"Windows 11" coming in the fall of 2021 What kind of computer will it work on? "Can I buy a computer now?" - Fav-Log by ITmedia

On June 24th (US Pacific Daylight Time), Microsoft announced "Windows 11 (Windows Eleven)". The OS (operating system) that will succeed the current Windows 10 (Windows Ten) is scheduled to be shipped from fall 2021 with pre-installed PCs.

　Windows 11 will be delivered as a free upgrade to computers currently using Windows 10... but it must meet the requirements (operating conditions) set by Microsoft. What are the requirements? "Is it safe to buy a computer "now"?" I will explain.

This article was written based on information as of July 11, 2021. Please note that the appearance and specifications of Windows 11 may change in the future.

　Windows 11 is the successor OS of Windows 10. The core of the OS is based on that of Windows 10, but the user interface (UI) has been renewed and the appearance of the screen has changed.

　The easiest thing to understand is that the icons on the taskbar are centered. The display contents of the "Start Menu" that appears when you press the Windows logo icon have also changed. It is easier to use for people who have a fixed set of apps they use frequently or files they often open (text, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.). For those who feel uncomfortable with the taskbar icons in the center, it is possible to align them to the left as before (setting required).

In addition, the design of various icons has also been renewed. The window design basically follows that of Windows 10, but the four corners are rounded.

It's now easier to snap (organize) windows. When you move the mouse pointer to the "maximize" and "restore" icons of each window. It will give you suggestions on how to organize the windows. Choose your preferred layout (and position) and windows will be positioned and sized accordingly.

　The "widget", which is the "revival" since Windows 7, is also worth noting. However, unlike Windows 7, it is specialized for displaying curated (aggregated) information such as calendar/tasks and news, and it looks neat.

　The "Microsoft Store" will also be renewed. In addition to making it easier to search for apps and content, we plan to install well-known apps such as "Adobe Creative Cloud" and "Zoom" from the Microsoft Store.

In addition, Android apps posted on the Amazon Appstore will also be available. It's attractive to be able to use the same apps that you use on your smartphone.

　In addition, Microsoft groups ware "Microsoft Teams" will be integrated as one of the OS functions. People who use Teams at work or school should find it more convenient.

　As with Windows 10, game functions will continue to be expanded. Since Windows 10 also supports "DirectX 12 Ultimate", which was implemented as an additional function later, from the beginning, it is possible to maximize the performance of a computer equipped with high-end graphics (GPU).

　As mentioned earlier, the core of Windows 11 is based on Windows 10. So, basically, any PC running Windows 10 will also run Windows 11. However, it has stricter requirements, mainly regarding the security of personal computers. At the time of writing the article, the requirements presented by Microsoft are as follows.

　There are three requirements related to security: CPU, secure boot, and TPM. I will briefly explain what each is.

(*1) SoC (System-On-a-Chip): A single chip containing multiple pieces of hardware necessary for a computer, such as a CPU and Wi-Fi (wireless LAN) communication module.

　The CPU is the brain of a computer. If it is an Intel CPU, the 8th generation Core processor, and if it is an AMD CPU, the Ryzen 2000 series is a guideline for operation. Specific target items (model numbers) are published on the Microsoft website.

However, Microsoft is conducting an operation test on a PC equipped with a 7th generation Core processor or Ryzen 1000 series in the "Insider Preview" that distributes a preliminary test version to those who wish. Depending on the results, PCs equipped with both series may also be included in the operation targets.

　Secure boot prevents malicious programs from running when the computer starts up is how it works. Specifically, when the OS is booted, the "electronic signature" is verified, and an OS without a signature or an OS with an abnormal signature is not booted, thereby enhancing security.

　Secure boot is enabled by default on most manufacturer-made computers with Windows 8 or later pre-installed (initial installation). On the other hand, it may not be enabled in the initial state for self-made computers or computers assembled by computer shops using commercially available parts.

　You can use the "System Information" app to check whether your computer is running with secure boot. The procedure is as follows.

1. Click (tap) the search box (if the search box is hidden, press Windows key + Q)
2. Type "msinfo32"
3. Click (tap) "System Information"
4. Make sure the BIOS mode is "UEFI" and Secure Boot state is "Enabled"
< /ol>Check "BIOS Mode" and "Secure Boot State" on the "Summary" screen of the system information

　TPM stands for "Trusted Platform Module" and A chip to provide additional security features. A typical function that uses TPM is "BitLocker," which encrypts storage (SSD and HDD) (*2).

(*2) BitLocker cannot be used on Windows 10 Home. Editions other than Home can use BitLocker without TPM, but functionality may be limited (reference link)

　As mentioned earlier, Windows 11 requires a security chip that supports TPM 2.0. It is often installed in business PCs, but it may not be installed in home computers, or even if it is installed, it may be disabled at the time of shipment.

It is convenient to use "Windows Security" to check whether the TPM is enabled or disabled, and the version if it is enabled. The procedure is as follows.

1. Click (tap) the search box (or press Windows key + Q if the search box is hidden)
2. Type "security processor" ( (Don't forget the space)
3. Click (tap) "Security Processor"
4. Check the displayed contents
Presence or absence of TPM and version can be checked in Windows Security. If the TPM is installed, if the "specification version" is 2.0, it is equipped with a TPM 2.0 compliant security chip

　The above requirements are "stricter" than originally assumed. It is said This is because even a recent PC (shipped 2-3 years ago) may not be able to meet the requirements out of the box.

　The important thing here is the state at the time of shipment. If the CPU meets the requirements, but other elements do not, you may be able to adapt to Windows 11 by changing the settings.

　If you do not understand after reading the explanation below, please consult someone familiar with computers, or the support corner at a consumer electronics retail store.

　As mentioned in the previous section, secure boot may be "disabled" on self-made computers and computers assembled by computer shops using commercially available parts. Modern motherboards themselves almost universally support Secure Boot, so you can enable Secure Boot by setting it to Enabled in the UEFI (BIOS) setup.

　If the boot mode of the computer (motherboard) is fixed or prioritized at "BIOS compatibility (CSM)", you can also enable secure boot by disabling the BIOS compatibility mode. However, in this case, it is necessary to initialize the storage and reinstall the OS after changing the settings (*3), so please back up your data before doing this.

　These settings can be changed from the UEFI setup. For information on how to boot the UEFI setup and how to reinstall the OS, refer to the user's manual for your computer or motherboard, or the support site.

(*3) Knowledgeable people can switch to secure boot using UEFI without reinstalling by converting the storage format method from "MBR" to "GPT". omitted). However, an error may occur during conversion, so be sure to back up your data (reinstalling the OS is recommended to avoid trouble).

You can check the computer's boot mode and secure boot enable/disable in UEFI setup. The locations and names of items differ depending on the computer (motherboard), so please refer to the instruction manual or support site

　The TPM is installed as a security chip independent of the CPU in many business computers. I'm here. However, even with the same hardware (model), depending on the preinstalled OS version or edition, it may be disabled or the TPM chip may be downgraded (limited to TPM 1.2 equivalent functions).

　If it is equipped with an independent TPM 2.0 chip but it is marked as "no TPM", it can be enabled in the UEFI setup. Also, if the OS is downgraded, it may be possible to change the version with UEFI setup or rewriting the firmware of the TPM chip. For details, refer to the user's manual for your computer or motherboard or the support site.

　If you switch the TPM version, the data inside the TPM will be deleted. Therefore, if you encrypt your storage with BitLocker or encrypt your entire hardware, you risk losing access to your data if you lose the decryption key. Before starting work, do one of the following:

Example of a UEFI setup screen for a computer with an independent TPM chip

　On the other hand, from the perspective of realizing TPM functions at a lower cost, the CPU and chipset (system The chip that controls the ) cooperates to provide functions equivalent to the TPM. The TPM, which is realized by the cooperation of the CPU and chipset, is called "Intel PTT (Platform Trust Technology)" on the Intel CPU platform and "AMD fTPM (Firmware TPM)" on the AMD CPU platform. 2.0 compliant. In other words, if your computer supports Intel PTT or AMD fTPM, you may be able to support Windows 11 if you enable it.

　Intel PTT and AMD fTPM can be enabled/disabled in the UEFI setup. For details, please check the user's manual for your computer or motherboard, or check the support site.

An example of a UEFI setup screen for a computer that supports Intel PTT

Seeing this, some people wonder, "Is it okay to buy a Windows 10 computer now...?" It may be, but Windows 10 computers currently on sale are basically compatible with Windows 11. As I have said so far, even if it is a little old, there are cases where it works without problems if you change the settings.

　Some PC manufacturers publish support information for Windows 11 on the web. There is a possibility that the information will be expanded in the future, so it would be a good idea to check in advance before purchasing.

On the Lenovo Japan website, you can check the list of current lineups that are compatible with Windows 11

　Here, among the Windows 10 PCs sold on Amazon , here are some that meet the operating requirements of Windows 11. For actual operation, please contact the manufacturer.

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