Microsoft is getting serious about discouraging people from installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware
The system requirements for Windows 11 have been a bone of contention ever since the operating system was first released, but it is something that has been brought back into sharp focus once again as Windows 10 nears the end of its life.
Microsoft is keen for everyone to move from Windows 10 to Windows 11, even if this means having to buy a new PC. And in recent days the company has taken steps to encourage just this, using strong-arm tactics to discourage bypassing TPM and CPU requirements.
How to bypass Microsoft’s TPM 2.0 requirements when upgrading to Windows 11 24H2
With the release of Windows 11 24H2, also known as the Windows 11 2024 Update, many people eager to try out the latest version of the operating system are encountering a roadblock. With this feature update Microsoft tightens the restriction on the hardware it can be installed on.
It has been some time since the company introduced a system requirement for TPM 2.0 support, but there have been numerous workarounds that allowed for installation on hardware that was technically incompatible. Now Microsoft has cracked down on the various methods of bypassing the requirement, so a new approach is needed.
Microsoft drops support for dozens of Intel processors in latest Windows 11 system requirements update
It is not unknown for Microsoft to change the system requirements for its software, and this is something that applies to Windows 11.
Back in June, the company updated the list of processors from AMD, Intel and Qualcomm. Now another update to Windows 11 system requirements means that large numbers of Intel CPUs are no longer supported -- 44 models in total.
Microsoft updates Windows 11 system requirements and CPU support list
With little fanfare, Microsoft has released details of the updated listed of hardware supported by Windows 11. The new system requirements see the addition of support for a large number of CPUs from Intel, AMD and Qualcomm.
The update to the list of supported processors comes shortly after the release of Windows 11 Moment 3. As well as adding support for a large number of new CPUs, there have also been some removed from the list.
tiny11 massively shrinks Windows 11, slashes system requirements and eliminates the need for TPM
One of the various things that puts people off upgrading to Windows 11 is that the operating system has very particular system requirements. For someone looking to upgrade from Windows 7, for instance, it is likely that their hardware will not make the grade. There is an answer, however, in the form of tiny11.
Coming from the same team that was behind tiny10 -- NTDEV -- tiny11 is a majorly stripped-back, bare-bones version of Windows 11 Pro that dramatically lowers the system requirements. The operating system needs just 8GB of disk space and 2GB of RAM, and it does not require TPM (Trusted Platform Module) support. This sounds great, but there are a few caveats to keep in mind.
After tests, Microsoft has decided to add the 'System requirements not met' watermark to Windows 11
Looking for another reason to be annoyed by Windows 11? Microsoft delivers yet again. It is not very long since the company started A/B testing a watermark on the desktop of people who had installed Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. Now, for reasons best known to Microsoft, the decision appears to have been taken to roll out this irritating banner.
In the latest update pushed to the Release Preview Channel, the watermark is present for everyone running Windows 11 on hardware that doesn’t make the grade. The message has changed slightly, now reading "System requirements not met. Go to Settings to learn more". The good news? You can take steps to hide the watermark if it grates on your nerves
Over a third of enterprise devices can't run Windows 11
Windows 11 began rolling out in October last year, but more than a third of devices currently in use at the average enterprise are not capable of running it according to new research from Riverbed|Aternity.
Analysis of data from millions of employee devices across hundreds of global companies using the Aternity Digital Experience Management platform seeks to better understand the state of Windows 11 readiness.
How to hide the 'System requirements not met' warning in Windows 11
Whether it stems from wanting to ensure that people have the best experience by using appropriate hardware or not, Microsoft has caused annoyance among Windows 11 users with warning messages about system requirements. If you have installed Windows 11 on a computer that does not technically meet the minimum requirements, you may well have seen these alerts advising you that your system is not up to scratch.
Whether you are irritated by the "System requirements not met" message on the desktop, or the one that appears in the System section of Settings, you will be pleased to hear that you can hide them. There is no need to track down a watermark remover, as all you need to do is apply a registry tweak.
Microsoft will warn you if your computer can't run Windows 11... even if it is already running Windows 11
The system requirements for Windows 11 have been the source of much frustration and confusion for some time now, and things are about to get even more confusing.
In test builds of Windows 11, Microsoft has implemented something of a strange warning. If you opted to go down one of the various routes that makes it possible to bypass the minimum system requirements and have installed Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, you can now expect to see a message informing you that your system does not meet the standard set by Microsoft -- even if you are running Windows 11 problem-free. [UPDATE: it is now possible to hide the message!]
Microsoft is using KB5005463 update to push PC Health Check app and encourage upgrades from Windows 10 to Windows 11
It's three weeks since Windows 11 started to roll out, and now Microsoft is starting its push to encourage people who can upgrade to do just that.
Part of this drive is delivering the PC Health Check app to Windows 10 machine, giving users a quick way to check whether they can upgrade to Windows 11 or not. The app is being pushed out as part of the KB5005463 update and the rollout is likely to irritate as the automatic update essentially forces the Windows 11 compatibility checker onto people.
Despite the threats, Microsoft is delivering updates to Windows 11 on 'incompatible' hardware
Much has been made of the system requirements for Windows 11, and after initially making it seem as though it would not be possible to install the operating system on hardware that did not make the grade, Microsoft relented and said that people could do so at their own risk.
The permission to proceed came with something of a threat, however -- a warning that a computer that did not meet the minimum requirements would not receive updates. But this seems to have been an empty threat. We've just seen the first update for Windows 11 roll out, and KB5006674 was indeed delivered to computers that do not meet the requirements set out by Microsoft. What gives?
Installing Windows 11 could damage your computer
With performance problems, confusing system requirements, high memory usage, and other issues, the launch of Windows 11 has not been as smooth as many people would have hoped. In the build-up to the rollout of the operating system, Microsoft made much of the need for systems to have TPM 2.0 in order to qualify for an upgrade -- but then the company moved the goalposts.
Having previously said that installation on computers without TPM 2.0 would not be possible, Microsoft has since revealed an official workaround that makes it possible to install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware. This is a risk, however, and there is a stark warning that you could cause damage to your PC.
Most people neither know nor care about Windows 11
Microsoft is gearing up for the big launch of Windows 11 next month, and while there is enthusiasm in certain sectors, this is certainly not true across the board . The roll-out of the latest version of the operating system starts on October 5, but it seems like the company has an uphill battle on its hands to increase awareness and interest.
A new survey shows that almost two thirds of Windows users are unaware of Windows 11. Perhaps even more concerning for Microsoft is the news that of the 38 percent of users who know about the impending arrival of the new version of the operating system, a mere 41 percent intend to upgrade to Windows 11. The survey also gives an insight into what people are looking forward to in the operating system.
Microsoft may not block installing Windows 11 on PCs that do not meet minimum requirements
The issue of Windows 11's hardware requirements has reared its head once again, just after Microsoft publicly released an updated version of its PC Health Check compatibility checker. For people with computers that do not meet the minimum requirements, there may be some good news from the last twist in the mixed messaging from Microsoft.
While it was looking rather like installing Windows 11 on incompatible hardware was going to be blocked, now it appears that Microsoft is going to let people go ahead with the installation -- with a caveat. The installation can only proceed on systems that do not meet minimum requirements if users agree to a statement acknowledging the fact that any damage caused by installing Windows 11 on such hardware is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty,
Check if your PC is Windows 11-compatible with Microsoft's updated PC Health Check app
Windows 11 starts to roll out as a free upgrade in just two weeks and there is still great confusion about the system requirements for the operating system. Microsoft had released a compatibility testing tool called PC Health Check, but the launch of this utility was fraught with issues.
Having released, pulled, updated and made the app Insider-only, Microsoft has now released a new version of the PC Health Check app -- and this time everyone can download it, regardless of whether they are an Insider or not. This means that you can now find out -- hopefully once and for all -- whether your computer can run Windows 11 or not.
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