Developers and creatives looking for greater control and privacy with their AI  are increasingly turning to locally run models like OpenAI’s new gpt-oss family of models, which are both lightweight and incredibly functional on end-user hardware. Indeed, you can have it run on consumer GPUs with just 16GB of memory. That makes it possible to use a wide range of hardware – with NVIDIA GPUs emerging as the best way to run these sorts of open-weight models. While nations and companies rush to develop their own bespoke AI solutions to a range of tasks, open source and open-weight models like OpenAI’s new gpt-oss-20b are finding much more adoption. This latest release is roughly comparable to the GPT-4o mini model which proved so successful over the past year. It also introduces chain of thought reasoning to deeply think through problems, adjustable reasoning levels to adjust thinking capabilities on-the-fly, expanded context length, and efficiency tweaks to help it run on local hardware, like NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs. But you will need the right graphics card if you want to get the best performance. NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5090 is its flagship card that’s super-fast for gaming and a range of professional workloads. With its Blackwell architecture, tens of thousands of CUDA cores, and 32GB of memory, it’s a great fit for running local AI. Llama.cpp is an open-source framework that lets you run LLMs (large language models) with great performance especially on RTX GPUs thanks to optimizations made in collaboration with NVIDIA. Llama.cpp offers a lot of flexibility to adjust quantization techniques and CPU offloading. Llama.cpp has published their own tests of gpt-oss-20b, where the GeForce RTX 5090 topped the charts at an impressive 282 tok/s. That’s in comparison to the Mac M3 Ultra (116 tok/s) and AMD’s 7900 XTX (102 tok/s). The GeForce RTX 5090 includes built-in Tensor Cores designed to accelerate AI tasks maximizing performance running gpt-oss-20b locally. Note: Tok/s, or tokens per second, measures tokens, a chunk of text that the model reads or outputs in one step, and how quickly they can be processed. NVIDIA For AI enthusiasts that just want to use local LLMs with these NVIDIA optimizations, consider the LM Studio application, built on top of Llama.cpp. LM Studio adds support for RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) and is designed to make running and experimenting with large LLMs easy—without needing to wrestle with command-line tools or deep technical setup. NVIDIA Another popular open source framework for AI testing and experimentation is Ollama. It’s great for trying out different AI models, including the OpenAI gpt-oss models, and NVIDIA worked closely to optimize performance, so you’ll get great results running it on an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPU. It handles model downloads, environment setup and GPU acceleration automatically, as well as built-in model management to support multiple models simultaneously, integrating easily with applications and local workflows. Ollama also offers an easy way for end users to test the latest gpt-oss model. And in a similar way to llama.cpp, other applications also make use of Ollama to run LLMs. One such example is AnythingLLM with its straightforward, local interface making it excellent for those just getting started with LLM benchmarking. NVIDIA If you have one of the latest NVIDIA GPUs (or even if you don’t, but don’t mind the performance hit), you can try out gpt-oss-20b yourself on a range of platforms. LM Studio is great if you want a slick, intuitive interface that lets you grab any model you want to try out and it works on Windows, macOS, and Linux equally well. AnythingLLM is another easy-to-use option for running gpt-oss-20b and it works on both Windows x64 and Windows on ARM. There’s also Ollama, which isn’t as slick to look at, but it’s great if you know what you’re doing and want to get setup quickly. Whichever application you use to play around with gpt-oss-20b, though, the latest NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs seem to offer the best performance. Read...

Anyone who has installed the latest October update for Windows 11 should be cautious: Microsoft confirms that problems with USB keyboards and mice may occur after installing update KB5066835. Keyboard and mice fail in recovery mode After installing the latest October update, you may find that USB input devices refuse to work in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This means that if you enter recovery mode—for example, to repair Windows or reset your PC—you will no longer be able to select any options, either with the keyboard or the mouse. (In normal Windows 11 operation, however, everything works as usual.) According to Microsoft, the error occurs on all current client and server versions, including Windows 11 version 24H2, Windows 11 version 25H2, and Windows Server 2025. This is particularly annoying because almost all modern PCs rely on USB devices. Old PS/2 ports have become rare, and Bluetooth mice usually don’t work in recovery mode either. Microsoft is working on a fix Microsoft has officially confirmed the bug: “After installing the Windows security update released on October 14, 2025 (KB5066835), USB devices, such as keyboards and mice, do not function in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This issue prevents navigation of any of the recovery options within WinRE. Note that the USB keyboard and mouse continue to work normally within the Windows operating system.” The company is investigating the cause and plans to release a solution “in the coming days.” Recovery updates already provided (KB5067039 and KB5067019) do not yet fix the problem. What you should do now If you have already installed KB5066835, it’s best to avoid recovery mode for the time being. If you have not yet installed the update, you can wait until Microsoft has released the patch. If your PC is currently running smoothly, there is no urgent need for action—but you should be aware of the problem in case you need to use the recovery environment in the future. And if you want to turn your back on Windows, you should read our articles on switching from Windows to Linux and switching from Windows laptops to Chromebooks. Read...

If your computer won’t start you might be pulling out your hair at the prospect of losing all your precious data. But all isn’t necessarily lost. If the drive is corrupted or dead, you are in a pickle. Any attempt to retrieve data in that case is going to be very difficult and possibly cost an arm and a leg. But the PC may not be starting for a more benign reason – i.e., the power supply is on the blink or there’s a corrupted sector, in which case your data may well be intact. There are two main options if that’s the case, either to boot from a USB flash drive or remove the drive entirely and plug it into a working computer. Here we walk you through the former and give you advice on the latter. Option 1: Create a bootable Windows USB drive This is the method to try if your PC still turns on but just won’t boot into Windows. 1. Create the bootable drive Get another PC and a USB flash drive with at least 16GB on it. Now go to Microsoft’s Media Creation web page and download the installation media. Run the .exe file and select Create Installation media. You will have the option of choosing ISO or bootable media, choose bootable media. 2. Boot into Recovery Environment Next boot into the BIOS / UEFI on your PC that won’t boot and find the option that lets you change the order of the boot device. Set the USB/flash device as the first device. Plug in the USB drive and save and exit from the BIOS / UEFI. Once the USB flash drive is detected, you should see a Windows installation screen. Choose the option Repair your computer. This will open Advanced Recovery. Click on Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt. Dominic Bayley / Foundry 3. Use the Command Prompt to recover the data When the prompt appears on the screen, type notepad.exe and press Enter. Click on File > Open to reveal Windows File Explorer. Navigate to your drive and right click on it. Use the Send to option to copy the contents of the drive to external storage. Dominic Bayley / Foundry Option 2. Remove the drive and plug it into another computer If your computer won’t turn on, you won’t be able to boot from a USB flash drive. Instead, you’ll need to remove the drive from the PC and plug it into a functional PC to retrieve the data. There are a few things you’ll need. First off, you’ll need a screwdriver to open your PC and remove the drive. Also, to plug your drive into a working PC you’ll need to buy the correct cable, either a SATA to USB cable for a 2.5-inch drive, or if your drive is an M.2 type, SATA M.2-to-USB adapter or NVMe M.2-to-USB adapter (check your PC’s manufacturer specifications to see the drive type). Pexels: IT Services EU It can be tricky finding the right cable, but suppliers like Amazon tend to carry the different types. You may need to seek technical help or watch an online guide to remove your drive. In some laptops the drive is soldered onto the motherboard. If that’s the case, you won’t be able to remove the drive — you’ll have to take the PC to the repairer instead. Once the drive is removed, you simply have to plug it into the adapter and then plug it into a working USB port. With luck you should see the drive appear in File Explorer. You can then select all the files you need and copy them to an external drive. If you’re looking for an external drive, you can browse our PCWorld recommendations. When that’s done you can attempt to repair your PC with the knowledge that your files are safe and sound. Finally, make sure you have a reliable backup plan, so incidents like this aren’t so dire. Related content How to solve the dreaded Blue Screen of Death on Windows PCs 7 clever ways to use your old USB flash drives How (and why) to boot Windows 11 from a USB flash drive Read...

For better or worse, laptop docking stations have generally been “dumb” devices. Synaptics and its customers are hoping to change that. Right now, there are two main technologies that “compete” in the docking stations space: USB4 (which Intel puts its own spin on with its Thunderbolt 4 technology) and DisplayLink (a technology Synaptics bought in 2020). Thunderbolt supplies more raw bandwidth to docks, while DisplayLink uses compression technologies to deliver a high-speed video experience that approximates Thunderbolt. Normally, the best Thunderbolt docks compete against DisplayLink docks, and it’s easy to get lost in the raw horsepower that a Thunderbolt dock offers. Synaptics, however, believes its high-speed signaling finesse can give it a leg up in future devices. Synaptics sells its DisplayLink chips to dock makers like Anker, Kensington, Plugable, and Ugreen, making Synaptics the key chipmaker in those docking stations. Although Synaptics does plan a major expansion into the “competing” USB4 technology, it recently showed off a dock concept at a tech exhibition at its headquarters (in San Jose, California) this week, which turned the dock into something like a thin client with basic video and possibly even apps living at the edge. As of now, perhaps the closest approximation to Synaptics’ vision would be the Anker Prime Charger, a 250W USB-C charging dock with an integrated display. But Synaptics was especially proud of its Astra series of IoT SOCs, whose SL2610 series leverages a “Kelvin” NPU that Google contributed to the industry as an open-source design. What do you get when you take a regular dock and add an Astra? A “smart” dock. A Plugable concept docking station with an Astra chip connected.Mark Hachman / Framework Synaptics showed off some office applications, consumer applications, and video all running on an Astra development board connected to a Plugable DisplayLink dock. At CES 2026, the company expects to show off some LLM AI models running on top of that, said Ganesh Tekkatte, director of product marketing at Synaptics. “It’s a traditional dock, but it’s now also an AI-enabled dock,” added Harsha Rao, vice president of high speed interfaces and distributed compute at Synaptics. Synaptics calls this “edge AI,” and it was a key focus for the demonstrations that the company showed off. It all sounds somewhat familiar, with one demonstration showing gesture controls being used to control a consumer video streaming device, with visual recognition coming next. That’s a feature we’ve seen before with the Microsoft Kinect (though, years later, Synaptics can now do it far smaller and for far cheaper). Another opportunity is the automotive space, where your car could recognize you and adjust your seat, heating, and entertainment options differently than with other drivers in your family. In the PC market, Rao said an intelligent dock could replace a business PC in a hotel’s conference center or hotel room, or in a shared business environment. Putting intelligence in a dock could solve three problems: diagnosing any problems that the user might have right at the edge; intelligent bandwidth monitoring and management; and failure analysis of accessories connected to the dock. Intelligent bandwidth management could be an interesting feature, since DisplayLink usually works with a generic 10Gbps USB-C port rather than a specialized Thunderbolt connection. Rao said the dock could recognize that certain apps (like email) could always be routed to a connected 1080p display while more intensive apps (like CAD) be directed to a 4K display. “And the idea is that you could connect that with an on-screen display, because nobody wants to use the joystick [on the back of the display],” Rao said. Rao also said Synaptics is also working on a USB4 solution, which will debut in about a year and a half. He called DisplayLink a “poor man’s GPU, and said that the market was moving toward a more universal USB4 solution that could provide a cost-effective solution to Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5. “And now is the time for us to do that.” Edge AI via sight and sound Synaptics also showed off its vision for universal presence detection using the Astra chip. Presence detection is nothing new—in Windows (Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options), you might see an option for “dynamic lock,” which uses a paired Bluetooth phone to detect when you’re nearby. But Synaptics is working with Dell’s Pro series laptops to integrate a presence-detection sensor with the webcam, and is working with Lenovo to add presence detection to Lenovo’s displays as well. Synaptics showing off universal presence detection.Mark Hachman / Framework In the demonstration, the presence detection simply identified which of two displays the user was looking at, and blurred the other. Synaptics has also implemented gesture control for moving the screen and controlling volume function, though its customers aren’t obligated to use it. One of Synaptics’ customers used the webcam for presence detection, but Synaptics would prefer a dedicated edge sensor that could provide the same function for about 20 cents more and up to 50 milliwatts. Synaptics also showed off how a smart display could sense the “owner” of the display and prioritize their voice during a video call. Edge AI can be sued to “lock on” a speciifc user.Mark Hachman / Framework Again, this all feels somewhat familiar. Brian Krzanich’s tenure at Intel was marked by BMX bikers performing stunts on a CES stage, and claims that edge sensors would supply the data for which Intel’s CPUs constantly clamor. “We are the only company that can actually put a solution mindset to this,” Rao said. “What I find out with my docking customers is what their compute needs, then we go talk to the processor [team],” Rao said. “Intel can not do that. The edge is not just coming with a sledgehammer and saying, we’ve got a processor. We actually go to there and say, what is the solution that I can solve with all the LEGO blocks we have?” Read...

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At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Attractive and luxurious design Built-in kickstand and magnetic display cover Extremely slim and light Very wide color gamut and great color accuracy Excellent sharpness from 14-inch 2560×1600 display Cons IPS Black display panel can’t match OLED’s contrast Only offers USB-C input; no HDMI No Adaptive Sync Our Verdict The HP Series 5 Pro 514pn is a portable monitor that places its focus on attractive yet functional design. That gives it an edge over most competitors, though the image quality of its IPS-LCD display can’t match OLED alternatives. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: HP Series 5 Pro 514pn Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The most inexpensive portable monitors can be had for less than $100, and while they have limitations, they more or less do the job. That can make more expensive portable monitors, like the HP Series 5 Pro 514pn, feel hard to justify. But HP makes a convincing argument for the higher price tag with the monitor’s attractive, lightweight design and superior image quality. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best portable monitors for comparison. HP Series 5 Pro 514pn specs and features The HP Series 5 Pro 514pn’s technical specifications are a bit unusual for a portable monitor. It has a 14-inch display (technically 14.3 inches), but the resolution is 2560×1600 rather than 1080p. And the display panel is IPS Black with Neo:LED rather than standard IPS or (more rarely) VA, a pair of older technologies. This will become important when I test the portable monitor’s image quality. Display size: 14.3-inch 16:10 aspect ratio Native resolution: 2560×1600 Panel type: IPS Black with Neo:LED Refresh rate: 75Hz Adaptive Sync: None HDR: None Ports: 2x USB Type-C with Power Delivery and power pass-through Audio: None Additional features: Built-in kickstand Dimensions: 12.62 x 8.21 x 0.35 inches Weight: 1.4 pounds Price: $299.99 MSRP The monitor is priced at $299.99 MSRP. It’s not yet available at time of this writing, with the retail launch coming in the holiday shopping season. So you should expect you’ll end up paying around $300, unless you’re reading this from the summer of 2026—in which case, hey, how’s the weather? HP Series 5 Pro 514pn design The HP Series 5 Pro 514pn’s IPS Black with Neo:LED panel is unusual for a portable monitor, but it’s arguably the design that really helps the 514pn stand apart from the hundreds of alternatives on the market. It has a solid aluminum chassis that allows very little flex. Aluminum is common even among budget portable monitors, but the HP 514pn ups the ante with a unibody design. Matthew Smith / Foundry Many portable monitors, particularly those that are less expensive, have a two-piece design where a flat aluminum panel is attached to a separate bezel. Here, those two elements are one piece of aluminum, which makes the monitor rigid. Most portable monitors feel like I could snap them over my knee if I really put some effort in, but there’s no way I could do the same to the 514pn. The monitor also has a built-in kickstand with 90 degrees of movement, which translates to 45 degrees of tilt. This isn’t a rare feature: the MSI Pro MP165 E6 also has a kickstand, and it’s much less expensive. However, the HP 514pn’s kickstand is wider and made from aluminum, which makes the monitor feel planted. It’s seemingly impossible to knock the monitor over unless you yeet it straight off your desk. In horizontal orientation, at least. The kickstand also supports vertical use, but it’s less stable and doesn’t offer tilt adjustment, instead sitting at a fixed angle of about 21 degrees. This is a common downside for a portable monitor, however. Matthew Smith / Foundry HP also ships the monitor with a clever magnetic screen cover instead of a sleeve or case. The magnetic cover completely covers the display, but it’s extremely light, which keeps the monitor’s all-in weight down to just 1.4 pounds. It’s also just 0.35 inches thick. The downside? It’s possible for the screen cover to slip off if other items rub against it. I do like HP’s approach, but that’s something to keep in mind if you travel with your portable monitor stored in a suitcase alongside other items. The HP Series 5 Pro 514pn’s design and build quality is certainly a highlight. I’ve complained in the past that mid-range portable monitors, like the Dell Pro 14 Plus, don’t always do enough to stand out from budget peers. The HP 514pn is a different story. It’s attractive and light, yet functional. Most portable monitors feel like I could snap them over my knee if I really put some effort in, but there’s no way I could do the same to the 514pn. HP Series 5 Pro 514pn connectivity The HP Series 5 Pro 514pn’s connectivity is easy to explain. It has two USB-C ports, one on each side, and both provide Power Delivery. Power pass-through up to 65 watts is supported, which means you can connect a USB-C charger to the 514pn and then pass power to a connected laptop, which will also charge. Of course, that also means the monitor lacks HDMI, which is a notable omission. HDMI remains an incredibly common video standard, of course, and one you might need to use if connecting an older device. You’ll need an adapter or HDMI to USB-C cable to do it here, and neither is provided with the 514pn. HP does provide an L-shape USB-C cable, though, which is handy. This style of cable puts the cable at a 90-degree angle to the USB-C connector, which reduces the profile of the cable when it’s connected to the monitor. That keeps the cable out of your way and reduces clutter on your desk. HP Series 5 Pro 514pn menus, audio The HP Series 5 Pro 514pn has three buttons on the right flank; two for brightness and one for power. Holding down the brightness up button for two seconds opens a color mode menu, which has a few basic options like Warm, Cool, Neutral, and Night (a low blue light mode). Monitor options can also be controlled with HP Display Manager, but image quality adjustments remain limited. HP Display Manager is only available on Windows 10 and 11, so Mac users will have to make do with the on-screen menus. In a break from competitors, the HP 514pn doesn’t have built-in speakers. The speakers built in to portable monitors are often bad, so this isn’t a huge downside. Still, it’s something to keep in mind. HP Series 5 Pro 514pn SDR image quality The HP Series 5 Pro 514pn has an IPS Black Neo:LED panel produced by LG. If you’ve not heard of it before, IPS Black is a newer type of IPS panel that provides deeper, more lifelike black levels, which can improve the panel’s contrast. Neo:LED, meanwhile, appears to be a name used by LG to describe an LCD panel with quantum dots (though LG has not directly confirmed this; this is speculation based on the panel’s characteristics). The 514pn is the first portable monitor with an IPS Black Neo:LED panel, and that gives it a unique image quality edge. Matthew Smith / Foundry HP gets off to a good start in brightness with a maximum measured SDR brightness of 394 nits. As the graph shows, that’s a high level of brightness for a portable monitor, defeated only by the Dell Pro 14 Plus and Viewsonic VX-1655-4K-OLED. High brightness is important if you travel, because you’ll often lack control over the lighting in your environment. The HP 514pn can still look dim in a very bright, sunlit room with many windows, but it’s otherwise easy to view. The HP 514pn also has an anti-glare finish with a semi-gloss look. It doesn’t entirely mitigate glare, and is actually a bit more reflective than the very matte finish found on many budget portable monitors. However, the HP 514pn’s display is a lot less reflective than the glossy finish that OLED portable monitors typically use. Matthew Smith / Foundry Next up is contrast, a traditional weakness of IPS-LCD displays. The IPS Black panel helps to mitigate that with a maximum measured contrast ratio of 1710:1. Your view on that result depends on the comparisons you draw. A contrast ratio of 1710:1 is great for an IPS-LCD portable monitor, and the image looks more immersive than on many such alternatives. When placed next to OLED, though, the HP 514pn’s contrast ratio isn’t going to stand out. The image will look flat in a direct comparison to OLED. Matthew Smith / Foundry IPS-LCD displays also typically lag OLED in color gamut, but here the HP 514pn is an exception to the rule. The Neo:LED panel serves up an incredible color gamut that spans 100 percent of sRGB, 100 percent of AdobeRGB, and 99 percent of DCI-P3. As the graph shows, this is an exceptional result that really stands out in the portable monitor category. It even stands up to or defeats OLED alternatives, which typically display a similar breadth of the DCI-P3 color gamut but a bit less of AdobeRGB. The wide color gamut gives the HP 514pn a vibrant and inviting look that pops when viewing bright and colorful content. It also makes the HP 514pn a decent choice for video and photo editors, as well as digital artists (though the lack of built-in image quality adjustments could prove frustrating). Matthew Smith / Foundry Color accuracy is also a win for the HP 514pn, as it posts one of the best color accuracy scores I’ve seen from a portable monitor. In truth, a lot of mid-range portable monitors are good enough—but the HP 514pn’s accuracy is of the caliber I’d recommend for people who are serious about image accuracy including (once again) artists, photographers, and videographers. Better still, the great color accuracy result is reached with good color accuracy scores across all colors. No single color posted an error value above 2.0, which is fantastic performance for a portable monitor. The color temperature and gamma results are great too. I measured a color temperature of 6500K, which is spot on the target. Gamma came in at 2.3, a bit above the target value of 2.2. The image can appear a bit darker than it should and may lack details in very dark portions of an image, but the difference is subtle. Sharpness is a perk thanks to the HP 514pn’s 2560×1600 resolution. Though it’s not the headliner 4K resolution would be, it still packs roughly 211 pixels per inch. That’s actually a much higher pixel density than a 27-inch 4K monitor, which has 163 pixels per inch. Note, too, that the monitor has a display aspect ratio of 16:10 rather than 16:9. While 16:10 is fairly common in 2025, many portable monitors still have a 16:9 display. The added vertical display space that a 16:10 display provides makes the HP 514pn feel larger than the 14.3-inch panel size would suggest. HP Series 5 Pro 514pn HDR image quality and motion HDR is not supported by the HP Series 5 Pro 514pn. While that might seem like a downside, it’s to be expected from a portable monitor with an IPS-LCD display. Portable monitors currently struggle with HDR, with only high-end OLED models like the Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED providing a passable experience. Motion clarity is modest, too. The monitor has a 75Hz refresh rate, which is a minor bump over the more typical 60Hz, but an increase that small is difficult to notice. The monitor doesn’t have Adaptive Sync support, either, so PC games won’t feel as smooth as they could. Should you buy the HP Series 5 Pro 514pn? The HP Series 5 Pro 514pn is a fantastic pick if you want an attractive, lightweight portable monitor with solid sharpness and decent color performance. Though the HP 514pn’s IPS Black display can’t match the quality of OLED in contrast, the 514pn is able to meet or beat OLED alternatives in color performance. It’s also bright, which is useful when traveling. These perks more than justify the monitor’s $299.99 MSRP. Read...

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Although support for Windows 10 will not end in October 2025 after all, Microsoft’s additional grace period extends its life by only one year. This means that many users will soon not only have to say goodbye to their operating system, but also to their computer in the near future. Even if its components are powerful enough for Windows 11, it may become electronic waste: This is because Microsoft has strict requirements for the hardware on which the new operating system can run — especially when it comes to the processor. Most PCs and laptops that are more than eight years old are therefore excluded from the upgrade — even though they work without any problems under Windows 10 and would certainly do the same under Windows 11. However, you can make your computer officially fit for Windows 11 with small hardware upgrades: Whether this is worthwhile, whether it is even possible, and how much it costs depends on the specific PC or laptop. Further reading: I’m sticking with Windows 10 even after it dies next week. Here’s how What your computer needs for Windows 11 The requirements that Microsoft places on a computer for Windows 11 look low at first glance: Processor with 64-bit support, two cores and a clock speed of 1GHz 4GB RAM 64GB storage for the installation Many old computers fulfill these requirements, which aren’t dissimilar from the requirements for graphics hardware with Direct X 12: Even PCs that are over 10 years old have suitable components. To make a PC with an Intel processor suitable for Windows 11, it is not enough to simply replace the processor. The new CPU also needs a new motherboard because it has a different socket format. IDG The same is true of Microsoft’s demand for a motherboard that has UEFI firmware with the Secure Boot function: This was already mandatory for computers with Windows 8, so complete systems should have been equipped with it since 2013. The requirement for TPM 2.0 is more problematic: Windows stores security keys in the Trusted Platform Module, which also monitors the PC boot process to ensure that no malware is active before Windows loads. TPM 2.0 was mandatory for complete systems with Windows 10, meaning that computers sold since the end of 2016 should be equipped accordingly. Prior to this, PCs and laptops were usually equipped with TPM 1.2 — which Microsoft believes makes them too insecure for Windows 11. However, most computers will fail to overcome one hurdle when switching to Windows 11: According to Microsoft, they absolutely need a processor that is on the official compatibility list, which is available for Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm models. This rules out all computers intended for private users that are equipped with an Intel processor before the 8th Core generation (“Coffee Lake,” “Kaby Lake R,” “Kaby Lake G,” “Amber Lake Y”) or an AMD CPU whose cores are not based at least on the Zen architecture. Complete systems with a supported CPU were available from spring 2018 — so if your computer is more than seven years old, Windows 11 cannot be installed without detours. Even with very old PCs, RAM, SSD, the processor clock rate or the number of cores are almost never the reason why Windows 11 cannot be installed. However, they lack security functions such as Secure Boot.WhyNotWin11 However, the Microsoft list is not consistent: Older processors such as the Intel Core i7-7820HQ from early 2017 or newer ones such as the AMD Athlon 3000G from the end of 2019, which is based on the Zen architecture, are also listed as suitable for Windows 11, although other processors with this architecture are excluded. Microsoft published new lists for the individual processor manufacturers for the Windows 24H2 update in February: They mainly contain more recent CPU models. However, some CPUs that were previously listed as supported have also been removed — including individual models from generations that are actually considered compatible with Windows 11. Whether this was accidental or intentional is unclear. These lists are actually aimed at PC manufacturers (OEMs), not private users. With older processors in particular, they do not give you any definitive certainty as to whether a particular CPU is supported by Windows 11 — and even if it is now, whether this will also apply to future updates of the operating system. How to check whether your PC is ready for Windows 11 If your computer is suitable for Windows 11 in its current configuration, you will be prompted at regular intervals to switch to the new system. Windows 10 also indicates this with a large window in the settings under “Windows Update”. Foundry If this is not the case for you, you can use tools to check how Windows 11-ready your PC is. Microsoft offers the PC Health Check for this purpose. Start the check by clicking the blue “Check now” button. If the computer fulfills the requirements for Windows 11, the overall result and the results for the individual components are highlighted in green. A yellow mark means that the tool could not perform the test for a specific requirement because the components or function was not recognized or has not yet been activated — for example, because Secure Boot is switched off. A cross in a red circle indicates that this component is preventing the upgrade to Windows 11 — in most cases the processor. Incidentally, you should not trust the age information displayed on the left-hand side of the tool’s start screen — it simply guesses based on certain system information, which has nothing to do with the actual age of the hardware or the Windows installation. The freeware WhyNotWin11 also checks the Windows 11 compatibility of the individual components and functions: Green means passed, red means failed. If the check tool reports that Secure Boot could not be detected, it may be because you have not activated this function. First start the Windows system information by running msinfo32 in the main window: “UEFI” must be in the “BIOS Mode” line. If “Off” is displayed for “Secure Boot State,” the UEFI supports Secure Boot, but it is not activated. To switch on Secure Boot, call up the UEFI settings: The most reliable way to do this is to click on “Restart now” in the Windows settings under “Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced Boot.” After a short time, the blue Windows pre-boot environment will appear: Select “Troubleshooting > Advanced options > UEFI firmware settings > Restart.” The computer now calls up the UEFI setup: Depending on the manufacturer, you will find the options for Secure Boot in the “Boot” or “Security” section. There, set Secure Boot to “Enabled,” “Switched on,” “UEFI,” or “Windows UEFI Mode.” After the restart, the “Secure boot state” in the system information should be set to “On.” If you open the TPM management under Windows with the command tpm.msc, the system will show you whether a corresponding security module is present and switched on. If Windows does not find a TPM in the system, you may first have to activate it in the UEFI setup settings.Foundry Proceed in a similar way to check for TPM: Enter tpm.msc in the Windows search window. If the information for a TPM and “Specification version 2.0” appear, everything is OK, version “1.2” is not sufficient for Windows 11 — you need a new processor here. If you see “No compatible TPM found,” the TPM may be compatible but not active. Now you need to call up the UEFI again and look for an option such as “Security Device,” “TPM State,” or, on a computer with an Intel CPU, “Intel PTT” or “Intel Platform Trust Technology.” The corresponding options for an AMD computer are called “AMD fTPM Switch” or “AMD PSP fTPM.” Set them to “On,” “Enabled,” or “Activated.” You need to replace this hardware for Windows 11 For an older PC, the route to Windows 11 usually involves changing the processor: Older CPUs also fulfill some of Microsoft’s requirements — they usually come with TPM 2.0 and their motherboard offers UEFI firmware with Secure Boot. However, the models on the compatibility list have additional functions that their predecessors do not have and that cannot be added later via an update: In most cases, these are security precautions against malware attacks on the operating system. The quickest and cheapest way to make an older PC fit for Windows 11 is to equip it with a processor that Microsoft allows. To do this, you must first clarify whether the CPU in your computer is soldered to the motherboard or sits in a socket — only then can it be replaced at all. Find out the model designation of the CPU — for example via the Windows Device Manager under “Processors,” in the Windows settings under “System > Info,” or with a hardware analysis tool such as HWinfo 64 or Speccy. Then research the technical data for this model on the processor manufacturer’s website — for example ark.intel.com. The hardware tools are also helpful — in HWinfo 64, look for “Main processor -> CPU platform.” If terms such as “Socket,” “PGA,” or “LGA” appear there, it is a socketed processor that can generally be expanded. If, on the other hand, you see the abbreviation “BGA,” also in the form “FC-BGA,” the processor is soldered onto the board — you cannot replace it. A complete PC with a desktop or tower housing usually has a socketed processor, whereas in many laptops the CPU is soldered. However, there are exceptions: All-in-one PCs or small mini PCs often use soldered laptop CPUs, while large laptops — for example, gaming and high-end laptops — often have a socketed processor. Intel: How to choose a suitable processor If the processor can be changed, the next step is to clarify whether a Windows 11-compatible model can be used instead. The new processor must fit into the existing slot on the motherboard installed in the PC. For older computers with Intel processors, your chances are slim: The socketed models from the CPU generations that are suitable for Windows 11 — from Coffee Lake onwards — use a different slot than their predecessors. This is also called LGA1151 — but version 1 differs from version 2 for Coffee Lake in terms of the electrical connections: You can therefore use a newer processor, but it will not work. When switching to Windows 11, you will therefore need a new processor and a new motherboard for the Intel platform. Only if the processor sits on the board in a socket can it be replaced with a new one. You can use check tools such as HWinfo64 to find out whether this is the case with your computer. IDG Depending on how powerful you want your computer to be after the upgrade, the upgrade will cost you between around $200 and $500. In addition, you can skip several CPU generations from Intel when buying a new processor and motherboard, as newer models are hardly more expensive than older ones: This not only makes the updated computer fit for Windows 11, but also gives it a generous increase in speed. If your old PC uses DDR4 RAM, you can even use the RAM on a board for the 14th core generation “Raptor Lake-R” from last year: A suitable motherboard such as the Asus Prime H610M costs around $100, and you can get a solid mid-range processor such as the Core i5-14400 as a boxed version with cooler for around $140. It will be significantly more expensive if you want to equip your old PC with the latest CPU generation Arrow Lake: Inexpensive processors such as a Core Ultra 5 225 cost around $250, with a suitable motherboard costing just over $100. You will also need DDR5 RAM, which is around $40 for 16GB capacity. If you only have a tight upgrade budget, you can opt for a board with an LGA1200 slot for an Intel PC: CPUs up to the 11th-generation Rocket Lake can be used there, such as a Core i5-11400F, which costs around $115 with a fan. In addition, an LGA1200 board such as the Gigabyte H510M v2 costs around $100. There are no costs for a new drive in any case: All boards for the upgrade options shown have M.2 and SATA connections so that you can continue to use an existing SSD — unless you need a flash memory with a larger capacity. The cheapest M.2 and SATA SSDs with 512GB are around $30 — an SSD with PCI Express 3.0 is sufficient for M.2 because the recommended boards do not support a higher PCIe version for the drive. In many cases, you can continue to use your existing power supply unit: Its connections should be suitable for the new board and the new components, unless you are using a powerful graphics card. However, it is generally advisable to replace the power supply unit on a computer that is six years old or older. Hardware upgrade for an AMD computer The upgrade path to Windows 11 is more favorable if you have a computer with an AMD processor: The manufacturer continued to use the AM4 socket for the older processors until 2022. This means, for example, that a Ryzen 7 1700 that does not work with Windows 11 can be replaced with a processor from the Ryzen 5000 series, such as the Ryzen 7 5700 or the Ryzen 7 5800XT. These models are still readily available and cost between $120 and around $180 with cooler. Many old PCs with AMD CPUs only need to be replaced to make them compatible with Windows 11. Check beforehand whether there is a UEFI Bios update for the installed board that supports the new processor.IDG Before you buy the new processor, check whether your existing motherboard supports it: The manufacturer must provide a suitable UEFI update, which can be found out on the support pages for the relevant board. You can continue to use the built-in RAM and an existing SSD. As with Intel, newer AMD processors support higher clock rates for DDR4: In everyday PC use, however, it is usually hardly noticeable that the existing DDR4 memory in the old computer runs a little slower. Read...

Mike runs a small marketing agency with six full-time employees who all work remotely. Two weeks ago, Carol – Mike’s graphic designer – connected to a shared project drive. Today the client is screaming at Mike because their business materials have appeared on a competitor’s site. Having broken their trust he faces losing the client’s business altogether, and he now needs to burn unknown hours of team time on disaster recovery rather than billable projects. Worse, he just received a ransom note for £20k in cryptocurrency to unlock his business files. How did this happen? Unbeknown to Carol, two days earlier her son Jack downloaded a free game infected with malware on her laptop. That was their way in and, once the cybercriminals had infiltrated Carol’s device and her home network, Mike’s unsecured business data became easy prey. While Carol is distraught over the situation, Mike’s the one now facing small business ruin. This is an illustrative example of just how easily remote workers can cripple your small business when you don’t take adequate security precautions. Are you so sure that remote workers won’t place your small business in peril? Protect your business devices, data, finances and reputation with cyber security designed and built for small businessesSave 30% on Norton Small Business (code PCWNSBP) What small businesses need to know about remote working and security Five years on from the COVID-19 pandemic, some larger companies are now mandating a return-to-work policy. But, for many small businesses, remote working remains common practice. Beaming claims a staggering 81% of UK small businesses support remote working today. While the benefits to work-life balance for employees are clear, and remote working can also cut down on office overheads, allowing staff to work from home can be a security nightmare. So, how can a small business ensure its employees, business data, finances and reputation, stay safe in a world of constantly evolving digital threats? Part of the battle is understanding the threats. Remote working threats that could sink your small business Traditionally, a small business might have stored sensitive data on a local server that could be accessed only by devices on that network. Now, with employees potentially working at home, in coffee shops, or even abroad, business data can be more easily intercepted and compromised by hackers as it moves around the web. As we learned above, it might not even be your employee but their family member who ultimately puts your business data at risk. Here are some of the most common ways in which hackers slip in unnoticed and gain access to your sensitive files: 1. Man-in-the-middle attacks When connecting to public Wi-Fi, users may not realise that the network isn’t all that it seems. Hackers can easily set up a fake connection with a venue-matching name that monitors and records all activity conducted over that network. This includes any sensitive data that is sent or received and, in a worst-case scenario, that might be your business banking data and account details. 2. Phishing attacks One of the most common types of scams employed by hackers is known as phishing. A cybercriminal will target an individual via a text message, email or other method of communication and use familiarity tactics to lull them into a false sense of security, ultimately convincing them to click on a dodgy link or hand over sensitive information. Employees can’t be alert to these scams in every situation, and with AI now making these messages ever more convincing they are increasingly difficult to spot. 3. Malware, viruses and spyware Another potential danger from phishing-style attacks is that the user unknowingly has malware installed on their device. This can then watch and record everything they do, such as logging into company accounts, accessing business banking accounts, communicating with clients, and any other business-related activities. How can a small business protect its remote workers from digital threats? Due to the dispersed nature of remote working, it can be a challenge to enforce the same level of security as you might in the enclosed environment of a workplace. That’s why using a dedicated small business security software suite can be a great way to protect your clients and employees alike, without racking up huge expenses or adding even more stress to your busy day. Norton Small Business is a complete solution that includes a number of purpose-built security tools to help your business avoid falling victim to the kind of attacks outlined above. With the standard package you get always-on antivirus and firewall protection that works to continuously guard against viruses, malware and spyware attacks. There’s also a secure browser that employees can use when working on business documents or accessing online banking. Passwords and sensitive documents can be stored in an encrypted vault to help prevent prying eyes from gaining access, while Norton keeps tabs on the dark web to seek out employee identity or business data that may have been compromised and now presents a threat to the business. There is also an automatic software updater for Windows PCs, making sure employees don’t neglect to update outdated apps that could contain security vulnerabilities, plus 250GB of secure cloud-backup space for any business-critical files. If your security needs are greater, the Norton Small Business Premium plan includes everything in the standard plan, plus some useful extras. You get a VPN service that encrypts all data flowing between a device and the web, helping you protect the business from man-in-the-middle attacks. You also get notified in the event of suspicious financial transactions, or fraudulent social media posts that may threaten the company’s reputation. The premium plan bumps up the secure cloud storage to 500GB, plus you get the peace of mind that comes with 24/7 business tech support should you encounter business IT problems – ideal for small businesses who lack their own IT team. Choose Norton for small business security Running a small business is challenging enough, without needing to worry about IT problems and digital threats as well. The standard plan costs £54.99 for up to three employees, £69.99 for up to five employees, and £99.99 for up to 10 employees. Step up to Norton Small Business Premium to enjoy 24/7 Business Tech Support, Secure VPN, Financial and Social Media Monitoring, Driver Updater and 500GB of secure Cloud Backup online storage; it costs £149.99 for up to five employees, and £199.99 for up to 10 employees. All prices are for the first year. Right now, PCWorld readers can take advantage of a rare 30% discount, unlocking Norton Small Business from just £38.50/first year, and Norton Small Business Premium from just £105/first year. Just enter the code PCWNSBP at checkout to take advantage. Save 30% on Norton Small Business You don’t have to spend any money to see the benefits of the Norton Small Business plans though, as there’s a 30-day trial that lets you try it before you subscribe. With Norton Small Business, keeping your business and its employees safer from digital threats is simple, whether that’s in the office, at home or on the road. Read...