Thousands of Windows Users Will Lose Their Data

[Chris]

I saw this tech savvy video today. It's possible that Windows 11 may turn on device encryption by default. This could result in data loss if you can't access the encryption key. The technicalities might be confusing to some; the short answer is to make at least 2 or more backups of your data just in case!

Kind regards
Chris

Thousands of Windows Users Will Lose Their Data (12 mins)
www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/kTLkejC4PbI?playlist=kTLkejC4PbI&autoplay=1&iv_load_policy=3&loop=1&start=

[pontiac1940]

Thank you Chris. Photos are good. My docs need to be backed up. Thanks. 

[mart44]

I once had the experience of booting up after a reinstallation of the operating system only to find that the second internal hard drive had become encrypted. I hadn't turned on encryption so didn't have the key. Fortunately, it had been automatically stored in the depths of my Microsoft account and so all was well after the key number was copy/pasted into the right place.

This could be the case for any computer. If so, data may not be permanently inaccessible if the drive gets encrypted. Look into the details of the Microsoft account. This does depend on knowing the password for the account of course ...and possibly on another computer.

[Inspeqtor]

I am still using Windows 10 so am I OK??

[kdcintx]

Thanks for the information, Chris. I'm still using Windows 10 at least until Fall of 2025.

[srmoment]

Whoa! Scary stuff. Hopefully, Microsoft will warn us when this upgrade is coming.

[Chris]

May 25, 2024 16:45:37 GMT Inspeqtor said:

I am still using Windows 10 so am I OK??

As far as I am aware Charles, Windows 10 does not have drive encryption activated by default.

Once Windows 11 is installed, there are various options.

1- Disable drive encryption. (There are some very technical YouTube videos about this)
2- Keep drive encryption and save the encryption key in a safe place.
3- Store all precious data on one or more external drives as a back up. (Files are de-encrypted when copying to an external drive)

I am still using windows 10 on an older PC that does not support Win 11. One day I will need to bite the bullet and install Win 11 in order to keep receiving security updates from Microsoft. There are already some work-arounds for installing Win 11 on older PC's. However, according to some techy YouTubers, Microsoft is due to release an official Windows 11 installation iso file that is compatible with older PC's. Time will tell. 

Kind regards
Chris

[Inspeqtor]

Jun 9, 2024 11:07:17 GMT Chris said:

May 25, 2024 16:45:37 GMT Inspeqtor said:

I am still using Windows 10 so am I OK??

As far as I am aware Charles, Windows 10 does not have drive encryption activated by default.

Once Windows 11 is installed, there are various options.

1- Disable drive encryption. (There are some very technical YouTube videos about this)
2- Keep drive encryption and save the encryption key in a safe place.
3- Store all precious data on one or more external drives as a back up. (Files are de-encrypted when copying to an external drive)

I am still using windows 10 on an older PC that does not support Win 11. One day I will need to bite the bullet and install Win 11 in order to keep receiving security updates from Microsoft. There are already some work-arounds for installing Win 11 on older PC's. However, according to some techy YouTubers, Microsoft is due to release an official Windows 11 installation iso file that is compatible with older PC's. Time will tell. 

Kind regards
Chris

Thank you Chris!  I do appreciate your help.  My PC was built by a local company 01/11/2023 with Windows 10.  I recently about 1 week ago got a notice from Microsoft that said:

We want to thank you for your loyalty as a Windows 10 customer.  As end of support for Windows 10 approaches, we're here to support you on your PC journey.

Your PC is not elegible to upgrade to Windows 11, but it will continue to receive Windows 10 fixes and security updates until support ends on October 14, 2025.

Learn more about how you can prepare for the transition to Windows 11

There were a couple links below but the links are not available in the picture I took of course.

I do not understand why it said above "Your PC is not elegible to upgrade to Windows 11" but the man that built my computer would know what that means.  He does NOT like Windows 11, but after October 14, 2025 is here I suspect I will be forced to upgrade to Windows 11.

[mart44]

A computer that isn't eligible for upgrade means the computer motherboard doesn't have a security measure built into it called TPM 2.O (Trusted Platform Module 2.0). This is a hardware issue rather than a software one. TPM 2.0 takes the form of a microchip on the motherboard. Some motherboards can be upgraded but most cannot.

There are (as usual) ways around the difficulty but it comes with drawbacks and isn't advisable.

[Andy]

If you have setup your computer with a Microsoft account (which is the default. Getting around that isn't the easiest), then your encryption keys should be stored in your Microsoft account. If you have a laptop, I would absolutely turn on drive encryption. For a desktop computer, I wouldn't say it is quite as necessary.

Jun 9, 2024 13:43:54 GMT Inspeqtor said:

My PC was built by a local company 01/11/2023 with Windows 10

If you paid to have a computer built in 2023 and the company built it using components that aren't certified for Windows 11, I would bring that concern directly to them. I hope they didn't sell you a low-end device with cheap components.

There are a litany of things you can complain about in regards to Microsoft, but Windows 11 is a good operating system. I have no hesitation recommending an upgrade from Windows 10.