• Which version do I use?
• Is my service device compatible with Windows 11?
• My service device is compatible with Windows 11
• My service device is not compatible with Windows 11
• Upgrade to Windows 11
• Upgrade or complete reinstallation
• Preparation for the upgrade/reinstallation of Windows
• Upgrade from Windows 11
• New installation of Windows 11
• Procuring new service equipment
• Alternative operating systems for old hardware

Microsoft's support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025.

Version 22H2, which was released in October 2022, is therefore the last version of Windows 10 that will no longer be supported from October 14, 2025. This applies to all editions, whether Home, Pro, Enterprise or Education. From October 14, 2025, Windows 10 may no longer be used in its current form, as it will no longer receive security updates and continued operation therefore poses a risk. In particular, the continued use of Windows 10 poses a significant risk to university data, research information and personal data.

On this page we would like to show you your possible options for action, because if you are still using Windows 10, there is a need for action in any case.

If you are employed by the university administration, you are not allowed to carry out the update yourself. Your device will be updated centrally. If you have specific questions about this, please contact the ITCC helpdesk.

This article deals exclusively with the process for service devices outside the university administration. The end of support also applies to private devices. However, the upgrade/reinstallation process in particular differs from that for service devices. Administrative service devices do not have to be updated by the users themselves.

What is a service device?

A service device is a device owned by the university that was purchased directly or indirectly for official use

Which version do I use?

There are several ways to find out the Windows version used on your service device:

Enter the following in the address bar of your browser: "ms-settings:about" (without quotation marks). This will automatically take you to the settings. If necessary, click on "Open link" in your browser. On the page that opens, you will find the required information in the Windows specifications section.

• Navigate manually to the relevant page:
  1. Right-click on Start and select "System".
  2. On the page that opens, you will find the required information in the Windows specifications section.

If "Windows 10 ..." appears under Edition, your service device is affected by the end of support (exception: if you find LTSC at the end of the designation, the end of support may be further back. If you are unsure, please contact the helpdesk).

Upgrade or complete reinstallation

First of all, you should consider whether you want to completely reinstall the system or upgrade the existing system.

As a rule, you should choose to upgrade to Windows 11 instead of performing a full installation, simply because an upgrade is less time-consuming. Although there is a risk that the computer will have compatibility problems after the upgrade, this risk is low.

Important: No matter which option you choose: Always back up the files on your computer before the upgrade to prevent data loss due to a faulty upgrade.

Preparation for the upgrade/reinstallation of Windows

Please note the following instructions when upgrading from Windows 11 or performing a new installation.

1. Data backup
   Back up your files to an external storage medium or other storage options. The relevant files are usually located in your personal folder. If you have also saved data in other locations on the local hard disk, back these up as well.
2. Backing up local emails, calendars and address books
   Check whether you have created emails, address books or calendars locally in your email client (Thunderbird, Outlook, etc.) and export them.
3. Backing up bookmarks and passwords
   Export your bookmarks and saved passwords to your browser. Attention: Passwords are usually saved as plain text in a file, make sure you delete this file immediately if you no longer need it.

New installation of Windows 11

The instructions for reinstalling Windows 11 are based on existing instructions. Basically, you should have purchased Windows 11 Education from the Software Shop and downloaded the corresponding ISO file. The following steps are to be understood as instructions. The installation steps in particular may vary depending on the service device.

1. Use the following instructions to copy the ISO file to the USB stick using Rufus.
2. Install Windows using these instructions (from point: Change boot order).

Alternatively, you can upgrade an existing Windows 11 Home version to Windows 11 Education by opening the command prompt and entering the following command:

changepk.exe /ProductKey NW6C2-QMPVW-D7KKK-3GKT6-VCFB2

Please note: After confirming the command with the Enter key, the process starts immediately and cannot be canceled. The upgrade to the Educaton version usually takes 30 minutes.

If you procure a new service device, make sure that the service device is already equipped with a Windows version on which you can then install Windows 11 Education via the software store. You should note the following points when transferring the data from the old to the new service device.

1. Data backup
   Back up your files to an external storage medium or other storage options. The relevant files are usually located in your personal folder. If you have also saved data in other locations on the local hard disk, back these up as well.
2. Backing up local emails, calendars and address books
   Check whether you have created emails, address books or calendars locally in your email client (Thunderbird, Outlook, etc.) and export them.
3. Backing up bookmarks and passwords
   Export your bookmarks and saved passwords to your browser. Attention: The passwords are usually saved as plain text in a file, make sure you delete this file immediately if you no longer need it.

Then import the cached data to the new service device. Ask your IT representative for assistance with the transfer of data and data backup.

If Windows 11 will not run on your service device, you may be able to use an alternative Linux-based operating system to continue using your hardware. Operating systems such as Ubuntu will most likely be compatible with your hardware and, depending on your requirements, are just as suitable. However, it is almost impossible to avoid getting used to them. Above all, you should check whether the software you are using is also available on Ubuntu or another Linux distribution.

You should note the following points when transferring data before installing the alternative operating system.

1. Data backup
   Back up your files to an external storage medium or other storage options. The relevant files are usually located in your personal folder. If you have also saved data in other locations on the local hard disk, back these up as well.
2. Backing up local emails, calendars and address books
   Check whether you have created emails, address books or calendars locally in your email client (Thunderbird, Outlook, etc.) and export them.
3. Backing up bookmarks and passwords
   Export your bookmarks and saved passwords to your browser. Attention: The passwords are usually saved as plain text in a file, make sure you delete this file immediately if you no longer need it.

Then import the cached data to the new operating system you have installed. Ask your IT representative for assistance with the transfer of data and data backup.

You can find instructions for installing Ubuntu here, for example.