WINDOWS 11, the latest version of Microsoft’s computer operating system, is set to be released in late 2021. The latest update will offer huge security upgrades, but some computers won’t have the power to handle such upgrades. This means that certain computers as new as three years old won’t be able to use Windows 11.
So how can you find out if your computer or notebook can handle Windows 11?
First, check if you have a 64-bit processor. Click on the Windows icon in the left bottom corner of your start-up screen. Then click on settings, which is the icon that looks like a sprocket. Then click on System. Then click About at the bottom of the list on the left-hand side and the screen will tell you.
Second, you need to find out whether you have TPM 2.0 (never mind what it is) installed on your computer. If you currently use Windows 10, you have TPM 2.0, but it needs to be activated in BIOS.
If the term BIOS throws you, try installing Windows 11 (it’s free!) and see if it all magically works. If it doesn’t, then you may need to get help to fix it.
If you use an earlier Windows version and don’t have TPM 2.0, it’s time to get a qualified technician. The advice you get may well be that it is time to buy a new device.
You could keep using Windows 10 (or earlier versions), but Microsoft will no longer ‘support’ these versions. This means that using your computer becomes very risky very quickly because your information, such as bank details and passwords, will no longer be secure.
The Australian Government runs a computer skills program called BeConnected that has an online safety course you can do for free at your own pace. You can access BeConnected’s ‘Staying safer online’ course by following this link: https://beconnected.esafety.gov.au/topic-library/essentials/safety-first
