Recommendation on upgrading

[cilla4progress]

to Windows 11?

My laptop is about a year old and can accommodate it, I believe.

[Tetrachloride]

1. It is likely that your computer meets reasonable speed

First, I suggest a “census” of what you use your computer for, aside from the usual browsing ?

1. Specialized software ?
2. Heavy duty games ?

Second, before installing, do a backup of all documents or even better, clone your computer to an external drive.

[cilla4progress]

2. A little specialized sw

No games.

Use it in my small business.

Thanks for the reminder to back it up 1st.
I'm pretty consistent in backing up biz files.

Wouldn't know how to clone it.

Is there any big advantage to 11 over 10?

[Tetrachloride]

3. No idea personally. Hopefully someone can advise

i speak in general terms as a warmup.

if a Mac or iphone user, i would be able to advise more (semi) professionally.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

4. The only reason I wouldn't do it is that you're too busy to deal with a learning curve

I.E. you don't have spare time to take learning some new UI stuff you're not used to vs. W10, and possibly you'll need to grab newer versions of some drivers or software on your machine.

It's really not that different, it's free, and the upgrade is very unlikely to hamper you significantly.

I'm going to do it soon, I know many who've already done it quite seamlessly.

Do it on a Friday night and give yourself the weekend to kinda figure things out and do some updates if needed.

I don't plan on doing any special backups beforehand. It won't touch YOUR files.

[cilla4progress]

5. Thanks, Hugh.

What are the benefits?

[slightlv]

6. I find the interface to be a bit more intrusive

as well as the "safety" features. I had to argue with it quite a bit to get it to go back into the background so I could use my tried and true safety programs. I use IObit software exclusively for safety. I have had a virus, malware, or anything else on my computers since I started using them. I swear by this software. MS hates it, of course.

Also, I'm a techie and I want my computer "just so"... and MS hates the way I want to use it (LOL)

I have one computer in house using 11; I have using 10. I prefer using 10 to using 11. Once I got 11 tamed, there really isn't much difference. It'll just take time and patience to get 11 to the point where you feel comfortable with it. If you don't have the time, put off the upgrade.

And please heed the warning on your peripherals! Make sure your printer, scanner, etc, will work under the upgrade!!! If they work under 10, they should. But it never hurts to be certain. I had one printer in house that didn't pass muster, and it was only a few years old AND it was an HP. By all rights, I felt it should have worked just fine. If I'd had patience, I probably could have found drivers to work with it. I just ran out of patience. But this is the kind of thing you could run into.

We keep around 4-6 working computers in the house (counting laptops), if you have an extra one laying around that'll handle the upgrade, I'd suggest doing it as a sandbox first and see if you like it; then apply the upgrade to your office system. We're electronic freaks around here, tho. Not everyone is the same as us, I know. But to be honest, it's not all top rated equipment. Most of it is 5 years old or older. Although I did just buy my latest (and probably my last) system 2 weeks ago. But it's only an I5. Had a little money saved up and thought I was looking at picking up some work on the side (that fell thru, natch... still looking). I do a lot of cannibalism around here with parts (gryn). Built my grandsons two good working systems out of nothing for their little games!

[Hugh_Lebowski]

7. We sound much alike :) And that's all great advice.

I've bought lappies pre-made, but I've never bought a pre-built PC cept my very first in 1994. Built at least 50 for friends, customers, and a number for myself, which I tweak regularly.

Also I've just been using Windows Sec Essentials/Defender for a very long time now, and haven't picked up any virus or malware either. But I'm also very careful about what I do online, I 'know what to look for' after all these years. AND I'm the only one who uses my computer. Key component