The Pros and Cons of Upgrading to Windows 11

For those of us who provide computer repair services, keeping up with the latest operating system updates is a must. It was during this process that I decided to dive into what it's like to use Windows 11. Having been around for a while, I decided to install it on one of my five computers to see how it fared over time.

The Initial Experience with Windows 11

During the early days of using Windows 11, I found that Microsoft pushed frequent updates - roughly two to three times a week. However, not all of these updates were as seamless as they could have been. I noticed that about one in three updates caused significant issues, requiring days of troubleshooting and repair. Many of these issues disappeared once I removed the problematic updates, but the experience was nevertheless frustrating.

The USB Socket Disaster

After an entire year of dealing with these updates, I encountered a particularly severe issue. An update to Windows 11 supposedly 'killed' all of the USB sockets on my computer. Despite everything else functioning normally, my system lost all USB functionality. It took around two days to fully remove that update and restore the USB sockets. At that point, I was ready to give up on Windows 11 and returned to Windows 10.

A Return to Windows 10

My dissatisfaction with Windows 11 only grew when I tried to set up my cryptocurrency mining rig under Windows 10. The mining application required Bitdefender, a security software I use, to be temporarily disabled. However, after turning off Bitdefender for a day, the mining application worked perfectly. But the excitement was short-lived when the next morning, the rig was suddenly non-functional. It turned out that Bitdefender had re-enabled itself and disabled the mining application, rendering the rig unusable.

Why Stick with Windows?

For those who feel compelled to use Windows, there might be valid reasons. However, if there are no pressing needs that mandate the use of Windows, it might be worth considering alternatives. The constant need to update both the operating system and drivers can become quite burdensome. Additionally, the frequent security concerns and issues with updates can be infuriating.

From my personal experience, I found that Linux was a much more reliable choice for my mining rig. The mining application has run smoothly for over three years without any glitches or issues. Although Linux may not be for everyone, it certainly provides a more stable environment for certain tasks.

Conclusion

In summary, while Windows 11 has its merits, the ongoing challenges and issues I faced with frequent updates and driver conflicts led me to stick with Windows 10 and eventually switch to Linux for certain tasks. If you're frequently running into these problems, it might be time to consider a different operating system that suits your needs better.