TeamPeaks joins the International Repair Day

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Microsoft

Platform Release Lifecycle

On October 14, Microsoft announced that devices running Windows 10 will no longer receive patches for viruses, malware, or vulnerabilities. No new features will be introduced, nor will bugs be fixed.

This inevitably raises concerns about the future of approximately 400 million PCs worldwide that are still running Windows 10.

So now, some of these PCs will upgrade to Windows 11… but what about the others? Will they become waste?

Interestingly, October 14 also marks E-Waste Day, an international event promoted by the WEEE Forum in collaboration with the United Nations, aimed at raising awareness about the proper disposal of electronic devices. Furthermore, on October 18 recurs International Repair Day. Coincidence? Perhaps – but either way, it sparks important reflections.

At TeamPeaks, our goal is to promote sustainable and long-lasting technology, reducing the need for frequent device replacement. That’s why we care deeply about the right to repair and the idea that anyone, with some basic knowledge, should have the right to repair or reconfigure their tech devices in a simple, accessible, and sustainable way. These principles, championed by the iFixit project, aim to rethink technology from “disposable” to “use, repair, and reuse.”

But what are we actually doing?

We’ve successfully repurposed external screens from old Apple iMacs, using them as monitors for new workstations. This way, perfectly functional hardware doesn’t become obsolete due to lack of updates but remains in service until the end.

We’ve launched a small support project with the Albero Rosso Foundation, which includes repurposing our old company PCs. After proper checks and formatting, they are reused for educational projects at the school in Dunai, Nepal.

Since the topic of device repair and reuse is important but rarely discussed – and often shrouded in technical jargon – we decided to write this article to share our early experiences and show that: yes, it is possible!

And what about the future?

We’re considering purchasing devices with greater repairability guarantees, supported by clear and consistent recycling policies that align with our commitment to sustainability.

To wrap up, here are some useful links to help you shift your mindset ahead of the next E-Waste Day:

For those who want to stick with Windows 10 a bit longer and take advantage of the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/extended-security-updates

For those considering a Linux-based OS alternative that can adapt to hardware limitations: https://ubuntu.com/desktop/flavors
For those who want to explore the world of DIY repairs: https://www.ifixit.com/

Until next time…