System Requirements — Side by Side
TPM 2.0 — Required by Windows 11, not Windows 10. A machine without TPM 2.0 cannot upgrade to Windows 11 through normal means. TPM also enables BitLocker encryption. If a question mentions BitLocker failing or Windows 11 upgrade failing, TPM is usually involved.
64-bit only — Windows 11 dropped support for 32-bit processors entirely. Windows 10 still supports 32-bit. An older machine running a 32-bit CPU cannot run Windows 11 regardless of other specs. Windows 11 also requires a CPU from a specific compatibility list (Intel 8th gen+ or AMD Ryzen 2000+).
Feature Differences
| Feature | Windows 10 | Windows 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Start Menu | Left-aligned, live tiles, full customisation | Centre-aligned by default, no live tiles, simplified |
| Taskbar | Fully customisable, can be moved to any edge | Bottom-only, less customisable, centred icons |
| Virtual Desktops | Available (Task View) | Improved — each desktop has its own wallpaper |
| Snap Layouts | Basic snap (2 windows) | Snap Layouts — up to 4 windows in templates |
| Microsoft Teams | Separate download | Built-in (Chat integration in taskbar) |
| Android Apps | Not supported | Supported via Amazon Appstore (Windows Subsystem for Android) |
| DirectX | DirectX 9/10/11/12 | DirectX 12 Ultimate (required) |
| TPM Requirement | Not required | TPM 2.0 required |
| Secure Boot | Recommended | Required |
| 32-bit support | Yes (32-bit editions available) | No — 64-bit only |
| Internet Explorer | Available (legacy) | Removed — Edge only |
| Control Panel | Available alongside Settings | Being phased to Settings — Control Panel still accessible |
| Windows Update | Feature updates twice yearly | One major update per year |
| Gaming features | Game Mode, Xbox app | Auto HDR, DirectStorage, improved Game Bar |
Editions — Windows 10 vs Windows 11
| Edition | Target User | Key Features | Both OSes? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | Consumers / personal use | Core Windows features, Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Windows Hello | Yes |
| Pro | Small business / power users | Adds BitLocker, Group Policy, Remote Desktop (host), Hyper-V, domain join, Windows Sandbox | Yes |
| Pro for Workstations | High-performance workstations | ReFS file system, persistent memory support, larger RAM support (up to 6 TB) | Yes |
| Enterprise | Large organisations | All Pro features + DirectAccess, AppLocker, advanced threat protection, long-term servicing | Yes |
| Education | Schools and universities | Similar to Enterprise — licensed through academic agreements | Yes |
| S Mode | Budget / managed devices | Only runs apps from Microsoft Store, enhanced security, no traditional desktop apps | Yes |
BitLocker — Pro and above only. Not available in Home edition. Requires TPM for the most secure mode. A scenario saying a user needs BitLocker but has Windows 10/11 Home → they need to upgrade to Pro.
Remote Desktop (hosting) — Pro and above only. Home can be a Remote Desktop client (connect to other machines) but cannot be hosted (accept incoming connections). This is a very common A+ scenario question.
Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) — Pro and above only. Not available in Home. If a scenario asks about applying Group Policy settings to a single machine, the user needs Pro or higher.
Hyper-V — Pro and above only. Windows Home cannot run Hyper-V virtualisation.
Upgrade Path — Windows 10 to Windows 11
Windows 10 users can upgrade to Windows 11 for free via Windows Update — if their hardware meets the requirements. Microsoft provides the PC Health Check tool to verify compatibility. The most common upgrade blockers are: no TPM 2.0, CPU not on the supported list, or the system using legacy BIOS instead of UEFI.
In-place upgrade preserves files, apps, and settings. A clean install wipes everything. For the A+ exam, know that upgrading Windows 10 Home → Windows 11 Home is free and in-place. Moving from Home to Pro requires a separate licence purchase (on either OS).
Windows 10 end of support: October 14, 2025. After this date, Microsoft no longer provides security updates for Windows 10. Organisations on Windows 10 after this date are running an unsupported OS — a security risk the A+ may test in a scenario.
TPM — What It Is and Why It Matters
TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is a security chip on the motherboard that stores cryptographic keys and performs security functions. Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 — the most commonly tested Windows 11 fact on the A+ exam.
| TPM Function | What It Does | Windows Feature It Enables |
|---|---|---|
| Secure key storage | Stores encryption keys in tamper-resistant hardware — keys cannot be extracted by software | BitLocker drive encryption |
| Platform integrity | Measures the boot process and detects if the OS has been tampered with | Secure Boot verification |
| Windows Hello | Stores biometric authentication data (fingerprint, face) securely in hardware | Windows Hello for Business |
| Device Health Attestation | Proves to a server that the device is in a known, trusted state | MDM compliance verification |
TPM is a hardware chip that stores keys and measures system integrity. Secure Boot is a UEFI feature that prevents unsigned operating systems from loading at boot. They work together but are different things. Windows 11 requires both. A machine with TPM but without UEFI (running legacy BIOS) still cannot run Windows 11. You can enable Secure Boot in UEFI settings — you cannot add TPM in software if the chip isn't present.
Exam Scenarios
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Windows 11 Hardware Requirements — The Exam Trap
The CompTIA A+ exam specifically tests Windows 11's minimum hardware requirements because they represent a significant shift from Windows 10. Windows 11 requires: a 64-bit processor at 1 GHz or faster with 2 or more cores, 4 GB RAM minimum (8 GB recommended), 64 GB storage minimum, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capable, TPM 2.0, a DirectX 12-compatible graphics card, and an HD display (720p) at least 9 inches. The most commonly tested requirements are TPM 2.0 and UEFI — older machines that run Windows 10 fine may fail Windows 11 upgrade checks solely because they lack TPM 2.0 support.
On the exam: if a scenario describes a computer running Windows 10 that fails the Windows 11 compatibility check, the most common cause is no TPM 2.0 (often can be enabled in UEFI/BIOS settings) or a CPU that predates the supported processor list. Microsoft published a list of supported Intel and AMD processors; CPUs older than approximately 2017–2018 are generally unsupported even if they meet the clock speed and core count requirements.
Windows Editions — Home, Pro, Enterprise
Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 come in multiple editions. The A+ exam expects you to know which features are exclusive to Pro and Enterprise editions versus available in Home. Key Pro/Enterprise-only features: BitLocker Drive Encryption (full disk encryption — not available on Home), Domain Join (connecting to Active Directory — Home cannot join a corporate domain), Remote Desktop Host (Home can use Remote Desktop as a client to connect to other machines, but cannot accept incoming RD connections — that requires Pro or Enterprise), Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc — not available on Home), and Hyper-V (Microsoft's built-in hypervisor for running VMs — Pro and Enterprise only).
On the exam: a scenario describes a user who needs to join their laptop to a corporate Active Directory domain. They're running Windows 11 Home. What's the problem? The answer is that Windows 11 Home cannot join a domain — the user needs Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise. This is a consistently tested distinction.
What's New in Windows 11 — Exam Relevant Changes
Windows 11 introduced several changes tested on current A+ exams. The Start menu moved to the centre of the taskbar by default (can be moved back to the left). Snap Layouts — hovering over the maximise button reveals predefined window arrangement layouts, making multi-window workflows more efficient. Android app support via the Amazon Appstore (Windows Subsystem for Android) allows running Android applications natively on Windows 11 — this is tested on the A+ as a mobile device integration feature. Teams integration was added to the taskbar, though Microsoft later made this easier to remove following user feedback.
From a security perspective, Windows 11's mandatory TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements mean that all supported Windows 11 machines have hardware-level security foundations that Windows 10 didn't enforce. TPM 2.0 enables BitLocker key storage, Windows Hello biometric authentication, and measured boot (verifying the boot chain hasn't been tampered with). Secure Boot prevents the system from loading unsigned bootloaders, blocking a category of UEFI-level malware (bootkits).
Common Windows Troubleshooting Scenarios
Windows Update failing repeatedly. Common causes: corrupted Windows Update cache (fix: run net stop wuauserv, delete the SoftwareDistribution folder, restart the service), insufficient disk space, or a conflicting driver. Running sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth repairs corrupted system files that can block updates.
Slow boot times. Check startup programs via Task Manager → Startup tab. Disable unnecessary startup entries. Check SMART status of the storage drive — a failing HDD is a common cause of slow boots. On Windows 11, Fast Startup (a hybrid shutdown mode that saves kernel state) can cause issues on some hardware — disabling it in Power Options is a common troubleshooting step.
Driver issues after upgrade. An upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 can break drivers, particularly older peripherals. Device Manager shows yellow exclamation marks next to devices with driver issues. Solutions: download updated Windows 11 drivers from the manufacturer's website, use Device Manager's "Roll back driver" option if available, or uninstall and reinstall the device driver.