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PaperclipPerfector  1yr ago (text post)   4108 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for July 14, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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What's the best way for me to upgrade to Windows 11?

I've had my current computer running Windows 8.1 for about 10 years. When Windows 10 came out a bunch of people complained about it and I was happy with what I had so I never upgraded. And no longer being forced to update my computer suddenly and without my permission was really convenient. I've upgraded the actual physical computer itself multiple times, basically ship of Theseusing out parts as they wore out or just got outdated such that at this point I don't think a single component is the same as it was 10 years ago, but when the hard drive got upgraded I cloned it over so I had continuity of experience, and it stayed on Windows 8.1. So most of the actual computer parts right now are two years old and mid to high end, but some are older and cheaper.

Gradually though, the amount of videogames that I can't play because they don't work on Windows 8.1 has increased and become rather inconvenient, so it's probably time to switch. Unfortunately, the time period where I can do that for free has long passed, presumably because they don't want people digging up old decrepit computers in order to recycle the windows keys. And some... nautical attempts at downloading and manually upgrading didn't work, I'm not entirely sure why, but I eventually gave up.

My computer skills are kind of mishmash hacked together by necessity. I did build my own computer myself, but only with a lot of googling, advice from my brother, and suffering. I would very much prefer not to have to learn more command line registry nonsense, but can probably follow step by step instructions if I have to. So I think my best bet is to just buy a new hard drive with Windows 11 installed on it, but I'm not sure. I don't actually want a new computer, I want my computer, but able to play modern games. I would like to keep continuity of experience as much as possible, including if possible all my files and folders, their positions on the desktop, my hundreds of Firefox tabs that I use in lieu of bookmarks. What's the best route for me to take to get my computer upgraded with as little difficulty as possible?

Get a macbook

It’s the year of the Linux desktop though.

The year of the Linux laptop is still a decade away or however long it takes for Ubuntu to not have 1/3rd the battery life as Windows on supposedly supported hardware

I actually did switch from Windows to Linux for my daily driver a few years ago. It's been a very solid choice. But if @MathWizard doesn't feel comfortable installing Windows on his own, I'm guessing Linux is right out for him.

Hard agree. I was a Windows fan since 3.1 and switched to Ubuntu a few months ago. The transition was not smooth. I have spent a lot of time troubleshooting, which I accepted as necessary since the alternatives are either ads in my Windows 11 or getting locked into the overpriced Apple ecosystem. But I would not recommend it for someone who is not technical, especially not for someone who "would very much prefer not to have to learn more command line registry nonsense".

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