Upgrade to Windows 11

So, I am a stake technology specialist, and we were told that we needed to upgrade our computers running Windows 10 to Windows 11 if possible. I am wondering if we really need to upgrade our computers and if so, how to start the upgrade process?

brucejohnhansen wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 8:59 am So, I am a stake technology specialist, and we were told that we needed to upgrade our computers running Windows 10 to Windows 11 if possible. I am wondering if we really need to upgrade our computers and if so, how to start the upgrade process?

I'm also an STS. Where did this request originate from?

I'd also check where this came from.

This is absolutely true for FamilySearch computers. The church's license for Win10 Enterprise expires at the end of the year. At which point the computers will stop working. ((or so I've been told.) FamilySearch Center Support shuts down for two weeks during the holidays, so you really want to get them updated by Thanksgiving.

I haven't heard anything about clerk computers. They're running Win10 Pro and are probably good until October of next year when Win10 dies.

Here in the UK, where we are being supplied with Windows PC’s for the Clerks, they come with W11 installed.

Biggles wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 1:46 pm Here in the UK, where we are being supplied with Windows PC’s for the Clerks, they come with W11 installed.

I'm curious, how does the church handle the need to login with a Microsoft account for Win11? Do they use an Enterprise account, like for FamilySearch PC's?

Biggles wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 12:20 pm

brucejohnhansen wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 8:59 am So, I am a stake technology specialist, and we were told that we needed to upgrade our computers running Windows 10 to Windows 11 if possible. I am wondering if we really need to upgrade our computers and if so, how to start the upgrade process?

I'm also an STS. Where did this request originate from?

A Family History Support Missionary

FamilySearch computers are under the Family History department and play by different rules than clerk computers.

The support missionary is correct (as far as FSC computers is concerned). See another thread, Update your FamilySearch Center Computers

I've not heard any word on Clerk computers (at least not yet).

Mikerowaved wrote: Sat Sep 21, 2024 5:16 am

Biggles wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 1:46 pm Here in the UK, where we are being supplied with Windows PC’s for the Clerks, they come with W11 installed.

I'm curious, how does the church handle the need to login with a Microsoft account for Win11? Do they use an Enterprise account, like for FamilySearch PC's?

You don't need a Microsoft, you can simply create a local account just like on Windows 10.
It is very easy. During window 11 setup once you get to the "choose a country" screen. do the following:
1. Hit Shift + F10. A command prompt appears.
2. cut off the Internet. (by unplugging the internet cable or not connecting to the wireless network)
3. on the command prompt type OOBE\BYPASSNRO to disable the Internet connection requirement.
Note: the computer will restart and go back to setup
4. Continue with the installation, choosing the region. keyboard and second keyboard option.
5. Once you get to the screen saying "Let's connect you to a network"
6. Click "I don't have Internet" to continue.
7. Click Continue with limited setup if prompted.
8. A new login screen appears asking "Who's going to use this device?"
9. Enter a username you want to use for your local Windows 11 account and click Next.
10. Enter a password you would like to use and click Next.
11. Complete the rest of the install process as you normally would.
12. Connect your computer to the internet

I hope this helps

Booshway wrote: Fri Oct 25, 2024 11:03 pm You don't need a Microsoft, you can simply create a local account just like on Windows 10.
It is very easy. ..

Thanks, I'm quite familiar with several methods of forcing Win 11 to accept a local account. I use local accounts at home with both physical and virtual Win 11 PC's. The process of creating a local account is more of a hack than anything that needs to be performed again with every major Windows update.

I doubt the church will have us use such methods on their clerk PC's. That's why I was wondering how they planned on embracing the Windows 11 login situation.

Mikerowaved wrote: Sun Oct 27, 2024 3:54 pm I was wondering how they planned on embracing the Windows 11 login situation.

I think we are about to find out. As STS, I just received an email telling me which clerk computers will be upgraded to Windows 11 by the Church starting January 20th. We were told to leave them on, that they will push the upgrade, and that we will know it is complete when we are required to restart the machines.

We were told that the restart would take about 15 minutes. We were also told that older machines that are not capable of upgrading are to be replaced by the FM Group before October 2025 with a Windows 11 machine or Chromebook.

lajackson wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2025 2:47 pm We were also told that older machines that are not capable of upgrading are to be replaced by the FM Group before October 2025 with a Windows 11 machine or Chromebook.

Nit-pick - it's not capability to run Win11 that's the deciding factor, but if they're over 4 years old. (at least according to the email I got).

Hopefully everyone out there has kept a spreadsheet on the admin computers, because according to the email I got, they were going to update the oldest machine in the group, but skipping updates on two others that were over 4 years old.

And before anyone complains: General Handbook 33.10: Stake and Ward Technology Specialists

Maintain a current inventory of all computer hardware in the stake, with serial numbers, models, capacities, and physical locations.

In my case, as part of inventory, I track the build and install dates. If you're using Gmail, you can keep the spreadsheet in "Sheets".

NOTE to lurkers: This thread is about clerk computers. FamilySearch computers play by completely different rules. Hopefully you've upgraded all of them to either Win11 or Chrome Flex. I've been told the Win10 license expired Dec 31st.

russellhltn wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2025 4:18 pm Nit-pick - it's not capability to run Win11 that's the deciding factor, but if they're over 4 years old. (at least according to the email I got).

In my case, it is the same thing. Everything 4 and newer can be upgraded. The older ones were due for replacement this year anyway and are not going to be upgraded because, I suspect, they will come with Windows 11 already.

The hardware requirement is that it needs a mainboard which supports a TPM 2.0 module and a gen 8 or newer processor and chipset which the old PC mainboards don't support.

Details found here...
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows ... e26499&r=1

Dear IT Dpt.

Can you provide link to upgrade with image of windows 11 for computers are not receiving automatic Upgrade

Thanks

If your clerk's computer is an older IBM/Lenovo slim desktop that has a red stripe on it, chances are, it won't get an upgrade, and if one is pushed thru to it, it's going to be super slow and cause all kinds of issues. They just don't have enough RAM or whatever you want to call it. I deal with a number of FIR requests from STS and ward clerk's who are having all kinds of issues with these things and how slow they are. The newer ones are doing good on windows 11 that have received it.

The real speed issue with the clerk computers that are over 4 years old (as of 2025) is that they have 5400 RPM 500GB hard disk drives (2020 configuration); the shipped configuration for 2021 changed to 250GB NVMe solid state drives. And yes, the old ones feel super slow because of that, I've dealt with complaints as well. Part of the problem is that they take so much longer to run updates and virus scans that they easily get into a state where every time they try to use it, it is trying to run updates or a virus scan, or both...

brysoncg1985 wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 3:38 pm Part of the problem is that they take so much longer to run updates and virus scans that they easily get into a state where every time they try to use it, it is trying to run updates or a virus scan, or both...

For my stake, I set up the machines to wake up every Wednesday late at night. The power settings are set to go into hibernation after 4-6 hours.