The Windows ecosystem is experiencing one of its most turbulent periods in decades: Windows 10 loses full support, Windows 11 receives disastrous updates, and at the same time becomes the best-performing gaming system.Between warning messages, vulnerabilities, problematic patches, and performance tests with next-generation graphics cards, many users are literally on tenterhooks every time a new update appears.
This guide brings together All the latest information on Windows 10, Windows 11 and other alternativesFrom how to protect your files and survive system-breaking patches, to what real options you have if your PC isn't compatible with Windows 11 or you're simply tired of so many surprises, we're going to bring order, in clear and accessible language, to all the chaos surrounding Microsoft's operating system today.
Windows 10: end of support, exceptions in the EU, and what it really means
The starting point is compelling: Official technical support for Windows 10 has endedGlobally, this means the system no longer receives new features or regular security updates, significantly increasing the risk of malware, critical vulnerabilities, or targeted attacks exploiting unpatched flaws, as our [report/example/etc.] demonstrates. current events in online security.
However, in the European case the situation is somewhat different. In the European Union, Windows 10 will continue to receive security patches for another year, until October 13, 2026.And without users having to pay additional fees or subscribe to special programs. However, this extension only applies to version 22H2 and only covers security fixes, not new features or telephone or assisted support.
Those who have a computer with Windows 10 22H2 have started to see notifications within the system itself to "register" the device and continue receiving those extra patchesIt is important to complete this process before the deadline, because from then on the system will be completely frozen in terms of updates.
This situation creates an obvious dilemma: Millions of users are resisting upgrading to Windows 11Whether due to hardware incompatibility or simply because they're not convinced by the new version, recent estimates suggest that around 40% of the world's PCs are still running Windows 10. Many of these PCs are perfectly functional but unable to meet the demanding requirements of Windows 11 without buying a new computer. If you have any doubts, consult our [link to relevant section]. Hardware checklist prior to upgrading to Windows 11.
The consequences are significant: if these devices stop receiving security patches and remain connected to the Internet, They become easy targets for cybercriminals, ransomware, and mass attacks.That's why more and more users are considering alternatives like Linux, macOS, ChromeOS, or even other less popular systems, instead of remaining stuck indefinitely on an unsupported version of Windows.
Protect your sensitive files and data in Windows
Regardless of which version of Windows you use, there is one factor that has become key over the years: the enormous amount of sensitive information we store on the PCPersonal documents, family photos, work data, passwords, copies of invoices… losing all of that or having it end up in the wrong hands is a risk that should not be underestimated.
For years, Windows has included several built-in tools that allow you to strengthen security without having to install third-party programs. One of the most important in the current context is the Windows Backup feature with OneDrive, especially useful now that Windows 10 is running out of a safety net in the form of regular patches.
This feature allows you to automatically back up your Documents, photos, basic settings, and most used applications directly in the Microsoft cloudusing OneDrive as secure storage. This way, if you later decide to upgrade to Windows 11 or buy a new computer, the transfer is virtually seamless: when you log in to the new device, most of your data is restored without much hassle.
The idea is clear: Start from scratch, but without losing anything importantAs long as you're still on Windows 10, having a cloud backup greatly reduces the impact of serious problems, whether from hardware failures, malware attacks, or disasters caused by a failed update.
In addition to cloud backup, it is still advisable to combine it with local copies on external hard drives or encrypted USB drivesas well as using the protection tools built into Windows (such as BitLocker in supported editions) to prevent anyone from reading your files if your computer is lost or stolen.
Windows 11: Between the update disaster and the leap in gaming performance
The natural successor to Windows 10, at least on paper, is Windows 11. But the reality is much more complex: The first major batch of Windows 11 updates in 2026 has been hailed by many as one of the worst in Microsoft's history.And that, given the company's track record, is saying a lot.
The security patch KB5074109, released on January 13, was supposed to strengthen system protection as part of the regular Patch Tuesday update. In practice, has triggered a chain of critical problems which has left many users stranded. The most worrying thing is that we're talking about a "mandatory" patch for home systems, designed precisely to keep PCs secure.
Among the flaws detected, one of the first to come to light was an error that It blocked remote desktop connections on client machines, Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365. For professional environments, this flaw was a real disaster, forcing Microsoft to quickly release an out-of-band emergency patch to mitigate the problem.
Far from ending there, other serious errors began to come to light: Computers that wouldn't shut down or hibernate, game crashes, NVIDIA control panel failures, and problems with AMD graphics cards as well.In addition, there was a particularly serious bug that rendered the Outlook email client unusable when combined with data stored on OneDrive or services like Dropbox, forcing the release of a second urgent patch.Office error 0x8007066f).
The final straw came with reports of computers that, after installing KB5074109 and its subsequent patches, They would stop booting completely and display a black screen with the error “UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME”The system was stuck in a boot loop, and for many users, not even the "Quick Machine Recovery" tool was able to automatically bring the PC back to life, according to our Inaccessible_Boot_Device guide.
To make matters worse, some users who tried to uninstall the problematic update encountered error 0x800f0905related to the Windows servicing stack and component store. Result: the system did not allow the patch to be rolled back, leaving those affected stuck between keeping an update that breaks half their computer or embarking on much more complex repair procedures (First_Boot error).
How to deal with problematic updates in Windows 11
Given this situation, there are many who are demanding that Microsoft Put the brakes on and focus on stability before forcing in more features and AI.There have even been calls for a kind of classic "Service Pack" that consolidates all the necessary fixes and gives Windows 11 a solid foundation, without that feeling of playing Russian roulette every Patch Tuesday.
Until that course correction arrives (if it arrives), there are several practical strategies to minimize risks and get out of trouble if your PC is in this messThe first step, although it may sound basic, involves trying to uninstall the latest conflicting updates, starting with KB5074109 and any associated cumulative patches, as long as the system can still boot.
If the problem persists or the system has become unstable to the point of being non-functional, the most effective option is usually to Use the Reset/Restore/Recover PC feature built into Windows 11This tool returns the system to its "factory" state as it was after the first installation, but with a faster and cleaner process than a completely clean installation.
Since Windows 10, Microsoft has improved this mechanism by adding reinstallation from the cloudThis allows you to download an official Windows image without relying on physical media or local files, which is very useful when you suspect that certain system files may be corrupted or infected by malware.
To access this feature, simply go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC, and follow the steps. If you prefer the quick route, you can open a console with administrator privileges and enter the command systemreset -factoryresetFrom there, the system will allow you to choose between different options (such as keeping or not keeping personal files) before performing the reinstallation.
It is important to be clear that, in any of the modalities, Installed applications and detailed system settings will be removedSince the tool relies on the Windows recovery environment (Windows RE), it erases and formats the necessary partitions and deploys a fresh copy of the operating system.
Prevent bad updates from hitting your PC again
If you've already experienced the nightmare of an update that breaks half your system, it's normal to want to be on the safe side. The best strategy for many users, especially in production environments, is to delay or pause Windows 11 updates. until we verify that the patches are truly stable.
The easiest way is to use the built-in options in Settings, where you can pause updates for a period ranging from one to five weeksThis solution is quick, reversible, and sufficient for most home users who want to wait a few days to see how each Patch Tuesday evolves before rushing to install it.
For those who need finer control, such as administrators or advanced users, there are more powerful alternatives. For example, Manually configure the Windows registry to delay the installation of feature updates for up to 365 daysor use Group Policy in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
The Group Policy Editor offers a much greater level of control over the behavior of Windows UpdateYou can define exactly how and when patches are downloaded and installed, block certain categories, set maintenance windows, and even temporarily prevent the arrival of major new system versions.
In any case, the key is to find a balance: Never updating is as dangerous as updating frantically on the day each patch is released.The most prudent course of action is usually to wait a few days, observe if serious problems are reported, keep backups up to date, and then only apply what is considered sufficiently tested.
Windows 11 vs. Windows 10 in gaming: the new one finally wins
Paradoxically, while Windows 11 updates have raised concerns in terms of stability, The latest versions of the system have managed to overtake Windows 10 in an area where until recently they almost always lost: gaming performance.And we're not talking about marginal differences: in some AAA titles, the improvement is quite noticeable, as our data shows. Reviews of video games for PC and Xbox.
Before the Windows 11 25H2 update, several performance analyses agreed that Windows 10 was still faster for gamingespecially in high-end configurations. This discouraged enthusiastic gamers and content creators from making the switch, even more so when you add in the hardware requirements and the perception that Windows 11 offered few clear advantages.
With the arrival of Windows 11 25H2, Microsoft promised a specific improvement in the gaming arena. To verify this, hardware review channels like Hardware Unboxed have conducted tests. detailed comparisons between Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 11 25H2, using top-of-the-line equipment: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D or 9700X processors and NVIDIA RTX 5090 or AMD RX 9070 XT graphics cards, with VBS and virtualization functions disabled from the BIOS, as reflected in several PC hardware analysis.
These tests used 1080p and 1440p/4K resolutions and a battery of very demanding games, including titles such as Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Spider-Man 2, Battlefield 6, Mafia: The Old Country, ARC Raiders, Marvel Rivals, Borderlands 4, The Last of Us Part II Remasteredas well as other competitive games and graphically intensive remasters, and our guide on console games on PC.
The overall results indicate that Windows 11 offers on average between 4% and 5% more FPS performance than Windows 10.with differences ranging from 1,2% to 5% depending on the resolution and the specific game. In specific AAA titles, the gain can be much higher: for example, ARC Raiders shows increases of around 11-15% depending on the resolution, and Borderlands 4 achieves around 13% more FPS at 1080p and 1440p, with an even greater improvement of 9% at 4K.
In remasters like Spider-Man 2 and Horizon Zero Dawn RemasteredImprovements of between 7% and 10% are observed at 1080p and 1440p, differences large enough to be noticeable on high refresh rate monitors. In the case of The Last of Us Part II Remastered, an interesting observation is made: at 1080p, Windows 10 still has a slight advantage, but at 4K, the balance tips in favor of Windows 11, suggesting a possible driver factor or specific optimization.
Regarding competitive games like Battlefield 6, Counter-Strike 2 or Assetto Corsa CompetizionePerformance tends to be virtually identical between both systems, indicating that the biggest difference appears mainly in graphically demanding AAA titles, not so much in games where the bottleneck is usually the CPU or network latency.
What role do drivers and internal optimizations play?
One of the most interesting details revealed by these tests is that The performance improvement is more noticeable with NVIDIA graphics cards than with AMD models.With the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and RTX 5090 combo, the differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11 are noticeable, while with the Ryzen 7 9700X and the RX 9070 XT the variations almost disappear in many cases.
This suggests that part of Windows 11's advantage in gaming It could come from NVIDIA drivers that are more optimized for the new version of the system.or tighter integration with certain kernel and task scheduler functions in 25H2. In other words, it's not just Windows 11 itself, but also how hardware manufacturers are focusing their optimization efforts, something confirmed by several analysis of desktop equipment.
Microsoft, for its part, has been talking for months about initiatives such as Performance Fundamentals, a set of internal adjustments designed to improve system resource management, properly prioritize game processes, reduce the impact of background tasks, and optimize shader compilation to minimize stuttering and micro-stuttering in demanding titles.
The sum of these improvements explains why, in the overall assessment of the 14 games tested by some of these analyses, Windows 11 consistently ranks ahead of Windows 10At 1080p, the average advantage is around 4%, and at 4K it scales up to approximately 5%, which, while not revolutionary, does translate into a somewhat smoother gaming experience, especially when paired with cutting-edge hardware.
It is also no coincidence that, according to surveys such as the Steam hardware and software survey, Windows 11 is already the most used version among PC gamers using the platformWith a growing percentage month after month and several years of support ahead, the combination of improved FPS, active support, and manufacturers' focus on optimizing for the latest version is tipping the scales in its favor in the gaming arena.
Real options for leaving Windows 10 if you don't want to upgrade to Windows 11
With Windows 10 nearing the end of support and Windows 11 raising concerns about the stability of its updates, many users are wondering: "What if I just leave Windows behind?"The good news is that there are alternatives, although each one has its pros and cons depending on the type of use and the available budget.
The most obvious option, provided the hardware allows it, remains Upgrade to Windows 11 for freeMany relatively recent computers meet the requirements (TPM 2.0, compatible processor, etc.), and upgrading is common for PCs that were nearing the end of their useful life and have been replaced by new computers with Windows 11 pre-installed; if you are going to buy a new computer, you can read our Analysis and reviews of laptops with Windows.
For those who cannot or do not want to upgrade to Windows 11, the alternative that is gaining the most popularity is migrate to a Linux distributionDistributions such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debian, Elementary, Fedora, Red Hat, or SuSE offer much more relaxed hardware requirements than Windows and allow for extending the lifespan of equipment that would otherwise end up in a container despite still functioning perfectly.
In practice, many users find that when installing a modern Linux, The computer runs faster, runs cooler, doesn't display built-in advertising, and comes without bloatware.Furthermore, the system does not collect personal data by default to the extent that Windows does, and the transparency of free software allows for better control over what is installed and how it is updated.
Linux is also open source and free, and it works seamlessly on almost any computer compatible with Windows 10. Suites like LibreOffice cover many office automation needs at no cost.And the range of software for browsing, email, multimedia, development or even gaming (with Steam and Proton) is becoming increasingly broad and mature.
Among the most user-friendly distributions for those coming from Windows, one stands out in particular Linux MintUbuntu offers desktops with a design very similar to what Microsoft users are already familiar with, featuring a classic start menu and a fairly gentle learning curve. Ubuntu also remains a great entry point for beginners thanks to its huge community and the abundance of available tutorials.
Other alternatives: macOS, ChromeOS and more exotic systems
For users or companies who prefer not to go into the world of free software but do want to leave the Windows ecosystem, another possible decision is switch to macOSHowever, this change necessarily involves buying a new Apple device, which is generally more expensive than many equivalent PCs, so it is usually a more common transition in companies or professionals than at home.
The option of ChromeOSGoogle's operating system designed for Chromebooks is also gaining traction in certain sectors. It usually requires a new laptop, but it's generally cheaper than a Mac. In return, the user gets a system heavily focused on the browser, web applications, and Android, perfect for light office use, studies, browsing and content consumption, although somewhat limited for tasks that require a lot of computing power or very specific applications.
Beyond these well-known alternatives, there are other systems such as Unix, FreeBSD, FreeDOS or OpenBSDThese are more niche solutions, usually highly geared towards specific environments, system administration, or specialized tasks. In many cases, they lack a graphical environment by default and are primarily managed from the command line. They are not designed for the average user or a general-purpose PC.
Therefore, for those who wish to leave Windows 10 without embracing Windows 11, the most reasonable options usually involve... Linux or, budget permitting, macOSChromeOS also emerges as an attractive option for those looking for a simple and inexpensive device for everyday tasks, while the other alternative systems are reserved for highly technical profiles or very specific uses.
Given this scenario, the situation of Windows today is a curious cocktail: A Windows 10 in retreat that still refuses to disappear, a Windows 11 that combines real advances in performance (especially in gaming) with resounding stumbles in its updatesAnd a range of alternatives that have never been as viable as they are now. Choosing well involves assessing what you really need: stability, compatibility, gaming, cost, privacy, or simply the peace of mind that your PC won't become a testing ground every second Tuesday of the month.
