Windows 11 upgrade/switching to, TravelMate B311R-32-C31R

bluepen61 · May 26

I just finished setting up my new TravelMate B311R-32-C31R in Windows 10 Pro. I decided to update to Windows 11, so I checked the docs on Acer Support site for this model and downloaded "Switching Operating Systems (OS)". It appears I have three choices.

Update/switch using Acer's Recover Management in Control Center.
Update/switch using <alt> + <F10> keys.
Download/force/wait for Windows 11 update

#1 strays from the instructions given.
#2 I could not boot into Acer's Recovery Management during boot up.
#3 This probably works, but curious as to why the other two built-in options do not. I know the emmc drive has been partitioned by Acer with a hidden part by checking the drive C: properties.

TIA, John

JackE · May 27

>>>I just finished setting up my new TravelMate B311R-32-C31R in Windows 10 Pro.>>>

Was WinPro the factory version?

bluepen61 · May 27

Thank you JackE for replying!

Yes Windows 10 Pro is factory.

The <alt> <F10> takes me to the Windows Fix, Recovery, Go to Safe Mode, Troubleshooting, etc., screen. I forget what is on that screen as I rarely ever need it.

The Control Center method takes me to Windows Recovery.

Windows 10 Pro has updated to 21H1. And I have not manually downloaded any Windows updates. The only updates have been through Windows Update in Settings.

Bios version is 1.08.

John

JackE · May 27

One more question. Did you special order WinPro instead of WinHome? Or did the dealer give you a choice?

bluepen61 · May 27

Amazon purchase. No choice in OS. As listed for this model at Acer. Appeared to be a normal factory install of 10 pro, the product id in settings ends in OEM.

bluepen61 · May 28

Issue partially, but mostly solved - updated to Windows 11 through Windows 11 Download. - Yes, I googled Windows 11 Download and found the Microsoft Download Windows 11 page. Selected option 1 - Download and run Windows 11 Installation Assistant. Seemed to take hours, and it worked.

Then I downloaded the applicable drivers from Acer, and applied most of them. Some were already at the version given, just a different date. A couple didn't appear like drivers, lacking a setup application, so I avoided those. There were 2 bluetooth and wi-fi drivers. My hardware had the AX201 chip/device so I used that one. Use your serial number to check the specs of your Travelmate.

So, yes, I have upgraded to Windows 11 on my TravelMate. To be exact, Windows 11 Pro, version 21H2.

A plus I noticed was the screen adjusted to the correct orientation when I flipped the screen from laptop to tablet mode!!

Thank you JackE for helping me think this through.

John

JackE · May 28

>>>#3 Download/force/wait for Windows 11 update
>>>#3 This probably works, but curious as to why the other two built-in options do not. I know the emmc drive has been partitioned by Acer with a hidden part by checking the drive C: properties.

Congrats!! Thanks for reporting back. You're instincts were apparently correct. I think the other two options are not TravelMate model specific, but TravelMate series generic The ALT+F10 cold boot method should've worked but this might've only applied to models with factory WinHome

bluepen61 · May 29

That makes sense. My only experience with Home is to upgrade it to Windows 10 Pro to use Remote Desktop Connection.

Why is system restore points disabled? I enabled it and created a restore point, set a maximum space for retore points, etc.

billsey · May 29

System restore points are disabled by default by MS because they makes things just a bit slower when doing updates and app installs. I always turn it on first thing, since I'd rather have the recovery option that the slight speed improvement.