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Windows 10

For the 'techies' on the forum ...
It's been 3 weeks since I replaced Windows 10 in my laptop with a trial version of Windows 11 and Microsoft upgrade it weekly. It runs well for me.
Settings layout is better - the taskbar can auto hide.
Setting.jpg

Press the Windows Key and the Start appears allowing access to all apps and locations. Click 'All apps' button and every app shows in a list.
Start.jpg

Chrome browser showing BHF and nice big text in top tool bars.
Chrome.jpg

Edge Browser showing BHF
Edge.jpg

If anyone is having a new Windows laptop for Christmas, it will probably have W11 installed ... :)
 
I think I'll resist installing it for a while, Win 10 runs fine after I uninstalled as much of the junk it allowed me to do so.
Microsoft PC health check to see if your PC can run Win 11 has now had the link removed as it gave incorrect information.
A device on the motherboard called a TPM .2 chip is required, most modern mother boards should have one but unless 'secure boot' is enabled in the bios settings then the Win 11 check will say fail.

Type tpm.msc in the bottom left search box and it will tell you if it is activated or not. lots of info about this on the web inc mentions of a tiny plug in device that's suddenly gone very expensive!
Although I'm 75 I enjoy gaming and I have since the early 1980's games, I have an expensive gaming machine with high end graphix, memory etc. I assembled all the PC parts myself in 2016, I just tried the TPM check and see this message, if I have a TPM then it's probably not enabled in the bios as I had no reason to activate it. I am very familiar with opening the bios and have updated it recently. How many people have ever gone into the bios( which runs invisibly before windows starts) to alter settings? probably not many.
I'll take a look at mine and see if 'secure boot' is enabled, it's just a security device but you can't install Win 11 without it.
TPM.jpg
 
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Update to my above post, I do have TPM and secure boot enabled but seemingly windows can't tell. I guess I have a TMP.1 chip and not .2 as is required
Now I know why the Win 11 checker has been removed by Microsoft as it's telling thousands of people their computer can't run Win 11
 
There is no great need to try W11 if you have a computer satisfactorily running W10 but I usually like computer challenges.

My main PC runs W10 and will stay with it until 2022. I have an old Lenovo box running Linux Mint and does not have Secure Boot or TPM. As a challenge I will install W11 and when the PC shows 'This PC can't run Window 11' I will open a Command Prompt, run regedit, and create a new key Labconfig in Setup.

Under the new key I will create 3 new Dwords.
BypassTPMcheck
BypassRAMcheck
BypassSecureBootcheck
and set their values to 1

This experimental PC should now start and bypass the hardware checks but will obviously reduce the extra security which comes with W11.

I first started playing with computers in 1979 and still am ... :rolleyes:
 
Good idea oldMohawk, I'll try that as well


On second thoughts i guess I won't, now we discover that millions of users of older AMD & Intel processors won't work with Win11 either, I checked mine, which is a 5 year old Intel i5 type and it's not supported on Microsofts list,
 
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Radiorails said:
I suspect the general idea is to sell new computers, after all Microsoft is a business.
Click to expand...
Microsoft & Intel have a partnership currently but already forums are producing ways to bypass processors not listed as compatible. In fact this could do a lot of harm to Microsoft and their attempts to force people to upgrade perfectly good computers solely to get people to install Win 11
 
I've run a trial W11 in my laptop for a month and had no problems. It is like W10 with a nice interface round it and more security. It still has a taskbar for often-used apps and a better 'Start' screen for not-often-used apps, and folder views are neater. The update procedure is better than W10.

Later this year, Microsoft will check everyone's W10 computer and offer a free upgrade if it can run W11. Some computers won't be able to.

So when available, enjoy W11 if you can run it, if not stick with W10 ... :)
 
Since I boldly clicked the 'Windows Insider' button in Settings on my Dell laptop and watched Windows 10 move out and Windows 11 move in, my laptop has run well with all apps, printers, and scanners working perfectly. The changes are not major ... it just seems a neater and smoother operating system.

I have watched Microsoft adjust and tweak Windows 11 in my laptop as I have used it but lately things have settled down. When the official Win 11 is launched (probably Oct/Nov) my 'Insider' version of Windows 11 will become official.
 
Since I took a chance on 1st July and joined the 'W11 Insider' program and let Microsoft replace Win 10 in my laptop with Win 11 Dev version it is still running without problems as I use it for normal work.

Only computers which meet certain requirements will run Win 11 and I was surprised to see my 3 year old laptop was suitable because many younger devices are not.

W11 user interface is neat, the settings screen is easier to use, updating is smoother, right-click context menus are better and MS say it is more secure. I like it but it does not do anything major which Win 10 cannot do.

It is the first time I have ever known a new version of Windows not be able to be installed and run on any PC ... becoming a bit like Apple and iPads etc.

W11 on my laptop is laid out like I've always had Windows - a desktop background picture with some shortcuts, regular Apps on the taskbar, and everything else pinned on the Start which I can scroll.
Untitled.jpg
The official version will launch 5th Oct - updating is not compulsory - W10 is supported until 2025.
 
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I can no longer put CD/DVD's onto my Windows 10 PC to "My Pics" or "My Documents", when I insert disc to DVD player I get a black screen with a multicoloured Emblem with the words media player. This started a few weeks ago, any ideas ? Eric
 
Eric - not sure but try this:-
Insert the CD/DVD, open file explorer and right click the disk drive. Select 'Open Autoplay' and a list of options should appear. Maybe for a start select 'Take No Action' and then repeat the procedure and select what you want to happen.
 
Or maybe Media Player has become corrupt - reinstalling may help. I always use VLC in preference to Windows Media Player.
 
Eric - it seems like a recent update has possibly altered your autoplay settings.

In the search lower left or wherever it is in your PC
Type Autoplay and it should show 'Autoplay Settings'
Click this and the page of Settings shown below should appear.
You can switch 'Autoplay' off or set the default to what should happen with Autoplay
ap settings.jpg
If you want to play videos or music then VLC is the best program to install and use as mentioned by Jukebox.
 
oldMohawk, have switched Autoplay off and altered settings, now all back to normal, like you said it was probably an update that caused the problem, thanks for help - and thanks to all who offered suggestions, saved me calling an engineer in. Eric
 
I've been running a trial Windows 11 as a 'windows insider' since 1st July and today with the official launch of Windows 11, I can become a 'normal' user. My conclusion is that it is mostly Win 10 with a better user interface as below ...
Screenshot (714).jpg
 
oldMohawk said:
I've been running a trial Windows 11 as a 'windows insider' since 1st July and today with the official launch of Windows 11, I can become a 'normal' user. My conclusion is that it is mostly Win 10 with a better user interface as below ...
View attachment 162131
Click to expand...
I have just done a pc health check for windows 11 & my pc is not compatible. It seems my cpu (amd a85500 ) failed the test, so it seems i shall be running W10 for some time.
 
Smudger, I’ve never known MS previously restrict a Windows version to certain computers. Some say it is wheeze to increase computer sales. I was surprised that my 3 year old laptop passed the test.
 
oldMohawk said:
Smudger, I’ve never known MS previously restrict a Windows version to certain computers. Some say it is wheeze to increase computer sales. I was surprised that my 3 year old laptop passed the test.
Click to expand...
oldMohawk said:
Smudger, I’ve never known MS previously restrict a Windows version to certain computers. Some say it is wheeze to increase computer sales. I was surprised that my 3 year old laptop passed the test.
Click to expand...
Phil i was surprised win 10 pro runs my old clonker that is 20 years old
 
oldMohawk said:
Smudger, I’ve never known MS previously restrict a Windows version to certain computers. Some say it is wheeze to increase computer sales.
Click to expand...
It seems that's exactly what it is, I just did the test and it tells me it failed and suggests I shop for a new win 10 PC, seeing as my PC is an expensive high tech gaming machine, (the Nvidia graphic card alone cost more than an entire new laptop), I'm in no rush to suck up to Microsoft's evil plan :mad:

Untitled.jpg
 
My 3 year old desktop pc is able to run W11 and I will upgrade it by the normal update method. I do agree that W11 is not a 'must-have' and I certainly would not buy a new computer just to run it.

I suppose someone will eventually devise a 'registry mod' to get round the MS restrictions ... :)
 
Windows 10, of course we are nearing the end of Win 10 and approaching Win 11.
I have Win 10 also Office 365 which very good, I pay yearly so my licence is always up to date.
Currently installing SSD Drive to some supercharging into this desk top which is now 6 years old.
Comment if you can
 
The PC health check on the CPU decides whether Win11 will run or not and the computer has to have Secure Boot and TPM. I have done one registry mod in my Win11 laptop which is to reduce the size of the taskbar see the pic in post#1427. I found the W11 taskbar was rather large and wanted it smaller.
 
There must be a whole class of user now for who the operating system is of no importance, rather does it run a 'modern' browser.

Against that are other users who do 'stuff' which requires extra hardware like scanners, cameras, graphic tablets or music keyboards, each with their specialist programs.

Its like buying a 2021 car and then finding that regardless of make or model your 2010 golf cart and bag doesn't fit!
 
I have a laptop that i rarely use but it is compatible for W11, so i`m now in the process of downloading it. 2 hours later & it still hasn`t finished. Patience is a virtue & she was a really nice girl. ;)
 
I downloaded and installed mine on 1st July and it took less than 30 minutes. I suppose on this launch day thousands are downloading it and the servers are under strain.
 
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