Here at Computer Expert Adelaide, we’ve been helping people with their computers for over 10 years. And now that Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, the biggest question we hear all day is, “Should I upgrade to Windows 11?”

We’ve done this upgrade on more than a hundred of our customers’ computers, so we’ve seen it all: the newly custom built, old pc, slow and laggy laptop as well.. This isn’t another list of new features; it’s what we’ve actually learned from helping people like you everyday.

So, let’s talk about the real questions you probably have. We’ll go through whether your PC can even run it, if it’s actually better for your work or for gaming, and how you can do the upgrade without losing all your important files.

The Pre-Upgrade Checklist for Your Windows 11 Update

Before you click that ‘upgrade’ button, let’s go through a quick checklist. Taking ten minutes to do this now can save you from hours of frustration later. We do this for every computer that comes into our shop.

The Hardware Check: Can Your Computer Actually Run It?

First, we need to see if your computer meets Microsoft’s strict hardware requirements. The two biggest hurdles we see are TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot.

Think of TPM 2.0 as a modern security key for your computer’s engine, and Secure Boot is a process that makes sure only trusted software starts up when you turn on your PC. Many computers older than four or five years simply don’t have them.

The easiest way to know for sure is to use Microsoft’s own tool.

• Download and run the PC Health Check app from Microsoft’s website. It will give you a simple yes or no answer.

Now, let’s clear up the most common question we get asked: the “64GB requirement”. This does not mean you need 64GB of memory (RAM). It means you need at least 64GB of free space on your main hard drive. Honestly, for good performance, we recommend a hard drive that is at least 128GB in total is a more realistic minimum.

The Compatibility Check: Will Your Printer and Software Still Work?

That accounting software you rely on every day? Or that trusty old printer in the corner? They might not work with Windows 11.

Before you upgrade, take a moment to visit the websites for your most important programs and devices. A quick search for “Windows 11 compatibility” on their support page will usually tell you what you need to know. It’s better to find out now than after you’ve already made the switch.

The Data Backup Plan: Don’t Skip This Step

If you only do one thing from this entire guide, please do this.

The standard upgrade process is designed to keep all your personal files. But in our experience, “designed to” isn’t a guarantee. An error can happen, and you don’t want to risk your family photos or important business documents.

Here are your three best options for a backup:

1. Use Cloud Storage: If you use a service like OneDrive or Google Drive, make sure your most important folders (like Documents and Pictures) are fully synced before you start.
2. Use an External Hard Drive: This is the safest method. Copy all your essential files to an external drive. This way, you have a complete copy that is totally separate from the computer you’re upgrading.
3. Create a System Restore Point: This is a good safety net built into Windows. It creates a snapshot of your system that you can sometimes return to if the upgrade fails. It’s helpful, but it’s not a true backup of your personal files, so you should do this in addition to one of the other methods.

Keep Plugged in for a Safe Windows 11 Update

If you only take one piece of advice from this entire guide, make it this one. This is the number one thing we tell every single customer who is about to perform an update.

Keep your laptop plugged into a power outlet during the entire process.

Do not rely on your battery, even if it’s fully charged.

Here’s why this is so important. A Windows upgrade isn’t just downloading files; it’s a major operation. It is actively rewriting the most essential, core files of the operating system. Think of it like a surgeon replacing a part of your computer’s brain.

If the power dies in the middle of this critical process, a system file can be left half-written and corrupt. This can prevent Windows from being able to start up at all.

When this happens, we get the call. The repair often involves us trying to fix the corrupted files with advanced tools. But in a worst-case scenario, the only solution is to completely reinstall Windows from scratch. And if you skipped the backup step, a full reinstall often means all the data on your drive will be lost.

So please, just keep it plugged in. It’s the easiest way to avoid the biggest potential disaster.

How to Do the Windows 11 Upgrade Yourself

Okay, so you’ve done your checks, your data is backed up, and your laptop is plugged in. You have two main ways to do the upgrade yourself.

The one you choose depends on a simple question: do you want the easiest path, or do you want the best performance?

1. The Easy Upgrade to Windows 11

This is the standard method, done through your Settings > Windows Update screen. It installs Windows 11 over your current system.

• The upside: It’s easy. It keeps all of your files, settings, and programs right where you left them.
• The downside: It can sometimes carry over old system junk or hidden bugs from Windows 10.

This is the right choice for most people who want a simple upgrade with the least amount of hassle.

2. The Clean Installation of Windows 11

This is the method we use at the shop for the best results. It completely erases your hard drive and installs a brand new version of Windows 11.

• You must back up first because this erases everything.
• The upside: Your computer will feel as fast as the day you bought it. This is the best way to get maximum performance.
• The downside: You have to manually reinstall all of your programs afterwards and copy your files back from your backup.

This option is for people who want the absolute best performance possible and are comfortable reinstalling software.

The Real-World Experience with a Windows 11 Upgrade

After upgrading over a hundred computers for our customers at Computer Expert Adelaide, you start to see patterns. You learn what features people actually find useful and what problems keep cropping up.

Here is a summary of what you can really expect from the Windows 11 experience, beyond the official marketing points.

What People Actually Liked

Out of all the new features, there is one that people consistently love once they discover it: Snap Layouts.

It’s a simple feature that makes a huge difference in how you work. Imagine you’re writing a report in a Word document, but you need to see a spreadsheet at the same time. On Windows 10, you would have to constantly resize and drag the two windows around to try and make them fit side-by-side.

With Snap Layouts, you just hover your mouse over the maximize button in the top-right corner of the window. A little box appears showing different layouts—side-by-side, one big and one small, and more. You just click the layout you want, and your windows snap perfectly into place. It’s a small change that makes multitasking much faster and more organized.

The Common Complaints We Receive

While the upgrade is usually smooth, there are two issues we hear about time and time again.

1. The “Weird” Right-Click Menu

The first thing that annoys many people is the new right-click menu. You right-click a file, and the option you’re looking for “Send to” or your antivirus scan, isn’t there. To get the full list you’re used to, you have to click that last option, “Show more options”.

Microsoft’s goal was to make the menu look cleaner and simpler. But for most of us who are used to the old way, it just feels like an unnecessary extra click that slows down your workflow.

2. The Disappearing Wi-Fi

The other problem we sometimes see is that the Wi-Fi stops working right after the upgrade.

This happens because the driver which is like an instruction manual that tells Windows how to communicate with your physical Wi-Fi card gets lost or replaced with a generic one during the upgrade. When Windows doesn’t have the correct, specific instructions for your hardware, it simply doesn’t know how to turn the Wi-Fi on.

The good news is that this is usually a straightforward fix for a technician. We just need to find and install the correct driver from your computer manufacturer’s website. But it’s a frustrating problem to have if you’re not sure what’s causing it.

Is the Windows 11 Update a Real Upgrade for Gaming?

This is one of the biggest questions we get from our customers who are gamers. Microsoft has talked a lot about gaming performance, so let’s break down what’s real and what’s just marketing hype.

There are two main technologies in Windows 11 that are important for gaming.

What Are Auto HDR and Direct Storage?

Auto HDR is a purely visual feature. Think of it like a remastering tool for your old movies. It takes older games that weren’t designed with modern color technology and automatically gives them a boost, making the colors look more vibrant and realistic. It’s a nice feature that works well, but you do need an HDR-capable monitor to see the benefit.

DirectStorage is a much more important feature, but it’s all about speed. In a normal computer, when a game needs to load something, the data has to travel from your fast hard drive, through your computer’s main brain (the CPU), and then over to your graphics card. DirectStorage creates a direct highway for that data to go from the hard drive straight to the graphics card, skipping the middleman.

This is a future-proofing feature. For games designed to use it, it will mean much faster loading times. However, you need a very specific type of modern, fast hard drive (an NVMe SSD) to use it, and not many games support it yet.

So, What’s Our Gaming Verdict?

So, do these features actually make your games run faster right now? The short answer is: not by much.

Reputable tech sites that focus on gaming have done extensive testing on this. As the experts at PC Gamer noted in their analysis, for most games, the performance difference between Windows 10 and 11 is just a few frames per second, which you would barely notice.

Here is our honest advice based on that data and our own experience:

• For the future, Windows 11 is the right choice for gaming. New technologies like DirectStorage are designed for it.
• But for right now, there is no urgent need to upgrade a stable Windows 10 gaming computer. You are not missing out on a huge performance boost today.

If you are buying or building a brand-new gaming PC, absolutely get Windows 11. But if you have a rock-solid Windows 10 setup that works perfectly, it’s safe to wait. Don’t risk introducing bugs or driver issues for a performance gain you likely won’t even feel.

Why You Should Plan Your Windows 11 Upgrade Soon

We get it. If Windows 10 is working perfectly fine for you right now, the idea of a major upgrade can feel like a hassle. The “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mindset makes a lot of sense.

But there is a deadline on the calendar that is important not to ignore.

Microsoft has officially stated that it will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025.

So, what does “end of support” actually mean for you? It means that after that date, Microsoft will no longer release any security updates for Windows 10.

When hackers find a new loophole or vulnerability in the software, Microsoft will not create a patch to fix it. This turns your computer into an easy target. In fact, cybercriminals specifically look for computers running old, unsupported software because they know those security flaws will never be repaired.

So, upgrading to Windows 11 isn’t just about getting new features. In the long run, it’s about making sure your computer and your personal data stay safe from online threats.

Need Help With Your Windows 11 Installation?

If you want the benefits of a fresh, fast operating system without the risks or hassle, you don’t have to do it yourself.

Here at Computer Expert Adelaide, our professional Windows 11 Installation service handles everything for you.

We provide a complete service that includes:

• A full backup of your personal data.
• A clean installation for the best possible performance.
• Installing all the correct drivers to make sure your hardware works perfectly.

We take care of all the technical work so you can get back to using a computer that feels brand new. If you want a fast and stable upgrade without the headache, give us a call or stop by the shop today. We’re here to help.