by The Computing Australia Group | Windows 11 Upgrade
Guide
Upgrading an operating system can feel intimidating-especially if your PC holds years of files, apps, and settings you can’t afford to lose. The good news: moving to Windows 11 is straightforward when you follow a structured plan. This guide gives you an up-to-date, professional walkthrough-from checking compatibility and preparing your device, to choosing the best upgrade method, solving common errors, and optimising Windows 11 after installation. You’ll also find an FAQ, rollback instructions, and an SEO kit if you’re publishing this as a blog.
Who this guide is for
- General users on Windows 10 or an older Windows 11 release who want a smooth, safe upgrade.
- Small businesses that manage a handful of PCs and prefer a guided checklist approach.
- Power users and IT enthusiasts who want options (Installation Assistant, ISO, USB media, or Insider previews) and post-install hardening tips.
Key point: Windows 10 reaches end of support on 14 October 2025. Upgrading to Windows 11 keeps your device secure and eligible for the latest features and patches.
Why upgrade to Windows 11?
- Security first: Stronger default protections (TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, Virtualisation-based Security), enhanced Smart App Control, and continual hardening against ransomware and driver exploits.
- Performance & battery: Scheduling improvements for hybrid CPUs, better memory management, faster wake/resume, and efficiency features for modern laptops.
- Modern UX: Streamlined Start menu, Snap Layouts/Groups for multitasking, improved touch/pen/voice inputs, redesigned Quick Settings and File Explorer enhancements.
- Gaming & creators: Auto HDR, DirectStorage-ready hardware support, improved graphics stack; better capture, widgets, and accessibility features.
Understand the system requirements (and what they really mean)
Baseline requirements(typical retail/home environments):
- CPU: 1GHz+, 2+ cores, 64-bit processor on Microsoft’s supported list
- RAM: 4GB minimum (8GB+ strongly recommended)
- Storage: 64GB+ (plan for 20–30GB free for the upgrade itself)
- Firmware: UEFI with Secure Boot capability
- TPM: TPM 2.0 enabled (often called PTT on Intel or fTPM on AMD in BIOS/UEFI)
- Graphics: DirectX 12 compatible with WDDM 2.x driver
- Display: ≥9″ with 720p, 8 bits per colour channel
- Internet & Microsoft account required for Home edition setup; Pro allows local account during setup in certain scenarios
Tip: If Secure Boot or TPM appears “missing”, it’s often just disabled in BIOS/UEFI. Enabling them usually restores compatibility.
Step 1: Confirm your PC is eligible
1. Use Microsoft’s PC Health Check
- Download the PC Health Check app from Microsoft and run “Check now.”
- You’ll get a simple pass/fail with details (e.g., TPM disabled, CPU unsupported).
2. Double-check firmware settings if flagged
- Reboot to BIOS/UEFI → enable TPM (PTT/fTPM) and Secure Boot → save → boot to Windows and re-run the check.
3. Storage & BIOS updates
- Ensure 20–30GB of free space.
- If your device is borderline or older, update BIOS/UEFI and key drivers (chipset/graphics) first.
Note on older CPUs: Some chips fall outside Microsoft’s supported list. There are workarounds, but they’re not recommended for production machines because you may miss certain security guarantees and future updates.
Step 2: Prepare your device (the “no-regrets” checklist)
Do these before any OS upgrade-no exceptions:
- Back up everything
- Use File History, OneDrive, or a full-disk image (e.g., Macrium Reflect) to external storage.
- Verify the backup actually opens/restores sample files.
- Update Windows 10/11 to the latest cumulative updates.
- Remove or decrypt BitLocker only if your IT policy requires it; otherwise, confirm you have your recovery key stored in your Microsoft/Entra ID account.
- Uninstall obsolete antivirus or low-level tuning software that could interfere with setup (you can reinstall later).
- Disconnect peripherals you don’t need during setup (extra USB devices, docks).
- Free disk space: run Disk Cleanup (including “Windows Update Cleanup”) and empty Recycle Bin.
- Record essentials: software licenses, VPN settings, and MFA recovery methods.
Step 3: Choose your upgrade path
You have four safe, Microsoft-approved paths. Pick the one that best fits your environment:
Option A: Windows Update (the simplest)
1. Go to Settings → Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If you see “Feature update to Windows 11”, click Download & install.
4. Follow prompts and reboot when asked.
Best for: Most users. It’s the most compatible and least error-prone method.
Option B: Windows 11 Installation Assistant
1. Download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from Microsoft.
2. Run it as Administrator, accept terms, and follow the on-screen steps.
3. It performs compatibility checks and updates in place.
Best for: Users who don’t see the feature update yet but have supported hardware.
Option C: Create Installation Media (USB) or use an ISO
1. Use the Media Creation Tool to build a bootable USB installer, or
2. Download the ISO and mount it in Windows, then run setup.exe (keeps files/apps if compatible), or
3. Clean install: Boot from USB and install to a formatted partition (fastest, cleanest-but back up first).
Best for: Power users/IT who want a clean install or need to upgrade multiple devices efficiently.
Option D: Windows Insider Program (optional/advanced)
If you want early access to pre-release features:
1. Settings → Windows Update → Windows Insider Program.
3. Check for updates.
Important: Insider builds are pre-release; use on test machines or only if you accept potential instability.
Step 4: Run the upgrade-what to expect
- Download & preparation: 5–30GB depending on the path. Your PC can be used during most of the download phase.
- Multiple reboots: Normal. You’ll see different stages (copying files, installing features, updates).
- Time frame: Ranges from 30 minutes to a couple of hours depending on storage speed (NVMe SSD is fastest), CPU, and data volume.
- Network: Keep your device plugged in and connected to reliable internet.
Step 5: Post-upgrade checklist (do this right away)
- Windows Update: Run it again to grab post-setup drivers and cumulative updates.
- Sign-in & services: Verify Microsoft/Work account, OneDrive sync, VPN clients, and Outlook profiles.
- Privacy & telemetry: Settings → Privacy & security → review Diagnostics & feedback, app permissions (camera, mic, location).
- Default apps & file associations: Settings → Apps → Default apps.
- Snap Layouts & Virtual Desktops: Try Win+Z and Win+Tab; set up workflows.
- Security: Confirm TPM, Secure Boot, Core isolation, Memory integrity (Device Security settings).
- Backups: Re-enable/verify your backup plan (File History / OneDrive / image-based backups).
- Performance sanity check: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) → confirm normal CPU/RAM/disk usage at idle.
Troubleshooting: common upgrade blockers & fixes
1) “This PC can’t run Windows 11” (TPM/Secure Boot)
- Enter BIOS/UEFI, enable TPM (PTT/fTPM) and Secure Boot, then try again.
- Update BIOS and chipset drivers first if the options are missing.
2) Not enough space
- Run Disk Cleanup (system files), remove old installers, empty Recycle Bin.
- Move videos/photos temporarily to an external drive.
- Some devices allow using an external USB drive during setup to stage files.
3) Driver conflicts or blue screens
- Update your graphics, storage, and network drivers beforehand.
- Uninstall third-party antivirus or kernel-level tools temporarily.
- If you installed from ISO/USB, try the in-place setup (mount ISO and run setup.exe inside Windows).
4) Stuck at a percentage or loop
- Be patient for at least 60–90 minutes on slow HDD systems.
- If truly stuck, power cycle; Windows usually rolls back gracefully.
- Check C:$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther setup logs (advanced users).
5) Apps missing or settings reset
- Some legacy apps reset defaults on major updates. Re-apply defaults in Settings → Apps → Default apps.
- Reinstall the few that fail to launch (use latest installers).
6) Enterprise policies
- If your PC is joined to a work domain or managed by Intune/Group Policy, admin policies might block the upgrade. Consult your IT admin or switch to a consumer path on a personal device.
Roll back to your previous Windows (if needed)
If something isn’t right, you can go back:
- Within 10 days of the upgrade:
- Settings → System → Recovery → Go back (this keeps your previous Windows folder).
- After 10 days, the old installation files are usually removed to free space. You can still clean install your previous OS using USB media (restore from your backup).
Pro tip: If you need more time to evaluate, extend the rollback window before it expires by capturing a full-disk image right after the upgrade.
Advanced & Pro tips (optional)
- Clean install for best performance: If your Windows 10 was long-running with a lot of legacy apps, a clean install can reduce background cruft.
- Storage sense: Enable Storage Sense to automatically clean temporary files.
- Virtualisation-based Security: Confirm Core isolation and Memory integrity are enabled for stronger protection (may slightly impact niche driver-heavy workloads).
- Gaming: Update your GPU driver (Game Ready/Adrenalin), enable Game Mode, verify HAGS (Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling) and Auto HDR if supported.
- Accessibility: Try live captions, voice access, and improved magnifier-hugely useful on high-DPI displays.
- Local vs Microsoft account: Home edition requires a Microsoft account for setup; Pro gives you more flexibility. Business devices often use Entra ID (Azure AD).
