Before upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11, make sure your system meets the minimum System Requirements. See the webinar on Windows 11 for more information. To force the installation of Windows 11 on a computer which is not compatible is not a good idea, except for testing and learning purposes.
Make sure to have a backup of the user's data and preferences before proceeding.
When performing a brand new installation, you are likely to use the Microsoft installation media to make a bootable USB drive. One issue you might have is that the system won’t boot on the USB stick. Make sure it is bootable and at the top of the list in the BIOS boot order.
Alternatively, you can press F12 multiple times after switching on the computer, which should display a temporary boot menu to allow you to boot from USB.
It can be that during the installation process the system doesn't find the internal hard drive.
This might be because Windows requires an extra driver for the hard drive.
The driver may be available on the computer manufacturer's website – copy the disk driver on the key and browse for it using the "Load driver" option.
When installing Windows 11, you can choose either to do a clean install, or to upgrade.
- A clean install means that all the data and programs on the disk are wiped before Windows is installed.
- An upgrade means that the data and programs are kept.
Whether you do a clean install or an upgrade, back up your data before you start.
A clean install or an upgrade?
A clean Installation wipes the drive clean, including bloatware, and installs the new operating system from scratch, fixing software issues that might have accumulated over time.
If you have encountered persistent issues, a clean install is ideal, as it will give you a fresh start. It will take more time but this often leads to faster boot times, a more stable system, and improved overall performance. This will force you to install the most recent and supported version of the software and ensure that only essential applications are present. A clean install removes all previous data, reclaiming storage space. Should you have issues with software or configuration, it will be easier to troubleshoot than after an upgrade.
An upgrade allows you to keep your existing files, programs, and settings. While it is convenient, minimizing the time spent reconfiguring your system, However, it has some disadvantages.
- Upgrading may cause compatibility issues with older applications.
- There’s a risk of data loss or corruption during the upgrade process, especially if problems occur.
Creating a user account
At the end of the installation, you will be prompted to choose or create a user account.
Windows 10 gives you a choice for logging in – you can either use a Microsoft account, or create a local account and use that.
For Windows 11 you have to choose a Microsoft account.
However, if you want to log in using a local account instead, you can enter a fake Microsoft account, like zz at zz.com, with a random password, eg 123456789. It will then fail, and give you a chance to use a local account instead.
Here are some training videos that might interest you