What’s All the
Fuss About...
49Has Microsoft given you a
safeguard hold? Click ‘Learn
more’ to find out whyneeds to be updated by its developer to
become compatible with a part of the
operating system.
However, if your computer doesn’t have
the technical requirements to run the
system – by lacking TPM 2.0, say, or
having less than 64GB storage (see the
full list at http://www.snipca.com/42026) –
then you won’t even get as far as a
safeguard hold.Do I have to upgrade to
Windows 11?
No. Microsoft won’t force it on you, and
will continue to support Windows 10
until 14 October, 2025 (a Tuesday, in case
you were wondering).But should I upgrade?
That’s trickier to answer. We think
Windows 11 is a great operating system,
but if you’re happy with Windows 10
then it’s probably not enough of an
improvement to justify upgrading – at
least, not yet. That might change with
the release of the system’s first Feature
update (22H2), due this autumn, which
hopefully will add folders to the Start
menu, drag-and-drop to the taskbar, and
maybe even tabs to File Explorer. Wait
until then and you’ll be installing a better
operating system. Broadly speaking.What is it?
Microsoft’s rather dull way of describing
that a version of Windows (or an update
to it) has become reliable enough for
anyone to install. In the most recent case,
that’s Windows 11. Microsoft announced
it on 17 May, seven months after the
operating system was released.Why has it taken so long?
Because Microsoft used a staggered
release that prioritised computers best
suited to run Windows 11. The more
powerful your computer, the earlier
Microsoft would have deemed it was
capable of handling the operating system
without problems. If it thought your
machine wasn’t up to scratch, it would
have imposed a ‘safeguard hold’ to
prevent you from installing the system.Is that anything to worry about?
Not really. It just means Microsoft thinks
your computer would respond badly to
Windows 11, causing problems such as
“rollback of the update, data loss, loss of
connectivity, or loss of key functionality”
(see http://www.snipca.com/42025). Better safe
than sorry, in other words.Can I check whether I have a
safeguard hold?
Yes. Press Windows key+I to open
Settings, then click ‘Update & Security’
followed by Windows Update in the
menu on the left. You may see in the
middle an option to upgrade to Windows- If not, you may instead see this
message: “Upgrade to Window 11 is on its
way to your device. There is nothing that
requires your attention at the moment.
Once the update is ready for your device,
you’ll see it available on this page.” If so,
click ‘Learn more’ (see screenshot below
left) and you’ll be given details about any
specific safeguard holds that apply to
your computer. At the moment there’s
only one safeguard hold in place.How do you know that?
Because Microsoft lists them at http://www.
snipca.com/42023. Scroll down and
you’ll see they’ve all been ‘resolved’ or
‘mitigated’ except a problem relating to
Intel’s Smart Sound Technology processor
which handles audio and voice in
Windows 11. Microsoft recommends you
contact your computer’s manufacturer if
this is preventing you from upgrading.Are safeguard holds the same
as technical specifications?
No, and this is a crucial point. If you get a
safeguard hold, it means your computer
has the technical
requirements to run
Windows 11, but there’s
something else holding it up- most likely a driver that
Broad deployment
Windows 11 is now ready for mass consumption, but do you want it?
Issue 633 • 8 – 21 June 2022