News Windows 11 Upgrades Are Free: Here Are the System Requirements

[punkncat]

One of the biggest aspects that concern me over this upcoming version?
The fact that it's "free".

Windows 10 collects and reports much telemetry and data back to MS. I figure that this one will be targeted ads all in your menus, panels, etc. such that even though you aren't paying, they are still generating revenue as well as user data.

 

[Colif]

Feature specific hardware requirements are mostly logical - https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/windows/windows-11-specifications#primaryR4

The changes needed to make the TPM thing not necessary are minimal, it is a matter of time if they change it to be less restrictive. Something tells me they will.
Win 10 support ends 2025
Win 11 needs tpm support...
both of those combined make them look evil, forcing millions of people to upgrade

either they forcing lots of people to buy new PC or they will remove TPM requirement before or close to release.

 

[USAFRet]

either they forcing lots of people to buy new PC or they will remove TPM requirement before or close to release.

I'm expecting the latter.

 

[punkncat]

I rather wonder how much more expensive TPM modules are about to get. I have nothing to base on as I have never used or needed one, but was not super impressed with the price of the one Amazon has for MSI.
I have to say it chaps my behind more than a little knowing I bought in to a new Z590 motherboard and 11th gen i5 just to be told my computer isn't compatible....

 

[Colif]

Did you try to enable tpm in bios? I know someone else on an intel board did here earlier tonight

I went from getting message saying No, to a Yes by enabling tpm in my X570 bios.

I wasn't amused at first, thinking it stupid an 8 month old PC couldn't get Win 11.

looking at system info I can see its not quite working right but at least win 11 seems to think its good enough.

 

[punkncat]

Did you try to enable tpm in bios? I know someone else on an intel board did here earlier tonight

I went from getting message saying No, to a Yes by enabling tpm in my X570 bios.

I wasn't amused at first, thinking it stupid an 8 month old PC couldn't get Win 11.

looking at system info I can see its not quite working right but at least win 11 seems to think its good enough.

In BIOS I have PTT and fTPM. It is set to PTT, if I try to change to the fTPM it tells me I could lose data, so haven't gone that way (yet).
I ran the tpm.msc command and it says no, the upgrade advisor says no...and there is a tpm header on the motherboard according to the manual.

Edit- Truth be told it is so much a non issue at the moment, anyway. I have no real need of this new OS aside from curiosity, and the catchiness of the new buzz going on about it. Probably just need to reach back, unbunch a bit, and be patient for a few months.

 

[DRagor]

Feature specific hardware requirements are mostly logical - https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/windows/windows-11-specifications#primaryR4

Taskbar functionality is changed including:
Alignment to the bottom of the screen is the only location allowed.

Gimme a break ... I'm not using this piece of crap. What do you mean I can't run taskbar at right side of right screen and left side of left screen?

 

[ClapTrapper]

Their upgrade checker doesn't even work on the latest version of windows 10! LOL

Worked fine for me.

 

[mikeebb]

My comp is 64Bit lol

If you install a 32-bit OS in Virtualbox it works, whether or not it's a physical 32-bit computer. I have 98SE running in Virtualbox (with a SciTech video driver that works in VBox with 98 ... and Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 which doesn't work well in Win10 directly). DOSBox emulates the complete DOS computer environment, including the CPU, in software, so it runs even 8-bit software (on a virtual 8088) if you have some. I have DOS games running in DOSBox under Win10 64=bit, and Win3.1 for a couple of other old games. DOSBox emulates the timing as well as the instruction set of the older CPUs, and runs original DOS Tetris fine, which is impossible in VBox/Win98 or Win10 32-bit due to divide-by-zero errors.

 

[mikeebb]

I rather wonder how much more expensive TPM modules are about to get. I have nothing to base on as I have never used or needed one, but was not super impressed with the price of the one Amazon has for MSI.
I have to say it chaps my behind more than a little knowing I bought in to a new Z590 motherboard and 11th gen i5 just to be told my computer isn't compatible....

Something usable may already be in the computer's firmware. See https://www.tomshardware.com/news/windows-11-tpm-enable-bios-uefi

 

[mikeebb]

Gimme a break ... I'm not using this piece of crap. What do you mean I can't run taskbar at right side of right screen and left side of left screen?

Having the taskbar locked to the bottom of the screen makes it a nonstarter for me, too, even though I have one computer that can apparently run it.

 

[gdmaclew]

I just activated the fTPM option in my BIOS (ASUS TUF Gaming X570 Plus MB), rebooted and ran the MHC again and it said I couldn't upgrade to Win11.
What's going on?
Check my hardware in my signature tab and please tell me what is wrong.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Re: Internet Connection "Windows 11 Home edition requires internet connectivity and a Microsoft account to complete device setup on first use. Switching a device out of Windows 11 Home in S mode also requires internet connectivity. For all Windows 11 editions, internet access is required to perform updates and to download and take advantage of some features. A Microsoft account is required for some features."

So what will we lose or what will break if we don't have an internet connection? Is this sounding more like always on software like some PC games require the internet in order to function? Just questions I have?

 

[USAFRet]

So what will we lose or what will break if we don't have an internet connection? Is this sounding more like always on software like some PC games require the internet in order to function? Just questions I have?

Currently, completely unknown.

What is currently out in the wild is not what it what be at release.

 

[RareAir23]

So just to address concerns about the TPM 2.0 requirement for Windows 11 (this isn't an outright answer but just a thought) at least from what I do in IT for a living and what I work with in IT everyday TPM is a requirement to implement and use BitLocker drive encryption. In past Windows' OS installs BitLocker was an optional feature for storage drive encryption. Perhaps (keyword being "perhaps") this time Microsoft is making BitLocker encryption a mandatory requirement to use Windows 11 instead of optional for..."IT Security reasons"? I'll let the discussion continue from here. Out!

 

[USAFRet]

So just to address concerns about the TPM 2.0 requirement for Windows 11 (this isn't an outright answer but just a thought) at least from what I do in IT for a living and what I work with in IT everyday TPM is a requirement to implement and use BitLocker drive encryption. In past Windows' OS installs BitLocker was an optional feature for storage drive encryption. Perhaps (keyword being "perhaps") this time Microsoft is making BitLocker encryption a mandatory requirement to use Windows 11 instead of optional for..."IT Security reasons"? I'll let the discussion continue from here. Out!

I'm an IT guy as well.
Systems at work are encrypted, for good reason.
I have no need or desire for BitLocker on my systems at home.

 

[Colif]

Gimme a break ... I'm not using this piece of crap. What do you mean I can't run taskbar at right side of right screen and left side of left screen?

I agree, although I never run it anywhere apart from bottom, I liked having the choice. I have seen people have it at top of the screen before as well. Its likely not many people moved it so they removed a feature very few people actually used.

The theme looks good in dark mode. even changes desktop wallpaper to a darker one... not that it will be that wallpaper for long on my pc.

its unclear about bitlocker, only mention of it on win 11 site is
BitLocker to Go requires a USB flash drive (available in Windows Pro and above editions).

which doesn't tell us anything. expect we find out more as we get closer.

 

[Fatalzo]

Great, just great. My PC has no TPM chip.

 

[Colif]

wait and see if that requirement changes before release

 

[spongiemaster]

I agree, although I never run it anywhere apart from bottom, I liked having the choice. I have seen people have it at top of the screen before as well. Its likely not many people moved it so they removed a feature very few people actually used.

Through the years, the most common reason I've found for people having their taskbar somewhere besides the bottom of the screen is because they accidently moved it and couldn't figure out how to get it back to the bottom of the screen. MS may bury the option to move it to prevent people from accidently moving it.

 

[Colif]

Only right click choice on Taskbar is settings:

taskbar settings I am aware of

• Taskbar alignment - Centre or left (I assume right isn't an option)
• Show Widgets button
• Show Desktop button? (maybe the bar on end that lets you see desktop that I always forget exists)
• Automatically hide taskbar in desktop mode
• Show badges on Taskbar icons
• Show windows ink workspace button
• show touch keyboard button
• show taskview button

could be more, i haven't seen that much.
I assume notification area is still below it on settings/personalisation tab like in win 10.

so can't lock taskbar
i think you can pin apps to taskbar
wonder if you can reduce size of icons on taskbar

task manager is relegated to a folder in start menu. I am curious if it can be added to taskbar
curious what right click menu on desktop has.
right click start menu choices are still the same as 10.

 

[Colif]

No, there are no plans for a Windows 11 to replace Windows 10. Windows 10 is continuously evolving with free feature updates every 6 months.

until 2025

Support Dates
SUPPORT DATES

Listing	Start Date​	Retirement Date​
Windows 10 Home and Pro	07/29/2015​	10/14/2025​

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-home-and-pro

Lifecycle FAQ - Windows

Answers to frequently asked questions about the lifecycle policy for Windows products.

docs.microsoft.com

seems looking at that, win 11 will only get yearly updates, not every 6 months like win 10.

and its actually, some WIn 10 PC will be able to upgrade to 11 via windows update. Win 10 continues for all those who can't upgrade.

 

[Jake Hall]

Worked fine for me.

I think it's because I'm using an education volume license

 

[Colif]

MS have removed the testing tool from their website and it will be back in a few months when we closer to release, hopefully slightly more accurate by then.

 

[InvalidError]

Meanwhile, people in the internets are hacking the WIndows 11 installer to get Windows 11 on things like Core2Duo laptops.