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Computer help: Will I need to purchase a new computer for Windows 11?

Q: Will I need to purchase a new computer to upgrade to Windows 11? 

A: Many people have written in recently, asking this very question.  

As mentioned in previous columns on Windows 11, the need to purchase a new computer to accommodate the new operating system depends entirely on whether or not your current computer meets or exceeds Windows 11's hardware requirements.  

If it does, then chances are you will not have to purchase a new system. But it does not, then you may indeed need to plan for this. 

"Surprisingly, Windows 11's hardware requirements currently support only Gen8 CPUs for Intel processors, which means that even three- to four-year-old laptops may not be able to install it," says Tony Bergman of Zinstall — — a company specializing in helping people transfer data easily from old computers to new ones. "If your current computer supports Windows 11, you are all set. It will automatically upgrade to it as a Windows update when you're ready."  

"But if it doesn’t, and specifically if you have an older computer, then it may fall below the minimum requirements and at that point you really have only two choices: You can continue running Windows 10 for now or you need to buy a computer that supports Windows 11," said Bergman. 

Microsoft released Windows 11 in June of 2021. While all Windows users who want to install it, and have the hardware capabilities to do so, can upgrade to it now if they wish, it must be stressed that it's not a mandatory upgrade at this point, as Windows 10 will remain fully supported by Microsoft through October 2025.  

That means those who do not wish to upgrade, or those who cannot, are more than welcome to continue using their current Windows 10 computers until Microsoft notifies them that it's no longer possible for them. 

A complete list of hardware requirements for Windows 11 can be found at this URL: 

Those looking to upgrade, but concerned over the potential expenses of a new system, should consider waiting for the holiday season to take the plunge, as this when new systems with Windows 11 pre-installed are expected to flood the market.  

Those with tighter budgets can also consider purchasing Windows 10 machines that have the hardware to support Windows 11; these won't be top of the line but they will be less expensive to purchase. 

"Most importantly," says Bergman, "make sure that the CPU specification mentions 'Gen8' or that the CPU generation number for Intel processors is at least 8000 and at least Ryzen 3 or higher for AMD processors. This is key."

Untangling the web 

Looking to score some foolproof grill, smoker and barbecue recipes to close out the summer with? Then make a point to visit this food friendly destination — — created by Utah grill master and Food Network regular Susie Bulloch.  

At it, you'll find a slew of recipes that take the guesswork out of live-fire cooking and produce flavorful and fantastic results.  

Use the site's multi-node categorization to search for recipes by type of food being cooked ("chicken," "beef," "vegetables," etc.), method of cooking ("grilled," "smoked"), cooking time desired ("same day," "overnight") and more. There's even an app to download if you prefer to browse via smartphone. Happy grilling! 

Contact Eyal Goldshmid @