Renewing a company’s IT fleet

This article was machine-translated from French and is being reviewed. Prices are in Algerian dinars excl. VAT.

The renewal of the IT fleet is decided on facts, not a fixed age: end of software support, manufacturer warranty, machine wear and its suitability for work. In November 2026, Windows 10 is no longer supported since 14 October 2025, and Windows Server 2016 leaves extended support in January 2027. A replacement plan avoids a rush to change everything: it classifies machines by risk, budgets purchases over several months and protects data at each step. AsloTech helps you build this plan.

When to replace: alert signals

Start the replacement when you observe one or more of these signals:

End‑of‑support dates to know

Source: Microsoft lifecycle pages. Windows 10 extended updates cover only security fixes, and only for machines on Windows 10 version 22H2. It is a stopgap solution.

Other equipment also has a life cycle. A NAS, switch, firewall or Wi‑Fi access point manufacturer may one day stop security updates for a model: check its end‑of‑life policy before buying, then yearly. UPS batteries need replacement; see UPS: how to choose power.

Replacement steps

1. Asset audit

Document each device in a spreadsheet: brand and model, serial number, purchase date and warranty end, processor, memory, storage, system version, user, installed business software and overall condition. For Windows 11 compatibility, Microsoft PC Health Check app flags non‑eligible machines, and the command tpm.msc shows TPM version. Add failure history, active contracts and peripherals: printers (see laser or inkjet), UPS, switches, Wi‑Fi access points.

2. Budget: total cost

Don’t compare only purchase prices. Include for each item:

• the purchase : on quote for a desktop PC; for laptops, see desktop or laptop for a company ;
• the accessories : screen, keyboard, mouse, docking station, case ;
• installation and configuration : typical cost range on our quotes, Windows installation, with or without data recovery, is invoiced at 1,000 to 3,000 DA excl. VAT (6 quote lines) ;
• the data migration and application recovery ;
• the licenses : system, office suite, antivirus, and for a server the user access licenses ;
• the UPS, backup and disposal of old equipment

The HT total for a lot is the sum of these lines per item, then multiplied by the number of items. Keep the cost to maintain old hardware next to it: ask if the next failure will cost more than a replacement part.

3. Equipment selection

See Desktop or laptop for a business and Server or NAS for an SME. Keep these criteria:

• compatibility with Windows 11 (compatible processor, TPM 2.0, UEFI boot with Secure Boot) and Pro edition for domain workstations;
• SSD drive, and sufficient memory for your business software: ask the vendor’s requirements instead of setting a value in advance;
• guarantee whose duration and type (workshop or on-site) are written;
• identical models for a group of posts: installation and spare parts are simplified.

4. Data backup

Before any change, copy 100 % of useful data to a verified medium. List what a PC contains beyond visible folders: documents and desktop, mail and signatures, favorites, certificates, local business software databases, VPN access, installed printers. Then verify the copies open. The 3‑2‑1 rule is detailed in Backup: the 3‑2‑1 rule explained.

To estimate the duration, divide the volume by the actual throughput. For example with a presumed rate: 500 GB (500,000 MB) at 50 MB/s gives 500,000 ÷ 50 = 10,000 s, about 2 h 47. The real rate depends on the disk, USB port and number of small files that slow copying: measure it on your hardware.

5. Migration and commissioning

First test the procedure on one or two pilot stations: system, updates, drivers, business software, antivirus, domain join, printers, disk encryption, accounts. Have the user validate it, then deploy the rest of the batch. AsloTech offers data recovery: retrieving data from the old station and migrating it to the new one. For a management software that retains data, see the data migration to Santymed.

6. Management of old equipment

Before any release, remove the data. A quick format is not enough: files remain recoverable. On a mechanical hard drive, full overwriting works. On an SSD, overwriting is unreliable because the disk manages data placement itself: use the SSD secure erase (secure erase or sanitize) or cryptographic wipe of an encrypted disk, and if not possible destroy it physically. The NIST publishes a reference guide on storage media sanitization. Keep a record of the operation for each machine, especially if the disk held patient or employee data.

Also remove the machine from the domain, personal accounts and associated licenses. Then choose the destination:

• Internal reuse: secondary or training machine, if the device remains compatible and supported.
• Sale or donation after verified wiping, to an association for example.
• Recycling by an electronic equipment collection channel. Lithium batteries do not go to trash: a swollen battery must be handled with care.

AsloTech offers secure disk wiping. It is quoted on a quote, like data recovery.

Equipment life cycle

No single duration applies to all: the cycle depends on use, heat, model quality and support deadlines. Reason by stage.

• New: under warranty and supported. Follow system and firmware updates.
• Mid-life: wear appears (battery, fan, disk). This is the time to plan replacement and check end of support.
• End of life: out of warranty or support, or repeated failures. Replace, or isolate the machine if it must remain in service for limited use.

A written policy simplifies decisions. It sets, by equipment type, a target cycle decided by the company, aligned with warranty and support dates, and reviewed annually.

Backups: before every change

Apply the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies of data, on 2 different media, including 1 off‑site. A workstation change without verified backup leaves no way to revert if the migration fails. The principle is detailed in Backup: the 3-2-1 rule explained.

Frequently asked questions

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