Following a recent move from Microsoft that will make old laptops incompatible with new software updates, Back Market, the marketplace for refurbished tech, is launching a £99 Obsolete Computer box. 

In less than a month, Microsoft will end support for Windows 10, rendering up to 400 million perfectly functional computers obsolete overnight. By stopping free software updates, technical support and security patches, many computers will no longer function as they don’t meet the hardware requirements of Windows 11.

In response to this e-waste and to spotlight more affordable and sustainable alternatives to throwing away tech, Back Market’s ‘Obsolete Computer’ box is made up of a refurbished laptop, preconfigured and ready to use, designed to bypass Microsoft’s forced update. Each refurbished PC will be able to function like any other without risk or interruption.

“Condemning hundreds of millions of still perfectly functional PCs because of a simple software update is absurd. With this £99 box, Back Market shows that it is possible to extend the lifespan of devices, guarantee digital inclusion and avoid unnecessary electronic waste,” explained Amandine Durr, Chief Product Officer at Back Market.

For those who want to adapt their existing machines, Back Market will provide tutorials empowering people to extend the lifespan of their own laptops at home.

The initiative is designed to show that there are more sustainable alternatives to throwing away tech. Of the 1.4 billion computers that Microsoft power worldwide, between 40% and 55% will be rendered obsolete. Devices that don’t work are at risk of being discarded and contribute both to e-waste and to digital exclusion for millions of households. 

The Obsolete Computer Box is available in France, Germany, Spain and the UK to offer people an alternative to tech waste. By advocating for a more circular tech economy, Back Market reaffirms its position as a sustainable marketplace.