Microsoft’s new operating system officially launches on July 29. If you own a copy of Windows 7 or 8, you could be in line for a free upgrade. However, first you need to check whether your machine is up to the task. Here are the minimum hardware requirements for each version of the new OS.
Microsoft is releasing seven different flavours of Windows 10: Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Education, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise and Windows 10 IoT Core (Internet of Things). You can find out what’s different about each version here.
All versions should run smoothly on almost any Windows 8.1 machine. However, if you’re using Windows 7 on an older laptop, you’ll need to make sure you meet the system requirements. (Windows XP and Vista users will need to do a clean install.)
The system requirements are as follows:
- CPU: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
- RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
- Free hard disk space: 16 GB
- Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver
- Display: 1024×600
- A Microsoft account and internet access
Microsoft also strongly recommends that you are running the latest version of your current OS (either Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update). You can download the updates here and here, respectively.
You can check if your PC or tablet meets the minimum requirements by heading to the system info in the Control Panel. Alternatively, you can try using the “Check my PC” function in the Get Windows 10 app.
Bear in mind that other mitigating factors such as driver support, existing firmware and app compatibility can also play a role in your device’s compatibility. There are also some features that will not work without special hardware. These include Windows Hello which requires an infrared camera and touch gestures which naturally require a multi-touch display.
Comments
20 responses to “Windows 10 Upgrade: Is Your Laptop Up To The Task?”
so basically if it was bought in the last 10 years it will work…..?
there’d be more than a few 5yo netbooks and tablets that wouldn’t meet these specs.
Don’t believe Microsoft’s minimum specs though. If you have that minimum spec and ran 10, it would be a pig. Guaranteed.
Just installed it on a HP Slate 7, very low spec tablet, struggled multitasking in 8, loving 10.
Not interested, MAC all the way…
Currently running the preview version on a Mac, through bootcamp.
Works well enough – although support for Apple’s file system would make a nice touch.
then why bother posting numb nuts?
go back to new zealand…. sheeple
I have a 1GHz, 2GB RAM laptop here with a 40GB HDD, I’m going to give it a shot out of interest.
Okay, have given it a go, it is completely unusable, which I don’t find surprising, but really, it can do little more than boot.
Using a browser brings it to its knees.
The minimum requirements are pretty much BS.
Oh FFS, seven different versions???
Please MS, take a leaf out of Apple’s book and have 1 (one) main version of the OS, and stop nickle and diming people and fragmenting things.
Nope.
Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro – For the average PC/Laptop
Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise – As it states, for enterprise, So unless you are the head of the IT department, These version are not for you
Windows 10 Education – Pretty obvious who this one is for
Windows 10 Mobile – Again, blatantly obvious
Windows 10 IoT Core (Internet of Things) – As stated in article, its for small low cost devices that usually run linux distros
So for you the average consumer, There is only 2 versions
Standard windows 10, And the PRO version for hardcore windows users
Try researching before making baseless claims idiot
Wow, thanks for the polite response 😛
I didn’t say it wasn’t clear, just that it is screwing people over. I know what each version is ‘for’, just that it is a rort, and is still a confusing mess.
Why have a ‘Home’ and ‘Pro’ category, and force people to have to go through a spec list and decide what they want to get, or worse, buy a laptop and then find later they have to pony up more cash to upgrade. Why not just offer a discount to education users rather than yet another version?
Just release one version at a decent price, don’t give people ‘some’ of an OS when they buy it, dicking them around btwen Home and Pro.
It has always irked me, it doesn’t appear to irk you, and that is fine, but no need for ‘idiot’ calling.
Pro is only useful if you need to join a Windows domain*, for a home user there is no benefit so really there is only one edition parents need to worry about.
*Parents aren’t likely to be interested in being a Remote Desktop server or use Bitlocker.
Realistically most people will just get the version that comes on their computer. If they buy high end, that’ll be pro, if mid to low, home, if super low, home 32bit. Upgrading is the same version you already have of 7/8. Most consumers aren’t really building their own PC and choosing their windows editions.
Got this notification on my laptop today: http://www.sony-asia.com/microsite/support/win10/en/index.html
Basically Sony saying that if you have a Vaio, you should cool your heals until October or November before they’ll support Windows 10. What have they been doing for the last half a year of Win10 beta testing and release candidates?
The same thing video card manufactures did in the lead up to the Windows Vista launch, SFA.
oh, how i remember that!
was aweosme to upgrade for a whole log of 5mins, vista was soo much better than xp….
after 5 mins… wasn’t happy
A few of my less tech savvy friends have Sony laptops and they got angry at me because I couldn’t help them get it sooner given how much of a geek I am. I told them to direct that anger squarely at Sony – they’ve known this was coming for a long time and have had ample opportunity to come to the party.
It is smart by Sony really, the current Windows 10 is buggy as all get out, by October the big ones will be ironed out.