- Windows 10’s prolonged updates program is not working for some
- In some instances, this is because of regional limitations for the ESU rollout
- In others, a glitch could also be misidentifying Windows 10 PCs and stopping them from signing up for prolonged updates with out explaining why
Some individuals who wish to stick with Windows 10, avoiding Windows 11 – or maybe are unable to improve on account of their PC specs – are apparently discovering that they cannot entry Microsoft‘s provide of prolonged assist for the older OS.
Windows Latest reports that Windows 10‘s Extended Security Updates (ESU) scheme is not working for some, and this can be on account of regional points or a bug that derails the sign-up course of.
A reader in the Netherlands reached out to Windows Latest, complaining that they couldn’t sign up for the ESU. Even though it was offered on their PC, they received a message saying, “Enrollment for Windows 10 Extended Security Updates is temporarily unavailable in your region.”
There was no explanation offered beyond that, or indeed any indication of when the ESU might be made available.
Microsoft confirmed to Windows Latest that the rollout of the ESU is staggered and may not be showing up for everyone yet, particularly those in Europe.
Microsoft said, “The enrollment experience for the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program may vary by region based on local market factors.”
The software giant also clarified that the ESU rollout has begun in the EEA (European Economic Area) as of October 15 – the day after support for Windows 10 was ended officially – so some folks in Europe would have been getting it straight away. Clearly not everyone, though.
As for the bug reportedly preventing ESU sign-ups for some, which can affect anyone, no matter where they live around the world, this produces an unhelpful error message that says, “Something went wrong.”
Anyone who’s used Windows for some time will likely have encountered that old chestnut at some point, and it roughly translates to: ‘this thing crashed and we’ve no idea what caused it.’
The affected Windows 10 user is then told to close the ESU window and try again, but doing so just results in the same error.
Windows Latest carried out some investigative work on this matter, coming to the conclusion that the error might relate to how Windows 10 classifies the host PC.
The long and short of the theory is that Windows 10 produces this error for work PCs (enterprise or education systems), and if the OS wrongly detects the host PC as a work machine, rather than a consumer computer, it’ll refuse the ESU in this manner.
Business sign-ups are a separate case, and so it makes sense that you wouldn’t be able to enrol for the consumer ESU if Windows 10 somehow thinks you’ve got an enterprise (or education) PC.
Although why there’s no indication given to explain this – some kind of a message saying that business organizations can’t sign up for the consumer ESU, so you know why the error is being produced – isn’t clear. It could be an oversight by Microsoft, and it wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened, but at any rate, take this conclusion with some seasoning for now. It does seem plausible enough to me, and others have theorized this on Reddit, too.
How to get around these stumbling blocks – or should you just wait it out?
Regarding the regional limitations raised here, it isn’t unusual for a Windows feature to have a phased rollout, but this will be frustrating for some Europeans (and maybe others across the globe) who still can’t grab the ESU.
Microsoft hints that this might also pertain to Windows 10 PCs not having the latest monthly update installed (from October), which you need for the ESU – but it seems unlikely those trying to sign up wouldn’t have grabbed that security update by now. Indeed, on Windows 10 Home, it should have been force-installed at this point. Still, if you haven’t applied the latest update, definitely do that.
Those who’ve run into the ‘something went wrong’ error will doubtless be even more frustrated. As noted, this could be due to the misidentification of the PC as a business machine, so Windows Latest suggests that it might affect those who’ve previously linked their Windows 10 installation to a work (or school) account. If that is the case for you, it might be worth trying to delete that old account (and any related folders on the system drive – though be careful what you’re doing here).
If that doesn’t work, Windows Latest suggests performing an in-place upgrade for Windows 10 using the Media Creation Tool to repair errors with the ESU, however once more, proceed at your individual threat (and again up every thing earlier than you strive that).
The different choice is to easily anticipate Microsoft to iron out any misidentified PC difficulties, and naturally, holding on also needs to resolve any regional rollout-related hindrances (the ESU will ultimately arrive in all places, and it should not be for much longer for anybody nonetheless left with out it).
The draw back of ready is that the primary safety replace supplied by the ESU arrives tomorrow, so from then on, your Windows 10 PC can be formally old-fashioned for assist. That’s not a nice thought, however the actuality is that you simply’re not prone to be in any rapid hazard – a minimum of for a short while, anyway, in case you’re very cautious about what you are doing on-line. But as I’ve discussed elsewhere in detail already, I’d very a lot err on the facet of not taking any dangers if in any respect potential.
A last trick you may wish to strive that I’ve seen talked about on Reddit is to click on on the link highlighted here in Microsoft’s Windows end-of-support portal, which is able to open system settings and will hearth up the ESU enrolment. Going this route, fairly than through Windows Update, has cured issues with the sign-up course of for various of us, however once more, be sure you are working the newest October patch for Windows 10 earlier than you do that.
You should not should strive fudges and preserve your fingers crossed to enroll in prolonged updates, in fact, so none of that is best – however right here we’re. These points are hopefully affecting only a minority, though there are a variety of studies on Reddit complaining about not with the ability to get the ESU previous the October 14 End of Life deadline for Windows 10.
Some individuals encountering these sorts of troubles with sustaining Windows 10 assist might even be aggravated sufficient to make the transfer to Windows 11, if they’ve been procrastinating on that (assuming their PC meets the system requirements). It’s actually a risk if they’ve to attend for much longer for the power to learn from the ESU, as a result of, as already famous, you do not wish to keep on Windows 10 with out up-to-date safety patches for lengthy, particularly in case you’re not assured about how to stay safe when you’re online and steer clear of common scams.
Another glitch in Windows 10’s ESU to be aware of is that some individuals who have signed up efficiently are being wrongly informed that they’re not supported.
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