From Windows 10 to Windows 11

ADVANCED SECURITY EUROPA

EOOD

Windows 10 is phasing out in favor of Windows 11, definitely.

This switch comes with a few problems:

The big hardware problem: a great percentage [some metrics are for 1 50% share] of actual PCs are not suitable to run Windows 11 at all.
The small hardware problem: even if your PCs meet all the specs to run Win11, they will probably just crawl with the new operating system.
Windows 11 enforces AI for eveything: this means that lots of valuable information about your business, your clients, your suppliers will go to Microsoft AI servers and possibly used to feed AI CoPilot bot.

Microsoft has changed switching policy several times recently but they are definetly pushing for a total switch, pretty soon.

Now [January 2026] it is time to make the right decision.

Like every IT project, planning is a key step to achieve success.

Observe which applications are used and how [which feature of every single app is used].

Note that application like MS Excel and Autodesk AutoCAD are critical but there are lots of solutions [Vine, WinBoat, Virtual Machines and more].

List available Linux software available as a replacement of currently used apps.

Do not forget to analize special hardware [notably smartcard readers]

Prepare a couple of dual boot machines [Win10/Linux] and let some users to test them with their apps and data.

Test candidate Linux apps with your real data and macros.

For apps that do not have a Linux counterpart, evaluate and test online alternative services or emulators/virtual machines.

Choose the Linux distro that better suits your specific needs and all the Linux apps you need.

You have all information to prepare a detailed switching plan for each desktop.

You can also keep some PCs with Windows on some desktops.

Prepare a plan for hands-on courses about Linux and new apps.

You made it: now you can enjoy the great ease of use, security, stability and speed of the new operating system on your old PCs.

PS if you dual-boot Linux and Windows 10, you will keep the possibility to boot again Windows 10, just in case.