If you may have a Windows 10 pc, Microsoft will give you a free improve to Windows 11. Provided the {hardware} of the Windows 10 pc is appropriate, in any other case Windows 11 will refuse the set up. Microsoft has now launched numerous Windows 10 PCs that have been beforehand not allowed to put in the improve for the Windows 11 improve.

Microsoft had been denying Windows 10 computer systems with an Eleventh-generation Intel Core Processor and Intel SST driver version 10.29.0.5152 or 10.30.0.5152 (the SST stands for “Smart Sound Technology”) the improve to Windows 11 since November 2021. With this {hardware} driver mixture, recurring blue screens of dying may happen after putting in Windows 11.

Resourceful Windows customers may solely clear up this downside by updating the Intel SST drivers themselves. Those who did this independently have been then in a position to change to Windows 11 freed from cost. However, Microsoft refused to improve all different PC homeowners with the described mixture of CPU and driver.

As of at present, nonetheless, this downside has usually been solved. From now on, all affected Windows 10 customers with the chip and driver mixture described above can obtain and set up the newest Intel SST drivers by way of the Windows replace operate.

As quickly as Windows 10 has put in the driving force replace, you possibly can improve to Windows 11. However, Microsoft emphasizes that it may take one other two days earlier than Windows 10 presents the improve to Windows 11. You can discover the official launch of the Windows 10 PCs beforehand blocked for the improve on this status page from Microsoft.

It just isn’t recognized why Microsoft took till April 12, 2024 to lastly make the drivers, which have lengthy since been tailored by Intel, accessible by way of Windows Update and elevate the improve block.

However, if Windows 10 doesn’t supply the driving force replace in any case, PC homeowners ought to contact their PC producer for the driving force replace.

Windows 10 is clearly within the lead

It stays to be seen whether or not this can considerably enhance the market share of Windows 11. According to Statcounter, Windows 10 continues to be by far the most well-liked desktop working system (March 2024: 69.05 % market share amongst all Windows techniques). Windows 10 even managed to realize market share barely in March 2024, whereas Windows 11 misplaced market share barely (March 2024: 26.68 % market share amongst all Windows techniques).

According to Statcounter, all Windows techniques collectively had a market share of 72.47 % in March 2024. MacOS is effectively behind with 14.68 %.

This article initially appeared on PC Welt and was translated from German to English.