From the course: CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) Cert Prep

Touring Windows 10 and 11

From the course: CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) Cert Prep

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Touring Windows 10 and 11

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- Let's talk Windows. If you're working as a computer technician today, chances are, most of the systems you'll encounter are running either Windows 10 or Windows 11. Neither OS is exactly new though. Windows 10 launched in July, 2015, and Windows 11 came out in October, 2021. And even though Microsoft is moving forward with Windows 11, Windows 10 still makes up more than half of desktop installed around the world. That means as a CompTIA A+ certified tech, you need to be confident working with both. Let's walk through how they compare. Windows 10 comes in Home, Pro, Pro for Workstation, and Enterprise editions. Windows 11 has those same editions, plus a Mixed Reality edition. Both operating systems also offer Education versions and also don't forget the N versions. These are Windows editions without multimedia features like Windows Media Player, designed for specific legal requirements in Europe and South Korea. If needed, users can install a media pack to get those features back though. As a tech, you'll often be called on to install or upgrade Windows. Thankfully, the installation process is pretty straightforward, but only if the hardware meets the minimum requirements. Here's what you need for Windows 10. A one gigahertz single-core processor, two gigs of RAM, 32 gigabytes of storage, DirectX 9 graphics support, a 800 by 600 display resolution. Now for Windows 11, you'll need a one gigahertz, 64-bit dual-core processor, four gigs of RAM, 64 gigabytes of storage, DirectX 12 compatible graphics, a minimum nine-inch display, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot, and also Internet connectivity. These requirements mean newer systems are ready to go, but older machines might need a firmware update to meet Windows 11 standards. Now, TPM 2.0, or Trusted Platform Module, adds layers of hardware level security. It provides a cryptographic key to Windows during boot up. If something is off, like unauthorized changes to the system files, TPM withholds the key and prevents the system from starting. Secure Boot works alongside TPM. It verifies the digital signatures of software during startup, blocking unauthorized or malicious code. You can manage both of these from the BIOS UEFI or in Windows Settings. You can check TPM status by entering TPM.MSC in the Run dialogue. This brings up the TPM Management Console. Minimum RAM is just part of the story. Windows also sets maximum RAM limits based on the edition. For instance, Home edition is 128 gigabytes. Pro is two terabytes. Pro for Workstation is six terabytes, and Enterprise is two terabytes as well. After installing Windows, you'll likely configure the machine to either join a work group or a domain. In a work group, each computer is equal, maintains its own local users, and doesn't manage others. Great for small networks under 20 systems. In a domain, there are servers, centralized management, and shared logins. Users can log into any device in the domain with a single account. The group policy editor is a key tool for managing users and system settings. This is the local group policy editor, useful for standalone or workstation computers. It is similar to the group policy tool used for domains. Now let's talk about remote access. The Remote Desktop Protocol, or RDP, allows technicians to control a computer over a network. Users can also use it to access their own machine from anywhere in the world. Windows 11 offers performance improvements, for instance, like better core scheduling, faster app load times, improved graphics, smoother wake from sleep, and dynamic refresh rates for animations. It also supports Android apps, better touchscreen controls and stronger security features like virtualization-based protection. That said, Windows 10 still works well on older hardware, and is still supported through October 2025. Another topic worth knowing is encryption. Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 support device encryption and BitLocker drive encryption. Device encryption often enables automatically, and protects your data at the volume level. BitLocker, on the other hand, encrypts the entire drive, making it unreadable without the correct credentials. BitLocker isn't available on Windows Home edition or Windows 8 or 8.1 Core edition. And device encryption only works when using Microsoft Work or School accounts. There are two ways to upgrade. First off, there's the in-place upgrade. It keeps files, settings, and apps. It is also easy and fast. Also, you have 10 days to roll back if needed. The other way is the clean install. Wipes the drives and installs Windows from scratch, ideal for brand new systems or major refreshes. But everything must be reinstalled manually. Microsoft also provides an installation assistant tool in cases to help when Windows update fails. So whether you're supporting Windows 10, helping someone upgrade to Windows 11, or installing fresh on a new machine, knowing the ins and outs of these two operating systems is critical. It all comes down to preparation, practice, and being ready to adapt to the needs of your users. Stay sharp, and I'll see you guys in the next episode.

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