a compatible TPM chip and whether it can be turned on, download Microsoft’s PC Health Check app, available at https://aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp.
OneNote: Windows 10 came with OneNote, an app for taking notes much like a virtual school notebook. OneNote vanished from Windows 11, but compulsive note takers like me can still install it for free from the Microsoft Store.
Why Does Windows 11 Keep Changing?
Windows 10 updated itself seemly at whim, much to the detriment of people who preferred their PCs to look and behave the same whenever they sat at the keyboard. Who wants a computer with a confusing new doodad tossed in overnight?
Microsoft aims to ease that confusion by updating Windows 11 only once a year, thank goodness.
Apps, by contrast, can still be updated whenever the app’s creator decides that it’s time for a change.
Microsoft sends many of these updates automatically to your computer through Windows Update; you don’t need to jump through hoops to find and install them.
Similarly, your apps update themselves automatically through the Microsoft Store. They constantly add features, squash bugs, and sometimes even change their names.
You may not notice these changes in the apps, as well as in Windows 11 itself. Indeed, most of them just fix hundreds of annoying bugs, making Windows 11 run and install more smoothly and safely.
So, when Windows 11 or its apps change overnight, don’t think it’s your fault. Microsoft constantly tweaks Windows 11, and Windows and its apps will keep changing for years to come.
Can My Current PC Run Windows 11?
If you want to upgrade to Windows 11, your old computer will probably complain. Unlike Windows 10, Windows 11 usually requires a PC sold within the past two or three years.
TABLE 1-1 The Windows 11 Hardware Requirements
| Architecture | x86 (64-bit) |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC). (Unlike previous Windows versions, Window 11 no longer comes in a 32-bit version.) |
| Memory (RAM) | At least 4GB |
| Graphics Card | DirectX 12 graphics device with Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 2.X driver |
| HDD free space | At least 20GB |
| Firmware | Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) with secure boot enabled |
| Internet connection and Microsoft account | Windows 11 Home edition requires internet connectivity and a Microsoft account to set up and use some features. |
In common language, Table 1-1 simply says that most computers sold in the past two or three years can be upgraded to Windows 11 with little problem. If your computer is older than that, you’re out of luck.
If there’s no Start button, you’re running Windows 8. And if clicking your Start button fills the screen with a bunch of colorful tiles, you’re running Windows 8.1.
Finally, if right-clicking your Start menu brings a large pop-up menu, you’re running Windows 10 or 11. Choose the menu’s Settings entry, and scroll down to the About section. Your version of Windows, either Windows 10 or Windows 11, is listed in that section’s Windows Specifications area.
SHOULD I BOTHER UPGRADING TO WINDOWS 11?
Most people won’t have a choice: Their current PCs won’t be able to run Windows 11 because of its stringent new hardware requirements. Some say that Windows 11 is Microsoft’s attempt to jumpstart the PC economy by making everybody buy new PCs.
But there’s no reason to rush out and buy a shiny new PC. Microsoft will continue to support Windows 10 until October 14, 2025. After that date, Microsoft won’t offer security patches for Windows 10, leaving it open to malware and cybercriminals.
When you buy your new PC, it will come with Windows 11 installed. Actually, if you wait long enough, it may come with Windows 12 installed, letting you avoid Windows 11 altogether!
The Different Flavors of Windows 11
Small businesses will choose Windows 11 Pro, and large businesses will want Windows 11 Enterprise.
Here are some guidelines for choosing the version you need:
If you’ll be using your PC at home or in your small business, pick up Windows Home.
If you need to connect to a domain through a work network — and you’ll know if you’re doing it — you want Windows Pro.
If you’re a computer tech who works for businesses, go ahead and argue with your boss over whether you need Windows Pro or Windows Enterprise. The boss will make the decision based on whether it’s a small company (Windows Pro) or a large company (Windows Enterprise).
If you’re a daring soul at a business, watch for Microsoft to release Windows 365. This program represents a daring experiment where Windows runs speedily in the cloud, bypassing the limits of your slow and aging PC.
For more details about upgrading to Windows 11, visit Microsoft’s Windows website at www.windows.com.
Chapter 2
Starting with the Start Menu
IN THIS CHAPTER
