Cast your mind back a good while (yes, unfortunately, I have worked in IT for that long) – Windows 7 has regained a lot of love and trust after the (sorry to say it, Microsoft) unmitigated disaster that is Windows Vista. Windows 10 has been announced. Is this another Vista? Where’s my start menu gone? Why does everything have to be tiled? Why have they just overlaid a new interface on fundamentally the same tools?
Well, brace yourself, that was over eight years ago. Since then, Windows 10 cemented Microsoft as the commercial operating system provider of choice, and here we are again. At the edge of a precipice as Windows 10 enters its final phase, the support cycle of the last feature pack. So, have you made the leap to Windows 11?
Wait, what? The Start Menu is back!? Well, ish…
First things first – are you running the right feature pack?
Windows 10 follows what Microsoft terms the “Modern Lifecycle Policy”. Features are released under Feature Packs or Versions – roughly every six months. Well, with 21H2 support ending on 13th June 23 (two weeks ago), the only feature pack now maintained by Microsoft is 22H2.
So, the takeaway for you. If you’re still running Windows 10, make sure it’s version 22H2! And start planning for Windows 11…
I’ll finish this section with the acknowledgement of a caveat, as I’ve been corrected on this before. Everything listed in this article applies to Home and Pro versions (after all, we are a Managed Services Provider for SMEs), if you’re running Enterprise or Education you have until 11th June 2024 for 21H2.
Moving to Windows 11 – don’t worry, you still have time
22H2, and more importantly, Windows 10 in general, support ends 14/10/2025. That gives you plenty of time to plan and execute moving from Windows 10 so use it wisely. Some of our top tips are;
- Windows 11 has stricter requirements on hardware, most notably CPU and TPM. You can check compatibility on your existing hardware by running the Windows 11 eligibility assessment.
- If you use any third-party line of business (LOB) applications that have client-side installations, now is the time to confirm they are compatible with Windows 11. You can do this by asking the software vendor or upgrading a small sample of your IT estate.
- Now is the time to decide how you’ll roll out Windows 11. If you’re like us, you’ll have blocked version upgrades via Windows Update. There are many options open to you – Will you be rolling out a new pre-built image on new (or existing) hardware, or allowing Windows Update to automate the process for you?
Getting a handle on your current IT estate is the imperative first step, and bzb IT are here to help! If you’re looking for an industry-leading IT Services Provider based in the South West to help with your rollout of Windows 11, please do get in touch.
