The Death of Windows 10 Could Net You a Bunch of Free Linux PCs

Windows 11 elimination wave: Your old computer is ushering in a new life! A large number of businesses are about to eliminate computers that cannot run Windows 11, but this is a great opportunity for Linux users!

Windows 10 is about to die, and many computers cannot run Windows 11

Enterprises need to run the latest software on the device to get support, maintain infrastructure security and protect user data. Windows 11 is the latest version of Windows operating system, but it has very specific and strict hardware requirements that many existing computers cannot meet, so they have long insisted on using old Windows 10.

However, Windows 10 will be out of support on October 14, 2025. This means Microsoft will stop providing support, security patches and feature updates to the operating system unless you pay a high fee to get extended security updates (the price is prohibitive).

It is estimated that by this day, more than 240 million computers will be eliminated. Of course, this refers to the elimination for Windows. Linux will allow these computers to continue to be used in media and creative work, hosting servers, and even gaming for the next few years.

Turn crisis into opportunity

When an enterprise upgrades its computer equipment, after IT departments have filtered out old hardware, one of two things usually happens: throwing it into a trash or selling it on an online auction site at an extremely low price.

I have always obtained cheap but powerful hardware in this way, and the rising cost of importing electronics makes upgrading and recycling of old enterprise equipment more and more attractive. Old enterprise computers can be great servers, media centers, and productivity machines. Older business laptops are usually in good condition, and some have lower battery cycles because they dock on employees’ workstations most of the time, rather than being used on the road. The old ThinkPad is a favorite of many tech enthusiasts who pursue durable, cheap laptops.

As a large number of second-hand computers are about to appear on the market, sellers are expected to speed up inventory turnover. If you live near a business district, you may even start seeing computer hardware ready to be collected next to your office bin (in case legal, of course).

How to turn old enterprise computers into Linux powerful computers

Before purchasing an old corporate computer, check the specifications and make sure it is not too old. Many sellers will exaggerate the performance of the machine. Also make sure you don't have a password or BIOS lock enabled, as you don't want to receive a machine that you don't have full control.

When your "new" device arrives, make sure to erase it thoroughly, reset your password, and disable any enterprise management features so it cannot "report" to previous owners. If you have some extra money, consider adding some RAM and SSD to increase your speed in a cost-effective way. If you are buying a portable device and the battery is not as good as before, you can usually find a reasonably priced alternative online.

You may also need to clean it thoroughly with compressed air or anti-static brushes.

Then, it's time to find the Linux operating system (called a distribution or distro) that works for you. There are media center distributions suitable for browsing movie collections on big-screen TVs, game-centric Linux distributions like CachyOS and the upcoming SteamOS, and proven and reliable desktop distributions including Ubuntu and Fedora for productivity and web browsing. You can also set up your own home server to reduce your dependence on the cloud.

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Article 13 Corporate computers come in different form factors, from mini computers that can be hidden behind a TV to all-in-one machines that respect your desktop space, and large tower computers that can hold multiple hard drives to build your own home NAS box. An old mini computer running shairport-sync has even entered my shed with a pair of old beige speakers for streaming music.

Linux can bring your old devices back to life

If your Windows computer or laptop is starting to look older, but you don't want to buy a new computer, Linux can also help. Back up your files and install a lightweight Linux distribution to bring your old hardware back to life.

You can then view a wide range of the best open source office and creative software, media production tools, and games available from Linux. And, your Linux operating system will continue to receive critical updates for a long time.

Related##### How to install Linux

We will guide you through everything you need.

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