Worried about the demise of Windows 10?

[Pauline]

I was offered the extended security updates on one of my computers about a week ago, and have enrolled, but I’m not being offered it on the other as yet. There’s no obvious reason except for it being a gradual roll out, so I’m still hoping. Both computers are - as always - fully up to date.

 

[G6JPG (John)]

Here's the unofficial way (for those on Windows 10). [Copied from https://github.com/abbodi1406/ConsumerESU .] Follow at your own risk; all I can say is that I know several people for whom it has worked, none for whom it hasn't, and none for whom it has destroyed their system. But on your head be it!
First, look in Settings | Updates to see if you're already enrolled. (If you maximise that window it tells you top right.)
• Download https://github.com/abbodi1406/ConsumerESU/archive/refs/heads/master.zip . (Virus-check it if you want.)
• Unzip it somewhere (probably best to a new directory). (Virus-check them if you want.)
• Open an administrator-mode command wimdow where you unzipped (or elsewhere then cd to there).
• Type (or paste from here) Consumer_ESU_Enrollment_run.cmd -License
That seems to be all there is to it! Look in settings again to see if it has worked. Some have found it works without the -License bit.

 

[Pauline]

Thanks. I’d seen your previous post on that, and I guess I’m just a bit nervous of the ‘at your own risk’ and ‘on your head be it’ bits. Everything is backed up, I think, but now is not a good time (big understatement) to have computer problems. Perhaps I should keep hoping for the ESU offer until at least Wednesday, and then have a re-think.

 

[peter]

Thanks. I’d seen your previous post on that, and I guess I’m just a bit nervous of the ‘at your own risk’ and ‘on your head be it’ bits. Everything is backed up, I think, but now is not a good time (big understatement) to have computer problems. Perhaps I should keep hoping for the ESU offer until at least Wednesday, and then have a re-think.

You might want to double-check that the Microsoft account you sign in with is an administrator account - if it isn't, that would explain why ESU isn't being offered.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/extended-security-updates

 

[Pauline]

I only have one account on each of the computers, and yes, it’s an administrator account. I’ve always used a local sign-in on both computers, rather than signing in with a Microsoft account, but that didn’t affect things on the other computer. I had to sign in during the enrolment but it didn’t change the account at all.

 

[peter]

In theory you can sign up at any time until 13/10/2026, but as updates won't be provided after tomorrow I'm not sure that there is much point delaying after then.

 

[Pauline]

You mean use John’s method? I won’t be able to update to Windows 11.

 

[peter]

You mean use John’s method? I won’t be able to update to Windows 11.

I'm not sure what else you can do?

There are several videos on YouTube - I watched this one:

Might be safer than downloading a file.

 

[Pauline]

I think prefer John’s method! I hate meddling in the registry.

 

[Pauline]

And finally the ‘enrol now’ link has appeared - and now I can’t log-in to my account on the computer! I give up!

 

[G6JPG (John)]

Thanks. I’d seen your previous post on that, and I guess I’m just a bit nervous of the ‘at your own risk’ and ‘on your head be it’ bits. Everything is backed up, I think, but now is not a good time (big understatement) to have computer problems. Perhaps I should keep hoping for the ESU offer until at least Wednesday, and then have a re-think.

That was just me covering myself; there are no such warnings on the github page, and as I said I'm not aware of anyone doing harm to their system by trying it. I was amazed how simple it was when I did it.

 

[Pauline]

So, if I can’t get logged-in to my Microsoft account, would running that file work instead to enrol me.

I don’t why I can’t get logged in. It keeps saying something went wrong, then when I try again, I don’t get a new code. Then I tried to log-in first from the settings home page, but after entering the code, it then wants me to add the Windows password, and I’m pretty sure there isn’t one on that computer, and it wouldn’t log me in without one. So that didn’t work either.

As a last resort I went to my account online and tried to add the computer as a new device, but it says it doesn’t recognise the serial number. Why not?! I guess I might have entered it wrongly, but I did try several times and checked it carefully.

 

[G6JPG (John)]

So, if I can’t get logged-in to my Microsoft account, would running that file work instead to enrol me.

I think so. I certainly didn't invoke any "Microsoft account" before running it; I'm not even sure I have one. I just did: get the zip, unpack the zip, and run the command in an administrator window.

 

[Pauline]

I think so. I certainly didn't invoke any "Microsoft account" before running it; I'm not even sure I have one. I just did: get the zip, unpack the zip, and run the command in an administrator window.

OK, thanks. I’ve given up for tonight but hopefully I can try that tomorrow if I still can’t log-in.

EDIT: just to clarify, when I’ve run the file, will I actually be enrolled, not just invited?

 

[G6JPG (John)]

After I'd run it, Settings .. Windows Update tells me (top right if maximised) "Your PC is enrolled to get Extended Security Updates."

 

[peter]

I think prefer John’s method! I hate meddling in the registry.

But it's probably what the other method does, just not transparently. When you do it yourself you can be sure that there is no foul play - if anything goes wrong it's your own fault.

 

[Pauline]

But it's probably what the other method does, just not transparently. When you do it yourself you can be sure that there is no foul play - if anything goes wrong it's your own fault.

Normally I would agree, but since I can’t get logged in to my Microsoft account on that computer, I may not have any choice here. One way or another I need to get enrolled, and the transparent method won’t work if I can’t get logged in. I’ve tried Microsoft’s help, and it isn’t (any help, that is).

 

[Pauline]

I guess if those who’ve enrolled the ‘transparent way’ get any security updates tomorrow, then if those who’ve used John’s method do also, then that will be a good test that it works properly. Perhaps we could confirm that when any updates are released, please? I’ll know from my other computer where I was able to enrol ‘transparently’ if any security updates are being offered.

 

[Pauline]

And today I still cannot log-in to my Microsoft account on my second computer. Also, it seems they leave a pause between sending codes, so after one ‘Oops’ from Microsoft, I can’t try again until that resets. Adding the correct Microsoft account password also gets an ‘oops’. I decided to try creating a second Microsoft account instead, and guess what? ‘something went wrong’.

And I’ve confirmed there is no local account password on the computer, and if I try to log-in to my Microsoft account from the settings Home page, it fails because it asks for this Windows password. Mind you, if I did have one, maybe I’d still get an ‘oops’.

 

[Pauline]

Well now I’m confused, but definitely not complaining. My enrolled computer had various updates this morning, much like any normal monthly update Wednesday.

I then checked my other computer. The enrol invitation was still there but a red exclamation mark had appeared at the top telling me my version of windows had reached the end of support. I decided to check for updates anyway, whereupon it proceeded to download and install exactly the same updates as on my enrolled computer had, including the security update.

As I said, I’m definitely not complaining, and at least I know my second computer will be OK until I can sort out enrolling.