With the most recent version of Microsoft Windows– version 11, having become available in September of 2021, we wanted to show you the basics of what an upgrade should look like when transitioning from Windows 10.
A transition like this tends to go smoothly, entail some minor hiccups, or feel like the end of days. The latter two can be less burdensome with some preparation and knowledge, which is why we also posted our previous item titled “Upgrading to Windows 11 – Making it a smooth transition for your data and hardware.”

From that post, however, here are a couple of the items to look at before you start.

• Backup your data – if you end up on the wrong side of your transition, you want to make sure your information is safe and recoverable.
• Verify your data backup is accessible and uncorrupted – backing up your data won’t do you any good if you can’t get it back.
• Prepare your systems and staff for the change – make sure your systems are clean of any problems that might interfere in the process, and training on the new system and any changes to the applications in it will ease the pain for everyone.

Every precaution should be taken to ensure your smooth transition and your data’s confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility. 

For this post, we assume that you have already verified your system is capable of the upgrade, so there is no need to go over that.

What should you do

Let’s start the process. 

1. Ensure that all of your applications are off, as this will help make the upgrade move more quickly.

2. Go to the Windows Update page in “Settings” and click on the “Download and install” button.

3. The following window that opens will offer you the chance to read and accept the Software License Terms. This is important as it is a legal document. Read it!

4. If you agree, click on the “Accept and install” button, allowing your system to begin the download.

5. The download process will take some time, anywhere from several minutes to hours. Once the download is complete, your system will ask you to restart your computer. You can “Pick a time, ”Restart tonight,” or restart immediately.

6. Restarting will begin the sometimes lengthy updates, which requires that you keep the power on! It will likely also include several automatic restarts, so don’t worry if your computer shuts down.

7. Finally, the restarts will end with your system’s login page.

8. Once you have logged into the system, you should see a screen much like the one below, only with your personal/professional touches instead of ours.d with your system’s login page.

The screens you see from this point forward will relate to any significant changes in your system’s applications or settings and will guide you through the process of learning about them.

Beyond running Microsoft’s update to Windows 11 and trying out your new operating system, there are few further things to accomplish.

Next steps

Your next steps are more involved and may require the assistance of your IT personnel or service providers. 

• Check your data – all that work to ensure your data was safe in backup won’t be any good if you can’t access it now.
• Ensure your security is as strong as before you did the upgrade – check the access permissions, anti-virus, anti-malware protection to make sure it works with your upgrade, etc.
• Verify the applications that are specific to you or your organization are still accessible and working as needed

The above items, and others, can be checked and double-checked by your IT staff or your service providers and should be.

Northstarr Recommendations 

Closing the gaps in a planned upgrade, once it is done, can be time-consuming and expensive if not well-planned and executed. Take the time to plan and enable your staff to use the new operating system. Alternatively, you can bring in the expert team at Northstarr System Solutions, Ltd. to guide you through the maze of possibilities. Reducing the effort of maintaining your data systems, networks, and applications is our forte.