Windows 11 Upgrade
This guide is intended to help you install an upgrade to Windows 11 on a workplace computer. Further information is available on the IT service center website . If you have any questions, we are of course happy to help.
If you use computers to control measurement devices in your lab, we strongly recommend contacting the manufacturer of the device to find out if the necessary software is compatible with Windows 11. If the required software is not compatible or the cost of updating the system exceeds your current budget, please contact us. We have already established a solution for lab computers that use outdated operating systems.
Windows 11 has higher system requirements compared to its predecessors. You can test if your PC is compatible by downloading and running the PC Health Check from Microsoft.
For computers procured through the IT service center, the "HRZ number" already provides a good indicator of whether a PC should be compatible with Windows 11. PCs with an HRZ number greater than 15000 are generally Windows 11 capable. If the Health Check indicates that your PC is fundamentally compatible but lacks TPM 2.0, you can enable this feature in the BIOS settings.
Windows 11 strictly requires an activated TPM module. The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is used to enhance the security of your PC. Among other things, BitLocker and Windows Hello use the module to generate secure cryptographic keys. If the TPM is disabled on your computer, you can easily enable it in the BIOS settings.
Restart your PC. As soon as the DELL logo appears, repeatedly press the F2 key until the BIOS settings are displayed. Now click on the small plus (+) next to Security. Then click on TPM 2.0 Security. You can enable the TPM there (see Screenshot #1).
After TPM has been enabled, you should see the following screen.
To apply the settings, click Apply and then Exit. The computer should then boot up normally, and the PC Health Check should indicate that TPM 2.0 is now active.
If your PC meets the minimum requirements for Windows 11, you can now proceed with the upgrade. Only the operating system will be replaced by Windows 11, your data or installed programs will not be affected. However, we still recommend backing up your system beforehand.
We recommend using the Installation Assistant for the installation. This should be run with administrative rights. Right-click on Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe and select "Run as administrator." The Installation Assistant will then guide you step-by-step through the installation process. In our experience, the upgrade typically takes about two hours, although the PC can be used normally for a significant part of this time. In the final phase of the installation, the PC will need to restart multiple times, so make sure to save any documents you are working on to avoid data loss.
If the installation cannot be completed properly, the assistant will automatically revert the system back to Windows 10. If the upgrade to Windows 11 is not successful for you, please contact us.