From the course: CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Cert Prep

Windows 11 editions and features

From the course: CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Cert Prep

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Windows 11 editions and features

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- The Windows operating system you know and love has gone through many changes over the years, some minor and some major. Since its initial release as Windows 1.01 in late 1985, Windows 11 was the 40th version of the Windows OS with several to come. Each release has added additional graphic support, user interfaces, user controls, and network capabilities. The majority of desktops and portable computers have either Windows 10 or Windows 11 installed as their operating system. Windows 10 was released in July, 2015 and has had 13 major updates through September, 2022. Microsoft's support for Windows 10 will end in October, 2025. However, this doesn't mean that it won't be installed on the large number of organizations out there. Around 59% of the Windows versions installed around the world are Windows 10. Windows 11 is 39% of the desktops. Although this number is still growing and there are still, believe it or not, Windows 7 and perhaps even Vista is still in use on about 1%. As an IT technician, you will most definitely be called on to support Windows 10 probably for some time in the future. The main differences between Windows 11 and Windows 10 are Windows 11's more sophisticated interfaces is lock on feature that automatically wakes up when you approach and locks when you leave. Auto HDR, which stands for a high dynamic range, automatically improves the image of older games and graphics and the capability of synchronizing a smartphone with a PC. The Windows version that you should be familiar with are the Home, Pro, and Enterprise. Some of the performance improvements include faster CPU performance through better core scheduling, faster graphics and higher frame rates, faster application loads, faster sleep and wake recoveries and animations displayed to optimize the refresh rate. Windows 11 also added an Android subsystem that will run Android apps and games. Enhanced touchscreen features improved security through virtualization to block malware. Microsoft Windows 11 is an improved and perhaps better operating system for desktops and portable computers, but Windows 10 is still a viable option on older computers lacking the hardware requirements of Windows 11. Users not wanting to learn a new features. Applications that may still not be upward compatible, and the fact that Windows 10 is still supported, at least for now. You should expect that as an IT technician your job will include installing the Windows OS. This shouldn't be a big deal since the system basically installs itself. However, Windows 11 has specific minimum hardware requirements. Windows 11 has a preference for newer technologies, which can pose an installation barrier on legacy systems. Windows 11's minimum hardware requirements compared to those for Windows 10 are. For the processor, Windows 11 needs a 64-bit 1 GHz dual core processor, while Windows 10 accepts either a 32 or 64-bit, 1 GHz single core processor. For RAM, Windows 11 requires four gigabytes. Windows 10 needs one gigabyte for the 32-bit version or two gigabytes for the 64-bit version. Data storage for Windows 11 is 64 gigabytes. For Windows 10, it is 16 gigabytes on the 32-bit system, or 20 gigabytes on the 64-bit system. Graphic support for Windows 11 needs DirectX 12, while Windows 10 works with DirectX 9. When it comes to monitors, Windows 11 requires a nine inch display. Windows 10 supports a minimum resolution of 800 x 600 pixels. Finally, both Windows 11 and Windows 10 require TPM 2.0 for security. Windows 11 also requires the secure boot industry security standard that ensures that a computer boots up only with the software approved by its manufacturer, such as the Windows OS and not malware or unwanted applications. TPM 2.0 stands for Trusted Platform Module version 2.0. It is a chip that is mounted on or built into a computer's motherboard that has been on many computers beginning in 2003. Here's an image of a TPM 2.0 module. TPM 2.0 is required by Windows 11. What TPM does is provides additional security for the computer. When it's enabled, each time the computer boots up TPM issues an unlock code for the OS. However, if something or someone has tampered with the system, TPM doesn't provide the code and the computer won't start it up. TPM and Secure Boot are enabled through the BIOS, UEFI or the Windows settings. Virtually all computers, whether desktop or portable manufacture in the past couple of years meets these minimum requirements. On older computers, a firmware update if available may be needed. To view TPM on a Windows system enter tpm.msc in the run dialogue box to display the TPM management on local computer app. One of the key hardware configurations and one that can affect performance and processing capabilities is the amount of RAM installed on a computer. Windows also sets maximum memory limits as well. Yes, there is an upper limit to the amount of RAM Windows will support and the amount varies with Windows editions. For example, the Home Edition, the maximum amount of memory Windows will support is 128 gigabytes. For the Pro and Enterprise edition, the max is two terabytes. Alright, we've ensured that the minimum hardware requirements of our computers and have installed the operating system. Great. Shifting gears here a bit. Another feature available on both Windows systems is what's commonly known as BitLocker. However, there are actually two features. BitLocker device encryption and drive encryption AKA BitLocker. Meaning only the latter one is actually BitLocker. Device encryption, which is enabled automatically by Windows, encodes the data on a storage device in volume folders and or files under the user's direction. Drive encryption or BitLocker can be used to manually encrypt an entire storage drive to protect any and all data stored on the drive. BitLocker encrypts the entire drive making its access or theft futile because everything on the drive is encrypted and without the pass key the entire drive is unreadable. When a user logs into a Windows system with a Microsoft school or work account, device encryption is activated and the user account is assigned a recovery key. However, device encryption is not activated for local accounts. Home additions don't have the drive encryption option. We have a few more configuration tasks to perform before the system can be used effectively. Each Windows system must belong to either a work group or a domain. In a work group, every computer is an equal and any one computer has no control over any of the other computers in the work group. A work group typically has fewer than 20 computers. Each computer has a unique set of user accounts, which means to log onto any of the work group computers, the user must have a user account set up on that particular computer. Work groups don't have a common security policy. Each computer must deal with that itself, and the computer in a work group attached to a network must be in the same subnet. The effects of a work group on an IT technician is that each computer must be dealt with in person. In a domain, at least one of the computers must be a server, and it is typical that there are two or more in a domain. Users must log onto the domain to access network resources, but they are able to log in from any node in the domain without the need of a local user account. A domain may have thousands or more computers divided into different local networks. The administration and support of the domain is centralized. Domain users are typically restricted from making setting changes to ensure the configuration remains constant across the domain. Work groups are most common in smaller physical spaces where the computers are lower in numbers and closer in proximity. A work group is a better solution for computers and networks that are geographically divided and managed by a central authority. Let's close out this session by looking into the different ways to upgrade the Windows OS. First, let's agree on the differences between an upgrade and an update. An upgrade replaces an older version of Windows with another, such as replacing Windows 10 with Windows 11. An update is when you apply fixes, patches, and improvements to an existing Windows version. Okay, good. There are two ways to upgrade Windows and in-place upgrade and a clean install. The more popular method of these two is the in-place upgrade. This process creates a complete copy of the current system, replaces the OS with the new OS, and reapplies the existing settings, and then restores the applications and data files. The benefits of an in-place upgrade method is that it is fast and you don't have to reapply your system preferences. Plus you have 10 days to roll back the upgrade, should there be any problems at all. Windows also provides the installation assistant tool that can be used if for some reason the Windows update tool fails. The other way to install a Windows version is the clean install method. This method is recommended for bare metal installs, reinstalls, and perhaps upgrades. This method can be time consuming and doesn't copy any of the existing systems or reinstall files, applications, or settings. Typically, this method follows a complete format of the storage device. The upside of this is you have a fresh and clean copy of the OS. The downside is that you have a fresh and clean copy of the OS. In this episode, we have discussed the hardware requirements and features of Windows 10 and 11. It's important that you as a technician should know the requirements and features of different Windows versions so that you'll be able to provide the service your client needs and deserves.

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