Windows 11 - Here is everything you need to know - OUT NOW!!!

[GoodBytes]

Windows 11 is coming in a few days. Windows 10 was released 6 years ago back in mid-July 2015. Windows 10 had a similar life to Windows XP, which also was out for 6 years before its successor was released. And like XP had, Windows 10 is under a long-extended support despite a new version of Windows being out. Microsoft continues its long line of multi-year continuous support despite having a new version released.

 

 

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IMPORTANT NOTE
Before upgrading to Windows 11, ensure the following:

• Your UEFI (BIOS) is updated to the latest version. Many motherboards in the DIY space have been identified to have issues when fTPM is enabled. This issue, to my knowledge is ongoing to this day for many people, this is despite multiple updates released so far.
  Note that:
  • There is a risk of bricking your motherboard while updating the UEFI/BIOS, if things don’t go perfectly for you. So, please:
    • Carefully read every step from your motherboard manual and be prepared for recovery steps and troubleshooting steps beforehand. Don’t assume it will be a nice experience.
    • Ensure that when you download the new UEFI, that you are connected on the internet with a strong connection to avoid the chance of corrupted UEFI downloaded.
       
• Aside from this, if you are using a third-party security software, update it or uninstall it before starting the Windows 11 update process. Back in Windows 10 days, with new Win10 version updates it has been identified that they might create issues with the updated system and ended with an unbootable OS (example, anti-virus flagging system files and blocking them from being updated).
   
• Backup all your personal data before updating to Windows 11. You never know when bad luck can strike.
   
• Once you update to Windows 11, check for updates to ensure you have the latest “day 1” updates, and ensure that all your drivers are fully up to date. This includes: Chipset, SATA Controller (if you are using a SATA drive), Audio, GPU, printer, webcam, and so on. Windows 11 drivers have just been released for many manufactures. Of course these are initial releases, so minor issues might occur in some games or software. Should be mostly fine, but something to expect. If this is a possible issue for you, best to wait for the GA of Windows 11, which by that point should have updated Win11 drivers with fixes, and Windows 11 should also have, at the very least, its first round of cumulative update fixing discovered day 1 issues.

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Download

Special thanks to @linkboywho discovered it, a day early!

 

Update Assistance, Media Creation Tool (for Win11), and Win11 ISO download:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11

(All on the same page)

 

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System Requirements

As with new version of Windows, it brings updated system requirements. However, as you most likely have heard, this time, that the requirement is more than just performance related. There is a lot of mud on the message that Microsoft has said. Part by click-bait articles, part by journalists who report on technology barely knows how to turn on a computer, and part by Microsoft themselves who clearly faces internal communications issues. So, I’ll do my best to clear things up. Apologies, if they are inaccuracies. I’ll update this section if they are any.
 

Gathering all the info, including being part of the Insiders Program, it sums as follows:

 

Minimum System Requirements – No support from MS, but can install

• CPU Arch: 64-bit CPU (x86-64 or ARM64)
• CPU: Dual core, 1GHz (not part of Windows 11 supported list of CPUs, see "Minimum system requirements - With Support, bellow)
• CPU Modes: any
• RAM: 4GB of RAM or more
• Storage: 64GB or more
• BIOS Type: UEFI
• Security: Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 (physical hardware or firmware supported)
• GPU: DirectX 12 with WDDM 2.0 driver model or later
• Display: 720p or higher
• Internet: Internet connectivity is required for Home edition, and access to many built-in apps (they require or use the internet, and also are not actually pre-installed. Will install when clicked on for the first time, to help keep the OS clean)

If you only meet these minimum specs: You’ll be able to install Windows 11. HOWEVER, Microsoft won’t be supporting you. If you face crashes, performance issues, you are on your own. The Windows 11 update WILL NOT be available through Windows Update for you. Future updates of Windows 11 might not be available for you. In other words, if there is a security update that requires a CPU security feature that you don’t support, it won’t be available to you.

 

Minimum System Requirements – With support.
Same as minimum above with:

• For Intel: Intel 8^th gen CPU or later (Select 7^th gen CPUs are also supported)
• For AMD: Zen+ and later with some exceptions (DCH drivers required)
• For ARM: Snapdragon 850 or later
• DCH-based drivers required
• CPU features:
  • Virtual based Security (VBS) - protects system memory
  • Hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI) – Protection against Windows (or any supported OS) kernel code injection
  • Mode Based Execution Control (MBEC)
• Part of the supported CPUs list (or newer, of course): Intel, AMD, Qualcomm

Optional feature requirements:
Pretty obvious stuff, but for completion, here it is:

• 4G / LTE / 5G: Modem with 4G or LTE or 5G is required with valid active SIM card (or eSIM)
• Windows Hello Facial: Windows Hello Facial Camera supported
• Windows Hello Fingerprint Scanner: Fingerprint scanner supporting Windows Hello
• Hyper-V: Second Level Address Translation (SLAT)
• DirectStorage: NVMe SSD
• DirectX 12 Ultimate: Graphics card with DirectX12 Ultimate support
• WiFi-6E support: WLAN IHV hardware and driver, Wi-Fi 6E capable AP/router
• Windows Projection: Wi-Fi adapter that supports Wi-Fi Direct (aka: Miracast), WDDM 2.0
• Android support: 8GB of RAM (16GB recommended for optimal functionality)
• AutoHDR: HDR compatible monitor

 

If your system does not meet the requirements, fear not:

• Windows 10 is supported until Oct 2025, if there are no date extensions
• DirectStorage is coming to Windows 10
• WSLg is also coming to Windows 10
• The new Store is also coming to Windows 10

 

Windows 11 Story

Spoiler

The following is based on various rumors and leaks collected by multiple people and summarized here. It may contain inaccuracies.

 

Windows 11 creation has started with the death of Windows 10X. The short story is that after the Creator Updates of Windows 10 was released, the company plans didn’t go as planned. This has resulted in Microsoft no longer caring about consumers and focused more on developers and enterprise customers. The head of Windows, Terry Myerson has left soon after Windows 10 plans fails, and his role was left empty, only overseen by Joe Belfiore (who you might remember being the head of Windows Phone/Mobile when that was a thing). Without a proper leader, the Windows team was going in all sorts of directions instead of being focused onto something. After many years, Microsoft has finally elected a new head of Windows with its latest reorganization: Panos Panay, who took the role in early Feb 2020. He was the head of Surface line. His focus is on consumers and consumer experiences. His focus and direction didn’t change with his new role and bringing software + hardware together is his goal. He canceled Windows 10X (which if you wondered, the OS was coded from nearly the ground up, and dropped anything legacy. It could only run UWP applications, and Win32 support would run under a sandboxed environment which would make the OS load all the legacy crap just for it). After cancelling Windows 10X, the project named Sun Valley which started for Windows 10X moved to Windows 10, which was a push to finish off Fluent Design vision and applying in full to Windows 10. Essentially, Microsoft is bringing Windows 10X interface to Windows 10, forming Windows 11 (with some new features). This has led Microsoft to recode from scratch the Start menu, task bar, notification area, and many other OS elements, all in less than a year, during the pandemic. While this gives the OS a fresh new look that was much needed from the mess that was Windows 10 being in between 2 worlds (Metro and Fluent Design). The downside of this project is that… new code… means it doesn’t have the same feature set as before (and potentially new bugs that didn’t exists before).

Sun Valley project has been split into 2 phases.

• Phase 1: Windows 11 at release – Focused on core elements that most people interact with
• Phase 2: Windows 11 next year update (end of 2022) – Rumored: Finish off the missing panels and completes missing feature set.

Ok so Windows 11 is Windows 10 with a skin? You ask, Yes and No. It does have unique features which will be presented below, however, traditionally, Microsoft follows the model of: “New/Updated Start menu” -----> “New version of Windows”. So, as Windows 11 has a new start menu, it is a new version of Windows. The other reason for the switch is: image. Windows 10 is tainted with a bad image or insecurities, stability issues, and unwelcoming. Windows 11 aims to clean up that image by ensuring the most it can that the hardware Windows 11 is installed on is properly supported by the manufacture, has the latest security features that it can use, and lastly, has a new softer look and feel with new sounds. Passing from the sharp sounds and edges of Windows 8/10 to the soft, more welcome tones, corners and images introduced by Windows 11. It aims to bring also ease of use for your “average user”.

 

 

Release date

Windows 11 will be released on Oct 5^th for those who wants it. However, Microsoft will make it available to all supported system (general availability (GA)) by early next year. So, it expected that, or a few cumulative updates will be released. If you seek for the best experience, might be worth waiting for the GA of Windows 11. If it were my guess, Oct 5th was picked to ensure that this holiday season Windows 11 is on every new computer. But that is just my guess.

 

What’s New?

New Interface

A completely new interface is introduced. Like Windows 10, we have the lite and dark theme. Screenshot above is the dark theme. The ribbon background represents abstractly a blooming flower at the center which follows the moto of Window 11, which is focused front and center on the user, centered on the user.

The Start menu is by default at the center of your screen (which should be welcoming for ultra-wide and super-ultra-wide screen users) and has been simplified. Its most notable change is the removal of the live tiles. 

 

Android App Support

This feature won’t make it day 1 on Oct 5^th. Microsoft has announced that the feature has been delayed. The feature would allow one to run Android apps under Windows. Android app can be side-loaded or acquired through the Store via Amazon Store which will be integrated into the Store. Only systems with 8GB of RAM can enable this feature. 16GB of RAM is recommended for the optimal experience.

 

 

Start / Taskbar

Start menu and task bar items can be move between the center layout (default) and the traditional left side of the screen.

Simply go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and set Taskbar alignment to Left.

 

Updates

Windows 11 introduces a new update model, which results in updates being (claimed by Microsoft) to be around 40% smaller in size. This ends up having update that are faster to download and install.
 

In addition, when you restart the system from the Power button for a pending update, if the system has an SSD, you'll get an estimated install time.

 

Improved Bluetooth audio experience

• Unified audio endpoint: Bluetooth headsets used to feature multiple end points to manual switch between headset mode and audio mode. Headset mode would drastically reduce the audio of the headset (telephone quality) but gave you mic support. Audio mode, you got the best audio quality your headset could produce, and Windows allowed with its Bluetooth stack. Now, Windows 11 has a single endpoint, which the Bluetooth Stack of Windows will auto switch. So, you can listen to your music, and switch directly to meeting without having to adjust your settings.
   
• Support for AAC codec: Windows 11 finally support AAC codec for audio. AAC is a lossy codec that delivers high quality audio streaming via Bluetooth to your headset. Most headsets support AAC due to Android and iOS, but Windows never did support it until now.

OOBE

Windows 11 introduces a new Out-Of-Box Experience (the wizard when you first install / run Windows on a system). The OOBE has been simplified and Cortana is no longer there.

 

x86-64 support on ARM

Windows 11 on ARM finally gets officially x86-64 emulation support. Introduced under Windows 10 Insider program initially for Windows 10 on ARM users, Windows 11 is now taking that option. This feature allows the translation of x86-64 instructions set to ARM64 ones. This means that now Intel/AMD 64-bit designed applications can now run under Windows 11 on ARM. Previously it was only 32-bit which was an issue as many programs only exist in 64-bit variant.
 

ARM64EC

Windows 11 on ARM feature which allows running hybrid architecture applications. This means that if the developer has not fully converted their application to ARM64 native, Windows 11 will run the application in this partial ARM64 and x86-64 (or x86) state. This is big advancement as many developers could not port their application for ARM64 due to dependencies that didn’t exists in ARM64. This also allows program extensions/add-ons to be loaded in the ARM64 version of the application despite compiled for x86-64.
 

Auto HDR

If you have an HDR compatible monitor, you can enjoy Auto HDR, which is a feature introduced back in the Xbox One days, which uses an AI system to update games who don’t normally support HDR in adding support for it and augment the game visuals.

 

Read more: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/directx/auto-hdr-preview-for-pc-available-today/
 

HDR support to color managed apps

For programs that uses ICC profiles, such as PhotoShop, Adobe Lightroom Classic, Corel Draw and more. These programs where limited to sRGB color gamut. Windows 11 introduces a feature to allow applications get accurate color and access the full gamut of the user HDR display. Simply turn on "Use legacy display ICC color management" option under the executable Properties panel > Compatibility

 

Clipboard History (Win+V) Improvements

Using Win+V will display the clipboard history panel. This panel has been improved, with the ability to paste formatted text copied as unformatted (text only). Just hit "..." on the item you want to paste and pick the paste button.

 

New System Font

Segoe UI is updated with a new version of the font called Segoe UI Variable. This font was designed to better scale with different display sizes, it also improved legibility at small sizes.

 

Segoe MDL2 also gets updated. The "icon font" if you want to call it that, has been updated to feature the new updated Windows 11 design language, with its rounded corners and simplified look.
Sample:

 

 

New Settings Panel 

A complete reorganization with new settings and more ported settings from the old Control Panel.

 

New Touch keyboard

Microsoft has completely reworked the touch keyboard. It is now more responsive, feature improved layouts, and many other quality of life improvements, including scaling the keyboard larger or smaller. In addition, it is now customizable. The background can be change, the key colors, key text size, suggested text color, and keys background color. It also features direct paste of last copied text in the suggestion box, like most mobile phone keyboards.

 

 

(Great feature if you have cat on keyboard issue).

 

A new Store

Windows 11 introduces a new store which has been completely redone from scratch. Back-end and front-end. The new store is nothing like the old one. It features a download system that works all the time, and it is faster and more responsive at all tasks compared to the older one. It also features a more organized layout, and improved search, making finding applications and games, easier than before.

The new Store features support not only for UWP apps or Win32 UWP wrapped apps. It now allows developers to publish their application regardless of how it is made without any additional work.

Already, the new Store, despite having Win11 not released, has many Win32 applications, such as:

• EPIC Game Store (yes, thanks to new store policy!)
• Discord
• OBS Studio
• LibreOffice
• OpenOffice
• Opera web browser (yes, thanks to new store policy)
• Yandex web browser
• Firefox (Mozilla hinted that it may come... no confirmation yet)
• Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
• Adobe Creative Cloud (confirmed by MS that it is coming)
• Foxit PhantomPDF
• Disney+
• ZOOM Cloud Meetings
• VLC
• WinRAR
• TeamViewer
• TALK
• Conva
• Luminar AI
• Music Maker
• Clipchamp
• Reddit (PWA)
• Lyft (PWA)
• Wikipedia (PWA)
• Tumblr (PWA)
• Microsoft Visual Studio Code
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 Community Edition
• Microsoft PowerToys
• Microsoft Edge web browser

 

You can read more here:

 

Device Manager - Direct Managing of Drivers

Device Manager now features new views option to allow a power user to manage their drivers. This is part of a new set of views called “Devices by drivers”, “Drivers by type”, and “Drivers by devices”. This permits to better manage drivers installed on the system.

 

 

Task Manager

Task manager now has Edge process integration
You can now see with relative ease which tab is consuming how much of your CPU, which extension is consuming CPU and memory and so on.
 

 

Content adaptive brightness control

Settings panels now has a new option for embedded displays device (laptops/tablets) which helps improving the device battery life at the exchange of image quality. In other words, the options play with the contrast and brightness at a software level to help make text more visible allowing you to keep the display brightness lower than normal, and help you save battery life.

 

Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR)

This feature fluctuates the refresh rate to help save battery life from your mobile device. This means if you have a 120Hz panel (for example), it can drop it down to 60Hz when the image is still, like you are reading a document, or typing one out. Scrolling content will adjust it back to 120Hz. Same for inking. That said, the feature needs software support. Currently: Office, Edge, Whiteboard, Photos app, Snip & Sketch, Sticky Notes, Drawboard PDF, Adobe Acrobat, To Do, Inkodo all support it. This feature is NOT variable refresh rate. The focus of this feature is not gaming but non-gaming tasks. The option is found under: Settings > System > Display > Advanced Display.

 

 

Virtual Desktop Improvements 

• Move: You can now drag a virtual desktop under the Task View panel. You can use, under Task View, right-click on a virtual desktop thumbnail, and pick "Move Left/Right".
• Backgrounds: Changing the wallpaper in a virtual desktop, will now only change the wallpaper of that desktop environment.
   

External Display Improvement

Windows 11 has the ability to retain and restore window position when a screen is disconnected and reconnected. Simply snap you window layouts on your external monitor and when you disconnect your external display, the layout will move to your other display, and restore itself to what it was once the display is connected back.

 

Snap Groups

Previously, when you snapped a program windows side-by-side or in quadrants, and minimize them, to restore you have to restore them one-by-one. And sometimes would loose the snap layout you initially had. Under Windows 11, when you roll over one of the programs snapped, you’ll see the option to select the initial group:
 

Mouse is rolled over “Word”. Where in my snap group, I have Edge + Word side-by-side. Clicking on “Group | …“, will restore both window, and the border in between can scale both window, as if I never minimized either window.

Even more snaps

For select resolutions / Display Scale, you can enjoy Side-by-Side-by-Side window. Meaning you can now snap a window on the left, middle and right sections of the screen.

This is achieved with the new snap layout selection. Simply roll over the mouse on the maximize/restore button on the title bar, and the following menu will display, showing your available options:

 

(Simply pick one, and the window will snap directly to new location)

 

 

File Explorer

• New Look: File Explorer has been redesigned to feature a cleaner more simplistic look and feel. It removes the ribbon bar, in favor of a simplified tool bar. The header of the window features a new material called: Mica, which is transparent frosted look but ignores any window behind it. It only takes into consideration the wallpaper.
  
  
  Also, notice that the “3D Objects” folder is now gone, and that the OS features new icon set. This icon set is set is nearly everywhere applied to the OS
   

• New beautiful menus:
  The OS features updated menus look.
  
  
  Sadly, legacy menus, like anything else you’ll notice that is legacy, doesn’t get this nice new look, however, Microsoft does attempt its best to update its look to better match Windows 11 look and feel. And of course, programs using custom GUI framework, are on their own. So, you’ll get the traditional square corner menu that you all love.
   

• Compact View: The updated File Explorer has items more spread out than before. However, you can return to the old way, by checking the box "Decrease space between items (compact view)" in the Folder Options panel.
   -- or -- :   
   

• Navigation Pane: You now Show/Hide 
  • Network
  • This PC
    
    
    
     

Action Center

Action Center has been reworked. Notifications are now separate from the quick actions of the Action Center of Windows 10. Clicking on the Ethernet/Wireless and sound icon (they are grouped together) reveal this menu:

 

Customizable the same way as Windows 10 Action Center quick actions button (right-click > edit), this section allows you click access to system options. You’ll also notice on the right of the volume slider an icon. If you have multiple output source, this icon will show, and allow you to quickly change the output source, and access more sound settings:
 

 

WSLg - WSL GUI support

WSL now feature GUI support with Audio passthrough as well as GPU acceleration.

For full details: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/commandline/the-initial-preview-of-gui-app-support-is-now-available-for-the-windows-subsystem-for-linux-2/

Linux GUI program runs through Microsoft own solution which provide GUI support for Linux based applications. The solution support dialog boxes, and menus coming out of the application window, as one would expect.

(Blurry and large font is because it uses Linux based OS (in this case Ubuntu) font rendering engine. It shows the very same if you were to install Ubuntu natively on your system. It’s bad, it is hard to read, that is normal.)

 

(Again, the sharp font is also due to the font rendering engine of Linux based OS failing to do anything with legacy applications, such as the OS calculator xcalc)

 

WSL GPU Drivers:

Nvidia: https://developer.nvidia.com/cuda/wsl
AMD: https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/release-notes/rn-rad-win-wsl-support
Intel: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/29526

 

Camera Settings

Window now give you control to camera and webcam brightness and contrast control. It allows you to manage your cameras as well, including adding with ease network cameras.
 

 

 

Windows Tools

Small reorganization of Windows settings in the Start menu. It now regroups all panels under "Windows Tool" folder

 

Windows Terminal

Old command prompt, be gone! Windows 11 features Windows Terminal built in. Microsoft new terminal console window replaces the old Command Prompt (you can still bring it back by running cmd.exe). It brings countless improvements, and the project has been quite active in its development. (You can get Windows Terminal under Windows 10 via the Store)
 

 

The new terminal features:

• Tab support
• Configurable font and size
• Panel support
• Emoji support
• Full color and text formats (bold, italic, underline) support and customization
• Links support
• Transparency and background wallpaper
• Per console type color profiles
  And more…

It is also open source: https://github.com/Microsoft/Terminal

 

Widgets Panel

Microsoft is introducing the Widgets panel which is a panel showing news which can be tailored to you by saying what you like or not (including removing sources) and features widgets which can be added. So far, the available Widgets are the ones made by Microsoft. Microsoft did mention that they aim to make the APIs public to allow third party widgets to be made.

To access the Widget panel, simply click on the Widgets button on the taskbar or swipe the left side of the screen if you have a touch screen.

 

 

Add Widget panel, shows all currently available widgets that can be added:

 

Each widget can be resized in similar fashion to Live Tiles, where you can just right-click on one, and pick if you want Small, Medium, or Large. In the first screenshot, I put the Weather and Stock market widget, both set to medium size.
 

Battery Consumption Meter

Windows 11 introduces a battery consumption meter section under Settings panel, which is like your phone. It allows you to track battery life of your mobile system, and see which application is consuming the most power.

 

 

UWP App archiving

Similarly to your mobile phone, you can have Windows archive unused apps either done manually or automatically to save space. This applies to UWP apps only.

 

UWP Background App Control

Windows 11 now give you control on UWP apps running in the background. Simply go to Settings > Apps > App & features > [Pick “⁝” button on a UWP apps] > Advance Options
 

 

You can pick: “Power optimized”, “Always”, “Never”.

 

Storage Drive Health

Windows 11 now provides you the SMART state of your storage drive. If you have any issue, you’ll also have Windows pop a notification. You can see the health of your drive by going to Settings > System > Storage > Disk & volume > [pick your drive]

 

New High Contrast Themes (accessibility)

New customizable accessibility theme has now been introduced under Windows 11

 

Accessibility support for WSL / WSLg

Those with that need accessibility tool in order to better use their system should not be left out from Linux. Microsoft has implemented various accessibility features to allow accessibility tools to interact with WSL. You can read more on it, and other accessibility improvements here: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2021/07/01/whats-coming-in-windows-11-accessibility/

Since Windows 10, Microsoft has been very serious in making Windows the best OS for those with disabilities, and despite quickly achieving this, Microsoft has continued going all in.

 

 

Updated Apps:

Weather

Weather app got a new iconography for its weather, matching the rest of the icons of the OS.
 

Photo

The photo interface has been cleaned up, updated to Windows 11, and is now faster and more responsive than ever before.

 

Camera

The camera got updated with new functionalities. It can now take pictures of Business cards, Whiteboard, and Documents and realign them to be straight. This is the same functionality of Office Lens on Android / iOS but brought in the Windows Camera app. It can also scan QR codes.
 

Snipping Tools

Snip & Sketch and Snipping Tools got merged bringing the best features of both into one.

 

Paint

Microsoft Paint is getting some love from Microsoft by updating its look & feel to better fit with Windows 11 design language.
 

 

 

And that is about it!

 

Video Demo

 

 

What do you think?

Are you excited for Windows 11 and the new features it introduces?

 

 

Warning: Do not print this page. It is 42 pages long.

 

 

[GoodBytes]

Forum users reaction when Windows 11 will land on their PC:

 

[Lightwreather]

4 minutes ago, GoodBytes said:

Forum user reaction when Windows 11 will land on their PC:

 

Ummm, so I use macOS and Linux.....
So, would that be me with Monterey or me trying to insall LFS?

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

Good god how long did this take you to write and edit? 

[Tamesh16]

With a 7700hq with TPM 2, its very unfortunate that windows 11 is just right out of reach. I guess its windows 10 until I upgrade

[Seyrren]

I have one question which i don't think its worth opening another thread for, i have an i7 6700 (while it has fTPM i know its an unsupported CPU but it should work with insider builds) if i upgrade from windows 10 to 11 using the insider program does that technically tie my computer with a permanent free license (how the free upgrade that went from 7 to 10) that i will be able to keep even when opting out of the insider program or does it not work that way ?

Basically in the following weeks i need to do some maintenance work on my PC and reinstall windows anyway, so i'd like to grab the free windows 11 upgrade/license and then go back to regularly using windows 10.

[hollyh88]

Okay so what if one of my pc's has a 125gb ssd on which windows 10 is currently installed on. But it's 120gbs full. Would if I choose to install Windows 11 on that overwrite and or automatically delete the win10 files? Or will it state I can't use it as an install drive because its too full? 

[Lightwreather]

18 minutes ago, Seyrren said:

I have one question which i don't think its worth opening another thread for, i have an i7 6700 (while it has fTPM i know its an unsupported CPU but it should work with insider builds) if i upgrade from windows 10 to 11 using the insider program does that technically tie my computer with a permanent free license (how the free upgrade that went from 7 to 10) that i will be able to keep even when opting out of the insider program or does it not work that way ?

Basically in the following weeks i need to do some maintenance work on my PC and reinstall windows anyway, so i'd like to grab the free windows 11 upgrade/license and then go back to regularly using windows 10.

Yea, it should.

Even with an ISO install, it should be fine.

[Alby Tastic]

I've had some odd results on this - when I upgraded a PC from Win 7 to win 10 to win 11 as a test Win 11 stated that the PC had no valid Activation key.

Upgrading to Win 11 from Win 10 with a valid activation key gave no problems.

Please note: These were all UNSUPPORTED machines to see if I could successfully install and run Win 11 on them.

[Seyrren]

26 minutes ago, hollyh88 said:

Okay so what if one of my pc's has a 125gb ssd on which windows 10 is currently installed on. But it's 120gbs full. Would if I choose to install Windows 11 on that overwrite and or automatically delete the win10 files? Or will it state I can't use it as an install drive because its too full? 

Unless you have to many programs installed it should be fine, the main reason why your drive is so full is because you paired an 120 Gb SSD drive with 16Gb of ram, most of that occupied space comes from temporary files, page filing, and hibernation files, maybe even some other things like system restore, those things will be gone anyway when upgrading.

For 16 Gb of ram a 240Gb SSD is recommended, i also found this the hard way on my own... Basically it goes like this:

 

-4-8Gb of ram: for most users 120Gb SSD is fine.

-12-16 GB of ram: 240Gb SSD is the minimum required imho.

-32-64Gb of Ram: my assumption is that to play it safe a 480GB SSD would be good.

 

 

PS: @J-from-Nucleon & @Alby Tastic thank you very much for your input.

[Alby Tastic]

When I've installed Win 11 on various machines I had a choice to keep all my files or delete them - so maybe the answer is to backup as many files as possible before you try.

[porina]

What download options will be available on day 1? I presume that offers through Windows Update might not be widely available until GA. If memory serves me correctly, for Win10 there was a download installer you can use in the old OS. I hope it wont be required to do an install media download/creation/use.

 

I got a test system ready meeting all requirements with a clean Win10 install. I should do some "before" benchmarks I guess.

[leadeater]

Windows 11 is here.... coming 5th October...

 

 

So it's not here? (yet) lol

[JuztBe]

Is it known if Auto HDR will come to W10? 

[Murasaki]

see you in 2025 i guess lol xD

[GreatnessRD]

Sweet write-up with tons of info. I do have one question for those in the know, if you update to Win11 through Windows Update on the 5th, is there an option for a clean install or will it just bring all your files with the update?

[GoodBytes]

7 hours ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

Good god how long did this take you to write and edit? 

Oh boy... a long time... hope you guys enjoy these.

 

7 hours ago, Seyrren said:

I have one question which i don't think its worth opening another thread for, i have an i7 6700 (while it has fTPM i know its an unsupported CPU but it should work with insider builds) if i upgrade from windows 10 to 11 using the insider program does that technically tie my computer with a permanent free license (how the free upgrade that went from 7 to 10) that i will be able to keep even when opting out of the insider program or does it not work that way ?

Basically in the following weeks i need to do some maintenance work on my PC and reinstall windows anyway, so i'd like to grab the free windows 11 upgrade/license and then go back to regularly using windows 10.

Windows 11 is a free upgrade. Your license will remain valid even if your CPU is not supported. You can also go back to Win10 just fine. (well, a clean install would be needed, but the license will remain active). You don't need to go to Win11 and back to get a Win11 license, nor join the Insider program.

 

6 hours ago, hollyh88 said:

Okay so what if one of my pc's has a 125gb ssd on which windows 10 is currently installed on. But it's 120gbs full. Would if I choose to install Windows 11 on that overwrite and or automatically delete the win10 files? Or will it state I can't use it as an install drive because its too full? 

Windows 11 update will tell you to make space, and how much. When you'll update to Win 11, the setup will grab your Win10 files and move everything to a folder called "Windows.old", then it will install Windows 11, and transfer drivers (if supported), registry, installed programs and personal files. Windows.old folder will be deleted in 10 days. It I as there in the case you need to roll back to Win10.

 

6 hours ago, porina said:

What download options will be available on day 1? I presume that offers through Windows Update might not be widely available until GA. If memory serves me correctly, for Win10 there was a download installer you can use in the old OS. I hope it wont be required to do an install media download/creation/use.

We don't know. However, it will most likely be identical to Win10. It will probably have its own Media Creation Tool and Update Assistant.

 

 

Quote

I got a test system ready meeting all requirements with a clean Win10 install. I should do some "before" benchmarks I guess.

Yea, you can. 

 

 

4 hours ago, GreatnessRD said:

Sweet write-up with tons of info. I do have one question for those in the know, if you update to Win11 through Windows Update on the 5th, is there an option for a clean install or will it just bring all your files with the update?

Thanks!  I don't think on Oct 5th the update will be in Windows Update. We will know soon enough, but Microsoft said that the GA of Win11 will be early next year (target). Oct 5th is more for OEMs. You'll probably would need to get it via Update Assistant tool or Media Creation Tool, of Win11 when it will show up. (Of course, as soon as I know about it I'll post it here)

[LAwLz]

Windows 11 is so unpolished and rushed I don't know if I should laugh or cry.

Microsoft should just postpone the release by at least a year.

 

So many missing features, UI inconsistencies (which is the main selling point of Windows 11), bugs and broken promises.

I'll just stay on Windows 10 for the time being, and I recommend everyone else do the same too.

[Doobeedoo]

New user interface is solid, glad they changed certain parts and finally Settings as well as some menus. Yet surprised for legacy menus/windows they still didn't include dark theme for them, just why. Not fan of rounded edges, wish I could change back to sharp edges. Start seems fine to me as always. All good as long as they can make UI clear, more compact, easy and fast to navigate while being modern. 

 

DirectStorage will be amazing, can't wait to see it standardized across the board.

Wish we'd see updates without required restarts ever, that'd be amazing.
AutoHDR is quite a neat feature especially on PC where really all monitors are still LCD and many are not even a decent HDR ones.
Clipboard history improvements are very good.
Settings finally improved, merged and redesigned already, great.
New store changes though are quite interesting really and I'll wait to see how it goes, can it actually become a single go-to place without annoyance or any issues.
Device Manager still missing dark theme
Task Manager still missing dark theme
DRR dynamic refresh rate is neat, especially for laptops on battery and hope to see more laptops with proper displays for it too.
External display improvements is something that's quite welcomed
File Explorer clean and modern and retains everything needed
Context menu solid clean look and good for dynamic options
Legacy menus/windows still missing dark theme

Storage drive health monitor is good to have

 

Overall very solid improvements and new features, some we expected to see in W10 but hey it's in W11 so yey. I'll be doing a clean install soon enough eventually, curious how it will be out of the box, what I'll need to disable and change. Because as always some default settings still don't make sense on why they keep them. Be it like "Enhance pointer precision" and such. Will I have to disable VBS too. So anything that can annoy and/or mess with usage/performance though. All that general clean config.

 

 

[Ydfhlx]

21 minutes ago, LAwLz said:

Microsoft should just postpone the release by at least a year.

They can't. It has the updated task scheduler which is required to take full advantage of Intel Alder Lake's hybrid CPU architecture.

[Seyrren]

30 minutes ago, GoodBytes said:

Windows 11 is a free upgrade. Your license will remain valid even if your CPU is not supported. You can also go back to Win10 just fine. (well, a clean install would be needed, but the license will remain active). You don't need to go to Win11 and back to get a Win11 license, nor join the Insider program.

Sure, for now, but just as with windows 10 after ~1 year the free upgrade program will be officially done (and i know that there are ways to circumvent this but its still better to be safe then sorry). Also grabbing the free upgrade tying the license to my pc/account then reinstalling windows wont even take an hour honestly, i just think of doing it through the insiders program since i will like to do it when i have to install windows anyway not at a later time when they decide to unlock it for my region, that's all.

[porina]

26 minutes ago, LAwLz said:

So many missing features, UI inconsistencies (which is the main selling point of Windows 11), bugs and broken promises.

Is there anything of note that Win11 can't do that Win10 can? Depending on perspective many of those complaints could be thrown at Win10 too.

 

4 minutes ago, Ydfhlx said:

They can't. It has the updated task scheduler which is required to take full advantage of Intel Alder Lake's hybrid CPU architecture.

I don't think Intel has any pull over Microsoft in that respect. Microsoft will release when they feel it is ready. If Intel ended up with a situation without a working OS, they'll either have to delay or revise offerings e.g. no hybrid offerings as a stopgap measure. They will have communication channels outside of our visibility so it wont be a last minute surprise and will be planned for.

[hollyh88]

47 minutes ago, GoodBytes said:

Windows 11 update will tell you to make space, and how much. When you'll update to Win 11, the setup will grab your Win10 files and move everything to a folder called "Windows.old", then it will install Windows 11, and transfer drivers (if supported), registry, installed programs and personal files. Windows.old folder will be deleted in 10 days. It I as there in the case you need to roll back to Win10

thanks  
 

7 hours ago, Seyrren said:

Unless you have to many programs installed it should be fine, the main reason why your drive is so full is because you paired an 120 Gb SSD drive with 16Gb of ram, most of that occupied space comes from temporary files, page filing, and hibernation files, maybe even some other things like system restore, those things will be gone anyway when upgrading.

For 16 Gb of ram a 240Gb SSD is recommended, i also found this the hard way on my own... Basically it goes like this:

 

-4-8Gb of ram: for most users 120Gb SSD is fine.

-12-16 GB of ram: 240Gb SSD is the minimum required imho.

-32-64Gb of Ram: my assumption is that to play it safe a 480GB SSD would be good.

Huh didnt know some of this. good to know. Yeah i basically didnt have much money when i set it up first time around. and well never wanted to bother with installing windows on another drive. 

[LAwLz]

6 hours ago, porina said:

Is there anything of note that Win11 can't do that Win10 can? Depending on perspective many of those complaints could be thrown at Win10 too.

No customization in the start menu.

• Context menu (right click) is crippled.
• A lot of touch gestures have been removed, such as switching between apps (might be a bug) and bringing up brightness control. (Edit, they changed it. You used to swipe from the left edge to switch app, but now that just brings up the horrible news feed. You now need to use a three finger swipe to switch apps, which means you can no longer do it while holding a tablet with two hands).
• More ads somehow. For example the new photos app has a "edit photo like a pro" button which just links to a store page with apps like Photoshop Elements and Corel.
• Performance issues. The new explorer seems to be really slow for me and a lot of other people. The DPC latency is also higher and storage performance seems to be lower too. It seems like the reason for this is because a lot of the new stuff in Windows 11 doesn't replace the old stuff. For example Explorer. The new Explorer is not its own independent program. Instead, it is a shell extension that runs on top of the old Explorer. That's why you can find a lot of posts about people finding glitches where the old Explorer loads instead of the new one. Microsoft has programmed Explorer to first launch the old Explorer, and then basically apply a theme to it, instead of just making the "themed" version the regular version. The same applies to most if not all of their "fluent design" APIs. 
• If you wake from sleep with a HDR monitor, the mouse cursor gets corrupted.
• No easy way to switch default browser.
• No folder thumbnails so you can no longer quickly glance and see what a folder contains.
• You can no longer group programs/icons/folders in the start menu.
• Not possible to pin the "settings" app to the start menu. This one drives me nuts because I need to access settings all the time to do things like set static IPs, enable VPNs etc, for work.
• No longer possible to change power mode from the quick settings page (such as going from performance to energy saving mode).
• No longer possible to use the Home edition without having an Internet connection. You have to use a Microsoft account.

 

 

Taskbar issues:

• No clock on the second display.
• No drag and drop support.
• No calendar function in the task bar.
• Can't change position or weight/width of the task bar.
• "Show labels, combine when full" option is missing. Labels never show.
• Quick launch is missing.
• "Launch as admin" using ctrl + shift doesn't work.
• Apps in the task bar sometimes become misalign. 
• No context menu in the task bar.
• No longer able to launch another instance of a program by clicking while holding shift.
• You can no longer hide or move some icons in the tray area.

 

 

 

And these are just the things I have noticed are regressions when going from Windows 10 to Windows 11. I haven't even mentioned the other issues I got with Windows 11, like it is clearly not anywhere near done because a lot of features they promised and promoted will not be included in the OS on day 1. Such as Android app support, consistent UI, higher performance, quick Bluetooth settings, and so on.

 

 

Edit: Added some more items.

[LAwLz]

45 minutes ago, Ydfhlx said:

They can't. It has the updated task scheduler which is required to take full advantage of Intel Alder Lake's hybrid CPU architecture.

33 minutes ago, porina said:

I don't think Intel has any pull over Microsoft in that respect. Microsoft will release when they feel it is ready. If Intel ended up with a situation without a working OS, they'll either have to delay or revise offerings e.g. no hybrid offerings as a stopgap measure. They will have communication channels outside of our visibility so it wont be a last minute surprise and will be planned for.

And, Microsoft could just make the new scheduler available for Windows 10 if they wanted. Hell, the new scheduler was most likely developed on Windows 10.