Microsoft elaborates: “Windows 11 is the most current version of Windows. If you have an older PC, we recommend you move to Windows 11 by buying a new PC. Hardware and software have improved a lot, and today’s computers are faster, more powerful, and more secure.”

If your PC runs Windows 10, you can ignore those pesky compatibility checks and upgrade to Windows 11. Here's how nearly two dozen ZDNET readers got the job done and saved their laptops from the scrap pile.

If you’re on a very old version of Windows, you may be able to update to Windows 10 instead and enjoy the final 12 months of official support. Microsoft goes on to recommend using its cloud storage subscription-based service OneDrive to migrate your data to a new computer.

If you're currently using any version of Windows other than Windows 11, then your system is either already unsupported (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8.1), or soon to become unsupported (Windows 10). And Microsoft's best advice for anyone in that situation is "move to Windows 11 by buying a new PC".

The endless cat-and-mouse game between Microsoft and the community of devoted Windows hackers just took another turn.

Microsoft has been making quite a few changes to the Windows 11 taskbar, but there’s still room for improvement. Despite the big Windows 11 2024 Update that just dropped and all the nifty features and improvements in that update,

Microsoft is pushing users to buy new PCs to get Windows 11. Despite Microsoft's efforts, people prefer to dodge Windows 11's system requirements over buying new PCs. Microsoft's attempts to get people to ditch perfectly good hardware are wasteful.