You've probably seen Windows 11 advertised on your computer, in a store, or an advertisement from Dell or Hewlett-Packard (HP), etc. It has been out for a while now and it has finally hit our campuses. The Information Technology Department has finished testing this new Operating System (OS) and it's ready for prime time.
As of this summer, Windows 11 will be installed on all new and re-imaged Windows based computers that are compatible with the new operating system. Anything that does not meet the hardware requirements of the new OS will have Windows 10 installed on the device.
Minimum Requirements
In-short the minimum requirements for Windows 11 are:
- Processor - Intel 8th Gen or newer orAdvanced Micro Devices (AMD) Ryzen 1 or newer
- 4GB of RAM
- Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip for encryption
- Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) Secure Boot capable
If your device was purchased in 2017 or later, it is very likely compatible with Windows 11. For more information check System Requirements from Microsoft's Windows team.
When Can I Upgrade?
If you don't want to upgrade just yet, don't worry. Windows 10 does not go "end of life" until October 14, 2025, but we will begin to push out Windows 11 this summer. We would like everyone to be updated before the fall semester. If you would like to volunteer to get Windows 11 sooner, please contact the Help Desk and we will work with you to get it installed once we feel it's ready for your computer.
What's New in Windows 11?
Windows 11 has a new look:
It still largely behaves like Windows 10 but has a user interface that is an interesting hybrid between Mac OS and Windows 10. The initial login screen looks similar and the file system is mostly unchanged.
Upgrading to Windows 11 introduces a more feature rich operating system. Most functionality between Windows 10 and Windows 11 is similar but you will see a redesigned user interface, with a new logon screen, start menu, task bar, and snap layouts. You should also see a smoother transition from monitor to laptop, as Windows will now remember how your apps were positioned when you unplug from a monitor. The update also allows us to incorporate tools that will allow us to better manage software and security updates and deployments remotely.
Supporting you through the transition
The IT staff have put together a handy Windows 10 to Windows 11 Transition Guide that you can go through to help transition to the new OS. You can learn:
- How to move the taskbar icons back to the left-hand side of the screen
- About the new "snap layouts" system and other features
Help
As always, if something is not working the way you expect, or you are having an issue with an application, or can't find that button that used to be there, you can always contact the IT Help Desk and we'll do our best to help you out!
Email: helpdesk@pennhighlands.edu
Call: (814) 262-6470