Upgrading your computers to Windows 11
It’s been nearly a year since Microsoft released their newest operating system (OS): Windows 11. There are some changes, but I personally like most of them. It has a more modern look and feel, and it feels a bit faster. There are security and performance improvements, too, that you don’t notice offhand. The Windows Updates are smaller and quicker, and it conveniently gives you an estimated time it will take in order for Windows Updates to apply.
Upgrading your current computer
If you have a Windows 10 computer that’s compatible with the upgrade, Microsoft might be bugging you about upgrading. Although I believe moving to Windows 11 is good and I suggest it for most home users, I don’t suggest doing the upgrade yourself. If you’re unsure that your computer is compatible with Windows 11, contact a computer shop like us to take a look.
Microsoft tries to get you to upgrade to Windows 11 with just a few clicks. But if there are issues with the upgrade, you could lose access to your data or computer. Plus, even if the upgrade appears to have worked, you may have performance and stability issues down the road from the way Microsoft by default upgrades Windows. We saw this years ago with Windows 10 upgrades from Windows 7 and 8.
If your computer has Windows 10 and is compatible with Windows 11, I suggest having a computer tech perform what is called a clean upgrade rather than you do the upgrade yourself. This is where a tech backs up your data, wipes all the data from the hard drive, installs a fresh clean copy of Windows 11 and then restores your data. This requires more of an effort, but provides a much better upgrade and ensures long-term stability down the road. Plus, this provides a good refresh of the computer, and it will likely make it faster.
Having a computer tech do a clean upgrade to Windows 11 also is a great time to upgrade the hard drive of the computer if it still has a traditional spinning drive. Upgrading to a solid state drive will significantly help increase the speed and performance of the computer. This, along with installing a fresh copy of Windows 11, will add more life to the computer.
Buying a new computer
If your computer is more than a few years old, there’s a good chance it won’t be compatible with Windows 11. Microsoft’s system requirements is pretty strict. That doesn’t mean you must go out and buy a new computer now with Windows 11, as Microsoft will still support Windows 10 for 3 more years. But Windows 11 compatibility is something to consider if you’re having issues with your computer.
If your computer still has Windows 7 (or even the earlier Vista or XP versions), I highly suggest to stop using it, due to its lack of security and support, and get a new computer with Windows 11. Microsoft stopped all updates and support for Windows 7 in January 2020. If you’re concerned about cost, consider buying a good refurbished machine from a local small business. If you’re concerned about getting used to the changes in Windows 11, a computer tech can usually set up a new computer very similar to your old one so you’re comfortable.
When shopping around for a new computer, consider the small local computer shops like ours. We sell new custom PCS and refurbished computers, both of which you won’t find at the big box stores. Customer service and warranties at smaller businesses are usually superior, as well.
No matter where you buy your computer, I also suggest getting professional help to transfer the data and programs over. If you don’t want to lug your computer into a shop, consider a company that also provides on-site service where a tech comes to you and provides one-on-one help, sometimes the same price or cheaper than dropping it off at a shop.