As many of you will have heard, support for the Windows 10
operating system ended on 14th October 2025. If you still have a laptop running
it, you might be wondering what to do next.
The good news is you don’t need to throw it away. In fact,
you can turn it into something fast, safe, and very easy to use.
What does “support ending” actually mean?
When support ends, a system stops receiving security
updates.
You can continue using Windows 10, but over time:
- It becomes easier for hackers to target it.
- Some programs may gradually stop working.
A free and eco-friendly solution:
Instead of recycling or binning the laptop, you can turn it
into a Chromebook-style device by installing ChromeOS Flex. This is a free
operating system made by Google.
What is a Chromebook?
Most people already use Google Chrome to browse the
internet. A Chromebook is simply a computer that runs a lightweight system
designed mainly for online use.
Once converted, your laptop will:
- Browse the internet safely
- Start up quickly
- Use Google's free apps such as
- Google Docs (similar to Word)
- Google Sheets (similar to Excel)
- Google Slides (similar to PowerPoint)
How do you do it?
You (or someone helping you) will need to:
2. Start your old laptop using that USB stick.
3. Follow the simple on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Full guidance is available on Google’s website:
