What you need: Ubuntu; minimum 8GB USB stick Time required: Two hours
No developer can afford to continue supporting its software forever – not even one with pockets as deep as Microsoft's. That’s why, over time, they reduce and then end support for old products – usually after several years of encouraging users to upgrade.
This year, Windows 8.1 reached that milestone. Having launched in October 2013, it enjoyed mainstream support for almost five years, then another five of extended support, which came to an end in January.
If you’re still running Windows 8.1 (or Windows 7, for which extended support ended in 2020), nothing much has changed. It won’t refuse to boot and features won’t disappear, but you will become more vulnerable as time goes on. Without regular security updates, operating systems (OS) are less able to defend themselves against interference from hackers or infection by malware.
That’s why, even if you’re comfortable running an old operating system, you must consider your next move when it’s no longer supported. You owe
