Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 11, was launched in October 2021, but many PCs lack the hardware required to upgrade. So what can you do if your computer is not ready to jump? Is it worth the effort to upgrade at all?
When Windows 11 arrived on the scene, it was launched with some restrictive and controversial requirements. Most notably, Microsoft requires users to be online and have an active Microsoft account to use it. Still, if your PC is not compatible, options and solutions are available, although they vary in severity and risk. It can be as simple as connecting your computer to the Internet or as complex as manually upgrading the hardware inside your PC.
What are the minimum requirements?
The minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11 are as follows:
- Processor: 1GHz or faster with two or more cores; must be Intel 8th gen / AMD Zen 2 or later
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 64 GB
- System Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot Compatible
- TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
- GPU: Graphics card compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver.
- Network: Internet connection and Microsoft account
If you are unsure, check the Microsoft PC Health Check App to see if your PC meets the minimum requirements for Windows 11.
You can try to install it anyway
Microsoft does not recommend installing Windows 11 if your computer does not meet the minimum requirements. The company says that running its latest operating system on a machine that is not powerful enough can lead to “compatibility issues”, preventing your PC from receiving updates and voiding your warranty if the upgrade damages your hardware.
Despite this, Microsoft has provided instructions to customers who want to get Windows 11 running on a machine that does not support it. So if you want to take the risk, you can install Windows 11 and see if it works.
To upgrade an unsupported machine, you must create a registry key that will bypass the TPM 2.0 and CPU model controls. Messing with registry keys is associated with its own risks, so make sure you know what you are doing before attempting this. Once the registry key is related, you should be able to run the Windows 11 installation tool and upgrade your machine.
If you ignore Microsoft’s warnings and decide to upgrade, keep an eye out for any issues. You may be lucky and get a smooth ride, but you have ten days to go back to Windows 10 through the System Restore tool if you encounter problems. Go to startup, settings, system restore and go back. After ten days, Windows will delete the recovery files to free up disk space, making scrolling more complex.
Upgrade your PC
If you are somehow held back by lack of RAM or lack of storage space, you have a potentially easy solution. You can get double Windows 11’s minimum RAM requirement for less than $ 35, while a cheap external hard drive can help you free up the space you need. RAM clips in; make sure you are using the correct channels and that the RAM you purchased is compatible with the rest of your PC. An external hard drive can be connected via USB.
Unfortunately, for most potential Windows 11 users at the moment, the required upgrades are more complex and expensive than installing new RAM or connecting an external hard drive. The good news is that you may not have to buy and install a brand new motherboard. You will need one with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip that supports TPM 2.0. If you purchased your computer after July 28, 2016, it probably has a compatible TPM chip.
TPM modules are available and compatible with some older motherboards, so take a closer look before tearing your rig to pieces. Your PC may have a compatible TPM chip that you have not enabled, so perform this check and allow your chip if necessary.
You will also need a relatively new processor. The oldest CPU you can run Windows 11 with is an 8th generation Intel processor, first launched in August 2017. AMD users require even newer hardware – Zen 2, which hit the market in 2019, is the oldest AMD CPU compatible with Windows 11.
Installing a processor is one of the most delicate parts of PC building, but it’s something an amateur can do in less than 30 minutes. Motherboards and other components tend to have some degree of future-proofing, so if your processor prevents you from upgrading, there is a good chance that you can mount a compatible CPU. Upgrading laptop hardware is more complicated and the range of compatible parts is much narrower. Some soldering may be involved. But if you feel safe, it is possible to upgrade laptops.
You do not have to worry too much about it
Microsoft will not “retire” Windows 10 until October 2025 at the earliest, so Windows 10 users still have a few years before considering a new operating system. Until it retires, Windows 10 will continue to receive support, including important security updates and bug fixes. You do not have to be in a hurry to upgrade, and you may even be better off buying a new device in a year or two instead of forcing the new operating system on the older PC you currently have.
If you lag behind, there’s also a chance that Microsoft will lower the requirements for Windows 11. Last year, the company said its requirements were “subject to testing changes,” so there is a possibility that it will try to maximize the number of devices Windows 11 will work with if recording stops. Either way, there is no reason for you to feel that there is an urgent need to upgrade. Take your time.
