Would anyone who knows Win 11 system requirements please look at this?

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Most of you are a lot more knowledgeable than I am about computer systems. I have a Dell XPS desktop in my cart and was hoping people here could look at the details and let me know if there is something missing or problematic? I remember seeing something somewhere that spoke of certain things that would be best if getting Win 11, thought I’d saved that info, but of course can not find it now. Would appreciate your assistance with this.

Windows 11 Pro
Version 10.0.22621, Build 22621
Dell XPS 8950, 12th Gen Intel i7

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It’s got a modern CPU and loads of memory. As it’s a Dell XPS it will have TPM 2, as mine does. That will be fine for W11.

cheers, Paul

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Endora

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Download and run the free portable ‘whynotwin11‘

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NaNoNyMouse, Endora

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Alex5723 wrote:

Download and run the free portable ‘whynotwin11‘

Thank you Alex5723. I have never heard of this program before. I am not using this Win 11 system, it’s in my cart to purchase. Is that attachment in your post telling me that the XPS choice is a good one?

Windows 11 Pro
Version 10.0.22621, Build 22621
Dell XPS 8950, 12th Gen Intel i7

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Microfix

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I really think this particular XPS choice is too good for Win 11 right now.  Win 10 would be better, and maybe switch to Win 11 when it matures for a few years.  Just my two centavos.

Even astrophysicist Carl Sagan when speaking astronomically used Billions, not Trillions.

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Endora

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Endora wrote:

I am not using this Win 11 system

‘whynotwin11’ shows my currant Windows 10 PC compatibility to Win 11 (everything should be in the ‘green’
Download and run on your XPS.

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Endora

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You are not reading the comment.

“in my cart” = not yet bought.

cheers, Paul

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Microfix, Endora, Alex5723

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Hi Endora:

Are those specs for a Dell XPS 8940 desktop?

The Dell support article Dell Computers Tested for Upgrade to Windows 11 lists all Dell computer models that either ship with Win 11 or can be upgraded to Win 11 at a later date, and the Dell XPS 8940 is listed in the XPS Desktop section of that support article.
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.1766 * Firefox v102.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2205.7-1.1.19300.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.11.202-1.0.1716 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.6867 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v4.5.0 * Inspiron 5583/5584 BIOS v1.18.0

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windbg, Endora

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lmacri wrote:

Hi Endora:

Are those specs for a Dell XPS 8940 desktop?

The Dell support article Dell Computers Tested for Upgrade to Windows 11 lists all Dell computer models that either ship with Win 11 or can be upgraded to Win 11 at a later date, and the Dell XPS 8940 is listed in the XPS Desktop section of that support article.
———–
Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.1766 * Firefox v102.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2205.7-1.1.19300.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.11.202-1.0.1716 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.6867 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v4.5.0 * Inspiron 5583/5584 BIOS v1.18.0

Hi Imacri. the attachment I sent in my original post says Win 11 Home is the operating system. I looked things over and couldn’t find a model number anywhere on that page, but the url to the page lists XPS 8940 in it so I believe it’s the one I will probably get. I’d confirm that before the actual purchase.

Windows 11 Pro
Version 10.0.22621, Build 22621
Dell XPS 8950, 12th Gen Intel i7

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We purchased two Dell XPS 8940’s before Windows 11 shipped and WhyNot11 says Windows 11 will work on both.  Both will remain on Windows 10 until Windows 11 matures.

The AskWoody site often recommends group policy changes, so we pay extra for the Pro version instead of the Home version of Windows.

 

Windows 10 22H2 desktops & laptops on Dell, HP, ASUS; No servers, no domain.

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Endora

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Group policy can often be applied by changing registry entries. The one thing that is harder to control in Windows Home is Windows Update, but you can still do it free with WuMgr. Then you can spend the $100 on an external hard disk for backup and still have change.

cheers, Paul

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Endora, lmacri, Alex5723

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True.  But do you want BitLocker?

Some Windows 11 and Windows 10 differences:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compare-windows-11-home-vs-pro-versions
https://www.lifewire.com/windows-10-home-vs-pro-4177144

Windows 10 22H2 desktops & laptops on Dell, HP, ASUS; No servers, no domain.

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Endora, lmacri

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I use Vercrypt on my boxes. Works nicely on older units as well – without needing TPM or USB.

cheers, Paul

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Endora

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I was looking at getting Win 11 Pro on a business set up but the cost jumps almost 1K and I have no real reason to spend that kind of money for a personal use computer. I’m not the sort who does much more than just browsing, don’t play games, not planning to be a student again lol. I’m not afraid to apply helpful tweaks, just not a power user. I suppose I could add the Pro version and have them install it. Are there really a lot of reasons to do it though?

I am still using Win 7 Pro, never wanted Win 10 and at this point it seems silly to me to go with another operating system that will end in 3 years. I keeps seeing the words “when Win 11 matures”. What does that mean and when will that happen?

And thank all of you so much for helping me out here, it’s hard to know who to ask but I know better than to listen only to a salesman looking to sell his product.

Windows 11 Pro
Version 10.0.22621, Build 22621
Dell XPS 8950, 12th Gen Intel i7

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Endora wrote:

I was looking at getting Win 11 Pro on a business set up but the cost jumps almost 1K and I have no real reason to spend that kind of money for a personal use computer. I’m not the sort who does much more than just browsing, don’t play games, not planning to be a student again lol. I’m not afraid to apply helpful tweaks, just not a power user…

Hi Endora:

Then I’m not sure a high-end Dell XPS 8940 desktop that costs around $1500 to $2000 USD (and doesn’t appear to come with a monitor) is an appropriate choice for you. The specs you posted (32 GB memory, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 discrete graphics card, 512 GB SSD plus 1 TB SATA HDD, etc.) sound like overkill if all you’re going to use it for is e-mailing, browsing the internet, and doing some online video chat and streaming, even if you want to run Win 11.

I’ve attached my WhyNotWin11 results that shows my two-year-old Dell Inspiron 5584 laptop that is currently running Win 10 Pro is ready for an upgrade to Win 11 Pro.  Note that I live in Canada and paid about $675 CAD + tax for this 15.6″ laptop, which is equivalent to $520 USD; if I were buying a new computer today I would invest in at least 16 GB of RAM and would probably purchase a larger 512 GB SSD as well (although my 256 GB SSD still has lots of free disk space).

I have no intention of upgrading to Win 11 until my Win 10 OS reaches end of support in Oct 2025 or Win 11 is finally stable enough to be recommended in business environments. You might want to consider purchasing a computer with lower specs than a XPS 8940 desktop and spend the money you save on a $100 upgrade to a Professional edition of Win 10 or Win 11.
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.1766 * Intel i5-8265U CPU * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD * Intel UHD Graphics 620

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Endora, cyberSAR, windbg

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Endora wrote:

I suppose I could add the Pro version and have them install it. Are there really a lot of reasons to do it though?

Hi Endora:

Further to your question about Home vs Professional, upgrading to Professional is fairly straightforward if your computer ships from the factory with a Home edition (see the MS support article Upgrade Windows Home to Windows Pro) and should only cost about $100 USD if Dell is overcharging for the Professional edition.

Since you currently have a Win 7 SP1 OS the biggest change you will likely find is how little control you have over your Windows Updates with Win 10 / Win 11 Home editions. It’s difficult to control what updates are delivered to your system and when they’re installed unless you use a third-party utility like the WUMgr (Update Manager for Windows) tool that Paul T recommended in post # 2461205 – see geekdom’s Guide to Using WuMgr for Windows 10 Updates for an overview of this tool.

My Dell Inspiron 5584 shipped with Win 10 Pro so I am able to use the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit) to control my Windows Updates without the need for a third-party utility. For example, if I enter gpedit.msc in a Run dialog box to open the Local Group Policy Editor and then browse to Computer Configuration | Administrative Templates | Windows Components | Windows Update | Windows Update for Business | Select the Target Feature Update Version then I can enter “Windows 10” to prevent my system from unexpectedly upgrading to Windows 11 until I choose to do so, and I can enter “21H2” to stay on the current stable Win 10 Version 21H2 (OS Build 19044) until I’m ready to update to the next Version 22H2 (OS Build 19045) when this Feature Update starts rolling out in the Fall of 2022 (see the gpedit images below).

I use my Local Group Policy Editor settings to prevent Windows Update from installing hardware driver updates (I only install BIOS firmware and driver updates recommend on the Dell support page for my Inspiron 5584) and Week C/D Preview builds (which tend to be buggy) and have made a few other minor tweaks. My Win 10 Pro OS also allows me to easily pause my updates for up to 35 days (Settings | Update & Security | Windows Update | Advanced Options | Pause Updates | Pause Until) so that I can pick a specific date when Patch Tuesday updates like my monthly cumulative Quality Update will be installed (note that Windows Update will continue to deliver daily virus definition updates for Microsoft Defender while updates are paused this way).
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.1766 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2205.7-1.1.19400.3 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.11.202-1.0.1716 * Intel i5-8265U CPU * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD * Intel UHD Graphics 620

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Endora, windbg

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I agree with @lmacri For what you describe as your use I would look at an Inspiron or Vostro. I bought a Vostro 3888 with 10 Pro (upgraded it to Win11) a couple years ago because it was ridiculously cheap. Added a stick of ram and my grandson games on it with no issues! Think I have about $350 invested with the extra ram. Of course now prices are a bit higher but that would be something to consider with your use.

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Endora

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Hi Endora:

Just an FYI that I’m not personally endorsing any one brand of computer. I chose Dell for my Win 10 Pro laptop because many of the places I’ve worked use Dell Latitude laptops (with hard drives re-imaged by the IT department so they only run approved third-party software) and I was always impressed with their reliability.  However, I’ve been less than happy with my Inspiron 5584. The hardware is fine (with the exception of a fan that’s too noisy for my liking) but their proprietary software for Dell home computers like Support Assist and SupportAssist OS Recovery are buggy and hog system resources, and the customer support from DELL-Cares was terrible.

I still use the Dell Update v4.x utility to check for Dell firmware and driver updates but once my service warranty expired I either uninstalled or disabled all my other Dell software. If I ever purchase another Dell computer I’ll likely perform a clean re-install of the Windows OS to remove all the Dell bloatware and trial software that ships from the factory before I install Dell Update v4.x and other preferred third-party software and restore my personal user data.

My previous laptop was an HP dv6835ca that served me well for almost a decade but I have no idea about the quality of their newer machines or what HP customer support is like these days. I also looked into Acer and ASUS laptops before purchasing my Dell Inspiron Win 10 Pro laptop but couldn’t find anything in my price range with the hardware specs I wanted.
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.1766 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2205.7-1.1.19400.3 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.11.202-1.0.1716 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v4.5.0 * Intel i5-8265U CPU * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD * Intel UHD Graphics 620

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Endora, windbg

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Again, thank you all so much for your help. I’m now not sure if I should make the move or not, I was hoping by this time Win 11 would be stable enough to go for it, but not sure now. I definitely won’t consider Win 10, there’s still an awful lot of problems with that system it seems even this far along.

Windows 11 Pro
Version 10.0.22621, Build 22621
Dell XPS 8950, 12th Gen Intel i7

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Endora wrote:

… I was hoping by this time Win 11 would be stable enough to go for it, but not sure now…

Hi Endora:

Susan Bradley, the publisher of the AskWoody newsetter, posted the following comment in the PLUS (paid) version of this week’s newletter:

… Mind you, I’m still not recommending upgrades to Windows 11 — even if you have appropriate hardware. Stay on Windows 10 for now. If you have purchased your way to Windows 11 via a new computer, I recommend purchasing and installing Start11 or any of the other free classic menu tools. If you, like me, still use a mixture of Windows 10 and 11 machines, you’ll find UI differences disorienting. At the very least, you may want to move the Start menu to the left…

According to the StatCounter graph <here> Win 11 currently accounts for only 10% of all Windows desktop/laptop computers, and Win 11 features are is still be tweaked by Microsoft based on feedback from early adopters.  I think you’ll be fine with either Win 10 or Win 11, but both operating system will take a bit of getting used to if you’re moving up from Win 7 SP1. In the wise words of Shrek, “Change is good thing, Donkey”, but Shrek apparently never owned a Windows computer.
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.1766 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2205.7-1.1.19400.3 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.11.202-1.0.1716 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.6867 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v4.5.0 * Intel i5-8265U CPU * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD * Intel UHD Graphics 620

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windbg, Endora

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lmacri wrote:

Susan Bradley, the publisher of the AskWoody newsetter, posted the following comment

I did see that and Susan’s opinion on everything is important to me, as well as other’s here who clearly know their stuff. Please tell me this: someone up above spoke of Win 11 “maturing”. What does that mean? I do get what the word means but when would this op system be considered mature?

[Moderator edit] please do not quote long whole posts. Highlight the relevant part and click Quote.

Windows 11 Pro
Version 10.0.22621, Build 22621
Dell XPS 8950, 12th Gen Intel i7

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Endora wrote:

…someone up above spoke of Win 11 “maturing”. What does that mean? …

Hi Endora:

Every person will have their own benchmark for when they feel that Windows 11 is “mature” enough for them to upgrade from their current OS to Windows 11. For me personally, I’d like to see Windows 11 being adopted more widely in business environments where a stable operating system is critical. You might want to read the Tom’s Guide 04-Apr-2022 article Should I Upgrade to Windows 11? What You Need to Know that includes a link to the 21-Mar-2022 article Windows 11 Problems and Fixes — Everything We Know So Far about some of the problems early adopters encountered (e.g., slower-than-usual SSD speeds, problems with the Start menu, etc.), although most of these issues have been addressed as of July 2022.

I live in Canada and I did find a few Vostro laptop models on the Dell Canada site with 11th Gen CPUs that ship with Window 10 Pro (see <here>), but the newer Inspiron, XPS and Vostro models I checked that have a 12th Gen CPU only come with Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro. Dell allows you to customize the base configuration of their most of their models (e.g., to increase the amount of RAM or size of your hard drive, upgrade the video card, etc.) but if you purchase one of their newer models then having it customized to ship with a Win 10 OS probably isn’t an option, even if you wanted to do that.
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.1826 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2205.7-1.1.19400.3 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.11.202-1.0.1716 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.6867 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v4.5.0 * Intel i5-8265U CPU * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD * Intel UHD Graphics 620

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Endora, windbg

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lmacri wrote:

Endora wrote:

…someone up above spoke of Win 11 “maturing”. What does that mean? …

Hi Endora:

Every person will have their own benchmark for when they feel that Windows 11 is “mature” enough for them to upgrade from their current OS to Windows 11. For me personally, I’d like to see Windows 11 being adopted more widely in business environments where a stable operating system is critical. You might want to read the Tom’s Guide 04-Apr-2022 article Should I Upgrade to Windows 11? What You Need to Know that includes a link to the 21-Mar-2022 article Windows 11 Problems and Fixes — Everything We Know So Far about some of the problems early adopters encountered (e.g., slower-than-usual SSD speeds, problems with the Start menu, etc.), although most of these issues have been addressed as of July 2022.

I live in Canada and I did find a few Vostro laptop models on the Dell Canada site with 11th Gen CPUs that ship with Window 10 Pro (see <here>), but the newer Inspiron, XPS and Vostro models I checked that have a 12th Gen CPU only come with Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro. Dell allows you to customize the base configuration of their most of their models (e.g., to increase the amount of RAM or size of your hard drive, upgrade the video card, etc.) but if you purchase one of their newer models then having it customized to ship with a Win 10 OS probably isn’t an option, even if you wanted to do that.
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.1826 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2205.7-1.1.19400.3 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.11.202-1.0.1716 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.6867 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v4.5.0 * Intel i5-8265U CPU * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G NVMe SSD * Intel UHD Graphics 620

Thanks Imacri. This computer that I have Win 7 Pro on is a Dell Inspiron 3650 that was purchased with Win 10 but I had them downgrade me to Win 7. Win 10 was a mess then and I did not want to deal with it. If I really wanted to I could upgrade back to Win 10 but I don’t trust this system to stay up and running for too much longer. I’d rather move directly to Win 11 but just not sure if it should be now.

Windows 11 Pro
Version 10.0.22621, Build 22621
Dell XPS 8950, 12th Gen Intel i7

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