Microsoft, what are you doing? Adding another operating system after telling us Windows 10 was going to be the end-all. I feel lied to and somewhat betrayed. Now you’re coming out with another operating system.

This isn’t my first rodeo with Windows (or Apple) coming out with a new operating system. I’ve been through many transitions. Let’s see, there was the transition from Windows 95 to 98 and lest me forget the infamous Me. Then there was NT to 2000 to XP. I can’t forget the tragic Windows Vista which was soon replaced by 7, 8, 8.1, then 10. With each iteration they promised new and exciting things. I can tell you that in my 25 years in this business there hasn’t been much of a wow factor from one operating system to another.

Windows 11 may bring with it a new computer for many users who’ve been hobbling their old relic since the Windows 7 era. Our newest ‘last operating system’ has a couple requirements. It seems the big wigs at Microsoft thought it would be OK to tease customers with fairly low processor requirements but then require a new gadget called a TPM.

What on earth is a TPM and what does it do? TPM stands for Trusted Platform Module which is a fancy hardware device that communicates with Windows 11 to let it know everything is OK. Funny thing is, some older hardware that was released prior to Windows 11 actually came with a TPM module installed. Windows 10 made limited use of it but it was never required. Windows 11 looks for the chip during the installation process and actually refuses to go further unless it’s present and enabled.

Most computers built in the past 4-5 years will be Windows 11 compatible either out of the box or with some minor tweaks. I haven’t had too much luck installing 11 on computers designed for Windows 8.1 or earlier. It seems Microsoft really wants us to be safe – or at least safer than we thought we were. And by the way, that Windows 10 era TPM I mentioned earlier most likely will not play nice with Windows 11.

For the first time in my 20 odd years in business we’re being forced to give up our old hardware for something new. The computer I’m typing on now will need to be replaced next year. In fact, every Windows based computer I own will need to be replaced if I want to upgrade to Windows 11.

I can’t predict the future, but I can go back in history when Windows 7 was kept alive for much longer than originally planned. Users revolted against Microsoft for taking away their start menu so Windows 7 end-of-support dates kept getting moved back. Eventually Windows 8 won and 7 was cast overboard for a horrible menuless operating system.

My crystal ball predicts one of two scenarios for the future of 10 and 11. First, Windows 10 will be kept around for a little longer than the 3rd quarter next year. This will be to appease the masses who love Windows 10. Second, and I see this as most likely, Microsoft will reduce the requirements of Windows 11 and will allow it to run on older systems. If they don’t there will be a massive amount of functional electronics heading to the scrap yard.

I’ve been instructing my customers to not panic and use what they have in the meantime. There’s no reason to rush out and buy a new computer now unless your old one is on the fritz. Obviously that’s only a decision you can make, but my belief is to keep them running as long as possible until their useful life has expired.

If you’re a Windows 10 user with one of those soon-to-be-obsolete computers, you’ve likely received messages stating you need to purchase a new computer now. Microsoft is creating a sense of urgency urging and persuading you to leave your house now and buy a new Windows 11 computer. My suggestion is to hold off and wait for a sale closer to the end of next year. These messages make more sense knowing that HP, Lenovo and Dell are their largest customers.

A lot of the conversations I have with customers around Windows 11 have included some bits and pieces from this little article. I should mention that I’m still running Windows 7 computers because they’re compatible with some of the engineering software I use in my other business. Just because it’s no longer supported doesn’t make it bad, it just changes how we use it.

Thank you for reading this. I’m the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located in Greenfield and Gardner MA. You can find out more about my company by visiting localcomputerwiz.com