You need to enable Secure Boot to install Windows 11 — here’s how.

You need to enable Secure Boot to install Windows 11 — here’s how.

Windows 11 requires Secure Boot to run, and here are the steps to check and enable the security feature on your device.

 Windows 11 enable Secure Boot

In addition to a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), your computer also needs to have Secure Boot enabled to upgrade to Windows 11. 

Secure Boot is a security feature built-in on most devices with modern hardware and UEFI firmware that provides a secure environment to start Windows and prevent malware from hijacking the system during the boot process. In other words, Secure Boot allows the computer to boot only with trusted software from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). 

The benefit of this feature is a more secure experience, which is one of the reasons Microsoft is making it a requirement to install Windows 11. However, there’s a caveat: Enabling this option prevents you from running other operating systems, such as Linux. 

In this Windows 11 guide, we will walk you through the steps to check and enable Secure Boot to upgrade a Windows 10 device. 

How to check Secure Boot state on Windows 10

To check whether Secure Boot is enabled, use these steps: 

1. Open Start.

2. Search for System Information and click the top result to open the app.

3. Click on System Summary on the left pane.

4. Check the “Secure Boot State” information. If it reads On, it’s enabled. If it reads Off, it’s disabled or not available. 

Check Secure Boot on Windows 10 

5. Check the “BIOS Mode” information. If it is reads UEFI, you can enable Secure Boot. If it is reads Legacy (BIOS), you can enable the feature, but it will require additional steps. 

Once you complete the steps, if the feature is disabled and BIOS Mode is UEFI, you can use the steps outlined below to enable a more secure experience running Windows 11. 

If the “Secure Boot State” is set to Off and “BIOS Mode” to Legacy, then back up your computer, use these instructions to convert the installation from MBR to GPT, and then continue with the steps below to enable Secure Boot. 

How to enable Secure Boot on Windows 10

To enable the Secure Boot on a computer with UEFI, use these steps: 

Warning: Changing the incorrect firmware settings can prevent your device from starting correctly. You should access the motherboard settings only when you have a good reason. It’s assumed that you know what you’re doing. 

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Update & Security.

3. Click on Recovery.

4. Under the “Advanced startup” section, click the Restart now button. 

Windows 10 Recovery Settings Advanced Startup 

5. Click the UEFI Firmware settings option. 

Windows 10 UEFI firmware settings option 

Quick tip: If you have a legacy BIOS, the option will not be available. 

6. Click the Restart button. 

Windows 10 reboot to enter BIOS/UEFI 

7. Open the boot or security settings page. 

Quick note: The UEFI settings are usually different per manufacturer and even per computer model. As a result, you may need to check your manufacturer support website for more specific details to find the corresponding settings. 

8. Select the Secure Boot option and press Enter.

9. Select the Enabled option and press Enter. 

Enable Secure Boot 

10. Exit the UEFI settings.

Confirm the changes to restart the computer. 

After you complete the steps, the security feature will enable, and the device should now comply with the Windows 11 requirements. 

How to enable Secure Boot during startup

Alternatively, you can also enable Secure Boot by booting into the UEFI firmware during startup instead of using the Settings app. 

To access the device firmware during the boot process, use these steps: 

1. Press the Power button.

2. See the screen splash to identify the key you must press to enter the firmware (if applicable).

3. Press the required key repeatedly until you enter the setup mode. Typically, you need to press the Esc, Delete, or one of the Function keys (F1, F2, F10, etc.).

4. Open the boot or security settings page (as needed).

5. Select the Secure Boot option and press Enter.

6. Select the Enabled option and press Enter. 

Enable Secure Boot 

7. Exit the UEFI settings.

8. Confirm the changes to restart the computer. 

Once you complete the steps, Secure Boot will enable you to support the installation of Windows 11. 

If you cannot access the firmware using the keyboard, you may need to check your manufacturer documentation to determine the key you need to press during boot. Here are some brands and their respective keys to access the device firmware: 

Dell: F2 or F12.

HP: Esc or F10.

Acer: F2 or Delete.

ASUS: F2 or Delete.

Lenovo: F1 or F2.

MSI: Delete.

Toshiba: F2.

Samsung: F2.

Surface: Press and hold the volume up button. 

It’s important to note that doing the development process, Microsoft is not fully enforcing all the system requirements. However, this may change when the final version is released.

 

Cheers!!!

Edited By AdeDanCompTech

WINDOWS 11 NEW FEATURES AND HOW TO USE THEM

Windows 11 new features and how to use them

With Windows 11 Insider Preview released and the stable version on its way, there is a fresh new design and a bunch of new features aimed at streamlining your PC and helping you be more productive, whether you're using your laptop or tablet at home or in the office. 

Here are the best new Windows 11 features we've seen announced so far, and how you'll use them, based on what Microsoft has demonstrated. We'll update this post with more thorough instructions once the beta version comes out next week and we can try them ourselves.

How to use the new Windows 11 features

* Android apps

You'll be able to download Android apps on Windows 11.

What it is: Android apps will be built into Windows 11 natively through the new Microsoft Store -- a change Windows users have been waiting on for years. Though you could access Android apps on your Windows 10 PC in certain cases (like if you have a Samsung Galaxy phone), Windows 11 marks the first time everyone will be able to download them directly onto your PC. 

How you'll use it: Android apps will be in the new Microsoft Store via Amazon's Appstore. That means you'll need to download the Amazon Appstore to access the nearly 500,000 apps available there, including Disney Plus, TikTok, Netflix, Pinterest, Uber and more. However, you won't be able to access every Android app found in the Google Play Store.

To get started, you'll need to download the Amazon Appstore and sign into or create an Amazon account. Then you'll be able to search for free or paid apps as you would on any other platform. Android apps will be integrated into the Start bar and will also appear on the Taskbar with their own windows.

* Widgets

Widgets on Windows 11 will give you customizable, at-a-glance information.

What it is: Windows 11 will add Widgets to the interface -- an AI-powered customizable feed that slides out to show you info such as news, weather, a glimpse at your calendar and to-do list and your recent photos. Widgets are similar to a feature called news and interests found in a recent Windows 10 update. 

How you'll use it: On the newly redesigned taskbar, you'll find a button for Widgets. When you click or tap it, a panel will slide out from the left side of your screen with a series of widgets that give you the at-a-glance information you're looking for. You can also expand it to be full screen.

* Microsoft Teams

Bring up the Microsoft Teams Chat bar directly from the taskbar in Windows 11 for easier access to your contacts.

What it is: Windows 11 will build Microsoft's video chat platform Teams directly into the operating system, making it easier to access for daily use. You can connect with others on Teams across Windows, Android, Mac or iOS. 

How you'll use it: Teams will now appear in the taskbar. Click the Teams icon to launch a Chat tool, letting you choose if you want to message, text, voice or video call one of your contacts. Click Meet or Chat, and choose who you want to contact. Or, open the full version of Microsoft teams by clicking the box at the bottom of the Chat screen.

* Desktops

Easily toggle between different desktops in Windows 11.

What it is: Windows 11 will let you more easily create separate virtual desktops for each part of your life, and customize them with different wallpapers, so you can create a desktop for personal use, work, school, gaming or anything else, and easily toggle between them. This is similar to the Mac OS virtual desktop feature. 

How you'll use it: We don't have as much information on how to set up the new desktops yet, but from Microsoft's demo, it looks like once you do, you'll be able to scroll to the bottom of your screen and see a window slide up with the different desktops you've created, letting you switch back and forth between them with one click.

* Snap Layouts

What it is: When you're working in a bunch of open windows, Windows 11 will let you arrange them in different layouts on the screen, and will save all of those windows in that arrangement. 

How you'll use it: When you open a window, you'll see a button that looks like a square in the top right corner, in between the X and the minimize button. Click that to see different layout options for that window, and select the layout and the position within the layout that you want to place that window.

 

* Snap Groups 

Bring together groups of apps and windows with Snap Layouts, and easily maximize and minimize the entire bunch with Snap Groups in Windows 11.

What it is: Snap Groups are the set of open windows that you saved in Snap Layouts, found in the taskbar for easy access to call up once again, so you can minimize or maximize them as a group.

How you'll use it: Hover over your browser in the taskbar (it's unclear if you need to be using Microsoft Edge to do so, as Microsoft did in its demo). You'll see the different groups of sites and apps you created pop up. Click the one you want to open the whole group again. 

 

Cheers!!!

Edited By AdeDanCompTech

 

WINDOWS 11: WHAT IS EXPECTED

Windows 11: What is expected

Windows 11 Insider Preview has been released while the stable version is coming soon. These are all of the new features and other details about Microsoft's big update you need to know.

Windows 11 brings a new look and new features to Microsoft's operating system.

Windows 11 Stable Version is on its way. Microsoft unveiled "the next generation of Windows" at its virtual event in June, and with it, some big changes to the long-standing operating system, including its first name change in six years. The announcement follows Microsoft's roll out the latest version of Windows 10, the Windows 10 May 2021 update (also known as version 21H1). 

Windows 11: Top new features in 2021

Windows 11 includes a slew of new features, like the ability to download and run Android apps on your Windows PC and updates to Microsoft Teams, the Start menu and the overall look of the software, which is more clean and Mac-like in design.

Seven new features included in Windows 11

Here are a few of the standout new features in Windows 11:

* A new, more Mac-like interface. Windows 11 features a clean design with rounded corners, pastel shades and a centered Start menu and Taskbar. 

* Integrated Android apps. Android apps will be coming to Windows 11 and installable from within the new Microsoft Store via the Amazon Appstore. (There were a couple of ways to access Android apps on Windows 10, including if you had a Samsung Galaxy phone, but this will make it native.) 

* Widgets. While they've been around for a while (remember desktop gadgets on Windows Vista?), including in a recent Windows 10 update, you can now access widgets directly from the Taskbar and personalize them to see whatever you'd like. 

* Microsoft Teams integration. Teams is getting a face-lift and will be integrated directly into the Windows 11 Taskbar, making it easier to access (and a bit more like Apple's FaceTime). You'll be able to access Teams from Windows, Mac, Android or iOS. 

* Xbox tech for better gaming. Windows 11 will get certain features found in Xbox consoles, like Auto HDR and Direct Storage, to improve gaming on your Windows PC. 

* Better virtual desktop support. Windows 11 will let you set up virtual desktops in a way that's more similar to Mac OS, toggling between multiple desktops for personal, work, school or gaming use. 
* Easier transition from monitor to laptop, and better multitasking. The new OS includes features called Snap Groups and Snap Layouts -- collections of the apps you're using at once that sit in the Taskbar, and can come up or be minimized at the same time for easier task switching. They also let you plug and unplug from a monitor more easily without losing where your open windows are located. 

When you'll be able to get Windows 11

Windows 11 is now available as an Insider Preview build download for those in the Windows Insider Program, and will be available as a public beta this July. It will begin rolling out to all compatible PCs and new PCs around the 2021 holiday season, according to Microsoft, and will continue rolling out into 2022. However, several hints suggest that Windows 11 could arrive as early as October. 

How to know if your computer will be compatible with Windows 11

To see if your current Windows 10 PC is eligible for the free upgrade to Windows 11, go to Microsoft's website for a list of requirements. 

Originally, Microsoft was directing people to download the PC Health Check app to check if their machines were compatible. However, many users reported that it did not give adequate amounts of detail as to why a device was not compatible. On June 28, a Microsoft blog post said the company was "temporarily removing the app" to address this issue, and that the tool would return before the fall Windows 11 release.

New PCs will be eligible for an upgrade to Windows 11.

If you buy a new PC between now and the general release, that computer will also be eligible for the free upgrade.

How to download Windows 11 once it's available

Once Windows 11 becomes generally available, you'll download it the same way you would any new version of Windows. Most users will go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for Updates. If available, you'll see Feature update to Windows 11. Click Download and install.

Will it be free to download Windows 11?

If you're already a Windows 10 user, Windows 11 will appear as a free upgrade for your machine.

 

Cheers!!!

Edited by AdeDanCompTech

Also See:    Windows 11 New Features and How to Use Them

                   Will My PC Work With Windows 11?

WILL YOUR PC WORK WITH WINDOWS 11?

Will your PC work with Windows 11?

Check out Microsoft's system requirements.

Microsoft has a tool to help you figure out if your device will be able to run Windows 11, but it's temporarily offline.

Here's how to check another way.

A vast majority of PCs should be compatible with the new Windows 11 operating system, according to a Windows blog post published after the announcement of Microsoft's first major software upgrade in six years. But if you're planning to upgrade your current PC instead of buying a new device, we recommend you make sure the updated OS will work on your computer. Otherwise, you'll probably need to replace your PC by 2025 as Microsoft phases out Windows 10 over the next several years.

When Microsoft first directed Windows users to download its PC Health Check app to test whether your PC meets the system requirements for Windows 11, many people reported that it was not giving enough detail as to why their device was not compatible. The company temporarily removed the tool and said in a blog post that it plans to address the feedback and get it back online sometime before Windows 11 becomes generally available in the fall. 

You can still figure out if your device will run Windows 11 a few other ways, though. Here's what to do. 

What's WhyNotWin11?

A new, open-source app called WhyNotWin11 could be a good alternative to the PC Health Check app, especially while Microsoft's official tool is offline. The Github app, created by a developer not affiliated with Microsoft, is a less friendly interface, but it should give you more information and go into more detail about various potential compatibility issues. 

Will my laptop run Windows 11?

To determine if your current PC will be able to run Windows 11, you can check out this list of system specifications on Microsoft's website, or in the chart below. If your machine is compatible, you can download the Windows 11 update for free when it becomes available around the 2021 holiday season. If you're part of the Windows Insider Program, you can download the Insider Preview build version now.

What are the system requirements to run Windows 11?

Here's the full list of system requirements for Windows 11, including at least 4 gigabytes of RAM, 64GB of storage and a 720p display larger than 9 inches diagonally.

Windows 11 Requirements

Spec	Requirement
Processor	1GHz or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip
RAM	4GB
Storage	64GB or larger storage device
System firmware	UEFI, Secure Boot capable
TPM	Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
Graphics card	Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver
Display	HD (720p) display greater than 9 inches diagonally, 8 bits per color channel
Internet connection and Microsoft account	For Windows 11 Home edition: internet connectivity; Microsoft account to complete device setup on first use For all Windows 11 editions: internet access to perform updates and to download and use some features; Microsoft account for some features

Cheers!!!

Edited By AdeDanCompTech

HOW TO GET WINDOWS 10'S FILE EXPLORER IN WINDOWS 11

How to Get Windows 10's File Explorer in Windows 11

The Windows 11 File Explorer has no ribbon and worse context menus.

There's a lot to like about Windows 11, but for many people the new design of File Explorer is a letdown. It has a similar layout to Windows 10's File Explorer and an identical layout and functionality, but there's no ribbon menu and many of the common menu items such as "view extensions" are buried in the options submenu. 

Even worse, the buttons for basic functions such as cut, paste and rename are only icons, with no tool tips or text on them to tell you what they do (presumably this is a bug). The jump lists you get when you right click on a folder may have fewer options too.

Fortunately, there's an easy way to get the old Windows 10 File Explorer back, complete with its ribbon and jump menus. You just need to edit the registry.

How to Restore the Windows 10 File Explorer to Windows 11

1.   Open Regedit. You can do this in Windows 11 by hitting Windows + R and entering regedit in the Run box or you can search for regedit using the Search feature. Click Yes if asked for permission by User Account Control.

2.   Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

3.    Right click in the right window pane and select New->DWORD (32-bit) Value. A new entry appears with the name "New Value #" and a number.

4.    Rename your value to Separate Process. It must be spelled exactly this way.

5.    Open Separate Process by double clicking it and change the value to 1. Click Ok.

6.    Close Regedit and restart your PC.

Your computer should now show the classic Windows 10 File Explorer, though some of the icon designs may be a bit different. For example, the library folders in Windows 11 are in different colors, not just yellow. Overall, though, you're getting back the user experience and functionality you lost.

If you want to go back to Windows 11's File Explorer, just change the Separate Process value to 0 or erase the Separate Process key

 

 

Cheers!!!

Edited by AdeDanCompTech