[Help] Laptop won't upgrade to Windows 11 - do I need a new one?

[1066familyman]

I'm going full time linux when LTS runs out on windoze

And you'll be very happy when you do

The latest Linux Mint, that I'm using on a laptop a lot older than the OP's, is very nice!

 

[Easy 10]

Yep, and a cheap Chromecast plugged into the TV means you can cast straight to TV, with no issues. Best device I've ever bought, and (touch wood) never had a problem.
They're damn good value, too.

They are indeed.

My one SLIGHT niggle is that at the time of purchase, I could not, for love nor money, find one with a matt screen. Which is annoying as I use it in the garden a lot, but its all glassy reflections CENTRAL. When this one goes on the fritz (or I just fancy a new one) then I'll be trawling around to get a matt screen jobbie for sure.

 

[birthofanorange]

They are indeed.

My one SLIGHT niggle is that at the time of purchase, I could not, for love nor money, find one with a matt screen. Which is annoying as I use it in the garden a lot, but its all glassy reflections CENTRAL. When this one goes on the fritz (or I just fancy a new one) then I'll be trawling around to get a matt screen jobbie for sure.

As an aside, mine is slightly older than yours and no longer receives any updates, but as I don't use it for banking/similar, it's not an issue.
IIRC, the updates stop after around 5 years? If you need it for banking, it would be prudent to buy a new one, but for my purposes, it's still brilliant.
I paid about £250 for mine, seven years ago, which is incredibly cheap for that many years usage.

 

[clapham_gull]

You can in many cases upgrade. I have a surface go 1 with Linux installed, but I kept the windows there for variety of reasons as dual boot.

Primarily I use the Linux, but I just updated the Windows option from 10 to 11 and MS will tell you, you can't.

Just don't go through the "update" procedure internally. Just download the iso image to a USB stick and proceed as normal - just like you had to do in the old days.

 

[clapham_gull]

Get a Mac you won't go back

An operating system for the elderly. They might as well it SAGA OS.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

I'm very happy with a Chromebook.

Could download and install Chrome OS Flex for free.

 

[Easy 10]

As an aside, mine is slightly older than yours and no longer receives any updates, but as I don't use it for banking/similar, it's not an issue.
IIRC, the updates stop after around 5 years? If you need it for banking, it would be prudent to buy a new one, but for my purposes, it's still brilliant.
I paid about £250 for mine, seven years ago, which is incredibly cheap for that many years usage.

I don't use it for banking at all, that is always done via the app on my phone.
I do buy stuff from Amazon on it, and regularly donate money to Bet365. Thats about the only financial stuff I do on it though.

 

[bWize]

Get a Mac you won't go back

You will soon be going back to Apple to buy a newer model for silly money as soon as you need more Ram etc. Seeing as they literally solder it to the board, forcing you to buy a later model macbook.

No denying the overall build quality is very good, though.

 

[birthofanorange]

Could download and install Chrome OS Flex for free.

Or, just buy a Chromebook. I'll be replacing mine at some point, but having used a 'normal' lappy with Windows etc., I'll never go there again.
Ofc, it doesn't have all the functions, but if you don't need/use them, why bother?
I love the instant start-up and no weirdnesses.

 

[Tony Towner's Fridge]

Do yourself a favour and buy a MacBook Air. A bit more pricey, I know. However, it will last twice or three times longer than a Windows PC, be far more reliable, considerably faster, less prone to viruses and an all together better user experience.

TNBA

TTF

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Or, just buy a Chromebook. I'll be replacing mine at some point, but having used a 'normal' lappy with Windows etc., I'll never go there again.
Ofc, it doesn't have all the functions, but if you don't need/use them, why bother?
I love the instant start-up and no weirdnesses.

Chrome Flex is good if one is on a limited budget.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Dell are currently doing 40% off on their outlet shop so there are some bargains to be had there if you don't mind a laptop that has more often than not been ordered and sent back without ever being used. This one looks decent to be fair, and with the code H8LC08IURHG0HZO at checkout it works out at about £250.

Alternatively you could have a browse through Hot UK Deals, various offers come up if you are in the market for something, that's where I found the above offer for the Dell stuff.

Problem with the Dell stuff on their outlet store is they all seem to be running Win10, without checking I’d guess most machines will be upgradable but for someone not tech savvy it’s not worth the risk. Unless they are 100% sure it will run 11 they could find themselves back in the same boat they are now.

 

[Albion my Albion]

Did you try turning it off & then back on?

Did you try Windows 12? It's pretty much a dozen times better than buying a new laptop.

 

[Madafwo]

Problem with the Dell stuff on their outlet store is they all seem to be running Win10, without checking I’d guess most machines will be upgradable but for someone not tech savvy it’s not worth the risk. Unless they are 100% sure it will run 11 they could find themselves back in the same boat they are now.

With the one I linked to it will most definitely run Windows 11, the advantage of the Dell one is it is also upgradeable which is a rarity these days so it's super simple to put more RAM, a bigger SSD and a faster WiFi card in if you're so inclined.

The machine I linked to with another 8Gb stick of memory (£17 through Amazon) will be fine for years to come, as even my incredibly old HP Elitebook runs Windows 11 fine after installing it with after creating an install with Rufus to ignore the RAM and TPM/Secureboot option. Although in the OPs post it says the CPU is the limiting factor it's newer than the Elitebook CPU which runs it fine (i5 4300U)

 

[Badger]

And you'll be very happy when you do

The latest Linux Mint, that I'm using on a laptop a lot older than the OP's, is very nice!

This is my plan for my personal laptop, now I've cancelled my OneDrive/Office 365 subscription. There's really no need for me to still be using Windows and as a geeky software developer, Linux is the way to go.

As for MacOS, I have been using Macbook Pros for about 9 years for work and I still don't really like it. I spend a lot of my time developing and release iOS apps and it's just made me dislike the way Apple do things.

 

[Bodian]

I have a super laptop (HP Envy) which runs excellently (touch wood). I had an extra TB of hard drive put in a few years back, because I have rather a lot of photos. So, I've got 2TB hard drive, and plenty of RAM for running the programmes I want to run.

I'm really loathe to get a new laptop, as ones with decent storage size aren't cheap. But, it says it won't / can't upgrade. I'm sure there is, or will be, some sort of workaround - because so far as I can tell, it's because something is 'missing' rather than it being totally impossible.

I think I'll wait till October, and see what comes along.

 

[Smile]

You will soon be going back to Apple to buy a newer model for silly money as soon as you need more Ram etc. Seeing as they literally solder it to the board, forcing you to buy a later model macbook.

No denying the overall build quality is very good, though.

I have purchased 4 macs since 2020 starting with an IMac, spent €7,500 in total and received around €2,000 back when selling them on. So I would say €5,500 for 25 years of no hassle turn it on and works is pretty good.

 

[Badger]

Do yourself a favour and buy a MacBook Air. A bit more pricey, I know. However, it will last twice or three times longer than a Windows PC, be far more reliable, considerably faster, less prone to viruses and an all together better user experience.

TNBA

TTF

This makes the argument a bit silly. If you buy a cheap Windows laptop, then it won't last as long. If you spend as much as you would on a Macbook, you will get a well-built machine which lasts just as long as a Macbook and will likely be easier to upgrade.

User experience is really down to which a user prefers. I don't love the more recent version of Windows but I still find their user experience better than MacOS with more customisation options.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I have a super laptop (HP Envy) which runs excellently (touch wood). I had an extra TB of hard drive put in a few years back, because I have rather a lot of photos. So, I've got 2TB hard drive, and plenty of RAM for running the programmes I want to run.

I'm really loathe to get a new laptop, as ones with decent storage size aren't cheap. But, it says it won't / can't upgrade. I'm sure there is, or will be, some sort of workaround - because so far as I can tell, it's because something is 'missing' rather than it being totally impossible.

I think I'll wait till October, and see what comes along.

I don't store anything older than 3 months on my laptop. I have four external HDs and back it all up there.
Let the laptop gambol free without having a caravan strapped to its back.

 

[clapham_gull]

Do Apple a favour and buy a MacBook Air.

No let's not. Load a Linux variant like Mint or Ubuntu and wonder why you didn't years ago.

The downsides little. The only thing I can think of the lack of support from various streaming sites, the most notable one being Sky's Now TV.