Laptop Q: My Lenovo was built the end of 2019, basically a 2020 machine. It won't run w11

[lindysalsagal]

It's not even 3 years old, yet, and it works fine, but I tried to update it and microsoft thinks it's a rotary phone.

Is it true that you can't keep a laptop more than a couple years, anymore?

I tried to do the microsoft do-see-do and installed the win11 "checker" app, and I failed, miserably.

It's true the DVD died but I bought a USB one for $34.

Other than that, it does everything I need.

Is there a way to buy one that you won't have to toss in 2 years?????

Are there better makers that will have the future bells and whistles????

Pisses me off.

[highplainsdem]

1. I've had Dell laptops that lasted 6 years. I also pay for the premium warranty.

24/7 customer support is helpful. Especially if I can't figure out WTF I did wrong...

[AZSkiffyGeek]

2. I just bought a new Lenovo desktop

My PC was about 5 or 6 years old but was running like crap and couldn't be upgraded. If it had been running fine I wouldn't have bothered, but when I looked for a replacement I made sure it said it supported Win 11, even though it still had Win 10 installed.

Win 10's end of life isn't until 2025 as of right now, so if your machine is working for you, I wouldn't worry yet. Win 11 seems to be more cosmetic than anything else, but that could be that I just don't use the new-fangled bits or they're under the hood and I don't notice them.

[lindysalsagal]

3. I know it's not end of life, but I also can't update it anymore. Annoying!

[OhZone]

4. I don't get your issue-

I mean, you say "it does everything I need."

Well, then why do you want to update and upgrade it?

I have a few machines, including a 2015 Win7 pro desktop, and two Win10 laptops.

I don't feel the need to upgrade any of them, right now.

In fact, my desktop is still like my base.

[MuseRider]

7. I wish I had known that.

I did not and bought a new laptop well after they put out the new systems but was always afraid I would wake up one day and not be able to use it. That is how stupid I was/am/or could be.

I love my current desktop. It is perfect, only about 6 years old and does not need a desk just a little table. It has gotten slow as hell but cannot be upgraded. I love it and do not want to get rid of it. Thanks for this bit of info. It will be the slowness that gets to me. I also think I can fix that somehow but am a bit afraid to try. It is always fun but an enormous pain in the ass for me to learn a new system. I am now content knowing it is not going to just stop working any time soon. Thanks, many thanks for that.

[Salviati]

5. Windows 11 is requiring a TPM chip to install

Microsoft announced yesterday that Windows 11 will require TPM (Trusted Platform Module) chips on existing and new devices. It’s a significant hardware change that has been years in the making, but Microsoft’s messy way of communicating this has left many confused about whether their hardware is compatible. What is a TPM, and why do you need one for Windows 11 anyway?

“The Trusted Platform Modules (TPM) is a chip that is either integrated into your PC’s motherboard or added separately into the CPU,” explains David Weston, director of enterprise and OS security at Microsoft. “Its purpose is to protect encryption keys, user credentials, and other sensitive data behind a hardware barrier so that malware and attackers can’t access or tamper with that data.”

https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/25/22550376/microsoft-windows-11-tpm-chips-requirement-security

This is likely the issue that is keeping your laptop from being upgraded to Windows 11. I guess the question is, if the laptop already does everything you need, why do you need to upgrade to Windows 11? Windows 10 will continue to be supported until 2025, so you should be able to get 3 more years out of this laptop before not upgrading to Windows 11 becomes a significant security risk.

[lindysalsagal]

6. Thanks. I think you're right. The "system checker" said I needed some special

hardware (I don't remember now) and so it can never run win11.

My question is, will Microsoft keep doing this??? Will they require new hardware gadget every couple years????



I'm taking everyone's advice and sitting with this one until I just can't do anything with it. Thanks everyone.


Hrumphhhhhh....

[ultralite001]

8. From the Lenovo site...

How to check and enable TPM 2.0...

[link:https://support.lenovo.com/tc/en/videos/nvid500332-checking-and-enabling-tpm-20|

[lindysalsagal]

9. Mine's 1.2, not 2.0. Guess I'm toast.

[jmbar2]

10. My BIL is a computer tech by profession...

He recommends breaking the chains and installing LINUX. It is an open-source operating system that he has used for years. There are many varieties available now.

If you are worried about compatibility with Microsoft word and other applications, there are a number of LINUX suites that provide all the same functionality. I am the last family member to switch over. All the others are happy, and don't have to throw away their computers.

Here's an article on it.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-linux-desktops-for-beginners/

Good luck.

[lindysalsagal]

11. I love that idea. Will it block microsoft apps and downloads? Other browsers?

[jmbar2]

12. Apparently, it will do whatever you want it to

Once you don't have windows, there is no one for windows to load crap on your computer. You can also go in and delete unneeded programs.

[lindysalsagal]

13. Thanks so much. Gonna think about it.

[hunter]

20. I quit Windows for my own personal use at 98SE. My desktop runs Linux exclusively.

I won't touch a Windows or Apple machine unless someone is paying me.

Nevertheless, new Linux installs don't always go as planned so it's good to have an experienced Linux user around if things go sideways. And it can't be emphasized enough -- back up your data! External usb hard drives are inexpensive now.

Every time I build a new computer I transfer everything over from my old computers. I've got computers I used going back to the 'seventies emulated on my desktop. One click on my desktop will take me to my Atari 8 bits, which were my favorite computers ever. I used to live and breathe 6502 assembly language. Before that I programmed 1802 processors. The first computer I built had an 1802 processor.

For anyone who wants to learn the nuts and bolts of computers and Linux, I recommend they get a Raspberry Pi. With a Pi people can mess around and not have to worry about screwing up their main computer. And the Pi community is pretty friendly.

I'm not going to upgrade the Windows 10 machine I occasionally use for work. I doubt it's even compatible. So long as it's getting Microsoft security updates, which Microsoft has promised until 2025, it ought to be fairly safe.

Chromebooks are also a good choice for people who don't want to deal with computers for anything more than the internet and a bit of writing. I'm writing this on a Chromebook.

I used to hate babysitting expensive Windows laptops when I was traveling. I don't worry so much about my "refurbished" Chromebooks. If I lose or break one, or leave it out where someone steals it, a replacement won't break the bank. My previous Chromebook was broken when one of our big enthusiastic dogs jumped on it leaping into our car.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

14. If it's that new, you MIGHT have the TPM chip but it's not turned on

Windows won't even see the chip if it's turned off, so this 'you can't upgrade' info *might* not be accurate.

Which would have to be done in the BIOS aka UEFI. There's a link to instructions in the system checker app, I just ran it. My machine is a monster that totally has the chip but system checker said I don't have it. Because it's turned off in my UEFI. Next time I restart I'll fix that.

[lindysalsagal]

15. Thanks. Mine said it has 1.2, not 2.0. Maybe I won't buy chinese next time....

[Hugh_Lebowski]

16. Oh, dang ... yeah. 3 yo lower-end unit will likely be 1.2.

I love W10 but will upgrade to 11 shortly when I have time to deal with it ... since it's currently free to do so from what I've read.

[msongs]

17. no biggee keep win 10. I dont see anything I need or want on windows 11 nt

[Voltaire2]

18. There is currently no compelling reason to upgrade.

Stay on w10. The hw requirements for w11 intentionally cut off older systems and newer systems that do not implement specific security related functions.

[TomWilm]

19. Windows 11 is not a big win. Version 10 will update until October 2025 ...

... and I am still happily running Win8 on my reserve PC.