[rtpoe]

OK, so support for Windows 10 (which, as I've been reading, was promised to be the last Windows version you'd ever need) is ending next week.

Like a lot of people, I do NOT want to "upgrade" to 11.

I've been reading a few articles on "How to Keep Win10", but they are all the same stupid things.

"Pay for the upgrades" - Yeah. Right.
"Switch to Linux" - No thank you. I don't want to spend the effort shifting everything over to a new OS, as well as getting used to all its quirks.
"Use a really good anti-malware package and practice safe computing." - Well, YEAH. I don't intend to pay for a professional-grade package, though.
"Backup often" - OK, I can do that....

Any other advice - stuff that makes sense?

[solvegas]

OK, so support for Windows 10 (which, as I've been reading, was promised to be the last Windows version you'd ever need) is ending next week.

Like a lot of people, I do NOT want to "upgrade" to 11.

I've been reading a few articles on "How to Keep Win10", but they are all the same stupid things.

"Pay for the upgrades" - Yeah. Right.
"Switch to Linux" - No thank you. I don't want to spend the effort shifting everything over to a new OS, as well as getting used to all its quirks.
"Use a really good anti-malware package and practice safe computing." - Well, YEAH. I don't intend to pay for a professional-grade package, though.
"Backup often" - OK, I can do that....

Any other advice - stuff that makes sense?

Damn. 

[wolpertinger]

please be assured that I'm absolutely aware that you are a free-thinking and self-confident individual, and be furthermore assured that I don't want to and also cannot have an impact on your preferences and decisions.
But maybe you have the time and are willing to hear about my Windoof¹⁾ odyssey and take your own conclusions thereof.
Well I've started with Windows 98SE (the 'best windows ever' ) and ended up over XP at Windows 7. My experiences were, that the existing machine, if at all, didn't work as well with the new OS version as before (most time much slower). I didn't change the OS' 'just for fun' but mainly, because some programs didn't fulfil new standards like e.g. 128 bit encryption etc. This was the time, where I had my first contacts with LinuX since at this time especially Ubuntu offered so called 'live installations' where I could easily check, whether my hardware would be ok for the 'new' OS (this LinuX version) as well (without altering the existing OS).
So in my opinion, there is no other choice, than to make a 'deep, radical cut' and switch to another OS than Windows if you want to get rid of Microsoft's business policy once and for all.
IMHO doing so, you cannot surpass the LinuX world (besides you want to get into the claws of the other octopus called Mac). And yes, at certain points, you will not be able to avoid to open the so called 'console windows' and type in some cryptic commands.
But similar to the BEA, there are also a lot of friendly people around in many LinuX forums, which will assist you.
One last thought: why don't you use your existing Windows (with all the installed (application) programs 'as is' and outsource just the security sensitive parts (like the internet browser etc.) to a new 'LinuX machine'?

¹⁾ doof (ger) = stupid (engl.)

P.S.:
**83** (https://forum.bearchive.com/index.php?topic=10009498.msg10698235#msg10698235) over the issue one night, I remember, that LinuX supports so called 'dual boot' configurations. It works quite fine up to Windows 7. Did you ever try such a configuration or is this no option for you?
Whether it can be installed 'over' Windows 10, I don't know, since I've left the Microsoft world after Win7  .

[SwitcherX]

MS is going to force everyone to upgrade eventually.  You could try to hold out until Windows 12 comes out and hope it dosen't suck, switch to a Mac, or move to Linux.

Linux Mint is easiest for Windows users to switch to linux.

[Prinzeugen]

I would echo what the author has said...  Windows 10 was supposed to be it..They lied.. I did not have to pay for security updates so I have a year to upgrade to a windows 11 machine.. Current machine was purchased as Covid hit in 2020 so it is getting time to upgrade anyways.. I have heard of programs that will transfer programs intact from c drive to new computers c drive.. Anyone have any experience with one of these programs ?