Windows 11 installed itself on my computer without my knowledge

JohnSwift10

Last night when I went to switch off my computer before going to my bed it said there were updates available and it would take a while so I told it to update and switch off.
I usually switch it off and switch off at the mains socket as well.

This morning when I switched it on what do I find.
Windows 11.
Now to see what it has screwed up.

Bradden

I'd check your windows update settings. There should be an options to turn off auto updates.. altohught it;s possibly a little late now.

The_Fat_Controller

You must have signed up to the Beta testers (Insiders) program somewhere along the line.

[Deleted User]

Sounds like you are on the beta channel for insider updates as Windows 11 was just released this week to the beta channel.

You can check you insider settings here: (under settings / Windows Update / Windows Insider Programme)




I've been running Windows 11 since it came out on the Dev channel about a month a go and it has been excellent, odd little glitch which is expected on that channel but if you are on Beta it will probably be fairly stable.

flaneurs_lobster

JohnSwift10 said:

Last night when I went to switch off my computer before going to my bed it said there were updates available and it would take a while so I told it to update and switch off.
I usually switch it off and switch off at the mains socket as well.

This morning when I switched it on what do I find.
Windows 11.
Now to see what it has screwed up.

Were you signed up for the Windows Insider programme? Windows 11 is still in Beta AFAIK and hasn't been released to "normal" users yet. Anyone know different?

pbartlett

You are correct it is not available to normal users you have to specifically sign up to the insiders channel to get it.

If the OP hasn't done that then Windows 11 has not been installed

Furthermore it doesn't just 'install itself'  - once you are signed up for the insider's channel you have to select the update to get it

GDB2222

The usual complaint with W11 is that there are so many computers that it won’t work on. So, it’s quite refreshing to read the OP.

Bradden

I'm on the insiders channel and my laptop just auto updated to 11. It would have been nice to have a chance to do some backups first, seems to be working ok I'm happy to say. There aren't major changes under the hood AFAIK so it's more likely to be older hardware which may have problems with drivers. That argument also benefits Microsoft by encouraging PC sales. Cynics say that's the reason behind releasing 11 more than anything else. They aren't charging for it though so I'm happy.

[Deleted User]

Bradden said:

 It would have been nice to have a chance to do some backups first, seems to be working ok I'm happy to say. 

Backups should be automatic and regular, computer disasters don't give you a warning so an automatic Windows 11 installation shouldn't catch you off guard. It is even more important if you are already on the beta channel for Windows - there is an implied risk of bugs and instability to could cause loss of data.

Bradden said:

There aren't major changes under the hood AFAIK so it's more likely to be older hardware which may have problems with drivers. That argument also benefits Microsoft by encouraging PC sales. Cynics say that's the reason behind releasing 11 more than anything else. They aren't charging for it though so I'm happy.

Yes, the cynics as usual are saying that it is to push PC sales but the mandatory hardware requirements for Windows 11 are mostly about security and performance and you can't have the best of both worlds without have some reasonably up to date tech.

Having said that, the TPM module that is required has been mandatory in new PC builds for 5 years and the 8th gen CPU's that are suggested as minimum spec have been around for a similar time.

Some interesting information in this link about the benefits of the minimum security requirements:

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/windows-11-understanding-the-system-requirements-and-the-security-benefits/

Even if you are not upgrading to Windows 11, I'd urge everyone to check the TPM is enabled along with secure boot and virtualisation support in the PC firmware.

JohnSwift10

 I was signed up to the insiders channel but was still not told it was upgrading to Windows 11

So far it has been running OK.
I even like the look of it

[Deleted User]

JohnSwift10 said:

 I was signed up to the insiders channel but was still not told it was upgrading to Windows 11

Microsoft sent an email to all registered insider users this week to inform them of the upgrade.