Windows 11 update

Question

I know it is early days for Windows 11 but on my 4 year old Acer laptop the health check tells me that W11 can't be installed as the CPU is not compatible ? Is this restriction going to be with me for ever or will the update system allow for my cpu at a later date ? Seems W11 will force people to buy new computers if they want to update, which makes the update very restrictive and Windows 10 is only going to be supported for another 4 years !

Answer 1

All the Windows OS's have 10 year support. Windows 10 is no different.

Windows 7 launched in October 2009 and supports ends 10 years later in Jan 2020.

But that's not what people are so irate about. It's not "how long a Windows version is going to be supported." Most people couldn't care less. The issue is, how long can I keep my PC running usefully, without some outsider forcing me to buy a new one.

In the past, we could buy a Windows upgrade, and make it work. PC performance improvements have leveled off, since the days of 64-bit CPUs. If a 64-bit PC can run Windows 2000 well, it can also run Windows 10 well.

My wife's PC is a 2nd gen Intel Core i5, bought with Windows 7 pre-installed. It's running Windows 10 perfectly fine. It should continue doing so, barring hardware failure, at least until 2025. Windows 10 was supposed to be updated indefinitely, until suddenly Microsoft got this new religion.

Now they put a hard limit on the max lifespan of our PCs. Very much Apple-like. It's the reason many of us steer clear of any Apple product. If their excuse is hardware level security features this time around, and even fail PCs which meet all those requirements anyway, next time they'll dream up some other "trust us, it's for your own good" excuses.

Answer 2

4 more years support is not all that long, 2025 no support no security updates, Risky.

All the Windows OS's have 10 year support. Windows 10 is no different.

Windows 7 launched in October 2009 and supports ends 10 years later in Jan 2020.

Windows 8.1 launched in 2013 and supports ends 10 years later in 2023.

Windows 10 launched in 2015 and supports ends 10 years later in 2025.

Answer 3

We are just non-Microsoft staff here trying to help :)

Answer 4

4 more years support is not all that long, 2025 no support no security updates, Risky.

Why do we have to go offline and install W11, support isn't there, I am not going down that path.

Besides there re so many getting the message that we have received it's not funny, read other

comments on the web.

When I went down one path with the check I was told time to get a new computer, HELL NO. 4 year old Acer !

Microsoft has cocked this update up well and truly.

Answer 5

Hi,

Two things:

1. Windows 10 is supported until 2025.
2. As long as security requirements are met except the processor, you can install Windows 11, offline if you understand the risks including no updates.

See:
Installing Windows 11 on devices that do not meet the minimum requirements

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/installing-windows-11-on-devices-that-don-t-meet-minimum-system-requirements-0b2dc4a2-5933-4ad4-9c09-ef0a331518f1