When October 2025 rolls around, your old but still functional Windows 10 PC will no longer receive monthly security updates. And although you have a variety of options, the simplest solution is to upgrade that PC to Windows 11.
If you can, that is.
Also: How to upgrade an ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11
Microsoft is engaging in serious age discrimination against your Windows PCs these days. Even ancient PCs can run Windows 10, but not everyone can upgrade to the latest version.
There are well over 1 billion Windows PCs in the world today, most of them running Windows 10. Where your PC fits in will define whether it can last another decade or if it’s time to find a retirement home. You can sort yourself by asking one simple question: How old is that PC, exactly?
Also: Microsoft to tighten Windows security dramatically in 2025 – here’s how
The date of purchase doesn’t matter nearly as much as when the PC and its internal components were designed. And the most important of those components is the CPU. In Windows 10, you can discover that detail by running the System Information utility, Msinfo32.exe. On the System Summary page, look for the Processor value, as in the example shown below.
The System Information utility will tell you which CPU is in your old PC.
Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET
Armed with that information, you can sort your PC into one of four buckets. Here’s how to find out which one you’re in.
Modern PCs: 2019 or later
PCs that were designed and built in 2019 or later can generally run Windows 11 with full support. Your machine is in this bucket if its CPU is on one of the following lists
By design, every machine that includes one of the CPUs on this list will also include the other essential component that Windows 11 requires: a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
Also: Can’t quit Windows 10? Microsoft will charge for updates next year. Here’s how much
If your PC falls into this group, you can upgrade to Windows 11 using Windows Update or the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, and it should be capable of performing well for another decade.
If your CPU isn’t on any of those lists, you’ll need to dig a little deeper. You can get some important clues about a CPU’s age and capabilities by going to Intel’s processor specifications page or AMD’s processor specifications page and searching for the part name (i7-11850H, for example).
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Designed for Windows 10: 2016-2019
It seems unfair to call these PCs old. They’re middle-aged at best and capable of performing just about any modern task.
Also: The ultimate Windows 11 upgrade guide: Everything you need to know
Any system designed to meet the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program specifications during this period includes a TPM 2.0, although the CPU is almost certainly not on the list of Windows 11 supported parts. If you own one of these PCs, you can use Microsoft’s documented procedure to upgrade to Windows 11 by making a simple registry edit. (You’ll find the details under the “Option1” heading in this article: “How to upgrade an ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11”)
These PCs are likely to run Windows 11 well, and even the oldest of the bunch should be useful for at least five more years.
Designed for Windows 7/8: 2010-2015
These machines are starting to show their age and can fairly be called senior citizens.
But just like humans, you can’t judge their abilities by age alone. Some, especially those that were originally designed as high-end business PCs, might still be capable of delivering excellent performance; others deserve to be retired.
Also: For Windows 11 setup, which user account type should you choose? How to decide
To get the full picture, you need to look closely at what’s inside and then answer two questions:
Is there a TPM of any kind?
Many, but not all PCs from this era include a Trusted Platform Module, and even a TPM1.2 is enough to pass muster for Microsoft’s upgrade workaround.
Who made the CPU?
Almost all mainstream Intel CPUs from this era can meet the new, more stringent hardware requirements for Windows 11, version 24H2, which means you can probably use the “official” workaround with those PCs.
If it’s equipped with an AMD processor, however, prepare to be disappointed. AMD didn’t begin fully supporting the SSE3.2 and PopCnt instructions until around 2013, and I’ve heard from numerous owners of AMD-powered PCs from this era that are unable to upgrade to Windows 11. (For details, see “Microsoft blocked your Windows 11 upgrade? This trusty tool can (probably) fix that.”)
Even on a machine without a TPM, you can use a utility like Rufus to work around the compatibility blocks. But those PCs are probably running on borrowed time.
From the Dark Ages of the Windows PC: 2009 and earlier
In this era, Windows Vista was the target of every Get a Mac ad, and Windows XP was the workhorse. If you work at a large company, you’re probably surrounded by people who have no experience at all with those operating systems.
If you’re planning to upgrade one of these old-timers, don’t get your hopes up. For the most part, it was too early for TPMs to be included on any but the most advanced (for their day) business computers.
Also: Your Windows 10 PC can’t be upgraded? You have 5 options before support ends in 2025
More problematic is the fact that Intel CPUs through 2009 didn’t support the required streaming extensions and instructions that Windows 11, version 24H2 demands. Likewise, all AMD CPUs from this era are unable to upgrade.
You might run across a high-end PC from this era that squeaks in just under the wire, but it’s the exception and not the rule. Your old PC from this era might still be capable of doing a few tricks, but it’s unlikely that it will be doing so with Windows 11.
If you can’t stand to put that old workhorse out to pasture, you’ll need to find a new OS. Linux, anyone?
