Windows 10 has been dead for 2 months, yet millions still have the old operating system installed and are now facing a new problem: The rising hardware prices make switching to new hardware neither easier nor cheaper.
Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. With a trick, it is possible to get an additional year of security updates (so-called Security Fixes) for the operating system, but there are no new features or bug fixes anymore.
According to statistics, millions of computers are still running the old operating system, and many of them cannot upgrade to the newer Windows 11 (via techspot.com). A fact that could become a problem in the long term. Because now many are being caught up by rising hardware prices.
Windows 11 no longer supports old hardware
Those who think they are safe with Windows 10 are gravely mistaken. Already now, scammers and criminals are exploiting vulnerabilities in Windows 10, reports the magazine TheMirror. The fraudsters know exactly that issues in Windows 10 will no longer be patched easily.
However, millions of computers cannot upgrade to Windows 11, because the old hardware is not supported. And buying new hardware is currently an expensive affair.
Why is this a problem now? Certain components are currently rising rapidly in price: Memory is already becoming more expensive, but storage (SSDs) are also becoming more expensive right now, and graphics cards are partially affected as well.
Having to upgrade or completely buy a new PC in the coming weeks or months represents a significant financial hurdle for many individuals. Because the high prices for memory are currently driving prices up. Thus, those who hoped to still purchase a PC with Windows 11 by the end of the year will now have to reach deep into their pockets.
And that leads to a double dilemma: On one hand, the current system is insecure, on the other hand, upgrading to hardware that supports Windows 11 is currently unaffordable for many.
There are few sensible alternatives to avoid the problem
Are there any alternatives to buying new? The alternative is to rely on various tricks to install Windows 11 on a computer that is officially not supported. However, this can lead to new problems and is only conditionally advisable for people who are not technically experienced.
Another sensible option is still to claim the additional year of security updates for Windows 10, which is free in Europe. However, one will be faced with the same problem in October 2026 as now. And whether the prices for memory will have stabilized by then is also more than uncertain.
In principle, there is also the option to switch to a Linux operating system. But this is not an alternative for people who need Windows for specific tasks or software. The best options if your PC does not support Windows 11, we have listed for you on MeinMMO.
Even a partial upgrade, such as replacing only the CPU and motherboard, can quickly become expensive because in the end, you will need new memory again when changing the CPU socket. Switching to DDR5 memory is not recommended at current prices.
Windows 11 is the current operating system from Microsoft and is now running on many computers. However, some users are still hesitant whether they should really upgrade from Windows 10 or an even older system to Windows 11. MeinMMO explains the pros and cons of an upgrade and lists reasons for and against an upgrade: 6 reasons why you should upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and 4 reasons against it
