Can my computer run Windows 10?

Can my computer run Windows 10

Can my computer run Windows 10? This is a key question for anyone looking to upgrade the operating system, or even buying a used computer with not-so-up-to-date specifications.

Windows 10 is the latest operating system by Microsoft. It’s no wonder why anybody would want to be using it on their computer.

Including the latest support, drivers, and system management tools, everybody is interested to know what takes to run this OS.

Well, look no further! In this article, we’ll be guiding you on everything you need to know on whether or not your PC can run Windows 10.

Let’s get right into it!

Table of Contents

  1. Can my computer run Windows 10?
    1. How to check if my computer can run Windows 10
    2. This PC can’t be upgraded to Windows 10
  2. This PC can’t run Windows 10
  3. Can Windows 10 be used on a server?
  4. Wrap Up

Can my computer run Windows 10?

How to check if my computer can run Windows 10

You can manually check your PC’s compatibility with Windows 10. Microsoft has announced the following specs as minimum requirements for the system:

  • Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster;
  • Hard Drive: 32 GB or larger;
  • RAM: 1 GB for a 32-bit Windows 10 and 2 GB for 64-bit Windows 10;
  • Graphics Card: Compatible with DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver;
  • Display: 800 x 600 resolution;
  • Connectivity: Internet connectivity.

You can match these specs with your PC. Be warned though, that these are the absolute minimum requirements you need to meet.

Note: A smooth and worthwhile Windows 10 experience would require you to use a computer that’s a few steps above these specs. If you’re on the fence about a PC upgrade to use Windows 10, it’s more likely to be worth it than not.

If you’re looking for a great Windows 10 experience, consider the following as a minimum requirement for your new machine:

  • CPU: 2 GHz Dual Core;
  • RAM: 4 GB;
  • Hard Drive: 64GB – prefer an SSD;
  • Display: HD 720p resolution;

As a general rule though, if your PC is presently running Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 without any hitches, then there’s a good chance it will run Windows 10 almost as smoother. Both operating systems use the same basic hardware but vary in the effectiveness of their software.

If you’re looking to upgrade to Windows 10 to use some specific features such as Cortana or BitLocker, you may want to consider checking out this link. It will let you know what you need to use a variety of specific features on the new OS.

This PC can’t be upgraded to Windows 10

If you’ve gone through everything mentioned in this article and it turns out that your PC can’t support Windows 10, then there’s not much left to do. It would be better to move on to alternative options that suit your needs. Maybe save up for a better PC, or try to make do with what you have.

Speaking honestly, Windows 10 is a great operating system that requires a lot of resources to function efficiently. Forcing a computer below the minimum spec sheet is likely to make your Windows 10 usage highly unpleasant, and that might even be said for PCs that meet just the minimum specifications.

This PC can’t run Windows 10

Before we look at what your PC can do, let’s briefly talk about how we can check whether your PC can’t run Windows 10. Doing this saves you the time of trying and failing to install Windows 10 on a PC that just can’t support it.

Following this method requires you to have your operating system updated to run the “Get Windows 10” app. If you have auto-updates turned on, you’ll already know what this is and you can skip right ahead to the steps below. If not, first access “Windows Update” on your PC:

  • If you’re using Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, this will be suggested to you as a recommended update;
  • If you’re using Windows 7, this will be suggested to you as an optional update.

Now let’s check your computer’s compatibility following the steps below:

  • Right-click on the “Get Windows 10” app icon on your taskbar. This will open up a new menu;
  • Click on “Check your upgrade status”;
  • Once the app launches, on the top left you’ll see a hamburger icon – three parallel lines on top of one another. Click there;
  • From the new pop-up menu in front of you, click on “Check your PC”;
  • The app will automatically run a system check and will let you know whether your PC can run Windows 10. It will check for potential compatibility issues with any of your connected devices as well.

Can Windows 10 be used on a server?

Windows 10 was not designed to be a server operating system. With that said, it should not be used on a hosted server from any data center.

Wrap Up

An upgrade to Windows 10 would definitely make life easier if you’re looking for operating efficiency, but it won’t be the end of the world if you can’t manage to get there right now.

Explore your options rather than forcing Windows 10 somewhere it doesn’t belong.

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