Windows 10 is out and Windows 11 is in.  What to do?

Microsoft is retiring its Windows 10 operating system. Effective October 14th, 2025, support for Windows 10 will end. This may seem like a while away (from the time of this post), but it's a transition many people are starting to face.

At our computer repair business, RescueTECH Regina, we specialize in assisting individuals with updating their computers from older operating systems to newer ones. Over the 12 years of our operation, we've developed methodologies applicable not only to Windows-based operating systems but also to Apple systems.

The transition from Windows 10 to 11 isn't seamless for all hardware. The system requirements for the update include TPM version 2.0 and Secure Boot capability, a compatible CPU (such as the equivalent of an 8th generation Intel processor), and a minimum of 4GB of RAM. However, when upgrading to a newer operating system, it's advisable to consider more RAM for optimal performance rather than sticking to the bare minimum.

Regarding licensing, if your computer already has a valid installation of Windows 10, you won't need to purchase a separate license to upgrade to Windows 11. Microsoft offers a free upgrade to Windows 10 users.

But what if your system doesn't meet the minimum requirements for the update? In most cases, a clean install of Windows 11 becomes necessary, as the update won't proceed on incompatible systems. This allows bypassing the update and some system requirement checks.

At RescueTECH, we've successfully installed Windows 11 on computers that officially don't meet its requirements. Our installation process bypasses hardware validation checks, enabling the installation of Windows 11 on "unsupported" PC computers.

For professional assistance with upgrading to Windows 11 or any computer-related queries in Regina, we're here to help you through the transition.