Windows 11 available on October 5

1492 wrote:
What's driving much of the eligible hardware requirements is to harden security. Cyber-criminals and hackers are exploiting Bios and CPU vulnerabilities that can allow injection and running malicious code, which no software based security can protect against. Thus requiring newer CPU and Bios chip systems.

They touted the same thing about UEFI more than a decade ago. They purposely rendered millions of Linux Computers useless, and Ubuntu had to scramble for solution (Ubuntu paid $M for ONE licence, then unlock it for all people who install Ubuntu).
By the way UEFI or no, computers still get hacked left and right.

BB_Tx,

One word.

Virus.

What's driving much of the eligible hardware requirements is to harden security. Cyber-criminals and hackers are exploiting Bios and CPU vulnerabilities that can allow injection and running malicious code, which no software based security can protect against. Thus requiring newer CPU and Bios chip systems.

However, Microsoft is apparently not stopping you from 'manually' upgrading to Windows 11 with older systems. You just can't do so automatically from within Windows 10. Your system won't be as secure if you choose to do so.

Not much different from installing no longer supported Windows 7, Vista, or XP now. Microsoft does not stop you from doing so. Especially, for those running software not compatible with newer Windows versions. Just allowing more pathways open to hackers.

larry cad wrote:
{Big long sighhhhhhhh) So my windows 10 computer will now be obsolete due to insufficient memory and I will be forced to buy a new machine that can handle 11, and do exactly the same stuff I am doing now which is the web, Word, Excel, and photos. All of which work fine for me, but I will ultimately have no choice and will be forced to move up. (Another big long sighhhhhhhhhhhh)

Time to go Linux !

I know Linux seems "scar", but start with a simple version, Linux Mint. You still have to pick a user interface. Either Cinnamon, MATE, or Xfce. Personally, I like Xfce. It seems simpler.

LibreOffice will handle your Work and Excel work (unless you have programming done in Excel). You should have no problems reading any existing files.

Best of all, you can set up dual boot so you can go back to WIN 10 or WIN 7 anytime you want.

Why all the complaints??? Software can only be updated so many times before it becomes necessary to make significant changes required to keep up with new hardware and new applications and then becomes necessary to release that as a new version. And those changes by necessity may not be compatible with older hardware. It is simply not practical to have software capable of runnng new applications and yet still be compatible with 10/15/20 year old hardware and application software.

You can still use old versions of software as long as you want as long as you continue to use older hardware and older versions of applications compatible with it. Higher performance and faster and more capable software is simply required by the demand for faster and more expansive computing capabilities.

Just checked my oldest DELL Vostro PC still being used with the latest MS PC Health Check tool, and the hardware is not eligible for Windows 11. Specifically, the Intel Core i7 processor - a 2012 biz desktop. Will just keep using WIN10, though have gotten my money's worth in any case. System processors may end up being the limiting factor for eligibility for WIN11 upgrades.

My primary desktop a Dell Alienware 17" laptop w/TB Hub, and other notebooks are no older than a couple of years so should be eligible for WIN11. Though haven't run the hardware check on them yet.

1492 wrote:

rk911 wrote:

1492 wrote:
It's an optional upgrade to WIN11.

Windows 10 Pro/Home will continue to be supported until Oct 14, 2025.

doesn’t sound optional to me.

Did you do look at Microsoft's WIN11 site? They state you can continue to use Windows 10 and "You do not have to upgrade to Windows 11. We will continue to support Windows 10 until October 14, 2025."

They also state "The free upgrade offer does not have a specific end date for eligible systems. However, Microsoft reserves the right to eventually end support for the free offer. This end date will be no sooner than one year from general availability."

Same model used by Apple? When a new MacOS version comes available for eligible hardware systems, they don't force you to upgrade.

sure they do... when support ends.

rk911 wrote:

1492 wrote:
It's an optional upgrade to WIN11.

Windows 10 Pro/Home will continue to be supported until Oct 14, 2025.

doesn’t sound optional to me.

Did you do look at Microsoft's WIN11 site? They state you can continue to use Windows 10 and "You do not have to upgrade to Windows 11. We will continue to support Windows 10 until October 14, 2025."

They also state "The free upgrade offer does not have a specific end date for eligible systems. However, Microsoft reserves the right to eventually end support for the free offer. This end date will be no sooner than one year from general availability."

Same model used by Apple? When a new MacOS version comes available for eligible hardware systems, they don't force you to upgrade.

1492 wrote:
It's an optional upgrade to WIN11.

Windows 10 Pro/Home will continue to be supported until Oct 14, 2025.

doesn’t sound optional to me.

1492 wrote:
It's an optional upgrade to WIN11.

Windows 10 Pro/Home will continue to be supported until Oct 14, 2025.

wasn’t win10 originally billed as the final windows version that would be constantly upgraded??