Hello! The arrival of Windows 11 raised blisters. Indeed, Microsoft’s new product did not leave anyone indifferent. However, as it happened in previous releases of the Redmond giant, this new operating system has been surrounded by a lot of misinformation. These myths have unfortunately given rise to a remarkable number of lies that are not doing any good. These myths are generating unnecessary controversy. However, the most serious thing is that many users do not dare to upgrade to this operating system. Moreover, when they could do it perfectly well. On the other hand, it is also generating the reverse problem. That is to say, they are forcing other users to think that they have no choice but to use Windows 11 when in fact they could continue using Windows 10. Therefore, today we will see some myths about Windows 11 that we must forget.
Should we upgrade?
I want to emphasize that the purpose of this post is not to encourage you to upgrade, or not to upgrade, to Windows 11. At the end of the day, it is a personal decision according to one’s own needs. We truly would like to put an end to numerous myths. This way, you will be able to decide for yourself what you want to do. On the other hand, you can always try this operating system and then go back to Windows 10.
Windows 11 is a must if you are going to use Intel Alder Lake processors.
Intel Alder Lake processors marked an important turning point in the x86 CPU industry. Indeed, the chip giant managed to recover from the slip it had with Rocket Lake. It therefore shaped a generation of much more powerful processors, with a higher number of cores and threads and more efficient operation. This was made possible by the leap to a hybrid design with high-performance and high-efficiency cores, and the use of the 10 nm SuperFin node.
To manage it properly, the company integrated Intel Thread Director into the Alder Lake processors. We are talking about a solution that operates at hardware and software level. In addition, it is designed to perform an optimal scheduling of the tasks that are being faced at all times. In this way, it is possible to assign these tasks to high-performance cores or high-efficiency cores in the most efficient way possible. Furthermore, it adapts to the particularities of the equipment in real time.
The operating system therefore relies on the information it receives from Intel Thread Director to distribute each task. This is essential for Intel Core Gen12, based on this hybrid design, to develop its full potential at all times. However, a myth has arisen around this technology. Specifically, that it was only possible to use the new Intel Core Gen12 processors with Windows 11. It has even been said that these processors have performance problems with Windows 10. Besides, if you want to continue with Windows 10, you can be totally relaxed.
Windows 11 performs much worse than Windows 10
This is one of the most important myths that remain until now. Indeed, it is one of those that is holding users back from upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Surely, you have seen tests where Windows 11 performed worse than Windows 10, especially in case of games. Surely, they are true. However, there is a determining factor. And that is that those tests were done with VBS enabled.
VBS stands for Virtualization-based Security. This is a security feature that allows Windows 11 to use hardware virtualization to isolate a secure region of memory. Once there, it will host important security features, most notably virtualization-based code integrity protection. When this feature is enabled, performance drops noticeably in Windows 11. However, if it is disabled, everything returns to normal.
With this feature disabled, performance differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11 are minimal in most cases. Of course, as long as we have a computer that meets the minimum requirements of each operating system.
You can only upgrade for free to Windows 11 from Windows 10
Many users believe that they cannot upgrade to Windows 11 for free because they are running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Certainly, it is not possible to make a direct update from Windows Update, as it would happen if we had Windows 10. However, this does not mean that we cannot make the leap to the new Microsoft operating system taking advantage of our Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 license. We can do it, but the process is different.
If we have Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, and we have a valid license, we will be able to use this license to activate a copy of Windows 11. This is working from October 2021 to the present date. However, I cannot guarantee that it will be if forever.
Updating
To install and activate a copy of Windows 11 if we use Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 we must follow these steps:
- We look for the activation license of our copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. We put it to good safekeeping, since we will need it later.
- Furthermore, we make a backup of all our data and files, since we will have to make a clean installation of Windows 11. Note that we make a backup of all our data and files, since we will have to make a clean installation of Windows 11.
- Go to the official Microsoft website and create a Windows 11 installation media following the steps below
- We boot the PC from the USB drive and start the self-guided installation process. When choosing which version of Windows 11 we want to install, we must choose the one that matches the version of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 that we had.
- When we are asked for the activation key, we introduce the license of our previous operating system and ready. We can also postpone this step and carry out the activation after the installation of Windows 11.
It is important to note that you will be able to install Windows 11 in this way even if your PC does not meet the minimum requirements of such operating system. However, this implies certain risks. Theoretically, it appears that Microsoft is not going to leave without support those who install Windows 11 without meeting the minimum requirements. Nevertheless, this could change in the short, medium or long term, and you could also encounter stability or security problems at some point.
If you do not meet the minimum requirements, you cannot upgrade to Windows 11.
Windows 11 has marked an important leap in terms of minimum requirements. Especially, if we compare it with Windows 10, since it asks for twice the RAM (4 GB instead of 2 GB). In addition, it needs a storage unit of at least 64 GB capacity. It requires a DirectX 12 compatible GPU with the WDDM 2.0 driver and also requires a TPM 2.0 chip. Or an alternative solution, such as fTPM for AMD processors or PTT for Intel chips.
When Windows 11 was announced, it was not clear to us whether its requirements would be mandatory or not. That is to say, if they would represent an insurmountable barrier that would prevent the installation of this operating system in case of not fulfilling them or if the opposite would occur. In the end, the latter was fulfilled. That is to say, you can install Windows 11, although your equipment does not fulfill all its minimum requirements. However, you must bear in mind that you will not be able to do it directly from Windows Update. For what, you will have to make a clean installation.
As we have already mentioned in the previous point, installing Windows 11 on a computer that does not meet the minimum requirements is perfectly possible. Personally, I have installed it on computers with processors as basic as a 5th generation I3. Furthermore, I have not experienced any problems during the installation process or in the first few minutes after completion.
However, it is advisable to remember the previous point. Indeed, Microsoft is still not entirely clear about what might happen in the medium and long term with these users. So in the end, it remains a risk.
Windows 11 only works well on high-end PCs
This is also not true. Indeed, you do not need a mighty PC to enjoy a good user experience with Windows 11. Certainly, this operating system is more demanding than Windows 10. Let’s remember that, unlike Windows 10, it does not work really well on configurations with only 4 GB of RAM.
Consequently, if you have a PC that meets the minimum requirements of Windows 11, you will be able to make basic use of it. However, the experience will not be optimal. But this doesn’t mean you have to use a state-of-the-art pc with 16 GB of RAM and a Core Gen12 or a Ryzen 5000. Some configurations like 8 GB of RAM and Core i5 8400 and Ryzen 5 2600 processors work really well.
In short, any low-mid range PC that meets the minimum requirements, and has at least 8 GB of RAM, will be able to run Windows 11 well. Anyway, in this way we have dismantled some myths about Windows 11. I hope this information will help you to make the right decision. At the end of the day, it is a personal decision motivated by your circumstances. Goodbye!
