What's New in Windows 11?
I’ve waited a few days to write about Windows 11, because there has been a bit of confusion about exactly what it will be, when it will be available, and which computers will be able to use it. Even “official” Microsoft sources have offered up conflicting information, especially on the compatibility issue. Here’s what we know about Windows 11, and my best guesses for the unknowns. Read on… |
Will Windows 11 Run on Your Computer?
When Windows 10 was released back in 2015 (can you believe it?) it was billed as “the last Windows version,” and we were told to expect twice-yearly updates. At the time, Apple’s rival operating system was also at Version 10, having released “OS X” El Capitan. Updates to OS X with cool names like Sierra, Mojave, and Catalina followed in the intervening years. But then, Apple dropped the Version 11 gauntlet last November, with the Big Sur release.
One can only surmise this set off a flurry of worry in the Microsoft marketing department. “Apple has Version 11, what should we do?” (Remember now, when Windows skipped Version 9, moving from the hated Version 8 to Windows 10, everyone knew it was due to Apple OS X envy.) So apparently, the first answer was “Let’s release a glorified theme pack for Windows 10, and call it Windows 11!”
And it looks like the folks in Redmond did pretty much that, plus they rolled in some of the security updates and under-the-hood tweaks they’d been working on. Windows 11, slated for release this Fall, is also billed as ideal for users in a hybrid work or remote learning environment, having better integration with Microsoft Teams, and a speech-to-text input option in almost any app.
The new interface has rounded corners, new icons, cool wallpapers, and a Start Menu stubbornly centered in the task bar, all designed to make Windows 11 feel “effortless, calm, personal, and familiar.” Those with laptops and tablets should notice that Windows 11 is faster, more battery-efficient, and better for multi-tasking than Windows 10.
There’s a new Microsoft app store (probably sporting rounded corners and new icons). Internet Explorer and Cortana (Microsoft’s failed attempt at imitating Siri and Google Assistant) are both banished from Windows 11.
But here’s the catch. Even though Windows 11 claims to “unlock the full potential of your system’s hardware,” it won’t work on many PCs happily running Windows 10.
Windows 11 requires 4 GB of RAM memory and 64 GB of disk storage. Almost any PC less than 10 years old will have those specs. But only “newer” CPUs running on 64-bit computers will be supported. (Windows 10 runs on older 32-bit machines.) As of today, you’ll need an Intel 8th Generation, AMD Zen 2, or a Qualcomm 7 or 8 series CPU to run Windows 11. Microsoft says this is needed to support the enhanced security features, but they are checking to see if 7th Gen Intel and AMD Zen 1 chips will cut the mustard. Anything older will probably NOT make the grade. See the Windows 11 processor requirements page for the latest news on this.
But there’s another hurdle, a required hardware security feature called Trusted Platform Module, or TPM. Microsoft says you need a TPM version 2.0 chip to run Windows 11. Millions of PCs have a TPM 1.2 chip, but those can't be upgraded. And to add to the confusion, you might have a TPM 2.0 chip that’s disabled (turned off) in the BIOS settings.
So the Windows 11 compatibility checker might tell you your PC can't be upgraded to Windows 11, even if you meet the requirements for memory, disk, CPU and TPM. Ed Bott’s article on ZDNet, “Will Your PC Run Windows 11? Even Microsoft can’t say for sure” is a good read if you want to dig into this further.
My main desktop, a 5-year-old Dell OptiPlex has a 64-bit quad-core processor, and has 12GB of RAM. It runs Windows 10 like a champ, but the advanced compatibility checker that I tried (see the link to WhyNotWin11 in the ZDNet article above) says it fails four tests for Windows 11 compatibility. My Intel i5-6500 CPU is too old, the TPM chip is missing or disabled, it does not have “Secure Boot” enabled, and does not use the GPT method of disk partitioning.
I’m not going to spend money to upgrade my CPU, there’s no way I want to mess with the disk partitioning, and who knows what might happen if I tweaked the BIOS settings to enable TPM and Secure Boot? I’ll have to live without the rounded corners and spiffy new icons in Windows 11. So it’s a good thing that support for Windows 10 extends at least through May of 2023. By then, I’ll probably have a new computer, or we’ll all be assimilated into the Borg.
Your thoughts on this topic are welcome. Post your comment or question below.
This article was posted by Bob Rankin on 29 Jun 2021
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Most recent comments on "What's New in Windows 11?"
(See all 33 comments for this article.)Posted by:
Joe London
29 Jun 2021
My 6 year old Dell XP8700 with a 2 TB hard drive and a separate 1 TB hard drive and 16 MB Ram also failed the windows 11 compatible test. No information as to why that should be and when I spoke to Dell the said windows 11 hasn't been released yet and we know nothing about it. Thanks Bob for the helpful information you provided.
Joe.
Posted by:
Leo Mitchell
29 Jun 2021
I had to laugh when you mentioned the "Borg". I am 82 years old and am hooked on Star trek Voyager.
Posted by:
Jay R
29 Jun 2021
Microsoft should burn in hell. Oh, wait. With global warming, maybe they can do it here. I have an old laptop with XP on it. XP will play the old games that I like. 10 won't. Maybe a class action victory would force MS to buy a computer with W11 installed for everyone who has W10 now. It's not that they would ever consider being responsible for the consequences their decisions bring upon users of their products. Perhaps they could rent, on an annual, pre-paid basis, freedom from lawsuits brought by all those using their products. Thank you for providing a forum for my Microsoft Rant-of-the-Day.
Posted by:
bb
29 Jun 2021
The old good / bad / good / bad Microsoft OS cycle continues! (Every other MS OS release sucks.)
I'm more annoyed that support for Windows 10 goes away on Oct 14, 2025 - that's the official Microsoft end-of-life date. Their OS market share continues to drop, that date will cause it to go off a cliff.
Posted by:
PgmrDude
29 Jun 2021
Bob, it looks like I will be assimilating to the Borg right along with you. #ResistanceIsFutile!
Posted by:
Wolf
29 Jun 2021
Thank you for another informative article. I am glad that I have a dual boot into Linux and Windows 10 on my desktop. I'll wait, regarding Windows 11, which will probably contain more bloatware and spyware.
I'll invoke the Vorlons from Babylon 5 to fight the Borg. :)
Posted by:
Nezzar
29 Jun 2021
Dear Bob,
Thanks very much for an informative article. I have a 27 inch HP all in one Envy computer that won't be three years old until October. But, I don't have the TPM version 2.0, at least as far as I can tell. I will try to download Windows 11 in the chance that I might get lucky. If it won't download, then I will stick with Windows 10.
I also can't help but point out that, as of now, it appears that there will be plenty of angry computer users, totally frustrated at their inability to download Windows 11, come December.
Guess where they will head for Christmas presents??? Anywhere but Microsoft and their very frustrating ideas and computer operating systems.
But, perhaps that is what Microsoft wants---get rid of us everyday users and go with the top dogs---businesses and corporations. Good luck with that idea.
Posted by:
Dale Poole
29 Jun 2021
Congratulations Bob on getting anything meaningful from the compatibility scanner.
I ran it, it told me my machine won't work. Period. Explanation.
Posted by:
JcB
29 Jun 2021
Just as an example of how neurotic Microsoft is I cite the waffling on what is the new and modern look and feel. The first Windows had square corners, then Windows with round corners were introduced and we were told that this was the new, modern look. Along comes Windows 8 and suddenly square corners are the new, modern look. Now Windows 11 will have rounded corners and we are told that is the new, modern look. Give us a break Microsoft, you are just making changes to the look and feel for the sake of change. Personally, I liked the round corners when we last had them and saw no need to remove them. It was wasted effort to make that change then and more wasted effort to change them back. Just how stupid does Microsoft think that its customers are.
Posted by:
BillP
29 Jun 2021
"Windows skipped version 9" ... Well, not really. When i upgraded from Win 8 to Win 8.1, my wireless card quit working. After spending an hour on the phone with a droid, they connected me to a real technician. He said, "While 8.1 sounds like an upgrade, it's actually a complete re-write. Therefore, some of the older hardware is no longer supported, and your wireless card happens to be one of them. Sorry about that."
So, because Win 8 was just so bad, they pushed out Win 9 as a free upgrade, calling it Win 8.1 so as not to roil the waters any more.
A similar thing happened in the past. Win 3 was also very bad; the best thing about it was the solitaire game, but Win 3.1 was great. My boss accused me of having undergone a "religious conversion" when that upgrade changed my attitude towards Windows by 180°.
Posted by:
SamG
29 Jun 2021
I'm 72 years old. Life insurance runs out at 85 y.o. Will Windows 11 last that long? Nope. So they're not recruiting me.
Laptop with Windows XP in basement (old games). 8+ year old (y.o.) Windows 10 laptops. 1 dual boots Mint 20.
Posted by:
SamG
29 Jun 2021
And EVERYONE have an Enjoyable 4th of July Holiday! Everywhere! 🏁🧨
Posted by:
Brian B
30 Jun 2021
"I’m not going to spend money to upgrade my CPU, there’s no way I want to mess with the disk partitioning, and who knows what might happen if I tweaked the BIOS settings to enable TPM and Secure Boot? I’ll have to live without the rounded corners and spiffy new icons in Windows 11"
My thoughts exactly Bob. I'll run this machine into the ground with or without support, and by the time it dies, Windows 13 0r 14 will be current, so I'll have saved the cost of 2 or 3 new computers.
Posted by:
JP
30 Jun 2021
I'm on a 2011 Windows 7 PC that dual boots with Linux (Q4OS). I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it survives long enough to see chip prices for graphics cards come down, and maybe at that time I'll buy something new. There are a couple of Windows programs I'd sorely miss, and there are things I just don't understand about Linux, and therein lies the problem with deciding which side to go with. *fingers crossed*
Posted by:
David Baker
30 Jun 2021
I'll stick with a cheap Chromebook. Cheap to replace. Boots and updates in a flash. Everything I need is included with Chrome and Google App's.
Posted by:
H5
01 Jul 2021
Thanks Bob! The "current" MS o/s has to be at least 10 months old (satisfactorily [?] working) before I jump in. Rounded corners (cute) can wait.
Posted by:
Boneman
01 Jul 2021
Here comes an increase in Linux installed OSes.
Watch for the Battle for Market-Share of The Linux OSes.
Posted by:
TerryM
05 Jul 2021
There are any number of YouTube videos that show how Windows 11 can be installed on most all old computers. The limitations are not technical, they are marketing. Here is one.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk5B-a7vZ_w
Posted by:
Bernard Gray
08 Jul 2021
With all the ransomware going around stealing everyone's data and holding them hostage.
It would be prudent for MS to fix the breaches first and help their customers out. I got an email this morning telling me that this person has all my information and passwords and if I did not give them $1550.00 in 48 hrs they were going to send all my friends dirty pictures of me. Ha Ha. I know this is just a phishing email. I just deleted the email and see if it shows up again and then I will send a copy to the fraud department of the FBI.
Posted by:
Nick
09 Jul 2021
Will 32 bit programs run on W-11?