I'd say back your stuff up and go for a new laptop.

Back up your stuff.
Option 1: try updating to Windows 10
Option 2: try Linux
Option 3: try a new computer

Yes it would be possible to download windows 10. Just make sure you back up everything before the download. My laptop is from 2011 and I was able to download windows 10 on it when the free download came out. That being said support for windows 10 will end in 2025.

I remember some Windows 8 or 9 PCs are able to upgrade to Windows 10 for free.. Don't know if that's still going.

You could also just do nothing xD
Support ending for an OS just means no more updates for it. It won't just stop working or something- my media machine still runs Windows 7 for example.

Just keep a decent antivirus on it, keep the built in firewall on and don't visit fishy sites, you'll be fine! If you want a new laptop or move up to Win 10, go for it, but you don't have to rush. End of life doesn't mean it stops working ^^

Just don't "try Linux" XD, a complete environment switch like that would be way too jarring for a casual Windows user. Also completely skip any Apple / Mac based laptops or environments. I've worked in IT for ~18 years by this point, so feel free to ask me anything.

'Bore' is not a negative thing as you might think- it becoming a 'bore' just means its problems have been solved, and it's hard to make it 'better'- which is what you ideally want if you want a stable atmosphere.
Why no Linux?
Harder to find tech support for it: The largest OS is by far Windows 10- with like 70% of PC's running it [old stats from 2021 survey, it's prolly less now due to Win 11]. This means it's easier to get support for it, as whatever problem you have, someone probably already had it, and has a solution.
Driver support: You said so yourself.
Tons of software support: Devs have limited money, so develop for the largest market: Windows. You're more likely to find an app or solution you want on it.
More standardized: If you shut down your Windows computer at home and sit down at your Windows computer at work, you can be sure it'll work the same, look the same, have the same shortcut keys, behaves the same.
How many distros does Linux have? Off the top of my head there's Debian, Ubuntu, Kali, OpenSUSE, Red Hat.. woof. And each is a bit different, each works in just a slightly different way than the next... and for a layman, a casual computer user, the sheer prospect of trying to sift through them to find one that suits them is overwhelming, and far too complicated. 90% of PC users just want a solution that works, for an affordable price.
Familiarity: A person using Windows knows what an exe is, knows what a shortcut is. Knows where documents, pictures, downloads are. Know more or less where the C: and D: drives are. Install a program? Shortcut on the desktop, got it. Want this app? I can just download it, don't have to worry if it works on Linux or even on my current kernel version. People enjoy simplicity and ease of use, they just want to click a button and it works.
I can go on but this comment is getting long...

You have to understand, most people's idea of fun isn't trying out random linux distros xD There's nothing wrong with Linux! But we gotta understand the type of user we're catering advice towards here x)

> My point isn't really advice towards the original poster
Well, then I'm a little confused- if your comment wasn't meant to be advice... why did you comment on their journal where they're asking for advice?

> Which I find off... Why not?
I thought I gave plenty of reasons why not... At least why not to move to Linux from Windows. I can give you plenty more reasons if you want? But I don't want to keep clogging Kivwolf's journal with walls of text ^^ So note me if you're interested

I just want to reiterate, nothing wrong with Linux, it has plenty of pros to its cons. My comment on not moving to Linux or MacOS was because this user is entrenched in a Windows environment. If someone who had been using Android for 10+ years asked what to do about their old phone, would you also comment 'Try iPhone' ? It makes no sense. 'Move to a different continent' isn't the right answer to "How should I expand the house I've lived in for 10 years?"

> [comments about online services]
Do you have a smartphone? Do you use any chromium based browser? Any social media? The fight for privacy is admirable but if you really want to not be monitored online or have your online activity tracked.. I think the only way to do that is to go live in a cave! 🤷‍♂️ The rest of that paragraph is just preferential viewpoints and doesn't offer me much to comment on.

> doesn't mean the platform is morally right
I'm definitely not here to argue morals. We're on a website dedicated to the sexualization, fetishes, kinks, debauchery and lechery of anthropomorphized animals 😬

> [more anecdotal comments about Linux preferences]
I don't have much to say to the rest of your comment either, sadly. You mainly just talk about your views and your feelings about it and nothing I can concretely argue against- your opinions and views on what you like is 100% valid.

Just to reiterate one last time, I never said Linux is bad, or made any comment on it aside from the fact that Kivwolf asked what to do about their current predicament, and as a reasonable expert in the field, I still think a drastic entire OS brand switch like that would be too much, and would bring them more stress in the short term. They're MORE than welcome to try it if they want, and anyone else ^^ I'm not a fanboy of Windows or anything else, that's silly, I was just giving End User support advice as I do at my job literally every day. Thanks for engaging with me and take care <3

I would suggest buying a tablet laptop. I have the basic bitch model of surface pro 3 that was 1500 but yeah i think there are better alternatives but thats the one i went with.

Web browsers are the most important things to worry about since they're the entry-point for 99% of malware for most people.
Good news is they tend to far outlive the operating systems in terms of support (the latest Firefox and Chrome still run on Windows 7)
Have your router's firewall feature turned on and its firmware up-to-date, use an up-to-date web browser with an adblocker extension (Ublock Origin is good), practice street smarts on the internet and it's unlikely you'll have any issues with using an old OS.

I'd back up any important data and just get a new laptop. Be sure to check if you use any important programs and if they work on windows 10/11

You should back it up buddy, save all your good memories there

You can still use your windows 8... you just can't call windows for help, if something is wrong with windows itself anymore on that date.

Making a backup is good practice either way.

Just because "support" is ending, does not mean people's computers will suddenly stop working.

There are ways to get win 10 for free especially if you already have 8.

I'd just recommend skipping 11 right now as it is a mess.

Well that doesn't mean your Windows will no longer work at all. You can still use it.

i'm still running my windows 7 pro. on my PC

An despite what microsoft says. They do irregular updates.

Just keep going on with your current system and set-up.
when it finally dies, get a new system with the latest software.
just keep back-up's

10 is better and faster. Just update.

IT Tecci speaking:
You should definitly backup your files if you have important stuff on that machine.
It never is a bad thing to do that, especially if the computer is already that old.

That being said..
You do not really need to Update at all, especially if you are not familiar with the process or know if there are drivers for your hardware for Windows 10/11.
There is also no need to buy a new Laptop or PC if your old one is still working and you are fine with how it works.
You can still use your computer after the deadline arises, you only wont receive any more fresh updates for it, which isn't that much of a problem. Just make sure if you go to the internet with an older PC that you have an antivirus installed, and be careful :).

For Offline use there is definitly no need to upgrade at all.

Upgrading to Windows 10 should be possible. It near directly replaced Windows 8.1 for most machines.

Your Laptop should totally qualify as a free upgrade to Windows 10.

You will probably have to adapt to the OS as there are a ton of changes.
Buut... at the same time, wouldn't be better to try and get a new computer at this point? =o

10 should work fine, and despite them no longer advertising free upgrades, that still works as of last check.

If it's not a PC that you're using the access the internet then there's very little need to worry about the end of support since it just means you won't get updates to the security of the os and it's various parts. Depending on where you live though it's not too expensive to get a used laptop/desktop. Most programs that worked with Win 8.1 should work okay with Win10.

there are a few options, in theory the main reason why end of support is bad is because of security risks from using the internet and while you could upgrade to windows 10 you'll be in the same spot when support ends for that too.

A possible solution in theory would be to duel boot Linux and disconnect your windows 8 install from the internet allowing you to keep using clip studio paint/fire alpaca but use your Linux install to upload the stuff you make on windows to the internet.

I'd recommend something simple like Linux mint or zorin OS as they are both beginner friendly and can be installed on the same hard drive as windows without interfering with it.