A page on the Lenovo website regarding Windows 11 has revealed that Windows 7 users may have to perform a clean install to upgrade to Microsoft's latest operating system.
The revelation comes at a time when many users are considering how to upgrade to Windows 11, with different information regarding Windows 11 hardware specifications.
Windows 7 Users Must Clean Install to Upgrade to Windows 11
The Lenovo Windows 11 FAQs page answers many questions regarding the upgrade path to Windows 11.
Under the question, "My company still has some Windows 7 devices. If they meet the hardware floor, can these be upgraded directly to Windows 11?", Lenovo answers that "For Windows 7 devices that meet hardware requirements, you will need to clean install or reimage to go directly to Windows 11."
Although Microsoft is yet to confirm this statement directly, for many, Lenovo's revelation of the clean install requirement should come as no surprise.
The upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 7 is still free, as it is for any existing users of other Windows versions. The configuration keys for Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 are all found within the new operating system. However, you will require your existing Windows 7 product key to validate your new operating system during the Windows 11 installation process.
Furthermore, Microsoft has also confirmed that the "Free upgrade offer does not have a specific end date for eligible systems." Furthermore, the company "reserves the right to eventually end support for the free offer" and that the "end date will be no sooner than one year from general availability."
Can Windows 7 Users Upgrade to Windows 11?
Microsoft has also gone to great ends to reassure Windows 7 users that their program and apps will continue to work in Windows 11. But the flip-side of that is that of the many systems that continue to run Windows 7 worldwide, a significant number will not reach the minimum hardware specifications for a Windows 11 upgrade.
Microsoft made a concerted effort with Windows 10 to coax as many people from its older operating systems to the latest version. Even then, many Windows 7 users refused to upgrade, preferring to stick with the already creaking Windows 7 operating system.
Now, Windows 11 comes six years after the launch of Windows 10, and Windows 7 support has completely ended, rendering the operating system a dangerous proposition for most day-to-day operations.
But even if Microsoft offers Windows 11 as a free upgrade for Windows 7 users, some users and businesses still won't make the switch as specific software or services that they use and require haven't made the jump to a more modern version of Windows.
Of course, if Windows 7 users do want to make the jump but don't want to perform a clean install, the upgrade path from Windows 7 to Windows 10 is still open and could become a vital alternative route.