Windows 11

Microsoft even sent me an Outlook calender event as an attachment to an email. I wondered what it was but now I have an event set for the 24th 11.00 est.

Well that was a waste of time.

I logged into the Microsoft live feed and they spent 5 min telling me how Windows was like my family home (???) then up came a spinning Microsoft symbol for another few minutes before they disconnected me.

The only thing I did learn was that the new version really IS called Windows 11.

John, it was meant to be the last version, updated all the time.

Microsoft want everyone to be on a subscription service, not happening here. My old Thinkpad is my only Windows machine, literally only for trying to replicate what others have done when they ask me for help.

Introductory video here:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/event?ocid=prod_sv_cons_win_eng_WatchAnnounceAC

Skip first 4 minutes of BS!

The biggest shocker at the moment is a requirement for UEFI with Secure boot enabled and a TPM version 2.0 at least.

Its not entirely certain how much of that applies to upgrade or retail versions but PC’s with Windows preinstalled must have both.

I’m using Storage Spaces on my new setup. One space is just a conventional pairing of two drives into one storage space for the C drive, and the other is a pool two-way mirror for the data drive. It will be ‘interesting’ to see how 11 handles this. Me thinks a good backup before install may be needed!

If you are uncertain whether you have a TPM module or if it has been enabled then open the command line (type com in the search area, and run as Administrator), once there type tpm.msc.

If this opens a dialog then you have tpm installed and enabled. If not then check your bios (normally an advanced section item) and turn it on if you have it. You should get dire warnings of what will happen if in future you change the cpu, other than that I think it is generally a harmless switch that gives you more protection against some forms of ransom-ware. (If anyone knows better please yell!)

If you do not have tpm, then check if your mobo allows a tpm module to be added. (These items are already being back-ordered, so you may want to get ahead of an even bigger queue later on!

If they insist on the UEFI and TPM requirement when Windows 11 goes to final release then my hobby PC will be sticking with W10 until end of support.

My i7 990X has full VT-x support and W10 Pro is currently running with the Virtualization security update that puts parts of Windows in a virtual machine BUT I only have UEFI v1.2 with no secure boot option and no way to add a TPM.

On the other hand, my Surface Pro 7 will get W11 whether I like it or not so I can run the two in tandem until at least 2025 😁