Windows 11 (Poll included)

[Cyber Liberty]

OK, so the Microslop Update has come to my computer.  Should I "upgrade" now or wait for the Weed Option?

Not sure I want to pull that trigger so soon, so should I? Wait until the free upgrades expire?  Never?

[Kamaji]

Wait until at least the first wave of early adopters has gone through and resolved the various updating problems that will inevitably crop up.

[EdinVA]

I don't upgrade anymore.. I have always had glitches.
I wait until they threaten to shut my machine off or an application I want/need requires a newer windows then I just get a new machine with the new windows, usually about every 5 to 7 years.

[DB]

You need another choice... Don't upgrade to Windows 11 and wait until you need to buy a new computer and do it then when Windows 10 is no longer available.

Invariably one has to update and/or replace other applications when the OS has a major change with a whole set of new problems. In addition a number of those applications may not have newer versions for the newer OS. So at a minimum you have to wait for all the applications you use to be fully supported by the new OS before moving to it.

And wasn't windows 10 supposed to be the last version of Windows for ever on and it would automatically morph into whatever Microsoft decided to do with it without allowing the user a choice??? That it had become a "service" instead of an OS...

Perhaps that plan didn't go over so well with the corporate world that doesn't want things changing willy-nilly causing random major meltdowns in productivity...

[Kamaji]

Of course, unless one categorically needs MS Office, one can always switch to a nice flavor of linux, or, more generally, a *nix.  Like Linux Mint:  https://linuxmint.com/

[Elderberry]

I am going to wait for awhile as 11 currently has issues with the Ryzen CPU and that's what I have.

https://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,451185.0.html

[roamer_1]

OK, so the Microslop Update has come to my computer.  Should I "upgrade" now or wait for the Weed Option?

Not sure I want to pull that trigger so soon, so should I? Wait until the free upgrades expire?  Never?

Depends. If your machine is already set up full UEFI and TPM enabled, your call.

But f not - and most machines are not UEFI, rather either UEFI-Hybrd or legacy BIOS, with TPM present but disabled - If that is the case, know it is a full nuke and pave to enact UEFI and TPM. If you enable it from bios, your current installation will brick, and you will have to reinstall using a UEFI capable boot stick to reinstall.

It may be a thing - just sayin.

[Kamaji]

Depends. If your machine is already set up full UEFI and TPM enabled, your call.

But f not - and most machines are not UEFI, rather either UEFI-Hybrd or legacy BIOS, with TPM present but disabled - If that is the case, know it is a full nuke and pave to enact UEFI and TPM. If you enable it from bios, your current installation will brick, and you will have to reinstall using a UEFI capable boot stick to reinstall.

It may be a thing - just sayin.

Those are good points to know!  Is there any way to check whether one's system is both UEFI and TPM compliant?  Other than blindly trying the update to see what happens?

[roamer_1]

Those are good points to know!  Is there any way to check whether one's system is both UEFI and TPM compliant?  Other than blindly trying the update to see what happens?

You will get a nag/warning board in updates saying your machine is out of compliance for Win11 and it will not install, with a happy link to a win app to tell you what is out of whack - which is always going to start with UEFI and TPM (2.0 I think). It does NOT tell you that enabling UEFI will brick your current installation. But neither does it tell you how to do it.

But I have already had two across my bench from power users that switched their BIOS over and killed their box.

To be fair - Saying it is bricked is maybe a bit much. A reinstall will fix it. But so far, for me, there has been no alternative to copying files off the drive by hand, full nuke and pave... Though I may not understand it all the way, and there may be a repair scenario... But I have not found it yet.

So no Win11 for me until there is a HDD fail or some other reason to nuke a box. I have somewhere around 10 machines at any given time, and that's nuts over an upgrade.

[roamer_1]

To clarify: Most machinery made in the last 10 years is UEFI and TPM2 capable. Most machines are set up differently because the strictures of UEFI and TPM are onerous, not allowing boot unless the operating system approves it - Not allowing hardware unless the operating system approves it... The OS becomes king over BIOS, and nothing but an UEFI capable OS will do.

There are also questions about unique ID being implemented through UEFI/TPM enabled OS... So most manufacturers have left the factory setup either legacy (CMOS) or UEFI-Hybrid of some kind.

[Bigun]

Those are good points to know!  Is there any way to check whether one's system is both UEFI and TPM compliant?  Other than blindly trying the update to see what happens?

Microsoft provides a tool to check out your machines to see if they are Win. 11 ready (I do not have a link handy but it's easy to find) and none of mine are for the reasons @roamer_1 has alluded to. You should also know that not all current processors make the grade.

Just my own personal opinion, but it appears to me that Win. 11 is more of a tool to sell new machines than a big OS upgrade.

[roamer_1]

Microsoft provides a tool to check out your machines to see if they are Win. 11 ready (I do not have a link handy but it's easy to find) and none of mine are for the reasons @roamer_1 has alluded to. You should also know that not all current processors make the grade.

Just my own personal opinion, but it appears to me that Win. 11 is more of a tool to sell new machines than a big OS upgrade.

Yes @Bigun , your machinery is very likely UEFI and TPM2 capable... It/they are a setting in BIOS... So yeah you probably can set the machine up to take Win11. What you need to understand to make an informed decision is what will happen in order to make your machine UEFI/TPM compliant, and that is:

You will need to save everything off the machine, Jst like you would for a HDD replacement or other major data-loss surgery. I would suggest simply buying a new HDD and leave your old one alone in case of some SNAFU.

When your data is guaranteed safe, change your BIOS to UEFI and (Likely) within UEFI, enable TPM2

After reboot you will be ready to install windows from a UEFI capable thumb, which must be prepared before the fact. I have not been successful installing Win 10 into UEFI using a standard bootable windows media. I DL the ISO, set up a UEFI bootable using Rufus (https://rufus.ie/en/) creating a UEFI/GPT/NTFS bootable and importing the Win10 ISO into it.

Then boot to the thumb and install normally.

IOW, It is a complicated thing to do and ma really be an onramp to horror highway. It is still largely experimental to me, still messin with it... And maybe I am overly cautious... But so far, it ain't been fun.

[Elderberry]

Microsoft releases an improved Windows 11 PC health check app

Engadget by N. Ingraham 8/27/2021

And it's allowing unrestricted Windows 11 ISO installs.

https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-windows-11-supported-processors-update-175544403.html

When Microsoft released the Windows 11 Insider preview earlier this summer, it did so with some confusion around minimum system requirements. It quickly reversed course, saying that more people could install the software update than its requirements originally stated so the company could gather more performance on how the OS performed. After a few months of users testing and providing feedback, Microsoft says that, for the most part, its system requirements from June will stand — but there are a few notable changes.

This means that you'll need a compatible 64-bit processor, 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage, as well as "UEFI secure boot, graphics requirements and TPM 2.0." For the most part, Microsoft is still requiring an 8th-generation or newer Intel processor, but the company is adding a few 7th-generation Intel options to the supported list, including Intel Core X-series, Xeon W-series and the Intel Core 7820HQ. For the latter, Microsoft will only support "select devices that shipped with modern drivers based on Declarative, Componentized, Hardware Support Apps (DCH) design principles, including Surface Studio 2."

There is some good news for people running older hardware, though. According to The Verge, Microsoft won't prohibit computers running processors on its "supported" list from installing Windows 11 — they just won't be able to do so through the official Windows update software. You'll instead have to download a Windows 11 ISO file and install it yourself. The Verge says this method will primarily be for businesses to try Windows 11 and it won't be publicizing this method to standard users.

[Cyber Liberty]

You need another choice... Don't upgrade to Windows 11 and wait until you need to buy a new computer and do it then when Windows 10 is no longer available.

Invariably one has to update and/or replace other applications when the OS has a major change with a whole set of new problems. In addition a number of those applications may not have newer versions for the newer OS. So at a minimum you have to wait for all the applications you use to be fully supported by the new OS before moving to it.

And wasn't windows 10 supposed to be the last version of Windows for ever on and it would automatically morph into whatever Microsoft decided to do with it without allowing the user a choice??? That it had become a "service" instead of an OS...

Perhaps that plan didn't go over so well with the corporate world that doesn't want things changing willy-nilly causing random major meltdowns in productivity...

I'm a veteran of the Vista start.  I know about things breaking after installation, because Vista broke almost every damned thing I had.

[Bigun]

Yes @Bigun , your machinery is very likely UEFI and TPM2 capable... It/they are a setting in BIOS... So yeah you probably can set the machine up to take Win11. What you need to understand to make an informed decision is what will happen in order to make your machine UEFI/TPM compliant, and that is:

You will need to save everything off the machine, Jst like you would for a HDD replacement or other major data-loss surgery. I would suggest simply buying a new HDD and leave your old one alone in case of some SNAFU.

When your data is guaranteed safe, change your BIOS to UEFI and (Likely) within UEFI, enable TPM2

After reboot you will be ready to install windows from a UEFI capable thumb, which must be prepared before the fact. I have not been successful installing Win 10 into UEFI using a standard bootable windows media. I DL the ISO, set up a UEFI bootable using Rufus (https://rufus.ie/en/) creating a UEFI/GPT/NTFS bootable and importing the Win10 ISO into it.

Then boot to the thumb and install normally.

IOW, It is a complicated thing to do and ma really be an onramp to horror highway. It is still largely experimental to me, still messin with it... And maybe I am overly cautious... But so far, it ain't been fun.

IF and when I find I have need for Win. 11 box, I'll probably just find a new (to me) one and drop the dime @roamer_1

[roamer_1]

Microsoft releases an improved Windows 11 PC health check app

There is some good news for people running older hardware, though. According to The Verge, Microsoft won't prohibit computers running processors on its "supported" list from installing Windows 11 — they just won't be able to do so through the official Windows update software. You'll instead have to download a Windows 11 ISO file and install it yourself. The Verge says this method will primarily be for businesses to try Windows 11 and it won't be publicizing this method to standard users.

Oh that could be fun... I wonder if you can get around all the requirements that way... That will be my weekend playtime.

[roamer_1]

IF and when I find I have need for Win. 11 box, I'll probably just find a new (to me) one and drop the dime @roamer_1

I will have a couple of my machines in Win11 for testing and orientation - I need to do that to stay on the troubleshooting edge.

And if a machine goes dark for some reason, like a hdd replacement, as an instance - I will likely bring it back win11, as it really is not so different in that scenario - I do a clean install anyway in such cases.

But real adoption of Win11 will be a years-long endeavor for me, @Bigun . Probably though attrition, much as you describe. We will see. After it ripens for a year, maybe I will have a different outlook.

[roamer_1]

But I am really, seriously considering just turning my house Linux. If it were not for my tech business, I would have gone Linux long ago. It may just be time to throw the switch. Leave my test benches windows... and my route laptop... But my media machines could have gone linux years ago, as could my servers and personal boxen.

I might be there.

[Bigun]

I'm a veteran of the Vista start.  I know about things breaking after installation, because Vista broke almost every damned thing I had.

That Fluster cluck should have made believers out of everybody.

[roamer_1]

I'm a veteran of the Vista start.  I know about things breaking after installation, because Vista broke almost every damned thing I had.

Win2k broke everything I had... Rewrote everything by the time XP came out, and then SP2 broke it all again. Rewritten just in time for Vista to break it all again. rewrote for Seven, and gave up. I will not be rewriting again.

[rustynail]

When MS won't work Linux will.

[roamer_1]

By the way y'all... I tolja about losing WENTWORTH, my main laptop.

That was a UEFI conversion... Fixing to set the thing up for Win11. Bricked the BIOS and it has not run since... No joy in  reset, no joy at all.

So while that is probably not common, bad things can happen.

[EdinVA]

By the way y'all... I tolja about losing WENTWORTH, my main laptop.

That was a UEFI conversion... Fixing to set the thing up for Win11. Bricked the BIOS and it has not run since... No joy in  reset, no joy at all.

So while that is probably not common, bad things can happen.

Well, I get lotsa joy tossing them out the window... 

[Hoodat]

Ask all those who invested in Windows 8.  Microsoft seems to get it wrong every other version.  So I will hold out for whatever comes after Windows 11.

Windows Vista →  Windows 7
Windows 8      →  Windows 10
Windows 11    →  ??????

[DB]

I'm a veteran of the Vista start.  I know about things breaking after installation, because Vista broke almost every damned thing I had.

Yep... It took years to get a number of Visual Basic programs to run again...

[Wingnut]

I'm waiting for XP professional to be reintroduced.  Till them Gates can suck my big big hard......drive.

[libertybele]

I have Windows 10...only because I had to get a new computer after we moved... electrical problems.... long story.

I definitely preferred Windows XP.   No plans to upgrade to 11.

[Sighlass]

The one thing that caught my eye about Window's 11 was the ability to run apps on it. I just want to run my security camera software on my desktop instead of a phone. I hate phones, and the only one I have is a used one my brother gave me that I can't figure out.

[Cyber Liberty]

The one thing that caught my eye about Window's 11 was the ability to run apps on it. I just want to run my security camera software on my desktop instead of a phone. I hate phones, and the only one I have is a used one my brother gave me that I can't figure out.

I have an Emulator to run my Android apps, a reason I am cautious about something that might break the emulator. I use it to run my security cams too.

@roamer_1 you mentioned you have boxes running Win11.  Is it a lot like 10, or is it a serious rewrite of the GUIs?  I get the feeling from the buzz MS sends me, it sounds like it basically the same as Win10.  I also expect they are lying.

[roamer_1]

@roamer_1 you mentioned you have boxes running Win11.  Is it a lot like 10, or is it a serious rewrite of the GUIs?  I get the feeling from the buzz MS sends me, it sounds like it basically the same as Win10.  I also expect they are lying.

@Cyber Liberty
Actually no, I do not currently have Win11 running on anything... I have loaded it up a couple times - I am inner ring on TechNet, and usually an early adopter - But so far, I am just messing with it.

The biggest crapola is that they have dicked with the start bar again. Can't leave the dang thing alone. Looks more like apple now with centered start that comes up in a centered window. Can't stand that. But the backside looks Win10 alright. Have not dug around much yet,

That's why I was trying to shovel it onto Wentworth - That would have been my first standing installation of my own with an intent toward using it instead of just messin with it. I was due for a new personal laptop anyhow, and I thought I would turn Wentworth Win11 and go get a different one to replace that one as my main laptop.

Now that's shot to hell, and the only other box I might be willing to mess with is the Yoga, and I ain't real keen on that either.

It sure will not be hitting my desks till I know it well.

[roamer_1]

I have an Emulator to run my Android apps, a reason I am cautious about something that might break the emulator. I use it to run my security cams too.

Have you messed with MS 'My Phone' app yet? if it will run for you (and that is the question) it brings android messaging and notifications right to your desktop, along with a great emulator for running the phone. Works flawlessly with my Yoga - Less well with my old laptop...

And there is also Samsung Flow which works pretty good too.

[mystery-ak]

Just got the W11 link to upgrade...I will take the advice here and wait awhile..

[Cyber Liberty]

Just got the W11 link to upgrade...I will take the advice here and wait awhile..

Dittos.  I'm not a Guinea Pig for Vaxxes or Operating Systems....

[mystery-ak]

Has anyone downloaded W11 yet?

If so how is it?

Will I have to re-install Firefox or will it still be in my aps when it is done updating?

[Elderberry]

Just for curiosity I ran the tool to see if my machine was W11 compatible and it came back Hell No. I know I can do a back door install, but I'm nowhere near ready to leave W10 yet.

[roamer_1]

Has anyone downloaded W11 yet?

If so how is it?

Will I have to re-install Firefox or will it still be in my aps when it is done updating?

The guts of it are still pretty much Win 7-10... They just gotta mess with the start bar. The ONE thing that makes Windows so ubiquitous, and every time they roll out a new one their hate for it is so apparent.

Win11 is Win 10 with a 'wanna be more like Apple' feel. Still ain't got it loaded for use, but I have blown it onto a couple boxes just for giggles. As it turns out, I am shaking loose my main whip on the desktop, and when it comes back it will be Win11 for realz, as I have to get comfortable with it to fix it.


As to your question - Your apps will all work fine.

[jmyrlefuller]

I'm waiting for XP professional to be reintroduced.  Till them Gates can suck my big big hard......drive.

Ah, XP. Good times.

As I noted elsewhere, I have an old XP that I occasionally dust off and it still works.
 

[DB]

Ah, XP. Good times.

As I noted elsewhere, I have an old XP that I occasionally dust off and it still works.

I have a game machine with XP on it...

[Smokin Joe]

Ask all those who invested in Windows 8.  Microsoft seems to get it wrong every other version.  So I will hold out for whatever comes after Windows 11.

Windows Vista →  Windows 7
Windows 8      →  Windows 10
Windows 11    →  ??????

I went from 3.11 (bulletproof) to Win 95, to 98SE to XP and held out until WIN 10.

When I have a system that works, especially if I am using it for work, the last thing I want to do is screw with it.
It isn't just Windows, it's the proprietary software I use that has to be updated to run on it. That crap gets expensive.
In a fast paced environment, the last thing I need to do is learn a new OS.

[Smokin Joe]

I'm waiting for XP professional to be reintroduced.  Till them Gates can suck my big big hard......drive.

XP was my favorite because it was so darned hard to crash. Not since 3.11 had Windows been so solid. After skipping Win ME, Win 2000, Win 7 and 8, I finally got Win 10. It's okay, but I keep the XP machines because I have an older version of some proprietary software that runs on it.

[GtHawk]

Considering that I am running Win10 on a real old machine built for XP I don't think I will even try it. I figure I am lucky to have Win 10 operational as it is so 11 will just have to wait until I have to get a new machine and that oughta be about the time Win 12 is being released.

I do have an older ASUS gaming laptop with Win 8 on it so I will be watching to see how you are all doing before I upgrade it.

[art.prout]

XP was my favorite because it was so darned hard to crash. Not since 3.11 had Windows been so solid. After skipping Win ME, Win 2000, Win 7 and 8, I finally got Win 10. It's okay, but I keep the XP machines because I have an older version of some proprietary software that runs on it.

That is the last version of "Windows" that I used.

Can no longer deal with the ish....

 

[Elderberry]

I fear I'll have problems upgrading  to W11 on my machine. I had a W10 upgrade that refused to install as it detected that I had Oracle VirtualBox loaded. I tried and tried to remove all traces of Oracle to no avail. I contacted MS and a nice tech in India spent an hour remotely on my machine before he hacked the upgrade enough to load on my machine. Of course I reinstalled VirtualBox as I have several apps that won't run on W10 that I run with it on W7.

[Cyber Liberty]

I have upgraded two of my machines to W11, and so far they work fine.  This one in my lap is still 10, but I'll upgrade it pretty soon, as the OS works almost the same.  Much easier than the change from W7 to W10. 

My previous machine came with W8.1, I hated it like everybody else in the world and I got the W10 upgrade with a couple months.  This machine would have worked better with 8.1 because it has a touch screen.  The mouse gives me trouble sometimes, but a wireless mouse works a lot better.

[Hoodat]

Any opinions on Server 2019?

[roamer_1]

I am now running Win11 on my laptop, presumably to stay.

For the tech inclined: This is an older, 'unsupported' box.
changed legacy bios to UEFI, no TPM or SecureBoot. Changed HDDs From MBR to GPT under the illusion I would be able to update from the stick... Booted to the stick, the only option:

Nuke and pave, installed perfectly with no warnings. I did not let it go to internet, because I want a local account, and I want the pooter named before it phones home to MS (saves me going out to remedy multiple aliased machines tied to my user account). Once that was done, I gave it internet.

Running great. Updated fine.

So I am here now. And I cannot put the taskbar on the top without a reg hack...

*SIGH*

[mountaineer]

Don't ax me, I'm still on Windows 7. 

[mystery-ak]

Don't ax me, I'm still on Windows 7. 

So was I up until a couple of months ago..then my pc crashed and I had to buy a new one...I am afraid to upgrade to 11...whatever can happen will happen to me..lol

[andy58-in-nh]

My processor will not support Win 11 (AMD Ryzen 5 2400G). I know that it is possible to add a registry key to allow the upgrade, but since my PC is running well enough, I am not comfortable messing around with it.

[roamer_1]

My processor will not support Win 11 (AMD Ryzen 5 2400G). I know that it is possible to add a registry key to allow the upgrade, but since my PC is running well enough, I am not comfortable messing around with it.

MS has changed that a bit... Nuke and Pave (or theoretically setup in win from thumb which MAY upgrade)... either way I guess (though I only KNOW nuke and pave) allows older procs - Mine is an old i7

Went in like budda - no hacks at all.

FOR SURE needs GPT formatting and UEFI... But that is all I did so far....

May turn on tpm and secure boot, but it updated fine and is working beautifully.

I hate it btw...