WINDOWS 11 ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

The support deadline for Windows 10 is perilously close. Lee Grant explores your options if you're still clinging to a Windows 10 PC

- 

October will be here before you know it, and Microsoft will pull the plug on Windows 10 support. The great migration to Windows 11 will now have to begin and if you still haven't decided what to do, then (like a doctor with a concerned look on his face) I'm here to talk you through your options.

For the past year, barely a day has passed when I haven't had this complicated conversation with a customer, so PC Pro has asked me to empty my brain and give you advice on what to do with your Windows 10 machine.

We'll look at your hardware, explain the upgrade options for AMD and Intel, for desktops and laptops, helping you to create a plan of action. Let's begin by working out exactly what you own.

Is my machine compatible with Windows 11?

The first thing to ascertain is whether your machine can jump from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Thankfully, Microsoft's PC Health Check (tinyurl.com/372healthcheck) will scan a system and compare it to the Windows 11 system requirements before giving a yes or no verdict. If you get the green light, then Microsoft’s glittering curtains will part and you'll be granted a VIP pass to Window 11's upgrade paradise, free of charge. If the vote didn’t go your way, then don’t panic because the Health Check is far from infallible.

The app can only make comparisons with the hardware currently inside your machine. It can’t work out if a cheeky tweak or upgrade could nudge it over the line. This is especially true with AMD desktops.

Can I upgrade an AMD desktop?