Why That Cheap Used Windows 10 Laptop Is Actually a Terrible Deal

Scoring a deal on a used laptop seems like a major win until you realize the machine has a built-in expiration date. While platforms like Amazon and eBay are full of cheap computers still running Windows 10, these low prices are usually a red flag. With Microsoft ending support for the legacy operating system, any device that can’t upgrade to Windows 11 is essentially a ticking clock for the security of your data.

You may be wondering, if this was a mandatory change, why are there still so many Windows 10 computers for sale online? Well, it’s theoretically possible that some of them could be able to run Windows 11. What’s much more likely is that they can’t handle Microsoft’s current operating system, and that’s why they’re for sale.

Don’t fall into this trap. It’s a bad idea to buy a Windows 10 computer, even if the price seems great. If that’s not enough to tip you off, below is a list of reasons why it’s a bad idea and things to check to see if, possibly, it could be upgraded to Windows 11 after purchasing it.

Why should I care about Windows 10 support?

One of the main reasons Microsoft updates Windows regularly is to fix security issues. These problems can allow people to access your computer. Once they have access, they can access your email, access your bank account information, steal your identity and much more. Since Microsoft no longer supports Windows 10, it is not safe to use compared to the regularly updated Windows 11. Take the case of someone who writes about this topic for a living and has been building their own computers since the early 90s, it’s not something you should take lightly. Do not use Windows 10.

What to check

If you’re on an extremely tight budget, my first recommendation is to just get a cheaper Windows 11 computer. If for some reason you want or need a better, but older, computer currently on sale with Windows 10, most computers from the last five years can be upgraded to Windows 11 for free.

It took me about 20 minutes to upgrade my then 6 year old desktop computer because I had to go into the BIOS to adjust some settings. For most people, it’s just a matter of letting the computer do its own thing for a few minutes. In other words, updating a compatible Windows 10 computer to Windows 11 is free, simple, and doesn’t take much time. The fact that this was not done for the used or refurbished PC you’re considering should give you pause.

If you have access to the computer, it’s easy to check if it is compatible with Windows 11. Without being able to physically inspect the computer, it’s difficult to say with 100% certainty whether you’ll be able to upgrade to Windows 11. There are signs that this is probably the case. isn’t it compatible:

It’s probably not compatible with Windows 11 if:

• It was manufactured before 2019 (approximately)
• It has an older processor
• It runs any version of Windows before 10
• It is not compatible with Secure Boot, Trusted Platform Module or UEFI

You can read some additional required specifications on the Microsoft site. There are workarounds for some requirements, but I wouldn’t count on them. For example, for a short time, some motherboards supported Secure Boot and TPM, but these features were not enabled. My 2019 office was like this. In this case, you can enable these features then install Windows 11. If you are able to determine what motherboard and processor models are on the computer you are considering, you can search the web to see if they are compatible.

If all else fails, ask the seller why they didn’t update it to Windows 11 and hope they’ll also honor a return policy if they’re lying.

The only situation where Windows 10 works correctly

If you never plan to connect the computer to the Internet, it doesn’t matter what operating system it is running. If it’s not online, it can’t contain malware, viruses, or be hijacked by ne’er-do-wells. That means no Wi-Fi, no web browsing, no game downloads, no video streaming, nothing. The vast, vast majority of you reading this will want to connect to the Internet for something, so Windows 10 is a bad idea. The computer itself will want to connect to the Internet because it will need to update drivers, patch software, etc.

There are only a handful of very specific uses for an offline computer, and unless you have one of those specific, uncommon uses, you shouldn’t consider a Windows 10 laptop or desktop. In fact, if you clicked on this article, to be completely honest, I wouldn’t recommend buying a Windows 10 computer. Windows 11 models, even refurbished ones, are only slightly more expensive and safer.

In addition to covering audio and display technology, Geoff takes photo tours of museums and cool locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000-mile road trips and much more.

Also see Budget travel for dummieshis book and his best-selling science fiction novel on city-sized submarines. You can follow him on Instagram and YouTube.