Overview and Purpose
Microsoft has announced the end of support for Windows 10 is coming in fall of 2025. To make sure that divisional computers are upgraded well ahead of schedule (before April 15), an upgrade to the Windows 11 operating system is now available in the Software Center of divisional computers. SLE Team members can choose to run the upgrade at their earliest convenience. This guide will walk you through the steps to download and install this major upgrade.
Note: The upgrade will take a considerable amount of time, data storage space and bandwidth, so please read this article before beginning.
Environment
Most* MSU-owned laptops and computers running Windows 10 can process this upgrade.
*There are some exceptions:
Incompatible devices: Here are some models that are not compatible with Windows 11. Please do not run the upgrade if your device is one of these models:
- Dell Latitude 3470, 5290, 5400, 5410, 5420, 5430, 5440, 5480, 5490, 5500, 5520, 5530, 5540, 5580, 5590, 7420
- Dell Latitude E5270, E6440
- OptiPlex 7000, 7050, 7060, 7070, 7080, 7090, 9020
- OptiPlex SFF 7010, SFF Plus 7010
- Precision 3570
Software that may require technician assistance before you upgrade:
- Document Imaging Scanning Stations (RVI) - used by Food Stores and SLE Human Resources
Do not upgrade a computer attached to an RVI scanning station. A technician will be in touch to upgrade the device manually.
Devices with low disk space:
The upgrade requires at least 30 GB of available space on the hard drive. To confirm, you have sufficient space.
- Open File Explorer (yellow folder in your taskbar)
- In the left side navigation, find and right-click the C: Drive listing
- Select Properties
- View for the available space listing.
If it is less than 30 GB, do not install the upgrade. Please take steps to delete unnecessary files from your computer and restart it. Follow the steps again to view the available space. Having trouble with this step? Contact the DSS Service Desk (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.).
Before you begin the upgrade
Consider these questions:
- Are there any compatibility issues with your device, special software or available disk space? Confirm your device model is not one of the incompatible devices listed above. If it is, do not run this upgrade until further notice. You will be contacted by Digital Strategies and Services in the near future to make arrangements for a manual upgrade or a device replacement.
- Do you have time for the upgrade? Select a time when you can be near your computer but work without it for a while. The process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on your device and network bandwidth. You can begin the installation at the end of your work day, but you will need to allow considerable time at the beginning of the following day for the installation to complete and for your device to restart.
- Did you save your work? Save all work before running the installation process. You can continue to work while the upgrade initially installs, but once you restart your computer, you will be without it for a bit.
- Are you working remotely? If you are working from an off-campus location, be aware the download of Windows 11 requires a lot of data. If you have a monthly limit on home network data, consider running the upgrade from a campus location instead.
Procedure for upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11
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Make sure your device is plugged into power and has full battery, so the upgrade will not be interrupted once it is started.
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In the Start search field, type “Software Center,” then open the Software Center App.
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Select Updates from the left side menu.
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Wait for the Windows 11 version 23H2 update to appear (may take a few hours).
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Select the upgrade, then select Install.
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When prompted, select Install again to confirm you want to upgrade.
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Allow time for the upgrade to progress and do not interrupt it or power off your device. The process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours, depending on your device and network bandwidth — you can work during most of it. The percent complete should display at times throughout the installation.
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Follow all prompts to install. When it is ready for a restart, you will be prompted. Make sure all your work is saved and apps are closed before selecting to Restart.
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After the restart, the system applies updates, during which you can’t use your computer.
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When complete, you’re all set! Check out the separate Welcome to Windows 11 article for tips on using your new operating system.
Troubleshooting
If you have trouble at any point in the installation process, please contact the Digital Strategies and Services Service Desk at 517-353-1691, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.