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Microsoft Issues Free Update Offer To Millions Of Windows Users (ads in windows update menu) (www.forbes.com)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] 18 points 1 year ago (11 children)

Microsoft has expanded its free Extended Security Updates (ESU) offer to millions more Windows 10 users. Following the mandatory KB5063709 update, users can now see an “Enroll in Extended Support Updates” option, valid until October 2026. While paid plans start at $30 for up to 10 PCs, most users will likely choose the free offer, linking ESU to their Microsoft account and OneDrive.

The program aims to protect Windows 10 devices after official support ends, helping users transition to newer systems. Microsoft acknowledges that moving to a new PC can take time, and the ESU is meant to bridge that gap. Although an earlier bug caused crashes in the enrollment wizard, this issue has now been fixed.

However, the free ESU may slow Windows 11 adoption. Recent market share data from Statcounter suggests the shift from Windows 10 to Windows 11 has stalled, with the latter even losing ground. Critics argue that free ESU should have been limited to PCs unable to upgrade.

Separately, Microsoft warns that Windows 11 version 23H2 will reach end of support on November 11, 2025. Users must upgrade to version 24H2 or 25H2 to continue receiving security updates.

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  • [–] 16 points 1 year ago (8 children)

    Separately, Microsoft warns that Windows 11 version 23H2 will reach end of support on November 11, 2025. Users must upgrade to version 24H2 or 25H2 to continue receiving security updates.

    Windows 11 23H2 was the last version that supported Windows Mixed Reality. They're really in a hurry to kill WMR.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    https://github.com/mbucchia/Oasis-Driver-for-Windows-Mixed-Reality

    Theres a sort of replacement out there, closed source, nvidia only (AMD might come later though)

    Still sucks they're ripping WMR out. My G2 was awesome for the 150$ I spent on it.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    could I get a bit of context for this? not well read in VR things

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago

    A bunch of VR headsets (including fairly expensive ones) used Windows Mixed Reality as their API to the OS. Without it, many of these headsets simply do not function. Turning your very expensive purchase into a paperweight.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Microsoft got companies like Samsung, HP and Lenovo to make WMR VR headsets that require the WMR Windows components. There is official support for Steam VR, but the headsets don't work if the WMR components aren't there, and after November there will be no officially supported version of Windows with those components. From what I've read it's basically impossible to get WMR working on 10 LTSC, and I assume the situation is the same on 11 LTSC.

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  • [–] 9 points 1 year ago

    Separately, Microsoft warns that Windows 11 version 23H2 will reach end of support on November 11, 2025.

    I.e., the one that still supports WMR virtual reality headsets and hasn't had the functionality for those artificially pulled.

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