Upgrade Win10?

[Browncoat]

I’m still on Win 10 on my rig. Time is running out till I hit end of life on it. Are there any immediate downsides for CFS2 if I make the jump from 10 to 11?

 

[Dirtman]

Yo BC;

I'm running Win11Pro, an altered .iso, non standard install (no TPS etc.)
Pretty much the same old crap with better security & a new Main menu.
Maybe need a couple of addons/tweaks if you use Mission Builder.

- "print screen" key now brings up the "snipping tool" & creates multiple screenshots.

No real issues in continuing to run Win10 after the end of support.
I strongly recommend using premium aftermarket Anti-virus & VPN like Bitdefender, Norton etc.

I ran Win7 for several years after the end of support without any problems. (AVG then Bitdefender)
Don't let the Microsoft rhetoric scare you ... this is all about corporate profits.
MS only makes $$$ when everyone buys new PCs.

 

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Browncoat: I've been running cfs2 on Win 11 since April and except for a few easily overcome glitches, it runs fine for me on Win 11 Home (a new computer without Win 10.).

 

[Browncoat]

I appreciate the replies. I will hold on to Win10 for a bit more. October is a bit away. I am not concerned my hardware supporting it. I am just not that jazzed about having to deal with the gremlins that an upgrade will inevitably bring.

 

[Allen]

As Dirtman said. Don't lets Microsoft's rhetoric scare you. If all you use your PC for is basic web browsing and old games there is no point in jumping ship right away and as long as someone keep a web browser working I don't see a point in jumping ship at all really. I still rock a nearly 15 year Win 7 every day and it works just fine beside Discord because they are asses as soon as the last Google Chrome version for Windows 7 was put out the blocked it.

Granted I have moved to "Lose 10" a lot more over the past year and half but that is because I have been building things in the Unity game engine. I have no plans to downgrade to "Lose-er 11".

Edit: It has been a year and whatever block Discord added for Chrome 109.5 has now been removed Now I don't have to email my self things when I need to post something to Discord that is on the Win 7 PC. Also do NOT let anyone convince you that Discord is better than a forum. The loss of community knowledge when a forum is killed for a cheap Discord sever is shocking.

 

[mav]

There's a "firefox extended support release" you could try out?

Switch to Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR) for personal use | Firefox Help

How to switch to Firefox ESR as a workaround for issues with the newest version of Firefox.

support.mozilla.org

Cheers mav

 

[Dirtman]

There's a "firefox extended support release" you could try out?

Cheers mav

Use this version of Firefox on Win7 & 8.1 only, as they can no longer run the current version of Firefox.
Both will "time out" and stop working in the near future.
No update is planned that I know of after that.

 

[Dirtman]

Upgrading Win10 to Win11 is probably not possible because your hardware lacks the newer components that are (as Microsoft says) needed to run the improved security, like a TPM (Trusted Platform Module)

So "upgrading" like many did with Win7 to 8 or Win8 to 10 is not gonna work this time around.



BUT YOU CAN install Win11 on your existing hardware IF.
1) your CPU is on the approved Win11 list @ MS
2) your PC is 4-5 years old.

You'll need to use a program like "RUFUS" to modify the Win11.iso to remove the newer security requirements (TPS)
Then load it onto a USB stick & reload away!

Took me a few tries but now running GREAT!



A word of caution:
If your PC has an older HDD (mechanical) - REPLACE IT FIRST!
HDDs have a lifespan of 3 years (28,000 hrs. OEM basic) or 5 years (44,000 hrs. OEM Premium)
WD Blue = OEM
WD Black = Premium
This is calculated with the HDD running 24/7/365

An SSD is a MUCH BETTER choice.
- very fast
- cheaper than an HDD right now.
- design lifespan is 1.5 MILLION HOURS or about 100+ years!
- no need to "defrag" ... EVER!

Hope this helps you guys.

 

[Priller]

Upgrading Win10 to Win11 is probably not possible because your hardware lacks the newer components that are (as Microsoft says) needed to run the improved security, like a TPM (Trusted Platform Module)

So "upgrading" like many did with Win7 to 8 or Win8 to 10 is not gonna work this time around.

View attachment 160501

BUT YOU CAN install Win11 on your existing hardware IF.
1) your CPU is on the approved Win11 list @ MS
2) your PC is 4-5 years old.

You'll need to use a program like "RUFUS" to modify the Win11.iso to remove the newer security requirements (TPS)
Then load it onto a USB stick & reload away!

Took me a few tries but now running GREAT!

View attachment 160502

A word of caution:
If your PC has an older HDD (mechanical) - REPLACE IT FIRST!
HDDs have a lifespan of 3 years (28,000 hrs. OEM basic) or 5 years (44,000 hrs. OEM Premium)
WD Blue = OEM
WD Black = Premium
This is calculated with the HDD running 24/7/365

An SSD is a MUCH BETTER choice.
- very fast
- cheaper than an HDD right now.
- design lifespan is 1.5 MILLION HOURS or about 100+ years!
- no need to "defrag" ... EVER!

Hope this helps you guys.

Dirtman, coming from someone who's worked in IT for +/- 30 years, that advice is golden! Good show man!

Priller

 

[highpockets]

Good info Dirtman. I knew the life a an HHD was limited. I am fortunate enough to have room for a separate PC for my Sim. I upgraded to Win 10 and it is working OK. But at times I wish I had kept Win 7. Not sure of the age of both my PCs. Both are
Dell and my son in law is an independent computer/server/ specialist so I have a go to person. I may look into the SSD. I have them as my backup HD on our everyday PC's. .

 

[Priller]

Good info Dirtman. I knew the life a an HHD was limited. I am fortunate enough to have room for a separate PC for my Sim. I upgraded to Win 10 and it is working OK. But at times I wish I had kept Win 7. Not sure of the age of both my PCs. Both are
Dell and my son in law is an independent computer/server/ specialist so I have a go to person. I may look into the SSD. I have them as my backup HD on our everyday PC's. .

Try to make a bootable Win11 image with Rufus. You'll be able to avoid the ridiculous requirements of Win11, install it and enjoy several years of M$ support without having to buy new hardware. You only need a minimum of 8 Gb of RAM to make it work

Priller

 

[Fibber]

Word of advice on running a MS program after end of life. Turn OFF automatic MS updates !!!!!!!! I ran Win XP Pro for years after "end of life" and my game ran great. Someway I apparently allowed a security, and inattentively (stupidily) allowed my system to update. Guess what happened, the program never ran again and no matter how i searched I couldn't find the "security update" KB that did it!!! Look on the internet there are literally responses too numerous to count regarding it.

 

[Dirtman]

You only need a minimum of 8 Gb of RAM to make it work

Priller

RUFUS will remove the 4GB RAM minimum.
- kinda silly to run Win11 below 4GB ... I call 8GB the working minimum.
Currently have 32GB DDR4 installed. Yee-Haa!

Removes "Secure Boot"
- because this is a hack - you do not want an MS Account.

Set as "Local Account"
MUCH BETTER
I am a singular user .. I do not wish to be evolved with the entire Microsoft community.

 

[Dirtman]

Word of advice on running a MS program after end of life. Turn OFF automatic MS updates !!!!!!!! I ran Win XP Pro for years after "end of life" and my game ran great. Someway I apparently allowed a security, and inattentively (stupidily) allowed my system to update. Guess what happened, the program never ran again and no matter how i searched I couldn't find the "security update" KB that did it!!! Look on the internet there are literally responses too numerous to count regarding it.

10 years ago I rebuilt/refurbed 13 identical HP PC's and installed Win7 on all.
When Win7 hit "end of life" THERE WERE STILL UPDATES TO BE INSTALLED until about a year ago.

But they were minimal.
Each month they got the Windows Malicious Software Removal tool.
Occasionally they got Net-framework updates too.

I DID NOT recommend upgrading to Win8 and that Gawd-awful "Metro" interface.
My clients all ran PAYWARE A/V at "end of life" for top-level protection with a payware firewall.
I eventually installed Win10 on them over the past few years.
- all now running on SSDs

 

[Browncoat]

Thanks for the info Dirtman. I replaced my last mechanical HDDs with a SSD two years. With the rest of my hardware, I am set to go. MSI B550 MoBo with a 5800X3D and 32 GB of RAM along with a 3070Ti.

I’m just waiting (procrastinating) to do it because Ugh…I dislike having to configure Windows…

 

[Dirtman]

Thanks for the info Dirtman. Ugh…I dislike having to configure Windows…

I hear ya BC ... me too!
However RUFUS auto resets to "minimal data" uploaded to MS.
AND removes the "20 questions" displayed at the initialization of Win11.



Some tips:

Win11 .iso file
Everyone says to use the .iso that you d/l directly from MS.
- free ... BUT NOT ACTIVATED
I tried it several times but it had so many errors I found it unusable.

Got a copy of 24H2 - 4 days after it was released. (Oct. 4 2024) from another source.
A few days after installation; it auto-degraded to 23H2.

- about 3 weeks ago I got the re- upgrade to 24H2.
Many PC's have been "choking & puking" on the new upgrade since it was first released.
MS has been fixing the problems & reintroducing the upgrade as each brand of PC is repaired.

Update System BIOS
Check & update the BIOS if possible.
- Even brand new mobos can have an ancient BIOS.
Found 8 BIOS updates for my 2 y.o. ASUS PRIME B550-PLUS !!!!
- Win11 is kinda picky about this.

Use GPT only
- Win11 cannot function properly on MBR.
It will run ... just crappy with lots of BSOD

KMS Activators are problematic.
- Have had negative interactions with Win11 security AND Bitdefender making them useless.
- MAS activation (MS bulk licence) is 100% successful & the only way to go.
This also applies to MS Office.

Win11 Security
- very sensitive now. (like living with your Mother-In-Law .. GEEZ!!!)
- new functions like "Tamper Protection" which must be shut off before you can install ANY aftermarket security.

FYI: Windows Defender & Anti-malware protection are actually very good.
Rated better than McAfee Payware!

Freeware A/V
Not really very good anymore.
All seem to be just "on-line" scanners.
Minimal protection at best ... at least get a VPN!

Payware A/V
My personal choice.
I'm a big fan of "programmable firewalls"

A word of caution:
As in the past, installing your Payware A/V would automatically turn off Win Defender.
This also applies to Win11.

HOWEVER; Win11 seems a bit lazy in this area as it seems to take a few days to stop receiving/installing WinDef daily updates.
- this REALLY screwed me up for a while because I thought I needed to shut WinDef off manually.
Be patient & let Win11 sort it out.


To Everyone:
This is just to show how to put Win11 on a PC that cannot physically run it as per MS specs & restrictions.
If you have installed an o/s before ... then there is a few more things you need to learn. (see above)
If you are a novice ... maybe this isn't for you ... unless you are prepared to learn.

A BIG TIP is to install Win11 on a new HDD or SSD.
Simply remove the old one & set it aside.
WHY?
Because if you screw up & fail to load Win11 successfully .... and get totally pissed ....
... then you can simply reinstall the original HD and continue on as if nothing had happened.
Smart eh?