{"id":3284,"date":"2025-08-29T13:11:26","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T13:11:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/?p=3284"},"modified":"2025-09-10T19:26:51","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T19:26:51","slug":"the-ultimate-guide-to-windows-10-end-of-support-and-ni-pxi-systems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/the-ultimate-guide-to-windows-10-end-of-support-and-ni-pxi-systems\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Windows 10 End of Support and NI PXI Systems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Ultimate-Guide-to-Windows-10-EOS-PXI.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Listen to this blog post here<\/em><\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Microsoft has announced that the last day of support for the Windows 10 operating system will be on <strong>October 14, 2025<\/strong>, roughly 10 years after its initial release. This decision has been raising concerns for test and measurement setups, as Windows 10 currently runs on many modular <strong>PXI systems<\/strong>. How will the end of support for Windows 10 impact your hardware, and what can you do about it? This post will act as a comprehensive guide to help you understand what you need to know to address this transition with your own PXI hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1751a62d9c198518005cb37c31c30759\" style=\"font-size:25px\"><strong>How Does Windows 10 Ending Support Impact Your PXI System?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">The main thing PXI hardware users should be aware of is that Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 means that there will <strong>no longer be regular security updates<\/strong> or bug fixes for the operating system. While your device will continue to operate like normal for a while, the inability to receive security updates will cause issues down the line. Most importantly, the removal of regularly updated protective measures is a huge concern for industries that handle sensitive data such as research, defense, and aerospace. Security support is <strong>crucial <\/strong>for safeguarding private information, adhering to applicable regulations and standards, and preventing interruptions that result in operational downtime. This is especially true of interconnected systems, where cybersecurity breaches or failures can impact multiple test setups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">The Windows OS comes in both <strong>32-bit<\/strong> and <strong>64-bit<\/strong> versions, and modules from NI\u2019s PXI platform support both. The 32-bit version of Windows 10 only supports 32-bit addresses and can only utilize 4 GB of RAM. By contrast, the 64-bit version of Windows 10 can access significantly larger memory regions. This version can only be installed on x64 hardware, and all drivers must be<strong> natively compatible<\/strong> to work correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3\">If you are missing a necessary driver for your setup, search our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/drivers.php\"><strong>NI Driver Downloads page<\/strong><\/a> for a compatible Windows driver version to download for free!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2342554f8034ebab5550117b12d2e6ab\" style=\"font-size:25px\"><strong>What Are the Options for Your PXI System?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>October 14th<\/strong> is fast approaching, but the end of support for Windows 10 doesn\u2019t have to mean the end of your existing test setup. Certain legacy modules do not support Windows 11, which can complicate the process of upgrading your system. Here are a few <strong>alternative<\/strong> <strong>options <\/strong>that can provide you with more time to plan out the next best step for your hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/clint-patterson-jCY4oEMA3o-unsplash-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"System update screen on Windows laptop\" class=\"wp-image-3287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/clint-patterson-jCY4oEMA3o-unsplash-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/clint-patterson-jCY4oEMA3o-unsplash-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6bc755acb903a39dca504381c8b9d6ca\" style=\"font-size:20px\"><strong>Option 1) Enroll in Extended Security Updates (ESU)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Microsoft offers an <strong>Extended Security Updates program <\/strong>for both businesses and individuals. For a fee, this program allows the user to continue receiving vital security updates after support has officially ended. Devices are eligible for updates from the ESU program if they are running the most current version of Windows 10, version <strong>22H2<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">The ESU program is limited to essential updates\u2014it does not provide users with the newest features, nonsecurity updates, design changes, or general tech support. Enrolled PCs for businesses or educational institutions are eligible to get security updates for up to <strong>3 years<\/strong> after support has ended. For individuals, this additional support period only lasts for <strong>1 year <\/strong>(until October 2026).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3\">Learn more about how to sign up for the ESU program from Microsoft\u2019s website <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/whats-new\/extended-security-updates\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d3658ab02765ccf9748525987ce7971a\" style=\"font-size:20px\"><strong>Option 2) Switch to the LTSC 2021 Version of Windows 10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>Windows LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel)<\/strong> is a deployment option for specialized devices and environments. The standard LTSC is intended for general-purpose devices, such as desktop computers and workstations, and will continue to receive security updates until <strong>2027<\/strong>. This option also allows you to opt for monthly quality upgrades and postpone feature updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">There is an IoT version of the LTSC that will continue to receive security updates until <strong>2031<\/strong>. This option gets you up to 6 more years of Windows 10, but it is intended for <strong>dedicated devices <\/strong>(such as kiosks or ATM machines). The IoT version is an excellent choice for devices that usually only perform one crucial function and require fewer feature updates\u2014things that do not heavily rely on support from other applications or tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3\">Learn more about Windows Enterprise LTSC <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/whats-new\/ltsc\/overview\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Once you have a<strong> valid Windows LTSC 2021 license<\/strong>, there are ways to switch over from Windows 10 to the LTSC version without performing a completely new clean install from Windows 10 Pro. This process is outlined <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Uq0_53cHOMY\"><strong>here in a video tutorial<\/strong><\/a> from the <strong>CyberCPU Tech <\/strong>YouTube channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8935f780a6b2a4e0a7a9e73fa95bfeaa\" style=\"font-size:20px\"><strong>Option 3) Keep Your System Offline<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Another alternative is to avoid updating your system altogether by keeping it offline. With this option, you will want to<strong> isolate your system<\/strong> from other networks for security. This can be accomplished by either blocking the internet access at your firewall or by physically unplugging the ethernet cable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3\">Additional information about Windows Firewall and Network Protection can be found <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/firewall-and-network-protection-in-the-windows-security-app-ec0844f7-aebd-0583-67fe-601ecf5d774f\">here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/thisisengineering-aL2rxQhEfAM-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Female engineer uses laptop with Windows 10 in automotive lab\" class=\"wp-image-3289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/thisisengineering-aL2rxQhEfAM-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/thisisengineering-aL2rxQhEfAM-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-11891786c806ec538cec1823920e6e59\" style=\"font-size:25px\"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions about End of Support for Windows 10<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>Q: Will my PXI controller still operate as intended after Windows 10 support ends?<br>A: <\/strong>Your PXI controller will not stop working right away. The core functionality will operate as normal, but the lack of both continued support and updates will compromise both the security and integrity of your system as time goes on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>Q: How can I protect the data on my controller?<\/strong><br><strong>A: <\/strong>Before attempting any updates to your operating system, it is important to back up and preserve the data from your hardware. One effective way to do this is to<strong> create an image <\/strong>of your PXI controller using <strong>Clonezilla<\/strong>. This will create a copy of the controller\u2019s data by replicating the contents of the hard drive to another drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3\">Steps for imaging your PXI controller can be found on NI\u2019s site <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ni.com\/docs\/en-US\/bundle\/labview-mimo-5g-6g-research-design-library-get-start\/page\/image-pxi-controller.html?srsltid=AfmBOopXNBWqi5m763D7JulMzQqNUOvTOpqN0eAQO_smadkHtOGH9i39\">here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>Q: Will I need to upgrade my PXI hardware?<br>A: <\/strong>Enrolling in Extended Security Updates or switching to an LTSC version of Windows 10 can delay the inevitable, but you will eventually need to either switch your OS over to Windows 11 or completely upgrade your hardware. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3\">NI product compatibility with Windows 11 can be found <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ni.com\/en\/shop\/software-portfolio\/ni-product-compatibility-for-microsoft-windows-11.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqVthp1r0DQCoX1BXYIiQJ3wXul2-y4RoxHB4QD1OrmD_aJK_Ef#section--1694237872\">here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>Q: I\u2019m receiving an error when trying to update the Windows 10 OS on my PXIe controller to the newest version. What should I do?<br>A:<\/strong> To update your PXIe controller, power off the system and then remove any other modules from the chassis. The only thing loaded into the chassis should be the controller. The update should be successful when run with all the other slots empty! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f3f3f3\">Additional information about updating or changing the Windows OS on your PXI(e) controller can be found <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/knowledge.ni.com\/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000000YHpFCAW&amp;l=en-US\">here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>Q: Will the end of support for Windows 10 affect regulated industries?<br>A:<\/strong> Regulated industries often require options such as ESUs or LTSC versions, as an unsupported operating system can cause issues with compliance and increase audit risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>Q: I have legacy hardware that is not compatible with Windows 11. What should I do?<br>A:<\/strong> While many legacy devices can still work with the Windows 11 OS, some are simply not compatible. Proactive planning is key. If you need help sourcing PXI controllers or modules to best fit the needs of your test setup, Apex Waves specializes in maintaining legacy systems. We also provide <strong>NI Drivers<\/strong>, <strong>manuals<\/strong>, and<strong> official documentation<\/strong> all for free download. Contact us today at <a href=\"mailto:support@apexwaves.com\"><strong>support@apexwaves.com<\/strong><\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2c40150fb78aa21fb971079e3b66217d\" style=\"font-size:25px\"><strong>ADDITIONAL RESOURCES<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ni.com\/en\/shop\/software-portfolio\/platform-roadmap.html\">NI Supported OS Roadmap<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--2\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/techcommunity.microsoft.com\/blog\/windows-itpro-blog\/ltsc-what-is-it-and-when-should-it-be-used\/293181\">LTSC: What is It?<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--3\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cisa.gov\/topics\/industrial-control-systems?utm\">Industrial Control Systems<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--4\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/lifecycle\/products\/windows-10-home-and-pro\">Windows 10 Home and Pro Releases<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Microsoft has announced that the last day of support for the Windows 10 operating system will be on October 14, 2025, roughly 10 years after its initial release. This decision has been raising concerns for test and measurement setups, as Windows 10 currently runs on many modular PXI systems. How will the end of support [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3290,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,10],"tags":[1012,393,437,574,910,921,994,995],"class_list":["post-3284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-instruments","category-technology","tag-microsoft","tag-national-instruments","tag-ni","tag-pxi","tag-technology","tag-test-equipment","tag-windows-10","tag-windows-11"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3284"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3284\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3318,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3284\/revisions\/3318"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}