Announced at a Microsoft press conference yesterday, the software company is making the upcoming revision to the Windows operating system, Windows 11, completely free to download and use if you are already using Windows 10. But there’s a couple requirements you have to meet.

1. CPU Requirements

You will need a 8th Gen or newer Intel Core processor. Or you will need an AMD Ryzen 2000 and newer processor. Here’s the full list of supported Intel processors and here’s the full list of supported AMD processors.

That being said, Microsoft is calling the CPU requirements a “soft floor”. This likely means that any CPU not supported by Windows 11 could possibly still work. But it could make running specific programs problematic and your Windows 11 experience may suffer as a result.

2. You have to enable TPM

You need to have TPM (Trusted Platform Module) turned on in your motherboard’s bios. Before you check your bios, you can use Microsoft’s PC Health App (LINK) to see if your computer is ready for Windows 11. If you are like me, you will see a “not compatible” warning. This means it’s time to dive into your computer’s bios.

Windows 11 requires a TPM capable of at least 1.2 support (most of the newer chips are 2.0), and UEFI Secure Boot. Both are used to help security on Windows PCs.

If you don’t know how to get into your computer’s bios, simply restart your computer and wait for the first splash screen to pop up. It will tell you the key you need to press to get into the bios. For me, it was either F2 or Delete. When you are in, it’s likely that you will need to go into the Advanced settings.

You aren’t looking for something labeled TPM quite yet. Both AMD and Intel have different terms for it, wonderfully confusing. If you have an Intel system, look for the “PTT” settings. On an AMD system, look for “PSP fTPM’. When you find that, flip on TPM. On my AMD system, I had to select “Discrete” to turn it on. Then you simply save and reboot.

Other system requirements for Windows 11 include at least 4GB of RAM, at least a 64GB hard drive, a Direct 12 compatible graphics card and an Internet connection w/ Microsoft account.

Freebie Alert: Windows 11 is going to be free, but there’s a catch

Jumping up from $0 to $120 on July 30, 2016, Microsoft’s free upgrade offer to all Windows 7 and 8.1 users will expire at the end of July. After July 29th, anyone that wanted to upgrade to Windows 10 from an older operating system will be force to pay $119.99 to get the new operating system. Of course, any new Windows-powered device you purchase will have Windows 10 already installed as the main operating system.

The $120 price isn’t new, of course. Microsoft have already been selling the full version of the Home version for that price via download or USB stick. The ability to upgrade for free has always had an expiration date, however it was always possible that Microsoft would extend the promotion. However, the latest blog post from Microsoft seems to indicate the promotion will expire as promised at the one-year anniversary of the operating system’s release.

Interestingly, Microsoft is also releasing the Windows 10 anniversary update at the end of July. That’s a free upgrade for anyone that’s using Windows 10. Upgrades include biometric security in apps and other programs, Windows Ink (integrating handwriting with a pen into the interface), an upgraded version of Cortana in more than 1,000 apps and a unified app store with the Xbox One platform. It’s also possible that Microsoft will package deeper integration with the HoloLens platform in the anniversary update.

To upgrade to Window 10, you can visit Microsoft’s upgrade page and follow the instructions. If you do plan an upgrade, consider moving to a SSD drive for faster boot times as well as instant-on access when your computer is sleeping. You can check out the latest deals on SSD drives in our Internal Hard Drive section.

But most of all, remember that all Windows 10 installations come with a ninja cat riding in your house on a unicorn.

Want Windows 10 for free? Upgrade now. It’s $120 in July

Microsoft revealed a whole bunch of stuff during it’s scheduled Windows 10 event today. A good portion of it, like the massive, 84 inch Surface Hub, or the augmented/virtual reality glasses dubbed Microsoft HoloLens, likely won’t effect you within the next decade at least. Consider that balanced out by the impending free upgrade to Windows 10 for every Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 (and 8) user.

The program will last for a year following the official release date, after which an upgrade will indeed cost some money. Microsoft did not give Windows 10 a release date, however, but likely will during the next scheduled event in April. They did mention Windows 10 should launch by the end of 2015.

Of the many minor and major upgrades prevalent in Windows 10, you might want to know about the following:

• The user-interface is an attempt to mash the touch-screen friendliness of Windows 8 and the pragmatic usage of Windows 7, eschewing the “Start Screen” for a more traditional desktop look while also allowing tablet users to access the tiles through the start button.
• Cortana, Microsoft’s Siri, is making the jump from mobile to desktop assisstant, taking in voice and typed requests and popping out intuitive answers.
• There’s a general push for intercommunication and compatibility between all of Microsoft’s hardware and software products. Windows Phone will run something closer to a true Windows OS, Windows 10 will allow users to stream video games directly from their Xbox Ones to the desktop, and applications will be built from the ground up to work on all kinds of devices from now on.
• Microsoft has built an entirely new web browser, called Project Spartan, featuring a much cleaner interface, some nifty stylus overlay note-taking functionality and a brand new rendering engine. It’s unclear what’s happing to Internet Explorer, though you’d be challenged to find a mourner.

For a far more detailed rundown of the event, including more info about that aforementioned hardware, head on over to The Verge.

Today in Free Things: Windows 10 Upgrade for all Windows 7 and 8.1 Users