Windows 10 EOL - your options.

Yes I think that's where the link used to go.  I wonder why they took it down.

After going to Windows Support I found this:

I guess my device does not meet the prerequisites as I have not received any type of notification regarding ESU. I have a Microsoft Account due to joining recently just to see if I would be offered ESU and nothing thus far. I stay current on all updates and even install optional updates. I have 22H2 and build 19045.6282

I have an older Dell PC which I purchased in 2009 and it came with Windows 7. It still works for me and I see no need to purchase a new Windows 11 computer. Just curious as to why I have not been offered the ESU. I realize there is still some time left prior to EOL and support. Just have to wait and see.

Yes. For some.  Need to take the Optional Update for this month to get that information.   Get latest greatest if turned on in Settings--> MS Update.

Others will get it on Patch Tuesday.

@sikntired  If it is your Dell Inspiron 545 there are no Support Pages up for Drivers or BIOS @ Dell any longer that I can find.

Hope have saved all your Support Drivers.  https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=r250485

Can plug in your Service ID and maybe will find something. 

Similar system : The Model 545s from 5 yrs ago : Dell does not support Win 10 on this model (no drivers).  Thus even though it will work with Win 10 some hardware devices may not.  In these cases an add on card or USB adapter that is Win 10 compatible is needed.   

https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/inspiron-desktops/inspiron-545s-windows-10-driver/647f8423f4ccf8a8de300848

So with all Support Pages missing i doubt that your system will go to Win11.

You can check by watching Dell Video : https://www.dell.com/support/contents/en-us/videos/videoplayer/windows-11-compatibility/6357277403112

@Pkshadow, thanks for the info. I realize my machine does not meet  the requirements to upgrade to Win 11. What I am referring to is the fact that even though I have Win 10 installed on this pc I have not been offered the option to enroll in ESU. I have received no notifications to enroll even after installing all updates including optional ones. Just clarifying things in case I did not make myself clear in my earlier post.

It's rolling out.  I only got it a couple of days ago.

Okay, thanks.

Hi, yes it was unclear as you provided instructions on how to do so. :=}

See Enrol Now Wizard : https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/08/25/hate-windows-11-windows-10s-extended-updates-enroll-button-is-slowly-rolling-out-says-microsoft/

KB5063709       https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/windows-10-kb5063709-update-fixes-extended-security-updates-enrollment/

EDIT : NOTE : Since your System is not Windows 10 Eligible but can go to Win10 you might not be able to get updates.

I do not know myself but considering the similar system states No Support for Win10 it may or may not get it.

Please let us know as will be interesting to all if unsupported Win10 systems will get ESU.  Thanks. 

Edited by Pkshadow, 31 August 2025 - 05:29 PM.

Well, "Patch Tuesday" has come and gone. I downloaded and installed KB5065429 and KB5065957. After installing, I restarted my computer and there was no offer to enroll in Windows ESU. This just confirms my suspicions that MS would not roll-out this offer to those of us whose machines do not meet the upgrade requirements. This should not come as any surprise. My computer works perfectly fine for my particular needs and I DO NOT need Windows 11. So, Adios Windows and hello MX Linux.

 

 

As long as you meet all the requirements and have the correct updates installed, this should enable the option to sign up the ESU Updates if you are not seeing the option under Windows Updates.   Worked for me like a charm.   Found in another forum.

 

Here is a way to force enable “Consumer ESU Feature”:

 

all commands must be executed in Command Prompt as administrator

 

– install update 2025-08 KB5062649 (19045.6159) Preview

it may work with update KB5062554 (19045.6093), but i didn’t test

 

– check registry to see the current state:

 

reg.exe query "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\ConsumerESU"

if “ESUEligibility” value is non-zero “0x0”, then the feature is already enabled

 

– make sure “Connected User Experiences and Telemetry” (DiagTrack) service is not disabled

 

sc.exe config DiagTrack start= auto

sc.exe start DiagTrack

– add the following registry

 

reg.exe add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Policies\Microsoft\FeatureManagement\Overrides" /v 4011992206 /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f

– restart the system

 

– run the evaluation:

 

cmd /c ClipESUConsumer.exe -evaluateEligibility

– check registry to see the result:

 

reg.exe query "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\ConsumerESU"

verify that “ESUEligibility” value is non-zero “0x0”

 

– “ESUEligibility” value mapping:

0: Unknown / Feature is not enabled

1: Ineligible

2: Eligible

3: DeviceEnrolled

5: MSAEnrolled

8: LoginWithPrimaryAccountToEnroll

 

– “ESUEligibilityResult” value mapping:

1: Success

3: Non-Consumer edition

4: Commercial device

5: Non-Admin account

6: Child account

7: User Region is Embargoed

8: Azure device

11: Unknown / Feature is not enabled

 

# p.s.

You can also use ViVeTool to enable the feature (19045.6036 update at least + DiagTrack service enabled)

 

ViVeTool.exe /enable /id:57517687

 

I actually followed that tutorial recently when I hadn't received ESU despite all latest updates.  It does work and enrolled me and it showed in Windows update that it was enrolled.  However, I wasn't keen on having done things in the registry, so I then did a clean install.  Only to find that this removed the ESU again.

 

After my clean install and doing cumulative update preview KB5063842, the invitation to enrol then just appeared on its own.  When I went to enrol it said my microsoft account was already enrolled and would I like to add this device - which I did.  So it seemed to see it as a different device after a clean install.

 

I would suggest just waiting for it to appear naturally.

As an IT professional, making the changes above in the registry above isn't going to hurt anything (just don't go gunslinging trying to change other things)..... if the correct updates weren't applied, you wouldn't even be seeing these settings / keys, and you would still need to meet the prerequisites before the option were to appear.     

If you aren't comfortable working in the registry.... that's a different story. 

Thanks for the response and the workaround. Another BC member had provided a link to do just as you have posted. However, I am not one to go "mucking around" in the registry and I would prefer the offer to enroll to come naturally. I'm sure that I am current on all updates but will check again as to whether Cumulative Update KB5063842 is installed. After installing the most recent two updates I have a new OS Build of 19045.6332. As stated previously, I strive to remain current on all updates even optional ones.

. When Windows 11 does an update (i.e. 25H1) you would still need to do another complete install of 11. 

 

hi is that true only for the people who use win11 on unsupported machines?

 

. When Windows 11 does an update (i.e. 25H1) you would still need to do another complete install of 11. 

 

hi is that true only for the people who use win11 on unsupported machines?

 

We will need to wait to verify but I assume this is for people that hacked the OS so it would install on non-supported hardware.
 

Microsoft's policy on adding new features to Windows is very confusing. The regular (monthly) updates sometimes seem slow to download and install because they may include new features. Some of these have functioned immediately in 24H2 whilst others sit dormant. When Microsoft shortly announce the 25H2 feature update it will be a small “enablement package” to turn on the latter.

I have two Windows 11 laptops on 24H2, one came with 11 but the other was upgraded from 10 with an ISO despite being officially non-compatible. So far they both seem to have the same new features but the test will be whether the older one gets the enablement package.

I don't think that's the case.  I clean installed Windows 10 on a couple of machines recently, and they were both offered the ESU.  One of them I didn't even want it!  I was about to upgrade it to Windows 11 (it's 10th generation so will run windows 11).  I didn't get offered Windows 11 after waiting ages, but did get offered ESU!  I ended up using the installation assistant to install windows 11.

On a couple of other older machines I clean installed and got offered ESU within a few hours of doing all updates.  It is rolling out and frustrating that some people are getting it sooner than others.

As for the method/hack using the registry.  I used that a while ago on one machine.  It did work.  However I wasn't comfortable with having messed with the registry, so I then did a clean install.  The clean install removed the ESU again - however I was still registered.  Later it popped up inviting me again and said - Your Microsoft Account is already enrolled with ESU, would you like to add this device?  So I said yes.  Basically if you do the registry thing, it enrols your microsoft account - it's the microsoft account that has the ESU and it can then be added to (apparently) up to 10 devices.

What that suggests to me is that ESU saw my computer as a new device because I'd done a clean install.

After that I decided to let it come naturally on other machines and it usually appeared after the most recent update.

I don't think it has anything to do with whether you have a device with unofficial Windows 11 or a device that is capable of running Windows 11 - it is just rolling out a bit at a time.  But it is causing a lot of stress for people wondering if they will get it or not,  Technically you're ok until mid November - ie until the first update after Windows 10 ends.  But it is leaving it very late for some people.

And obviously if you have a computer with many files and programs on, you're not going to want to do a clean install.  I just decided, for the heck of it, to install Windows 10 on as many old machines as I could find ha ha.  And get them all enrolled in ESU.  In particular a couple of old netbooks - because 32 bit windows is not bad on them!