In a nutshell: As Microsoft prepares to end free security updates for Windows 10 in October, a significant challenge looms for charities that refurbish and distribute older computers to those in need. With an estimated 240 million PCs unable to meet the stringent hardware requirements for Windows 11, these organizations face a difficult decision: provide potentially insecure Windows 10 systems, send them to e-waste recyclers, or explore alternative operating systems like Linux.
Microsoft’s requirements for Windows 11 include a 1GHz or faster CPU with at least two cores, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, Secure Boot capability, and TPM 2.0 compatibility. However, the supported Intel CPU list only goes back to 8th Gen chips, introduced in 2017, while the AMD list includes Ryzen 2000 series and above.
Well, an additional problem with this Lenovo ThinkPad is that its “A” key is coming loose if not pressed on the rightmost side. I’ve also dropped it 3x from over a foot’s distance (knocked off a table, etc.), which damaged its Bluetooth receiver. So I’m wondering if it’s even still worth maintaining…
It’s definitely got 2×256 GB SSDs in it, though they’re also all from 2016-17, hence my predicament of sorts…