You can restore files using File History in Windows 10 or 11. After turning on File History, copies of your files will be backed up. To restore the files, you will need to connect your computer to the drive you used for File History, then select “Restore Files” from the File History settings in Control Panel. If your computer is encrypted, you can only back up to a drive that is also encrypted. You will need the BitLocker password or recovery key to unlock the drive.
Antivirus does not protect your computer when it is out of support. Antivirus, such as Microsoft Security Essentials, will not work as effectively as it used to, meaning you may be vulnerable to viruses and other forms of malware. Your computer will continue to work as it does today, but you may be exposed to more viruses and malware than on newer ecosystems. More and more apps will be developed, but Windows 8. 1 will not support them. A lot of Microsoft Store apps being developed today do not work on Windows 8. 1. They require at least Windows 10 or Windows 11 to function properly. This includes UWP versions of desktop apps like Spotify or iTunes. If your computer has a technical issue, Microsoft will not be able to provide technical support. You may run into legal issues if you are a business and you run an unsupported operating system. Because of the above, if you run Windows 8. 1 after the end-of-support date, then you may want to disable Wi-Fi and unplug any Ethernet cables to prevent malware from entering your computer. You should be extremely careful with USB drives as they may be infected with malware. You should also install all Windows 8. 1 updates prior to end of support, if possible.
Your desktop apps will continue to work. If they fail to work, then you can run the compatibility troubleshooter to identify problems with the app.
Like when upgrading from Windows 8. 1 to 10, you will be able to restore your files using File History.
The Windows 11 installer will alert you of any apps that will not work properly after the upgrade. If they do not work, then run the compatibility troubleshooter. This can be found in Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot and choosing “Program Compatibility Troubleshooter” from the list.
If you are using Media Center, the app will be uninstalled and replaced with Windows DVD Player. CDs are becoming obsolete, and the only use for them in 2022 is for games and Blu-Ray discs for consoles. You will still be able to play DVDs on Xbox One or Xbox Series X.
Updates are installed automatically, but you can defer system upgrades while the Windows build is still supported. The only features that will be missing are features that will not work because of your hardware.
Emergency patches (such as EternalBlue) may be released by Microsoft if a virus affects a large number of computers, supported or not. Other than these patches, your computer will not receive any updates.
