Windows 11 upgrades and device planning
Windows 10 support has ended. Make your next move safely.
JM Restart helps businesses and home users check compatibility, protect important data and choose between a Windows 11 upgrade, temporary extended security coverage or a replacement device.
14 October 2025
Windows 10 reached end of support
A Windows 10 PC does not suddenly stop working, but standard support no longer includes free security fixes, feature updates or Microsoft technical assistance.
Continuing without an eligible Extended Security Updates arrangement increases risk. The right response depends on the device, its software, your data and how urgently it needs to remain in use.
Three practical routes
Choose the option that fits the device, not a rushed one-size-fits-all answer
We can help establish what is technically possible, what is commercially sensible and what needs to happen before anything changes.
Upgrade to Windows 11
If the PC meets Microsoft’s requirements, an in-place upgrade may be the most straightforward route. We still check backups, free space, software and peripherals before proceeding.
Consider Windows 10 ESU
Eligible devices may be able to receive time-limited Extended Security Updates. ESU is a transition measure, not a permanent replacement for planning an upgrade or new device.
Replace and transfer
Where a device is incompatible, unreliable or poor value to upgrade, we can help specify a replacement and plan data, account, application and peripheral setup.
Compatibility before installation
A Windows 11 check is about more than finding a TPM setting
Microsoft’s requirements include a supported processor, TPM 2.0, UEFI firmware capable of Secure Boot, sufficient memory and storage. Eligibility is only the first part of a safe change.
We also consider device condition, available disk space, encryption, backups, specialist applications, printers and other equipment. For businesses, we can assess a group of devices and plan a controlled rollout rather than interrupting everyone at once.
Our assessment can cover
- Windows 11 hardware eligibility
- Update, storage and device-health checks
- Backup and recovery readiness
- Important software and peripheral compatibility
- Upgrade, ESU or replacement recommendation
- Business rollout and replacement planning
A carefully assessed alternative for some older PCs
In limited cases, we may be able to install Windows 11 using a controlled installation method that bypasses certain compatibility checks during setup. This does not change the underlying hardware or make the device officially compliant, so it is never our first recommendation. We only consider this route after checking the computer’s age, condition, security features, software compatibility and backup readiness, and after explaining the risks. Microsoft warns that unsupported devices may experience compatibility problems and are not guaranteed to receive support or updates, including security updates. Where used, the upgrade should therefore be an informed, carefully tested option, not a substitute for replacing unsuitable hardware.
A safer upgrade process
Plan, protect, upgrade and check
Understand
Identify the device, user, important applications and what needs to keep working.
Check
Review eligibility, health, storage, updates, backups and compatibility risks.
Recommend
Explain the viable options, likely work and any separate hardware or licensing needs.
Implement
Carry out the agreed change and check updates, data, accounts and key applications afterwards.
Turn individual upgrades into a controlled device plan
JM Restart can help inventory Windows 10 devices, identify compatibility or application issues, prioritise higher-risk computers and plan phased upgrades or replacements around the working day.
Get a clear answer before spending money
We can check whether your current PC is suitable, help protect important files and explain whether an upgrade, ESU or replacement is the more sensible route for how you use it.
Windows 11 questions
Useful answers before you decide
Every device and working setup is different. These answers provide a starting point; an assessment gives you a recommendation based on the actual computer.
Will my Windows 10 PC stop working?
No. It can still start and run, but normal Windows 10 support has ended. Without an eligible ESU arrangement it no longer receives Microsoft’s standard security fixes, which increases risk over time.
Is the Windows 11 upgrade free?
Microsoft currently provides the Windows 11 upgrade without a separate licence charge for eligible Windows 10 PCs. JM Restart’s assessment, backup, installation, troubleshooting, data transfer or setup work may be chargeable, and hardware or software costs are separate. We will explain the proposed work before proceeding.
Will the upgrade keep my files?
The normal in-place upgrade is designed to move files and data into Windows 11, but no operating-system change should be treated as a backup. We recommend checking that important information is protected first.
What if my computer is not compatible?
We can check whether a firmware setting or another supported change affects eligibility. If the device still does not qualify, the practical choices may include temporary ESU coverage where eligible or replacement and data transfer. We do not recommend bypassing Microsoft’s hardware requirements for a customer’s everyday PC.
Still using Windows 10?
Tell us whether it is one home PC or a group of business devices. We can help identify the safest practical next step.