Should Traders Move to Windows 11? Speed & Security

Should traders upgrade to Windows 11?

Yes, and it is no longer a close call. Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025, so Microsoft has stopped issuing security updates for it. Your machine still runs, but every security hole found since that date stays open on a computer you use to move money. Windows 11 is also genuinely faster for trading, because its memory management gives priority to the programs you use most — which on a trading desk means your platform.

Key takeaways

Windows 10 support ended 14 October 2025. No security updates, no fixes, no technical help from Microsoft.
The machine keeps working. That is what makes this easy to put off, and why it is worth dealing with deliberately rather than waiting for something to break.
If you cannot upgrade yet, Extended Security Updates cover critical security fixes only, through 12 October 2027 — no new features and no support.
Windows 11 handles memory better, prioritizing the programs you use most. With a platform running hundreds of symbols and a stack of indicators, that is the improvement you actually feel.
Even with a resource-heavy platform open, new programs open without the machine stalling.
Laptop battery life improves through built-in power optimization, and there is a set of new security features aimed at malware.
Check compatibility before you touch anything: run the Windows PC Health Check tool. Green throughout means you are ready.
Yellow exclamation points beside Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 are resolvable — both are settings in the motherboard firmware.
A red X beside the processor means that machine cannot run Windows 11 at all, and with Windows 10 now unsupported, it is a machine to plan on replacing.
Do not change the BIOS yourself. Installing Windows 11 can require firmware changes, they are easy to get wrong, and doing it yourself voids your EZ Trading Computers warranty. Call 800-387-5250 instead.
Not sure where your machine stands? The free benchmark test takes about two minutes.

What’s up everybody? It’s Eddie Z here from EZ Trading Computers, and you’re watching Trading Computer Secrets.

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If you are still trading on Windows 10, it is time to move. We now recommend Windows 11 for every trading computer, and the reason is no longer just that it is faster and more efficient than Windows 10 — although it is. It is that Windows 10 is finished. Windows 10 reached its official end of support on 14 October 2025. Microsoft no longer issues security updates, bug fixes or technical help for it. Your machine will still switch on and your platforms will still load, but every security hole found from that date forward stays open on your computer. On a machine you use to move money, that is not a risk worth carrying. If you genuinely cannot upgrade yet, Microsoft's Extended Security Updates program covers critical security fixes only, through 12 October 2027 — no new features and no support. Obviously, I am fully aware that Microsoft does not have a good track record when releasing new operating systems. We all remember the debacles of Windows Vista and Windows 8.

WINDOWS 11 BENEFITS

The real question is, why would you want Windows 11 now? The #1 reason that you want to download and install the upgrade to the new Windows 11 is that it is WAY FASTER!

MEMORY MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY

It’s clear that Microsoft has put a tremendous effort into making Windows 11 fast. One of the main upgrades is to memory management efficiency. Essentially this OS is better able to determine which programs you use most frequently and give them a priority. Think how important this is to your trading applications, especially if you are running a ton of indicators over hundreds of symbols. Even if your computer is busy running a resource hog, for example, thinkorswim, your computer will be able to open new programs without a blip.

LAPTOP BATTERY IMPROVEMENT

With built-in power optimization, Microsoft says that the upgrade will improve laptop battery life.

NEW SECURITY FEATURES

There are a host of new security features that should prevent malware and viruses. Ultimately the bottom line is that you will see speed and performance improvements with Windows 11.

WINDOWS 11 INSTALLATION ISSUES

Since the release of Windows 11, we have gotten calls from people that have hosed up and correspondingly even crashed their computers just trying to figure out how to download and install this thing. As it turns out, the download and installation can be VERY complicated. Your computer's processor, the CPU, might not support Windows 11; and regardless of that, your machine may NOT be properly configured. Without getting super technical, Windows 11 might require several configuration changes to the motherboard firmware, which is called the BIOS. To run Windows 11, many computers will require a BIOS update installation... ...And this can be very, very tricky. If Windows 11 is not installed correctly on your computer, it can screw up your machine and potentially lose everything on it. In fact, changes to the BIOS can be so ominous that we explicitly stated in our Warranty Document that making changes to the BIOS yourself will void your EZ Trading Computers’ warranty.

IS YOUR COMPUTER COMPATIBLE?

If you're interested in upgrading to Windows 11, the most important thing you can do right now is download and run the Windows PC Health Check Tool. Click the link directly under this video to download the tool. Next, I will now demonstrate how to install and run that PC Health Check Tool.

TOOL INSTALLATION PROCESS

Click the button Get PC Health Check here. You might see a bar underneath your browser that says Windows PC Health Check. The download might be in your downloads folder.
Double-click to get to the Windows PC Health Check setup. Click run on the pop-up box.
Next, you will see the agreement box. After you read through the agreement, click the accept box and hit install.
Then after installation is complete, click finish.
Lastly, on the next screen, it will say PC Health at a Glance at the top. Under the title, Introducing Windows 11, we are going to check and see if this computer is compatible with Windows 11. Will it be able to run Windows 11? If you want to know, click Check Now and your results will immediately show.

MY TOOL RESULTS

Unfortunately, this PC doesn't currently meet the Windows 11 system requirements. You can see that it is giving me this yellow exclamation point for Secure Boot and a yellow exclamation point for TPM 2.0. If you have a red X next to the statement: this processor isn't currently supported for Windows 11, your computer is not compatible; then that machine cannot run Windows 11, and since Windows 10 support ended in October 2025 it is a machine to plan on replacing. This upgrade is no longer optional in the way it once was, so treat a red X as something to plan around rather than ignore. If you have no red Xs, you are in good condition — yellow exclamation points are all resolvable. In my case, this machine, assuming we didn't have a red X here, we just had all green and then I clicked See all Results. You can see I have some green stuff too. If the results are all green with a couple of yellow exclamation points, your machine is compatible. The statements: Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 must be supported and enabled, requiring a visit to the BIOS configuration. Your computer is ready to download and install the upgrade if your screen has all green check marks. If the results have no red Xs and only have some yellow exclamation points, your computer should be compatible with Windows 11.

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Thanks for watching. If you haven’t already, please go ahead and download our Complete Guide to Trading Computers by clicking the link below. This guide is jam-packed with great tips so you can totally optimize your trading experience. My name is Eddie Z, and I’ll see you in the very next video.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Windows 10 still supported?

No. Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025. Microsoft no longer provides security updates, bug fixes or technical assistance for it. The operating system keeps running and your software keeps loading, but no new vulnerability discovered since that date will ever be patched.

Is Windows 11 better for trading than Windows 10?

Yes, on the point that matters most. Its memory management identifies the programs you use most heavily and gives them priority, which is exactly the behavior you want when a platform is streaming live data across hundreds of symbols. In practice you can open something new while a resource-heavy platform is running without the machine hesitating.

What if my computer cannot run Windows 11?

It depends which warning you get. Yellow exclamation points beside Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 mean the hardware supports Windows 11 but the settings are switched off, and that is fixable. A red X beside the processor means the chip is not supported and no setting will change it. With Windows 10 out of support, that machine is one to plan on replacing rather than nurse along.

Can I keep using Windows 10 safely?

Not indefinitely, and not without accepting risk. Microsoft's Extended Security Updates program is the stopgap — critical and important security fixes only, running through 12 October 2027, with no new features and no technical support. It is enrollment for time to plan, not a way to stay on Windows 10 permanently.

Should I change my BIOS settings to install Windows 11?

Not yourself. Windows 11 often requires firmware changes to enable Secure Boot or TPM 2.0, and getting those wrong can leave a machine unable to start and can cost you everything on it. Changing the BIOS yourself also voids your EZ Trading Computers warranty, which is stated in the warranty document. Call 800-387-5250 and let the team do it.