An everyday example
Fictional example: Siobhan in Cork uses her laptop for email, family photos and the accounts of her local choir. PC Health Check reports that the processor doesn't meet the Windows 11 requirements. A friend tells her to buy a new laptop that very weekend.
Instead, Siobhan enrols the laptop in ESU to buy time and copies her photos to an external drive. One evening she tries Linux from a USB stick: Wi-Fi and the printer work, but the choir's membership software only exists for Windows. So she plans a refurbished laptop for spring 2027, picks a model that meets the Windows 11 requirements and asks for the guarantee terms in writing.
Is your PC really too old for Windows 11?
Microsoft's minimum requirements for Windows 11 include the following:
- Processor: a compatible 64-bit processor with at least 1 GHz and 2 cores
- Memory 4 GB, storage of at least 64 GB
- Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
- Security chip: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
- Graphics compatible with DirectX 12 (WDDM 2.0 driver), a 720p display larger than 9 inches diagonally
Microsoft's PC Health Check app assesses a Windows 10 PC for you, although Microsoft notes that it doesn't check the graphics card or the display. If you're unsure, ask your PC's manufacturer. After a hardware change, Windows Update can take up to 24 hours to refresh its assessment.
Windows 10: check whether your PC can run Windows 11
- Download and install PC Health Check via the linked Microsoft support page.
- Right-click the Start menu, select ‘Search’ and enter ‘pc health check’. Under ‘Best match’, select PC Health Check.
- Select ‘Check now’ and read the result.
- Alternatively: Start › Settings › Update & Security › Windows Update › ‘Check for updates’.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: support.microsoft.com
Tip: If the check says your PC can run Windows 11, upgrade free of charge through Windows Update.
How do the four options compare?
| Option | Cost | Effort | Security | Suits you if … |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 with ESU | EEA: free with a Microsoft account, or a one-off USD 30 plus tax with a local account; other routes in the UK | Low: enrol once | Security updates only, until 12 October 2027 at the latest | you need time to decide well |
| New Windows 11 PC | Purchase price | Moderate: move files, set up programs again | Windows 11 with regular updates | your PC is reaching its limits anyway |
| Refurbished PC | Second-hand price; guarantee depends on country and contract | Moderate: check model and condition, move files | Good if the model meets the Windows 11 requirements | you prefer a checked used device |
| Linux on your current PC | No new device; time to test and switch | Moderate to high: learn a new system, replace programs | Named by Germany's BSI as an alternative to Windows 10 | your key programs run on Linux or can be replaced |
The options aren't mutually exclusive: for many people ESU is the bridge while they decide, without pressure, on the next step.
Option 1: what does ESU give you, and what do you need?
Standard support for Windows 10 ended on 14 October 2025. Through Extended Security Updates (ESU), Microsoft still provides critical and important security updates for home PCs until 12 October 2027. ESU brings no new features and no technical support.
Your PC needs Windows 10 version 22H2 (Home, Professional, Pro Education or Workstations) with the latest updates. You sign in with an administrator account and need a Microsoft account that isn't a child account. One ESU licence covers up to 10 devices. You can enrol at any time until the programme ends; enrolled devices stay covered automatically.
In the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes all EU countries, there are two routes: enrol free of charge and stay signed in to the PC with your Microsoft account, or keep a local account and pay a one-off USD 30 or the local equivalent plus tax. If you stop being signed in with the Microsoft account after a free enrolment, ESU updates stop after up to 60 days.
Microsoft's UK page lists three routes instead: free if you sync your PC settings with Windows Backup, redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or a one-off USD 30 plus tax. Switzerland is not in the EEA, but Microsoft's Swiss page describes the same two routes as in the EEA, including the 60-day rule. The Swiss service ‘eBanking – aber sicher!’, run by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences, also reports the extension to 12 October 2027, free with a Microsoft account and paid with a local account.
Windows 10: start ESU enrolment
- Open Settings › Update & Security › Windows Update.
- Select ‘Enroll now’ and follow the wizard until enrolment is confirmed.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: microsoft.com
Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) warns that Windows 10 becomes insecure without security updates. ESU is a bridge, not a permanent fix. Enrolment is explained in detail in Windows 10 ESU: check your enrolment for updates until 2027.
Options 2 and 3: what should you check on a new or refurbished PC?
A new Windows 11 PC is the most direct fix, but it costs money and moving takes time. Before you buy, list the programs and licences you'll need and the accessories, such as a printer, that must keep working.
Refurbished PCs are used computers that a retailer has checked and reconditioned. What matters is the model. Microsoft advises against installing Windows 11 on devices below the minimum requirements: such devices aren't guaranteed to receive updates, including security updates. Damage caused by incompatibility isn't covered by the manufacturer warranty, and Microsoft provides no support. Ask for the processor and TPM version and compare them with the requirements above.
Country box: legal guarantee when buying from a trader
| Where | Legal period | Second-hand goods | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU countries (DE, AT, FR, IT, ES, IE and others) | At least 2 years, online too | Some EU countries allow an agreed period of at least 1 year, stated clearly at purchase | Goods bought from private individuals aren't covered by EU consumer rules |
| Switzerland (Code of Obligations) | 2 years (since 1 January 2013) | Can be shortened to at least 1 year | Can be excluded entirely if stated clearly in the contract, not just in the general terms |
The UK is not in the EU and has its own consumer law, so check the rules there separately. For checking condition and battery, see Buying a refurbished phone: check grade, battery and warranty. The key terms are explained in Faulty device: legal guarantee or warranty, who to claim from.
Option 4: how can you try Linux without risk?
As an alternative to upgrading to Windows 11, the BSI names moving to another operating system, for example Linux; check first that your device meets that system's hardware requirements. Linux comes in many variants, known as distributions. Ubuntu's official guide explains how to try the system from a USB stick without making permanent changes to your PC. We use it as an example only, not as a recommendation.
Try Linux from a USB stick (Ubuntu example)
- Use a USB stick (Ubuntu recommends 8 GB or more) and back up its contents first: writing the image erases the stick.
- Download the Ubuntu image and write it to the stick as the official guide describes; on Windows, Ubuntu names the tool Rufus for this.
- Start the PC from the USB stick and use Ubuntu without installing it.
- Test Wi-Fi, sound, display, printer and your key programs. Restart without the stick to return to Windows.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: ubuntu.com
A failed test isn't always final: according to Ubuntu, the trial session uses only open-source drivers, and some hardware, such as certain NVIDIA graphics cards, needs extra drivers installed.
Before switching, check whether your important programs run on Linux or have replacements. Back up all your files before a real installation, as both Ubuntu and the BSI advise. A simple routine is described in External drive backup: a routine you can repeat.
Which option suits you?
These questions help you sort things out:
- Does your PC meet the requirements after all? Then the free upgrade to Windows 11 is the simplest route.
- Do you rely on Windows-only programs? Then a Windows 11 device, new or refurbished, suits you better than Linux.
- Does your PC still run smoothly? Then try Linux before you spend money.
- Is money tight? Compare refurbished models with Windows 11 support and clear guarantee terms.
- Would you rather not learn a new system? Then plan a device change and bridge the time with ESU.
Timeline to the end of ESU
| When | What you do |
|---|---|
| Now | Check eligibility, enrol in ESU, back up your files |
| Autumn and winter 2026 | List programs and accessories, test Linux or compare offers |
| Spring 2027 | Decide, then buy a device or install Linux |
| By 12 October 2027 | Finish the move; after that ESU delivers no more security updates |
Common mistakes
- Writing the PC off without checking: only PC Health Check shows whether there really is an obstacle.
- Signing out of the Microsoft account after a free ESU enrolment: in the EEA, updates then stop after up to 60 days.
- Buying an old device advertised with ‘Windows 11 already installed’ without checking its processor and TPM.
- Installing Linux straight away instead of testing it from a USB stick first – and without a backup.
- Putting the decision off until just before October 2027.
Your checklist
The checkboxes are for your own reference. No entries are sent to us. To keep a copy, print the page or save it as a PDF using your browser menu.
Common questions
What happens to my Windows 10 PC after 12 October 2027?
The ESU programme for home PCs ends on that date, and Microsoft no longer delivers security updates for these devices. Newly discovered vulnerabilities stay open. Germany's BSI warns that Windows 10 becomes insecure without security updates. Plan to have moved to Windows 11, another device or Linux by then.
Is ESU really free for home users?
In the European Economic Area, yes, if you enrol with a Microsoft account and stay signed in. To keep a local account, you pay a one-off USD 30 or the local equivalent plus tax. If you sign out after a free enrolment, updates stop after up to 60 days. In the UK, Microsoft's page instead lists syncing your PC settings with Windows Backup, redeeming 1,000 Rewards points or the one-off purchase.
Can I install Windows 11 on my old PC anyway?
Microsoft explicitly advises against it. On devices below the minimum requirements, updates aren't guaranteed, including security updates. Damage caused by incompatibility isn't covered by the manufacturer warranty, Microsoft provides no support and a watermark appears on the desktop. Be wary of second-hand offers advertising an old model with ‘Windows 11 already installed’.
Will I lose my files when I test Linux?
Not when you try it from a USB stick: according to Ubuntu's official guide, the system runs from the stick and your data stays safe. Restarting without the stick takes you back to Windows. The stick's own contents are erased when you write the image to it. Before a real installation, back up all your files, as the Ubuntu guide expressly recommends.
Is a refurbished PC a good choice?
It can be, if the model meets the Windows 11 requirements and the trader states the guarantee terms clearly. In the EU you get at least 2 years from a trader; for second-hand goods some countries allow an agreed minimum of 1 year. In Switzerland the guarantee can be excluded by contract, so read it carefully. Private sales aren't covered by EU consumer rules.
Sources and further information
Primary sources from public authorities, consumer organisations and providers. A source may be in another language; follow the guidance that applies to your service and where you live.
- Microsoft: Windows 11 specs and system requirementsSource review date:
- Microsoft Support: Windows 11 on devices that don't meet minimum system requirementsSource review date:
- European Commission, Your Europe: Your rights when shopping in the EUSource review date:
- BSI (Germany): Windows 10 is becoming insecure, press release of 14 July 2025 (in German)Source review date:
- eBanking – aber sicher! (Lucerne University of Applied Sciences): Windows 10 security updates now up to October 2027Source review date:
- Swiss Federal SME Portal: New legal guarantee rules (in German)Source review date:
- Microsoft (UK): Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU)Source review date:
- Microsoft Switzerland: Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (in German)Source review date:
