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presto8 | 4 months ago

Discovered Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC edition recently. It's great! It is supposed to get security updates through 2032. It doesn't have Cortana, OneDrive, CoPilot, Edge, etc. (Which is a good thing IMO.) Nor does it require a cloud account to use.

discuss

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SeanAnderson|4 months ago

Are there any limitations with this to be aware of? Are Hypervisor/Docker/WSL2 all supported?

I'm trying to decide if I want to transition my work computer to Linux or Windows 10 LTSC. Most of my day is spent working inside of WSL2. So, it kind of seems like I should just get on with using Linux native, but several decades of sunken cost have kept me on Windows. I don't think I have a desire to 'upgrade' to Windows 11 and Windows 10 Pro is just about EOL.

jwrallie|4 months ago

I recommend Linux native and a MS Windows VM using livbirt/virt-manager unless you have need for GPU acceleration in your workflow.

This way you can slowly migrate your software to the Linux side and maybe eventually forget to turn on your VM for months.

trolan|4 months ago

The only mid level hurdle you'll encounter is no Microsoft store. It was only an issue for me when gaming, but steam was fully supported. Same for Win 11 LTSC.

anaisbetts|4 months ago

Yes, LTSC is literally missing parts that are standard on a Windows install - it's an operating system designed for ATMs and kiosks that run exactly one tested application, it is not a general-purpose operating system.

If you happen to not need those pieces, and you don't care about running super out-of-date software? Sure it might work. But it's not a Good Idea in general.

chithanh|4 months ago

Yes, limitations are that some services do not come preinstalled by default.

Some like the Microsoft Store can be installed afterwards.

Some like Windows Mixed Reality cannot be installed afterwards.

So check carefully what you actually need and decide based on that.

nwellinghoff|4 months ago

Wsl2 features like nested virtualization only work in the win11 version. The ltsc releases seem like the only viable option at this point.

pier25|4 months ago

Does steam work on that version?

That's pretty much the only reason I use Windows these days.

xvv|4 months ago

Steam works, and so do very competitive games with picky anti-cheats!

soared|4 months ago

Did you find a good guide for setting it up?

sbrother|4 months ago

Wait, is that a product that one can buy? It sounds like it would solve most of my issues with Windows.

okanat|4 months ago

It is purchasable only if you have access to business sales for Microsoft. You need to buy at least 5 normal licenses before being offered the LTSC upgrade option. It is quite pricey.

JamesAdir|4 months ago

Windows 11 Pro is similar in not-including all the MS junk. The updates are another thing.

chii|4 months ago

how do you buy windows 10 LTSC without being an enterprise?

EvanAnderson|4 months ago

Unless it has changed recently you need to have a minimum qty. license purchase. Any good reseller will sell you the one license of LTSC and pad the rest of the order with the cheapest qualifying license in the catalog. (In the past it was DVD playback licenses at a couple of bucks apiece, for example.) I was able to get licensing for my father's sole proprietorship DBA from a big name reseller w/o furnishing any kind of business-related docs and paying with his personal credit card. (In his case it was Windows Server and CALs, but the premise is the same for LTSC.) You'll probably have to talk to a sales gerbil but it's imminently feasible.