Can your computer run Windows 11 ?

[steve2470]

Last edited Fri Jul 2, 2021, 03:29 AM - Edit history (3)

Note: Before anyone responds to this post, if you do NOT want to use Windows 11, you do NOT have to. My understanding is Windows 10 will be supported through 2025, at least for security bugs. If you are offered Windows 11 via the Update page, just refuse it and only accept the security updates. If you are a Linux or Mac devotee, feel free to ignore this entire post

Here is a link on compatibility by Microsoft: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compatibility/windows-11/

There's been a lot of discussion about MS forcing Windows 11 users to have a TPM 2.0 chip on their motherboard. If your PC is recent, you will probably have this chip, which you can access and turn on via your BIOS/UEFI menu. If your PC is more than 7 years old, your motherboard might not have this TPM 2.0 chip.

How to see if you have the TPM 2.0 motherboard chip: First, go into your BIOS/UEFI and make sure to activate it. AMD motherboards call it "AMD PSP fTPM" and Intel motherboards call it ""Intel PTT", per David Weston, Microsoft Director of Enterprise and OS Security.

Also, do this: 1- Click Start button; 2- Click Run; 3- type tpm.msc into the run dialogue and click OK; 4- You will then see a big page with the TPM information. Scroll down to "TPM Manufacturer Information". Specification Version should say 2.0.

To make things very simple, MS put out a downloadable tool called PC Health Check. I have seen reports that this app is bugged. Another simple tool to use is called WhyNotWin11.

If your TPM 2.0 chip is not activated in the BIOS/UEFI, you will get an incompatible response.

Also, if you have Secure Boot disabled in the BIOS/UEFI, you will also get an incompatible response.

To reiterate: IF YOU DO NOT WANT WINDOWS 11, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE IT!

If you still want Windows 11 (available later in 2021 unless you are in Windows Insider program) and have questions/problems, feel free to reply to this post.

A polite request from the CHaS Host (me): If you hate Windows and/or Microsoft, please do not post to this thread. This thread is really for people who might wish to change to Windows 11. Thank you for your cooperation in advance!

Steve

eta:

Per John Cable of Microsoft:

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/windows-lifecycle-and-servicing-update/ba-p/2493043

The feature update process for Windows 10 to Windows 11 will be a user-initiated ‘seeker’ process to choose to update to Windows 11. For users who are not eligible for Windows 11 due to the hardware requirements, the seeking experience will not be available.

Stated another way, if you do not ACTIVELY SEEK to update your computer to Windows 11 from Windows 10, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE WINDOWS 11. So, you can rest easy that, at least for now, MS will not "force" Windows 11 upon you. Also, if your computer does not meet their hardware requirements (still confused at this point), you will not even be eligible to receive it.