UPGRADING to Windows 11 next week could void your PC warranty.
The shock revelation means you need to be very careful about deciding to claim the free update next month.
Windows 11 is the next major version of Microsoft’s operating system.
That means millions of PCs will be trying to upgrade in the coming months.
It’s a free update, so you won’t have to pay a penny for the new features.
But not all computers are “supported” – in fact, there’s a good chance your PC won’t be eligible.
Test versions of the software from Microsoft suggest that some of these ineligible PCs will be able to install Windows 11.
But if they do, they’ll have to accept special terms and conditions.
For some computers, you’ll be able to install Windows 11 regardless of whether it meets requirements, according to a recent update to the beta – spotted by The Verge.
But doing so makes you sign agree to special terms and conditions.
It means you have to agree that your PC will no longer be supported, won’t receive updates, and your computer warranty may be voided.
That means if Windows 11 causes damage to your PC, you might not be covered.
One of the big concerns is that Windows 11 requires 8th-gen Intel Coffee Lake processors or newer.
Or if you have an AMD processor, your PC or laptop will need a Zen 2 CPU or better.
That will shut out millions of older PCs or laptops that simply won’t be able to run the new Windows 11 software.
Probably the easiest way to check if your computer can run Windows 11 is to download Microsoft’s own app.
It’ll check for you – grab it here:
If you already know what sort of hardware your computer has, you can check against the official list manually.
Microsoft says that at a minimum, you’ll need:
Processor: 1GHz or faster with two or more cores (64bit)
RAM: 4GB or more
Storage: 64GB or more
Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
Graphics Card: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver
Display: HD (720p) bigger than 9 inches diagonally, 8bits per colour channel
You’ll also need an internet connection and a Microsoft account to set up a Windows 10 Home Edition for the first time.
Microsoft has also warned that any laptops built and sold from 2023 onwards will need to have a webcam to run Windows 11.
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