Do you need help upgrading to Windows 11? Can my computer even be upgraded to Windows 11?
If you didn’t know, Windows 10 is not being supported from the 14th of October 2025. What that means is Windows 10 will not receive and security updates from Microsoft after this date. Over time, your computer will become less secure to threats. The next step is to upgrade to Windows 11. However, that may not be a straight forward step. Some older computers cannot be upgraded to Windows 11. But how can you tell if your computer can be upgraded to Windows 11?
Not every computer running Windows 10 will be compatible with Windows 11. Microsoft has released a PC Health Checktool that can help you determine whether your device meets the requirements. Indeed, if your system doesn’t pass the test, you may need to upgrade your hardware or consider buying a new device. Call us for advice.
Can I brute force Windows 11 onto older machines? – Help Upgrading to Windows 11
Currently, there are ways to get Windows 11 to run on older devices. There are a number of YouTube videos on the subject. Microsoft does not recommend this for a number of reasons. Primarily, as Windows 11 updates in the future, there is no guarantee that the older machines that windows 11 has been ‘brute forced’ onto, will continue to work. So not an ideal solution.
We offer Help Upgrading to Windows 11
If it’s not a job you fancy doing yourself, we’re here to help. Whether it’s just a bit of advice or our full Help Upgrading to Windows 11 service including backups, give us a call on 07771 588577 or use the Contact Us page to drop us a line. We’ll be happy to come to you and do the upgrade for you.
Upgrade to Windows 10 – Support for Windows 7 has ended. That means no more security updates… You should have been notified about this by your computer in a message on the screen. Depending on the message you see, it says something along the lines of:
upgrade to windows 10 – windows 7 end
Or something like;
upgrade to windows 10 – windows 7 end
Many people will then ask “How do I know which version of Windows I am running?” If your computer start button (bottom left) looks like the one below, it is probably Windows 7.
upgrade to windows 10 – windows 7 end Windows 7 start button
What is this ‘support’
14 January 2020 was the last day that Microsoft will offer security updates and technical support for computers running Windows 7. It’s the security update aspect of this message which is of most concern. This means that Microsoft won’t be offering any security updates to fix any bugs in Windows 7. Windows 7 has been out a while now and is not as secure as the latest version of Windows.
Certainly, most of the computers affected by the Wannacry Ransomware attack that hit the NHS in 2017 were running Windows 7. And now with support ending for Windows 7, it will be even more vulnerable. As when Windows XP support finished, it means you shouldn’t carry out anything financial (shopping, online banking etc) on your PC after the end date.
Why should I upgrade?
The short answer is, staying with Windows 7 is less secure and more vulnerable to Viruses and Malware.
So, what are my options?
In brief, you can upgrade. Or not.
That means that Microsoft would like you to upgrade to Windows 10. Because, and it is a demonstrable fact, it is definitely more secure than Windows 7. Windows 10 is now a popular choice and there are now more computers running Windows 10 than running Windows 7. Indeed, Windows 10 is now running on more than 800 million devices worldwide.
However, as human beings, we tend to be a little bit resistant to change!
And, that is why some people don’t like it. Also, it usually takes a couple of weeks to get used to it. I remember when people said they didn’t like it when changing from Windows 98 to Windows XP. Also, people didn’t like the change from Windows XP to Windows 7! And my money is on people saying the same thing whenever the next upgrade comes along!
Indeed, the average life span of a computer is 3-5 years. I know, unbelievably short! It’s here if you fancy some depressive reading! To be fair, I still go to a Windows 98 computer to service it! The old saying, they don’t make them like that any more is still so true! However, we used to pay a lot more for computers. My first computer in 1985 cost £300. that is when £300 meant something! Inflation-adjusted, that is about £900 in today’s terms…
But apart from the look of Windows 10 it still operates in basically the same way as Windows 7.
I have upgraded many, many people to Windows 10 this year. Thanks to the messages appearing on peoples computers. Usually, after a while, it becomes a case of ‘what was I worried about?’ On an upgrade to Windows 10, the majority of your icons on your desktop/start screen will still look the same and function exactly as before.
What an upgrade to Windows 10 looks like
Depending on your Windows 7 system it may be a case that you can just upgrade your operating system to the new Windows 10 without having to buy a new computer. You can run the Windows 10 compatibility tool on your current system to find out if there will be any problems. It can be downloaded from here. Then you can download the upgrade from the Microsoft website and upgrade your PC. But don’t forget to back up your data first as it can go wrong! It’s probably best to make a clone of your hard drive on a spare hard drive so you can go back to how your computer was, exactly.
Upgrade to Windows 10
Of course, you may not feel comfortable doing the upgrade yourself. Truly, nobody is born with the knowledge of how to do this, it is all a learning process. And for me, that is what makes computers fun, learning something new each day! But not everyone has the time or inclination to learn something new.
That’s where somebody like me comes in useful. When I upgrade customers to Windows 10, I make a clone (an exact copy) of their hard drive before doing anything. That way, if something goes wrong in the upgrade procedure, nothing is lost.
Good Example
Just today, I had a call from a customer saying the upgrade had gone wrong (someone else had done it for her). Her problem was that when it reverted back to Windows 7, her ‘Windows Live Mail‘ was not working. I had to give her the bad news that as Microsoft don’t make it anymore, it can’t be re-installed. (click the Windows Live Mail link for more information)
To make it clear, the reason it probably failed to upgrade was insufficient disk space on the computer, I gauged this from what she said on the phone. It doesn’t usually go wrong. But I believe ‘plan for the worst and it will never happen’!
It’s for these reasons I make a clone of the existing hard drive. I always tell people it is an overnight job, sometimes 24 hours, as to make the clone and then to upgrade the PC to Windows 10, does take a while. Because it is done at the workshop, it is priced at a job rate, usually £80. Whilst, they may sound a lot, it comes with security.
No data loss, the job done well, and a guided tour of Windows 10 after. Yes, I’ll show you around Windows 10 and answer any questions you may have. I know, not at all like PC World or Currys!
That being said most people doing the upgrade to Windows 10 have no problems, it goes through fine. But doing it is highly recommended by Microsoft.
Other upgrades
We perform all sorts of Hardware and Software upgrades for your computer. Below is a video showing an upgrade to Windows 10 with a Solid State Drive Upgrade. By combining an Upgrade to Windows 10 and a Solid State Drive Upgrade we gave the old computer in the video a new lease of life and a huge speed boost!
If this all sounds like too much hassle to do it yourself, call me on 07771 588577 or Email Me, and I can do it all for you, I can perform your upgrade to Windows 10 safely, securely, with no data loss.
Testimonials.
J A
January 4, 2023
Dear Rob
Thank you very much for coming over here today so quickly, and sorting out my problems. I very much appreciate your trouble.
kind regards
JA – Bedham
H E
October 1, 2022
Good evening Rob,
Just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for resolving our IT issues today.
Great service.
TERRIFIC,
Kind regards,
H E
Horsted Keynes
J And B
February 1, 2022
Brilliant Rob
We were at a wine club with M and A last night, and we all agreed you know what you’re doing, much appreciated
Have a great weekend,
Hurstpierpoint
West Sussex
P & B
January 18, 2022
‘We bought a new laptop and were going to transfer files from our old laptop (which kept freezing) but were unable to. Rob sorted this problem out very efficiently.’
Aldwick
West Sussex
Y.H
November 1, 2021
Hi Rob,
Just to say many thanks for your help today.
Best wishes,
Y.H. BN6
A.B.
December 14, 2019
Seriously Pleased
SERIOUSLY PLEASEDReally quick to get in touch and get an appointment. He obviously really knew what he was talking about and solved the problem straight away. I will definitely use this service again and I have other friends who I gave the contact to who have also been sorted out quickly
A.B. Surrey
A.L.
December 14, 2019
Business and Personal Computers
I have been using Rob’s services for years now for my business and personal computers. Every problem I have set him, some big and some small, has been attended to in an efficient, friendly and business-like manner with a positive outcome. We wouldn’t hesitate in recommending him to anyone.
A.L. Rustington
Geoff
November 5, 2019
So much faster
Thank you again for the great job you did on the computer, it’s so much faster!
many thanks
Geoff
Sussex
R.S.
August 18, 2018
Thank You
I would like to thank RHCC for all their help with my computer. When I had a problem they were quick, courteous and extremely helpful, managing to restore all my data without loss and provide advice on the purchase of a new machine. Being a single female, I am always a little wary of inviting strangers into my home, but I had nothing to worry about here, and the gentleman that visited always spoke in plain and simple English to me, so as not to confuse with computer jargon that I really do not understand.
R.S Hassocks
G.D.
May 18, 2018
Quick Response
Dear Rob
Thank you again for your help and quick response
Best Regards
GD Mid Sussex
J.H.
February 6, 2017
Very Fair Invoice
Thank you so much for coming so promptly and for sorting out my ageing pc! Thank you too for your very fair invoice. It made the frustration of being locked out of my machine a little less frustrating.
JH, Hassocks
S.E.
October 20, 2014
Five Stars!
I just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for the wonderful job you did on my PC. When you took the hard drive away with you to fix I was convinced that I was going to lose all my data and that this was going to be a rather time-consuming and very costly job, which you proved to be false. The PC runs very well now and I appreciate all the hard work and suggestions you have given me, and after having the spyware software installed this has made a big difference to us, and I believe we are more conscious when we are surfing the net. I will be recommending you to anyone that needs advice or work done to their own computers. Thank you again for the hard work and the efficient manner it was dealt with.
S.E. Rustington
M.P.
March 14, 2010
Great Service
Thank you so much for your assistance with my PC. I was very impressed by the speed of your response and professionalism. I have had no further problems with my PC and was so relieved that you managed to recover so much of my data. To top it all off I was pleasantly surprised by how reasonable the bill was. Personally, I will not be using any other service from now on and I am happy to recommend you to my friends and colleagues. Thank you again.
M.P. Hove
L.H.
May 3, 2006
Satisfied Customer
Thank you yet again for your help, you’re worth your weight in gold.
