If incomplete, system files can become corrupted and result in the loss of your data.

💻 Failing hard drive – A failing hard drive or solid-state drive can crash during the Windows 11 installation.

If you choose Custom and you’re unfamiliar with what steps to take, it’s very easy to wipe everything from your computer by making a mistake.

😮 Incorrect install type – When you’re installing a new operating system, you will often have the choice between two install types: Upgrade or Custom.

If your system files have become corrupted, this could render your computer unusable.

❌ Interrupted upgrade/install – If the Windows 11 installation process is interrupted by sudden power loss, this can corrupt your data and potentially your hard drive.

Here are some common causes for data loss to be aware of. Any disruption to the upgrade process can be detrimental to your data. During the upgrade, your computer is in a very vulnerable state. Common Reasons for Data Lossĭata loss isn’t uncommon when upgrading to a new operating system. A TPM is a small chip on your motherboard that serves many functions, but for Windows 11 specifically, it’s used for Windows Hello identity protection and BitLocker encryption.

TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is another security requirement to install Windows 11.

This is to prevent malicious software from taking over the boot sequence of your computer. Secure boot is a security feature that only allows your PC to boot if it can verify the signature of your operating system, as well as the UEFI firmware drivers and EFI applications. Windows 11 requires that Secure boot be enabled before it can be installed. You can download and run the PC Health Check App by Microsoft to see if your machine is compatible. These are two features that weren’t necessarily required in previous operating systems, but Windows has decided to enforce them with the new Windows 11 to help better protect users and their data. Here are the minimum system requirements needed to install and run Windows 11:Īs you’ll notice, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 are required. While most modern computer systems will be able to install it with no issues, older machines may struggle with some of the new requirements. System Requirements for Windows 11Īs you might expect, Windows 11’s system requirements are a slight step up from Windows 10’s. In this article, we’ll cover the required specifications and how to install Windows 11 without losing data. Rightfully so, as upgrading your operating system can be quite scary if you haven’t done it before. However, the worry of losing your data still remains. Microsoft has given users a few options to choose from when it comes to installing Windows 11, and for the most part, it’s quite straightforward. The all-new Windows 11 is finally available to the public.

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