As our personal and work lives change and become ever more information-centric, so must our technology change to meet the needs we place on it. Some of these changing needs are high-speed Internet access, ergonomic workspaces and equipment, online meeting spaces and applications, and simplified applications to accomplish our work and with which to play. All of these, hopefully, are addressed by this new iteration from Microsoft, Windows 11.
Let’s take a look at some of the requirements, options, and potential workarounds for those preparing to upgrade to Windows 11.
How will this Affect You?
With each new iteration of an OS, we also must consider the fact that previous versions will become obsolete. Since Windows 11 is an upgrade to Windows 10, it is important to know that your end of support from Microsoft will be October 14th of 2025. Caveat: with most end-of-life dates, you may be able to purchase an extended support plan from Microsoft.
It is also important to know that if your business relies on applications that are only supported in previous versions of the Microsoft operating system, you will need to plan accordingly. While some applications may be supported under backwards compatibility, some may not. Take a look at the applications, their creators, support updates and upgrades, etc. You may be able to pay to have an application’s version updated to meet the requirements of Windows 11. Or, you may not.
System upgrade and update capabilities are also important to consider. Will you be able to add or turn on the TPM module? Do you need more RAM or a new hard drive? New drivers for your hardware?
One thing to consider is using a professional service, such as Northstarr, to help you monitor possible upgrades and actually do the work for you. With a professional service, you get the benefits related to years of experience in the field, as well as the simple knowledge that you are backed by agreements to make sure the work is done and done right.
Requirements
To transition your personal and professional lives from one system or OS to another can be difficult and stressful. One way to help alleviate this is by preparing yourself for the transition early, and preparing well. Knowing your system, the way you use it, and the data that you will need to work with, is an important step toward that goal of simplifying the move.
For our benefit, Microsoft has put out a list of system requirements for upgrading your system to its newest OS, so here is what those requirements are. Your system must meet these minimums, or you will not be able to upgrade.
- A processor with 2 or more cores and a speed of 1 Ghz (Gigahertz) or higher;
- 4 GBs (Gigabytes) of RAM (Random Access Memory);
- A storage capacity (this is your hard drive) with 64 GBs or more of free space;
- Your motherboard must have a TPM (Trusted Platform Module);
- Secure Boot capability, which requires UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface);
- Your graphics card must be DirectX 12 or later compatible with the WDDM (Windows Display Driver Model) 2.0 driver installed;
- A display that is high definition and larger than 9 inches diagonally with 8 bits per color channel
On top of hardware requirements, as with previous upgrades, you must have an Internet connection and a version of Windows 10 to complete the installation using Windows Update. Otherwise, you can obtain the full version from Microsoft or from Nothstarr System Solutions, which is a Microsoft affiliate.
If you are unsure as to whether your system will meet the requirements, you can also use the Microsoft provided PC Health Checker to verify.
What should you do
The first thing to do is to check to see if you NEED that Windows 11 upgrade. Here are some questions to ask yourself or your IT management:
- Will you be purchasing a new system prior to the end of life for your present OS?
- Are you willing to go through the upgrade process on your hardware and then your system?
- Is Windows 11 going to provide the security and peace of mind you need for your home network or your work?
- Does it provide the usability that your employees need?
Once you have decided to move upward, you should also look at preparing your systems and networks for the change, as well as your personnel.
- Backup your files!!! Let me say that again, Backup your files!
- Verify that your backups are accessible and that everything is there
- Ensure that your network and servers are capable of handling the backup and upgrade process
- Start teaching your personnel and users of the new OS how to use it, what limitations there are, or consider having a professional IT organization train them
Be prepared to take the time to engage with your IT services, providers, and support venues. It is possible that you will run into problems with the upgrade process that are unforeseen. A little extra preparation might save the day.
Northstarr Recommendations
We are a company that serves the needs of our clients, providing IT consulting services, troubleshooting, repair, Cybersecurity, and an expert team of personnel that can give you the support you need to prepare for, implement, and support an upgrade to Windows 11. Some things that we will always recommend during an upgrade process are:
- Research the upgrade – make sure it is right for you
- Backups – don’t lose your data because of a minor problem
- Change management processes – ensure the smoothest transition possible
- Knowledgeable support personnel – they can bring you back from a problem
- Time – don’t rush!
Beyond the normal recommendations, it is a good idea to consider upgrading your hardware to higher than minimum recommended levels. Why? Because your system performance is tied to such things as the processor capabilities, how much RAM you have, and the speed of your hard drive. It can also be affected by the capabilities of your graphics card and onboard/shared memory. Look at your Internet connections. Your upgrade to Windows 11 might give you more value if you have a higher-speed Internet connection. Consider your options. See our follow-up walk-through for updating to Windows 11.
