I have a very old and not very fast Win 10 HP laptop which originally ran Win7. It has a local account only. I keep it fully up to date in case my 'proper' machines fail for some reason After reading here https://www.ghacks.net/2025/10/08/windows-10-with-one-week-of-support-left-here-are-your-options/ I decided to give the github script that was mentioned a run and see what would happen (I have a backup just in case) https://github.com/abbodi1406/ConsumerESU I downloaded the zip file to my desktop I extracted it to a folder on my desktop I opened Command prompt as administrator It showed system 32 so I added cd\ and pressed enter It then showed C and I inputted this below and that was the result. I ran it twice as someone suggested. It took only seconds really. I then went to Win Updates on my machine and it said I was now Enrolled to get Extended Security Updates. Note:- I am not suggesting people do this. I was merely looking around the web as to what people are doing about ESU. After all it could screw things up. The recommended method by Microsoft is to pay them, use a Microsoft Account, or put your info in the cloud.
Weird article, because from what I understood you can get free updates if you start using MS OneDrive, or by simply activating your Microsoft Account.
I don't have a Microsoft Account, I just have a local account only, and I don't use OneDrive. My machine is still enrolled and has no issues so far after running that script.
Yes, it's handy for people who don't want a MS Account. But I meant that the other options weren't mentioned in the article. There is no reason to switch to Linux, upgrade to Win 11 or to use 0patch. If you sign up for OneDrive (which is linked to an MS Account) you will also receive the updates.
To what will eventually become Microsoft's downfall (perhaps), the way in which they been rushing things by stifling Windows 10 updates way too soon like that, while at the same time (BSOD) bricking Windows 11 machines currently ( i have one of those with Task Scheduler won't display Library)(and occasionally BSOD at startup), their Absolute Monopoly on the O/S market is really garnering massive discontented users worldwide. I read about it all the time and there's simply no reason them going rogue and issuing demands (many different one's), including the Windows 10 too. It's fairly obvious that they are pressing way too hard to force users who been use to Windows for years to Select OPTION 5. That's not to mention demanding a MS Account in place of Local Account. Just as an aside. I still run Windows 8.1 on at least 4 ASUS Gateway laptops that (no exaggeration either) are lighting fast more than Windows 11 with a 1 year old fresh machine. My Gateways have got to be by now 15 years old or more. Flawless well manufactured with a meager 4Gb RAM and are a dream to turn my attention to in comparison. Although most my time is spent on Win 11 and 10 now days. I can see WHY Win 11 is relatively TIGHT running. Besides all the extras MS allows their vendors to cram into those machines, MS themselves has a stricter Security apparatus tied into everything anymore. I can unserstand that to a point after being taken to the cleaners for years by sabotage (prime target for all sorts of malware/virus). There WAS a simple solution even for that back on 8.1 with Custom Refresh Backups which easily restored a users EVERYTHING (work. docs, and all) Built Into Windows 8.1. Naturally MS abandoned that Recovery Technique after 8.1.
Microsoft is messing with me. I keep trying to enroll, but keep getting turned down. This has gone for several days.
This is weird. This is a personal laptop running Windows 10 Pro. I can't sign in because it says I need a work or school account. I am retired. I don't work!!!!!
Additional fixes here: https://www.kapilarya.com/we-cant-enroll-you-in-extended-security-updates-right-now .
I am in my other laptop which runs Windows 10 Home, and the problems that I mentioned above apply, equally. Now, following advice for additional fixes provided by @itman in the abovementioned link, I have run into a problem with my Microsoft Account. So, I think will just give up with trying to enroll in Win 10 ESU.
Also, when I do try to enroll in ESU on the Windows Home laptop, Microsoft seems to think I am not connected to the internet. Frustrating!!!
I don’t have it even offered yet, although I live in one of the EU countries where you’ll get a year of updates for free. I’ll check again tonight, when the final regular Windows 10 updates are released.
Well after the last Win 10 updates today I am still enrolled for a free year. So my little test of running that script (see first post) as a local user, not signing into an account, or using one drive worked. I'll see what happens at the next Win 10 update.
Unfortunately their readme now mentions: I want to keep my account completely local. Even when buying the ESU updates you have to use an MS account. Presumably you can disable all cloud backup functions and convert back to a local account later, but I've also read you should sign into you MS account at least every 6 weeks for it to keep working.
