Windows 10 is on Borrowed Time—Here’s How to Keep It Alive.

Well, it’s happening. Microsoft is yanking the life support on Windows 10, and this time, there’s no "maybe later" button to click. No more updates. No more patches. No more pretending you didn’t see that nagging "Upgrade to Windows 11" message lurking in the corner of your screen. October 2025 is the final nail in the coffin, and if you’re still using Windows 10 after that, you’re basically driving a car with no MOT, no insurance, and hoping the brakes don’t give out on the motorway.

And if you’re thinking, “Oh, I’ll just keep using it anyway,” then congratulations—you’ve just become the IT equivalent of that person still carrying a paper map in the glovebox, 'just in case'.

Windows 11: The Overhyped Sequel Nobody Asked For

Ah yes, the Windows 11 dream—sleek, modern, and totally not designed to turn half of your perfectly functioning computers into glorified doorstops. If you’re lucky enough to have a machine that meets the requirements, congratulations, you get to enjoy:

• A Start Menu shuffle no one requested.
• Performance quirks that make you question if your PC is gaslighting you.
• The thrilling realisation that Microsoft Teams is now baked into your soul.

And for the rest of us? It’s like getting locked out of a nightclub because your shoes aren’t fancy enough, despite the fact that you’ve been drinking there for years.

The Risk of Staying Put

Look, we all knew this was coming. Microsoft doesn’t just retire an OS—it shoves it out the door, changes the locks, and sets the house on fire so you can’t go back. If you want to stay on Windows 10 after October 2025, your options include:

1. Living Dangerously – Ignore the warnings, cross your fingers, and hope cybercriminals aren’t interested in your "My Documents" folder. (Spoiler: they are.)
2. Paying Microsoft’s Ransom – Sorry, Extended Security Updates. Same thing.
3. Getting Creative – Because there are ways to dodge this whole mess without binning your hardware.

The Hack

Here’s where things get interesting. We had a look around, did the legwork, and found a workaround that’s been right under our noses: IGEL. It’s like that techy mate who actually reads the T&Cs before clicking "I Agree." A lightweight Linux-based OS that lets you keep using your existing Windows 10 machines securely, minus the end-of-life panic.

While everyone else is panic-buying new hardware, there’s a whole crew of savvy IT teams quietly keeping their kit running without playing Microsoft’s game.

The Takeaway

Windows 10’s days are numbered, but you’ve got options. You could follow the crowd and splash out on new kit, or you could do what the clever tech folks are doing—finding ways around it.

The real question is, are you in on the secret, or are you still queueing up for an upgrade you don’t actually need? It might be worth a look at IGEL or you can drop us a DM or give us a call https://r-comconsulting.com/contact/