Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025

[Yellow Fang]

What would be a better option please? Not a fan of Google, Microsoft or any of the big tech companies really, would like to avoid them if possible. Is it Firefox or something else?

Who is going to say it first?

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Who is going to say it first?

Do you mean ditching Windows altogether and using Linux or something else?

 

[Yellow Fang]

Who is going to say it first?

Me, Linux. There is a choice of about 30 flavours or more. The most common is Ubuntu. It is free, although you may have to buy a magazine with a DVD, or they may ask you to make a donation to download a distro. In my experience they are not very difficult to install, although more difficult than they used to be. It is better to install on a laptop or PC you don't really need as a Windows computer. You can have Linux on a computer as dual boot, so you have a choice of logging into Windows or Linux, but if something goes wrong you lose your Windows system and everything you had stored in it. On the other hand you can find light versions of Linux which will bring to life a PC or laptop that had slowed down to snail's pace from years of MS uploads.

 

[Yellow Fang]

Do you mean ditching Windows altogether and using Linux or something else?

Yeah, I was going to say Linux.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Yeah, I was going to say Linux.

Thought so. I'm tempted to give that a go, is it a steep learning curve? Sounds like a good option, more so for an older PC. Just getting fed up with all the unnecessary crap on Windows and control, really don't care for 11 much at all. Its just an interface for opening programs nothing else to me.

 

[Yellow Fang]

Thought so. I'm tempted to give that a go, is it a steep learning curve? Sounds like a good option, more so for an older PC. Just getting fed up with all the unnecessary crap on Windows and control, really don't care for 11 much at all. Its just an interface for opening programs nothing else to me.

Installing it is harder than using it. I would not say it is massively hard, but I suspect it is harder than it was. I have not tried installing it on anything recently. Raspberry Pi's use a version of Linux called Raspian. Once installed, the trickiest bit is installing drivers, typically for printers.

 

[DaveReading]

This is quite amusing. You're worried about what data Microsoft is sending back and forth from Edge, but not what Google is doing with Chrome? If you're very concerned with this there are far better browsers for privacy.

I use Edge. Yes, it nags you now and again to sign in, but works fine if you don't.

Well OK, it does create a humungous number of different tasks while it's running (I typically have dozens of tabs open), but it's quite happy if you kill it every so often and just restore the tabs after reopening it.

 

[Dadam]

What would be a better option please? Not a fan of Google, Microsoft or any of the big tech companies really, would like to avoid them if possible. Is it Firefox or something else?

I've not investigated it much myself yet but I've read DuckDuckGo, plus Firefox with a couple of extensions is good

 

[DRM]

Brave Browser works well

 

[HMS_Dave]

I've not investigated it much myself yet but I've read DuckDuckGo, plus Firefox with a couple of extensions is good

That's the combination i use with strict security and cookie set up. However, this configuration does cause a couple of hiccups from time to time, such as the browser crashing on my Android device and sometimes freezing. I submitted bug reports but no help so far. It could be my set up here as i am very security focused so that could be the reason for it. I absolutely refuse adverts since a number do contain malware and that is the fault of the ad vendor for not fully vetting their ads really.
Also, Duckduckgo doesn't always come up with the best searches (in my opinion) compared to other search engines. But the lack of tracking can aid in security so for me is worth trade off...

 

[bonzobanana]

This is quite amusing. You're worried about what data Microsoft is sending back and forth from Edge, but not what Google is doing with Chrome? If you're very concerned with this there are far better browsers for privacy.

No that wasn't my point at all. The issue is soo much of Windows is selling your data nowadays and it literally slows down your computer. Windows loads up Edge on boot and automatically is transmitting data about you. If you don't sign into Windows they don't have that data. Chrome is an independent application which you can block from auto-loading with the Windows startup. I'm not broadcasting my data until I choose to do so. I'm not so much bothered about my data when I'm browsing more the fact that if my PC was compromised the operating system is full of my personal data. Yes I'm sure they perhaps could decrypt personal data in Chrome but from what I understand its more difficult. I personally don't want the operating system to know everything about me and keep broadcasting what I am doing. Yes I could use a browser that takes privacy more seriously too but I don't think you should blur operating system with browser they are separate in their security risks except Edge which is so integrated into the operating system. I like Windows but everyone knows its completely under attack all the time and it is fully understood by hackers, its pretty much an open operating system which Microsoft has to constantly battle with security updates. It is not secure to anywhere near the same level as Chrome OS or Linux. So with that in mind I do not want Windows to have my personal data throughout the operating system and broadcasting my data because Windows as an operating system is so security compromised. I've seen various videos where a local account was recommended as a way of improving your security. I personally think it is a big deal that Windows 10 will no longer provide security updates later in the year. Earlier versions of Windows they recommend you don't connect to the internet at all because you would be vulnerable instantly. Windows is utterly reliant on security updates unlike other operating systems so why put your personal data into such an operating system especially as Edge is fully integrated into Microsoft Services.

However worth bearing in mind Windows Enterprise versions allow telemetry data to be disabled but this is really about improved performance rather than security mainly. Less background tasks etc.

I realise though if I was really concerned about security to the highest level I would be using Linux but I've not actually found a version of Linux I really like that does all the stuff I want. I guess long term that is my goal.

 

[HMS_Dave]

I would be careful about the Windows Enterprise licences for end users, for anybody considering this option. The are not the same licences for the home and pro versions of Windows. They are volume licence "MAK" (Multiple Activation Key) keys, specifically for mass activation of computers within an organisation and not a home user. You can by all means get the licences "unofficially" and technically illegally, but they certainly come with caveats. The one that sticks out in my mind is the fact you will be stuck with an older version of the operating system such as 21H2, which will likely cause issues with third party software in time. The second, which im reliable informed is that the organisation might not have these licences active for as long as you'd hope. Remember, they are volume licence keys, attached to an organisation, for mass activation of computers within it and they could have a subscription based activation plan with Microsoft which may end at any time and it appears a quick look on a search engine has revealed people are already experiencing these issues.

 

[accountantpete]

Linux Mint is the way to go.

Download the 22.1 iso

Download Balena Etcher to flash the iso image to a 8gb flash drive

Go into BIOS and change to boot from that flash drive

Then the instructions will walk you through installation in 30 minutes or so.

Then it's a not too steep learning curve with the new OS and a life of sheer bliss compared to Windows

 

[Fastpedaller]

By this do you mean a HDD or SSD that plugs into a USB port. Bog standard USB sticks should just work with the built in standard drivers.

Thanks for the continuing help. We've been away for a few days so no access to computer. Yes, I mean the USB port. During our 'break' I had a thought..... I was trying to access the SD cards (I'd tried a couple just in case the card was duff) with a 'converter' that plugs into the USB port - was the converter duff. So when we returned yesterday evening I tried plugging a known good USB stick into the USB, and alas it also didn't work. I also tried again to find new drivers for the USB ports, but the computer says they are working . Darned computers (confusers!) work great most of the time, but when they go bad they are a real PITA to sort out.

 

[wiggydiggy]

My W10 machine might need replacing sooner than W10 dying, its on its last legs and becomes stuck at least once a day with all processor/memory taken up by processes (when I am able to get task manager to launch that is) and I have no choice but to turn it off/on again. Its a Dell Optiflex 790 i3 desktop from around 2011, upgraded once to 16gb RAM but otherwise untouched.

Shame as it does all I need but I've had a good run on it. I'll keep an eye out for an end of summer replacement as I'd rather spend £££s on holidays right now lol.