Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2021 October 5

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October 5

Upgrading to Windows 11

Hello! So I'm wondering if when I upgrade to Windows 11 (if my computer supports it), will it wipe all of my data off of the computer I"m upgrading or will all the data transfer over to Windows 11? ― Blaze The Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 15:47, 5 October 2021 (UTC)

I won't answer your question, but will try to rephrase it. What are the different options or methods for upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11? Are there any upgrade methods to avoid because they reformat the C: drive? I think that User:Blaze the Wolf is asking whether the upgrade will reformat the C: drive, which is obviously undesirable except in a new piece of hardware. Robert McClenon (talk) 16:34, 5 October 2021 (UTC)

@Robert McClenon: No. I'm asking if upgrading to Windows 11 will perform sort of a factory reset on the computer, removing all the files and software. It shouldn't reformat the C: drive as far as I know since that's something the user has to tell the computer to do. ― Blaze The Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 16:37, 5 October 2021 (UTC)

I used terminology sloppily, for which I apologize. I was thinking of a factory reset as being a sort of quasi-format of the C: drive, if it deletes or hides the data on the C: drive. Yes, that is something that you want to avoid. Robert McClenon (talk) 18:54, 5 October 2021 (UTC)

All your files should be safe, but regular backing up is obviously a good idea. It's more likely that some of your software will no longer work. I've had two PCs trashed by routine "upgrades" so I go by the principle that if something isn't broken, don't fix it. I understand that unlike the Windows 10 upgrade (and ensuing chaos) you won't be forced to upgrade to the next edition of Windows.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 17:28, 5 October 2021 (UTC)

I've heard that all software that works on Windows 10 will continue to work on Windows 11 so it should be fine. There may be some software from the Windows 10 that I'll have to download from the Windows 11 (if they are different). Also I know that Windows 10 is not broken, however I want to upgrade to Windows 11. ― Blaze The Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 17:47, 5 October 2021 (UTC)

Also as far as I know, no one was ever forced to upgrade to Windows 10. I used Windows 7 for a while and was offered to upgrade to Windows 10 but stuck with 7 because I didn't want to go to the newest version because I had heard it was broken (I was thinking of 8 which wasn't broken but hard to use) so I stuck with 7 and it never made me upgrade. ― Blaze The Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 18:04, 5 October 2021 (UTC)

Windows_10#Distribution_practices.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 18:58, 5 October 2021 (UTC)

@Shantavira: Alright. Also your edit summaries make it seems like your trying to convince me not to upgrade to Windows 11 because you don't think it's necessary. If that's not true then that's fine, it's just what I'm getting from your edit summaries. ― Blaze The Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 19:01, 5 October 2021 (UTC)

I would just wait a few more months before upgrading, so your computer does not become a "lab rat" when the new software does not work, crashes, etc. The longer you wait, the more sturdy Windows 11 will be--つがる Talk to つがる:) 🍁 02:35, 6 October 2021 (UTC)

Quite in general, upgrading to a new version of an OS should not compromise any user files. But sometimes upgrades fail or contain bugs, making all files inaccessible, so it is very strongly recommended to always make a full backup before upgrading.  --Lambiam 09:45, 6 October 2021 (UTC)

Using Desktop Computer as Wifi Disk Server ?

The question that I was asking above about flash drives arose because I have a desktop computer and a laptop computer, and sometimes I want to work on a document on the desktop computer, and sometimes I want to resume working on it on the laptop computer in another room. Both machines have wireless connectivity to the Internet via the cable modem. The usual way for carrying the document between computers is on a flash drive. (I infer that they are sometimes known as sticks. I still think of them as diskettes.) However, my question is whether there is software that I can set up on the desktop computer that will act as a wireless file server, and so make a directory or a partition of its C: drive visible as a lettered drive on the laptop, and whether there is software that I can set up on the laptop computer that will use the directory or partition on the desktop computer as a drive? Obviously, if I take the laptop computer to another state, I will be using it like a laptop computer, connecting to the hotel or host wireless modem. But my question is if they are both within range of the modem and of each other. Robert McClenon (talk) 19:07, 5 October 2021 (UTC)

This isn't exactly an answer to your question, however I know that you can use Google Docs and have the doc you're editing on both computers and when you make changes to one, it'll make changes to the other. Although I may be getting a bit confused with what you're asking because of your use of the word "file" which can mean both a file you download and a file as in a document. ― Blaze The Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 19:11, 5 October 2021 (UTC)

You can set up a local network and share some folders. Ruslik_Zero 20:28, 5 October 2021 (UTC)

Thank you, User:Ruslik0, I will look at the article further. That is probably what I am looking for. Robert McClenon (talk) 00:55, 6 October 2021 (UTC)

User:Blaze The Wolf - What is the difference between a file that I download and a document? If I download a file, it is because I want to use it as a document. Either please explain, or we are saying the same things. Robert McClenon (talk) 03:15, 7 October 2021 (UTC)

@Robert McClenon: BAsically all documents are files, but not all files are documents. A document is basically Google's text file name, just like Microsoft's text file is called a Word document. Some files are different than documents (some are .zip files or .exe executable files). ― Blaze The Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 12:20, 7 October 2021 (UTC)

User:Ruslik0 - I read the beginning of the article, and thought it gave useful instructions, but did not provide key details. Then I scrolled down and saw that it appears that the details are there. I will read the remainder of the article in the very near future. Robert McClenon (talk) 03:15, 7 October 2021 (UTC)

Here is a simpler guide for setting up a local network with Windows 10. Ruslik_Zero 20:33, 7 October 2021 (UTC)

Thank you again, User:Ruslik0. I will take a look. I think that I followed the advice in Tom's Hardware, but I can't get the laptop to see the folder on the desktop computer. I think that I followed the instructions, so I will ask whether there is anything unobvious that one might have failed to do? Robert McClenon (talk) 23:00, 8 October 2021 (UTC)

I have some miscellaneous questions. First, there is an option, in the Network and Sharing Center, to set up a set up a new connection or network. I didn't do that, and didn't see how any of those options were what I needed. I just set up sharing on the folder, and discovery. Was I supposed to set up a new connection or network? If so, how? Robert McClenon (talk) 23:00, 8 October 2021 (UTC)

It says to use the IP address of my computer to discover the shared folder. My computers appear to have IP addresses of 10.0.0.176 and 10.0.0.184. My question is how permanent are those IP addresses? I know that 10.* IP addresses are internally assigned. Is there a risk that the internal assignment may be reassigned, for instance, by my cable moden acting as an internal router? I have tried using both the IP addresses and the names. The names are the names that I assigned (mythological, in my case) when I initially set up the computers, and will not change unless I change them. So are these 10.* addresses permanently internally assigned? I know that the world sees my computer with an IP address that is assigned on a "lease" by my Internet Service Provider, and my modem-router translates between the 10.0.* internal addresses, and external addresses, and that my external address changes. (This is one of the reasons why communication with unregistered editors is difficult.) So is the internal assignment of 10.0.0.176 and 10.0.0.184 permanent, or will that also change? Robert McClenon (talk) 21:54, 9 October 2021 (UTC)