Windows 11 and HC CoH

[Ukase]

Someone may have asked about this, but if so, I haven't seen it. My understanding is Windows 10, which I never really wanted is going to stop being supported by MS this coming October. Or maybe it was last October and I'm a year behind. 

What I'm curious about are these questions: 
How long will HC be able to run on Windows 10? When will Win 11 be required if I want to play? 

 

[Maelwys]

I've a Windows XP VM that'll happily run it (and I'm fairly sure Win98 is technically still doable with a minor bit of poking). So I think you're safe.

[Water]

The only change you need to make after support for win 10 stops is to have an up to date anti-virus.

 

For what it's worth I'll be looking at Bitdefender as it has the highest reputation (atm).

 

Remember to continue disbelieving Microsoft.

 

[WanderingAries]

You won't really have issues / changes WRT the game unless MSFT does something silly like switch to ARM only, but even then, the game will run on the older OSes. And yes, the game has been able to run on Win11 since release.

[Ukase]

17 hours ago, Water said:

The only change you need to make after support for win 10 stops is to have an up to date anti-virus.

I guess I should have been considering the source of my data. I'm always looking for a bargain on hardware, and rarely find them. But that may be why I keep seeing the cry of doom from folks who seem to believe that once the support stops, bad things will happen to everyone who doesn't switch over. The idea of free win 11 is appealing, but to upgrade negates the value, because I don't think the upgrade will really improve my system's performance by much, if at all. After all, the more memory you have, the more windows likes to use. And everything is going to bottleneck somewhere, usually the isp or the system cache. 

In any event, I'll keep with malware bytes, and figure out which av program to use before the doomsday. Thanks. 

[Water]

Malware bytes is OK. I used it a lot before I went to Win 10. There is some criticism I read lately about it in comparison to some paid services as I was considering returning to it but I think, for my peace of mind, I'll pay (this time). I could change my mind between now and October 24. Note that I never had a problem when I used MB.

 

I'm sure my system could run Win 11 but I'm reluctant to risk it as parts of my overall system may become obsolete and non-functional faster than remaining with the [near perfect] system as is.

 

"But that may be why I keep seeing the cry of doom from folks who seem to believe that once the support stops, bad things will happen to everyone who doesn't switch over."

This is likely great marketing and subversive Redditing and Quora'ing by MS and of the worrying of the suggestible.

 

There was word that MS may offer 'paid for support' for a limited time after end of support. But that potential just shows me that they had built obsolescence into the thing anyway. I'll also be considering Linux.

 

[Maelwys]

I haven't paid for Antivirus since the '90s; and it's not because MS Security Essentials and/or Defender are any good.
Ad + Script Blockers in the Web Browser plus a decent email filter (or just reviewing your messages in a plaintext-only app before they hit Outlook etc) stops things dead.

Regarding the Win11 upgrade... yes there's very little (if any) reason to jump from a performance viewpoint. It's a pure cash grab from MS under the guide of having a "more secure" firmware and boot environment; but they've a monopoly on the critical/security update streams so unless you're confident with keeping your Win10 device secured via other means beyond 14th Oct 2025 (or you're willing to shell out for an Extended Service Update license) then you'll need to jump ship either to Win11 or another platform (like Linux).
I've three laptops and one desktop PC all of which I use pretty regularly; and one of those laptops is an older HP model that can run Win10 perfectly well... but because its CPU isn't on the MS lists for fully supporting Win11, the only way of getting Win11 onto it would be to fiddle with the registry (e.g. 'AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU') which would only work for one major software revision before I'd have to reimage it again. Sod that. So about six months ago I stuck Linux Mint on it and it's been merrily dual-booting even since (and Homecoming works just fine via WINE). The other two laptops and PC are already on Win11 (albeit with all the useless tat and drivel ripped out) and are also running Homecoming just fine... so whatever you choose you can still get your CoH fix.

_{Disclaimer: I'm apparently decent enough at Cyber Security to make a living from it (Blue side!) and I detest Microsoft with a passion.}
 

Edited April 14 by Maelwys

[golstat2003]

Also I think some folks are more seriously considering Linux as other posters said due to the absolute trashfest nonsense known as Windows Recall, that MS is sticking to trying to force down everyone’s throat. (Yes I know it’s opt-in, but how long do we think THAT will last).

[Water]

I just installed Bitdefender Free rather than chuck £100 at it..

 

It doesn't have a firewall so I uninstalled it. Then I discovered the Bitdefender Agent would not uninstall as Bitdefender VPN was installed. No way to uninstall Bitdefender VPN without having Bitdefender Free (or paid) installed to uninstall it so I reinstalled Bitdefender Free again to uninstall Bitdefender VPN. That is all I need to know about Bitdefender Free, I would imagine that the paid version is the same rigmarole.

 

What a cojones ache.

 

I'll be returning to Avast Basic which I used 2 decades ago and never had any issues with it:-

 

                FYI - https://www.avast.com/en-gb/avast-one#pc

 

 

I used to use Malware bytes too and I'll be complimenting Avast with that once again. That should be reasonable FREE protection from hackers who want all of my valuable cat pics.

 

 

[WanderingAries]

2 hours ago, Water said:

 

 

Yeah, been reading lots of BS with that app for a long time now. I've been using Webroot as our secondary for years, but the more robust Defender gets, the less I feel like paying the tiny bit that I do (per machine) for WR.

[shortguy on indom]

• WAS USING SANDBOXIE FOR 10+ YEARS WITH NO ANTI-VI OR ANYTHING ELSE NEEDED.
• IT WAS FREE...
• NOW ITS OPENSOURCE, AND STILL FREE, AND STILL USING IT ON MY WINDOWS LAPTOP, AND ALSO RUN LINUX ON OTHER LAPTOP.
• Sandboxie-Plus | Open Source sandbox-based isolation software

[Water]

More choice out there than I realised, thanks for the links.

[Techwright]

On 4/26/2025 at 12:48 AM, Water said:

I just installed Bitdefender Free rather than chuck £100 at it..

 

It doesn't have a firewall so I uninstalled it. Then I discovered the Bitdefender Agent would not uninstall as Bitdefender VPN was installed. No way to uninstall Bitdefender VPN without having Bitdefender Free (or paid) installed to uninstall it so I reinstalled Bitdefender Free again to uninstall Bitdefender VPN. That is all I need to know about Bitdefender Free, I would imagine that the paid version is the same rigmarole.

 

What a cojones ache.

 

I'll be returning to Avast Basic which I used 2 decades ago and never had any issues with it:-

 

                FYI - https://www.avast.com/en-gb/avast-one#pc

 

 

I used to use Malware bytes too and I'll be complimenting Avast with that once again. That should be reasonable FREE protection from hackers who want all of my valuable cat pics.

 

 

 

Your description sounds a lot like my experiences with the paid version of Bitdefender 15 years ago.  At the time I was paying for it, the review sites were touting it as the top dog.  When I finally started seeing reports that freeware anti-malware was worth having, I tried to drop the paid version at time of renewal, to switch to the free version.  The mess of fighting over removal, and the cleanup of residuals where its "roots" weren't removed with it, was extensive and soured my opinion on Bitdefender.  I switched, first to free AVG, then later to free Avast, and have been satisfied every since.  (Though admittedly, recently, free Avast has become a bit annoying flagging "major problems" that actually are irrelevant to the anti-malware core, then pitching paid solutions to fix these.)

 

On 4/14/2025 at 8:39 AM, Water said:

Malware bytes is OK. I used it a lot before I went to Win 10. There is some criticism I read lately about it in comparison to some paid services as I was considering returning to it but I think, for my peace of mind, I'll pay (this time). I could change my mind between now and October 24. Note that I never had a problem when I used MB.

 

I can't speak for elsewhere, but in my region for many years, IT departments and individuals touted Malwarebytes as the backup anti-malware.  Anytime a malware question came up, they'd run the main anti-malware program, then, just to be certain it wasn't compromised and giving false readings, they'd pop in Malwarebytes and run it as well.  Contracting in several of those IT departments, I followed suit, and although I've not heard this tactic in many years now, probably due to changes in corporate A/V design, I personally still maintain a free copy of MB ready to audit Avast's results, should I feel it necessary.   

 

 

[Relvinian]

my wifes pc is on windows 10 im sure it can still run coh if i tried (it was my old pc) i like brave browser for blocking bad stuff.

get brave browser and keep ur windows 10.'

 

[tidge]

I just popped in to echo long-past sentiments about how annoying I find it when Microsoft rolls out OS based on calendars and motivated by sales pitches. I understand the business model, but I don't like it.

 

My more recent annoyances with them are varied:

• I really don't like the UI for Windows 11. To me, it looks like a feeble attempt to an attempt to back off from the tablet/phone idea by about 10%.
• I've long been annoyed by the default permission structure and near-hidden (and very unclear) approach to the services and processes that run on Windows OS.
• I can't trust that the Windows team won't just cripple my machines because of the incredibly bad assumptions they make about the hardware being used. The recent flub with the hardware-specific updates for 11, and the not-long-ago 10 update that required more space in a partition than the W10 default come to mind. Seriously, how can they have deployed an update that required more space in a partition that windows sets up by default?
• I avoid Edge as much as possible. I wish it was possible to completely do without it.

As far as underlying hardware goes: I was something of an early adopter of x64 OS... but if I'm being honest, except for some gaming choices (and a single math-intensive application) I think I'd be just fine with x32, assuming x32 apps. My experience with a wide variety of apps used in business, it is almost always the graphics handling (for web display of info) that ends up as the limiting factor.