What Will Happen To Windows Insider Computers That Don't Meet Requirements?

barman58 · Aug 18, 2021

There is a case for distributive computing for business where the interconnecting infrastructure is in place, it's the 21st century replacement for the old thin client systems with dumb terminals.

Unfortunately when it comes to home and even small business users the infrastructure for Windows 365 only exists in a small fraction of the potential customer base, plus there are a lot of areas which for political reasons will not want Microsoft, or anyone else other than themselves access to the people they control.

Where the infrastructure exists, (Parts of the USA, and Europe, Oil rich Middle east), I think Windows 365 will be taken up by large multi location based companies, just because a lot of the basic management will be maintained for them by the system which can reduce the costs related to IT support and management in house

We are a long way from Windows transiting to the cloud for regular private users, but microsoft does not make it's money from the private individuals and small business, but from the very same large corporations that the concepts of Windows 365, will appeal to

Ghot · Aug 18, 2021

barman58 said:
There is a case for distributive computing for business where the interconnecting infrastructure is in place, it's the 21st replacement for the old thin client systems with dumb terminals.

Unfortunately when it comes to home and even small business users the infrastructure for Windows 365 only exists in a small fraction of the potential customer base, plus there are a lot of areas which for political reasons will not want Microsoft, or anyone else other than themselves access to the people they control.

Where the infrastructure exists, (Parts of the USA, and Europe, Oil rich Middle east), I think Windows 365 will be taken up by large multi location based companies, just because a lot of the basic management will be maintained for them by the system which can reduce the costs related to IT support and management in house

We are a long way from Windows transiting to the cloud for regular private users, but microsoft does not make it's money from the private individuals and small business, but from the very same large corporations that the concepts of Windows 365, will appeal to

Agreed.

But I remember back when the cable companies said: "For $40 you can have TV without commercials".
And that's what we got.
Now today... It's more like $100+, for basic, commercial filled channels, and even more for channels without commercials.

And that's just for TV, which isn't really necessary. These days, an operating system, is pretty much a necessity.

IF, the Windows 365 model hits the average consumer, and if that consumer wants to say... play the latest Battlefield game... that consumer is gonna be paying $150+/month, just to run a Windows, that can run that game.

Windows 365 pricing

barman58 · Aug 18, 2021

We are a little "better" off for TV here in the UK The basic Satellite TV service Freesat is free to use after you purchase the hardware and provides 170 Channels including the BBC channels which are ad free plus there is also a Free antenna based service Freeview which has slightly less content but of course is cheaper as the decoder is included in all TVs sold in the last 20 years or so

Freeview vs Freesat | Channels, Reception & More Compared - Spacehop

Freeview is the easiest way for many of us to watch television in the UK. If you're old like me, then you'll remember when it was introduced almost two

spacehop.com

A lot of the Free channels also provide catchup for free either through the STB or direct over the internet

When you consider the premium content we have a number of options including Amazon, Netflix, Disney Discovery, plus several premium providers over Satellite / Cable these can become expensive especially for sports watchers as the content is spread over several providers so you need multiple subscriptions to follow "Your Team"

Ghot · Aug 18, 2021

barman58 said:
We are a little "better" off for TV here in the UK The basic Satellite TV service Freesat is free to use after you purchase the hardware and provides 170 Channels including the BBC channels which are ad free plus there is also a Free antenna based service Freeview which has slightly less content but of course is cheaper as the decoder is included in all TVs sold in the last 20 years or so

Freeview vs Freesat | Channels, Reception & More Compared - Spacehop

Freeview is the easiest way for many of us to watch television in the UK. If you're old like me, then you'll remember when it was introduced almost two

spacehop.com

A lot of the Free channels also provide catchup for free either through the STB or direct over the internet

When you consider the premium content we have a number of options including Amazon, Netflix, Disney Discovery, plus several premium providers over Satellite / Cable these can become expensive especially for sports watchers as the content is spread over several providers so you need multiple subscriptions to follow "Your Team"

About 2004 or 2005... when the first pay to play games, and DLC and micro-transactions started... I knew the end was near.
All I could think was... if people keep paying for it... they'll keep selling it.

I think sometimes the consumer has to "just say no".
If there's no market (demand) for a product... they can't sell it.

I know, the kids are whining... "C'mon dad, everyone else has Fortnight. Why do you hate me?"
But... sometimes ya just have to break out the Monopoly board and wait till the developers... wise up.

One nice thing about getting older... I no longer get the "shakes" every time a new game comes out.
Heck, I was a Diablo II addict. 14 years, approx. 14 hours a day.
But Diablo II Resurrected , doesn't even phase me.

I just start up a nice slow, low graphics game of Microsoft Links 2003 (golf).
Or if I really get bored... I just break out old Simcity 2000.
Or... Doom II or Final Doom ('95 - '96).

johnlgalt · Aug 18, 2021

Stigg said:
When Windows 11 is finally released, what will happen to all the Windows Insider computers that are running it and not meet requirements?

This.

Preparing for Insider Preview Builds of Windows 11

UPDATE 6/28 at 12:30pm PDT: See this blog post on an update on Windows 11 minimum system requirements. Today, we unveiled Windows 11 to the world, and we know Windows Insiders are super excited to get th

blogs.windows.com

Once Windows 11 is generally available, these PCs will be opted out of flighting and will not be able to receive future Windows 11 Insider Preview builds. These PCs must clean install back to Windows 10 with the media (ISOs) that we provide and can then join the Release Preview Channel to preview Windows 10 updates.

Dru2 · Aug 18, 2021

barman58 said:
if microsoft follows it's plans as standard for the transition between beta and release preview the restrictions would come into force and those who's systems do not meet requirements will refuse to update. these users would then be expected to reinstall a licenced copy of Windows 10. or upgrade hardware

Technically there is no reasonable path to update a beta preview OS to a released version and a fresh install should be required. this is in order to remove any checkpoints and diagnostic code in the beta code.

Microsoft could allow the upgrade for those who's hardware meets requirements but they would need to strip out all the beta routines that would slow down the OS, which could result in instabilities

On my backup system I cloned the Win 10 OS drive to another drive, then use that cloned drive to upgrade to Windows 11 via Insiders Dev channel. The backup system only fails due the my i7-7700K processor.

Anyway, should Microsoft stick to their guns on the processor, I can then revert back to the Win 10 drive and just update the OS and any apps necessary. On my laptop (also an i7-7600U), if Microsoft sticks to their guns I'll just clean install a copy of Win 10 since I upgraded it without creating an image. Not worried about that though as the laptop doesn't have anything I can't restore from elsewhere.

Stigg · Aug 18, 2021

johnlgalt said:
This.

Preparing for Insider Preview Builds of Windows 11

UPDATE 6/28 at 12:30pm PDT: See this blog post on an update on Windows 11 minimum system requirements. Today, we unveiled Windows 11 to the world, and we know Windows Insiders are super excited to get th

blogs.windows.com

Once Windows 11 is generally available, these PCs will be opted out of flighting and will not be able to receive future Windows 11 Insider Preview builds. These PCs must clean install back to Windows 10 with the media (ISOs) that we provide and can then join the Release Preview Channel to preview Windows 10 updates.

That looks like the definitive answer.

johnlgalt · Aug 18, 2021

Yeah.

Well, unless they change their minds.

And this is Microsoft, sooooooo....

Don't hold your breath.

Wynona · Aug 19, 2021

Stigg said:
That seems like too much pain for too little gain for me.

Then there's the Macrium Reflect bakup of Windows 10 . . . Probably a bit easier than a clean reinstall, but what do I know . . .

Wynona · Aug 19, 2021

Edwin said:
If they're not gonna let me run Windows 11 on my non-compliant PC, then I guess I'm not gonna run Windows 11 on my non-compliant PC!!!

Kinda what I was thinking about my "Little Lenovo" Ideapad (14"). And the teaching desktop I just replaced with my AMD desktop. I'll probably wind up donating Little Lenovo to one of my Windows 10 students who needs it.

Stigg · Aug 19, 2021

Wynona said:
Then there's the Macrium Reflect bakup of Windows 10 . . . Probably a bit easier than a clean reinstall, but what do I know . . .

Of course, restoring a Windows 10 system image is a lot easier.

It won't be without a little bit of extra work though as by the time that Windows 11 is released and you need to use the image, it will be a few months old and you'll need to do Windows, drivers and program updates.

Wynona · Aug 19, 2021

martyfelker said:
The problem is, what if you installed Windows 11 on via a registry hack as I HAD to do on my desktop, Microsoft will use a dual approach and put out a few upgrades (besides security updates) to Windows 10 until 2025 but what they will about "non-compliant" hardware after October is anybody's guess,

I don't have a clue, Marty, since I won't do anything to make my Little Lenovo install Windows 11. She's already slower than molasses in January, so I'm not going to push it. The "retired" teaching desktop won't handle Windows 11 either, and I will keep her around until at least 2025, unless she craters before then.

I will keep watch over things and see what Microsoft does and make my decision when the time comes.

Wynona · Aug 19, 2021

Stigg said:
Of course, restoring a Windows 10 system image is a lot easier.

It won't be without a little bit of extra work though as by the time that Windows 11 is released and you need to use the image, it will be a few months old and you'll need to do Windows, drivers and program updates.

Depends on how willing you are to have a working computer (if Microsoft actually cuts the Windows 11 non-compliant computers off at the knees).

Steve C · Aug 19, 2021

I have Windows 11 and Windows 10 running fine in a dual boot configuration on my 2014 Dell laptop which does not meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11. I only have one Windows 10 licence for this laptop. Windows 11 automatically activated on installation. Both editions are now activated despite only having one Windows 10 licence.

barman58 · Aug 19, 2021

The windows 11 restrictions are not active at present, so it will run on any hardware (assuming the basic capabilities needed exist),

A few people have mentioned this with Microsoft Digital entitlement, (or whatever it's called this week) whether it's by design that a Pre-Release OS will use an existing entitlement or it's an oversight on Microsoft's part.

Which ever it is I fully expect it to be withdrawn / fixed by release

Stigg · Aug 19, 2021

Steve C said:
I have Windows 11 and Windows 10 running fine in a dual boot configuration on my 2014 Dell laptop which does not meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11. I only have one Windows 10 licence for this laptop. Windows 11 automatically activated on installation. Both editions are now activated despite only having one Windows 10 licence.

It sounds like you're livin' on the edge, Steve. :hug:

Stigg · Aug 19, 2021

barman58 said:
The windows 11 restrictions are not active at present, so it will run on any hardware (assuming the basic capabilities needed exist),

A few people have mentioned this with Microsoft Digital entitlement, (or whatever it's called this week) whether it's by design that a Pre-Release OS will use an existing entitlement or it's an oversight on Microsoft's part.

Which ever it is I fully expect it to be withdrawn / fixed by release

John posted the Microsoft answer here.

jimbo45 · Aug 19, 2021

Stigg said:
When Windows 11 is finally released, what will happen to all the Windows Insider computers that are running it and not meet requirements?

What happens to gasoline and diesel vehicles when that stuff no longer available -- what about non electric chain saws, strimmers, hedge cutters, lawnmowers and other non electric power tools.

Technology moves on -- who uses slide rules these days or even an abacus for counting (OK some rare tribes still use an abacus but in most of the world !!!).

There's nothing to stop people using Windows 10 / Linux or whatever if the old hardware continues to run and does what the users want - but you can't expect technology companies whether hardware / software or both to continue to support old hardware and software indefinitely.

Some of us prefer even today the GUI and desktop of XP to the current W10/W11 desktops, or even the VISTA Aero Glass -- but recognize the fact that modern hardware can run modern OS'es so much better and more securely -- security on those old OS'es was a joke - a leaky sieve would have given better protection.

What would be nice would be for much more SAFE user customisation -- the kernel can keep the OS secure while the GUI should be made as user friendly as possible IMO and the current Windows GUI although having served well for over 30 years IMO is looking increasingly dated and tired.

Perhaps look to Hollywood for inspiration -- even as far back as 2002 the movie Minority report shows something like possible future GUI's -- and also in some ecent Sci-FI series just look at the way network maps are shown !!!!

Minority Report (2002) ⭐ 7.6 | Action, Crime, Mystery

2h 25m | PG-13

www.imdb.com

Cheers
jimbo

jaree1961 · Aug 19, 2021

We all would like a crystal ball that shows us what the future holds!!!
Unfortunately technology moves on, and of course the underlying factor of that Corporations must answer to their shareholders to gain the best possible return.
Like @jimbo45 said in his last post, customisation would be GREAT, just like buying a new car with adding on the extras as individuals see fit, like custom paint job etc.
But like I said at the beginning of what the future holds, "Time will tell" !!!