The expectation is that if you purchase a brand new Windows 10 laptop with good specs it will be upgradeable to Windows 11. However, that isn’t necessarily so — read on to learn why.
Many retailers are currently advertising some nice laptops at tempting prices but there is a catch — these laptops come with Windows 10 pre-installed and cannot be upgraded to Windows 11.
If you buy one of these PCs now, or during the next few months, in a little over three years’ time you’ll be stuck with a near new PC running an operating system that has reached end-of-support and cannot be upgraded to Windows 11. It’s a case of the hardware well and truly outlasting the operating system.
If you’re thinking about purchasing a new PC in the not-too-distant future that comes with Windows 10 pre-installed, I strongly advise you to make sure it can be upgraded to Windows 11. Or, better still, buy one that comes with Windows 11 already installed.
Here is an example from a major Australian retailer (Note: Australian prices are a lot higher than in the U.S.)
This is a very nice laptop with good specs. Note: The CPU is an i7-1165G7. This CPU is included in Microsoft’s list of Windows 11 supported Intel CPUs. However, checking the specs for this particular CPU discloses that it does not support TPM, which means the laptop cannot be upgraded to Windows 11. If you go to the specs page for this CPU and scroll down to the “Security & Reliability” section, you’ll see that “Intel Trusted Execution Technology” (Intel’s term for TPM) is not supported:
Here’s another example from a different major retailer:
Again, the CPU (Intel i5-10210U) is included in Microsoft’s list of Windows 11 supported CPUs but, once again, the specs page for this CPU discloses that TPM (Intel Trusted Execution Technology) is not supported.
These deals are everywhere right now as retailers try to offload these laptops and, trust me, they are not going to willingly disclose that the laptops cannot be upgraded to Windows 11. It’s up to you to check that out for yourselves. Or, as I said earlier, go with a new PC that comes with Windows 11 already installed.
This may seem like pretty obvious advice to some but I am putting it out there because I’d hate to see anyone tempted into buying a nice new machine that, in a little over three years’ time, won’t be able to run a supported Windows operating system.
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Hi Jim. I need to replace my oldest desktop this year, as it can only run Windows 8.1. After checking my new go to place for computers, Amazon, discovered something quite interesting. When I typed “computers with Windows 11 installed”, from Canada, almost everything on their list are these mini compact computers. No desktop computers (guess it is too soon, like you mentioned, they need to sell their old stock first), and the laptops mentioned come with 10, so you have to purchase 11(?)
When I changed my address to the USA, there were plenty of Laptops with 11 installed (even displayed on the screen).
Have a question for anyone who purchased one of these tiny handheld (no fan) computers, would they recommend and reasons why? Much appreciated, Mindblower!
Hey MB,
Same here in Australia. It’s been quite some time since any major retail stores stocked desktops. Specialist online stores are the only way to buy a desktop these days.
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Another great article Jim. Thank you.
Thank you Lucio, your kind words are appreciated.