our hospitals, businesses and homes is a bad deal for customers who expect their expensive devices to last.
All software reaches a point where it is no longer supported, but when the consequences to our environment are so great, we should not accept it.”
PIRG points out that a large number of users cannot afford to upgrade or change their hardware to Windows 11. The organization is concerned not only about the financial impact for individuals as well as for businesses, but also the consequences for the environment, if most incompatible PCs end up in landfills…
We can obviously only welcome this initiative by suggesting to Microsoft to extend the life of Windows 10 or by easing the constraints for Windows 11 – let’s not forget that Windows XP was entitled to updates for thirteen years, which has largely participated in his “legend”. Failing this, it should be remembered that Linux can perfectly replace Windows, including on old PCs, thanks to lightweight distributions but this system is not a universal solution, particularly for companies that use business software developed for Windows. We don’t know if Microsoft will heed this call to “save Win 10” – sorry, but it was too tempting! We simply regret that it is impossible to sign the petition online from France or Europe: the form was only designed for Americans, because of an unfortunate Zip code. Nerd!