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Upgrade to Windows 11 to Maintain Security and Performance

Important Security Notice for Windows 10 End of Life

As part of SUNY security policies and industry best practices, Purchase College is committed to ensuring all operating systems are up-to-date with the latest patches and upgrades. This is crucial for safeguarding college data and your personal information.

As you may already be aware, Microsoft has officially announced that support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025. After this date, computers running Windows 10 will no longer automatically receive essential security patches or updates. This leaves them highly vulnerable to new security risks, malware, and potential data breaches. Out-of-date operating systems are a significant security risk, as vendors do not issue patches for newly discovered vulnerabilities, putting college and personal data at risk.

Upgrade to Windows 11 Now!

To ensure your computer remains secure and performs optimally, we strongly encourage you to upgrade to Windows 11 starting now. If your computer is supported, the Windows 11 upgrade is now available for you in the Software Center on your workstation. CTS will be forcing upgrades on compatible devices with a target start date of late July.

How to Upgrade to Windows 11:

The update process will not reformat your computer’s drive or affect your existing programs or data. However, as a precaution, we strongly encourage you to back up your data to your home directory before beginning the upgrade.

  1. Go to the Windows search bar on your computer.
  2. Type in “Software Center” and select it when it appears.
  3. On the left side of the Software Center window, go to “Operating Systems.”
  4. You should see “Windows 11 v24H2 Upgrade” listed as available. Select it to begin the upgrade.

Important Notes for the Upgrade:

  • We recommend doing this at the end of your workday, as the upgrade may take 1-2 hours and will require your machine to restart.
  • If you encounter an error such as 0x80004005, please notify CTS immediately via Zoom Chat or by submitting a Work Request. This error typically indicates that your computer is unsupported for the upgrade or requires specific configuration changes from our team. CTS can troubleshoot remotely or arrange a service call to assist you in person if needed.

Unsupported Devices:

Older and unsupported devices will still receive critical security patching via extended Windows 10 support. The cost for extended support will be provided by CTS. We strongly recommend departments plan and budget for replacing these machines as soon as possible. Notices have been sent over the last several months to supervisors and department heads with a list of unsupported devices in their department.

Extended Windows 10 support, specifically through Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, only covers Microsoft’s security updates and patches for the Windows 10 operating system itself. It does not guarantee that third-party software vendors will continue to support and provide updates for their applications to run on Windows 10 after its official end-of-life date (October 14, 2025).

Key Benefits of Upgrading to Windows 11:

  • Enhanced Security: Your machine will automatically receive all current Windows security updates, making it significantly less vulnerable to malware and other cyber threats.
  • Improved Performance: Experience a more responsive and efficient computing environment.
  • Modern Features: Benefit from Windows 11’s redesigned interface, improved multitasking tools, and other enhancements.

Don’t delay! Upgrading to Windows 11 is a crucial step in protecting your data and ensuring the continued security of our college network.

Please feel free to contact CTS if you have any questions or require assistance with the upgrade process.

Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining a secure computing environment at Purchase College.

Sincerely,

CTS Staff