Microsoft has been pushing people to upgrade to Windows 11 but it doesn’t want you running the OS on an unsupported system. For security reasons, only PCs with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 are supported by the latest version of Windows. To dissuade you from skipping past that requirement, the company has removed the steps for a Registry hack workaround from a Windows 11 support page.
Also: Microsoft has a big Windows 10 problem, and it’s running out of time to solve it
Titled “Ways to install Windows 11,” the page has been around for several years. The current version explains how to install the OS using Windows Update, the Installation Assistant, and a USB drive or DVD. However, a previous edition of the page also included steps for changing the Registry to bypass the TPM requirements, as spotted by Neowin.
Seen through the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, a version of the page from Dec. 12, 2024, shows the following now missing information, albeit with several warnings from Microsoft:
Warning:
Microsoft recommends against installing Windows 11 on a device that does not meet the Windows 11 minimum system requirements. If you choose to install Windows 11 on a device that does not meet these requirements, and you acknowledge and understand the risks, you can create the following registry key values and bypass the check for TPM 2.0 (at least TPM 1.2 is required) and the CPU family and model.
Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMSetupMoSetup
Name: AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1
Note: Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
This doesn’t mean the Registry hack no longer works; simply that Microsoft no longer wants to publicize it. Beyond the Registry tweak, there are other ways to sneak past the hardware restrictions to install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC. I’ve used third-party tools such as Rufus and Flyby, which I’ve found more effective than other methods.
The need to upgrade to Windows 11 has ramped up as we approach the end of support for Windows 10 in October. However, many older PCs don’t qualify for the upgrade through the usual methods, and Microsoft increasingly has been trying to discourage its customers from using workarounds.
In another Windows 11 support document revised in December, Microsoft warned about the repercussions of installing Windows 11 on PCs that don’t meet the minimum requirements. In its tough talk, the company said that doing so may result in compatibility issues, that your PC will no longer be supported, and that you won’t be entitled to receive updates.
Also: How to upgrade your ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11
For the past year, I’ve been running Windows 11 on an old Lenovo laptop and several virtual machines. The only issue I’ve encountered is one related to updates. I couldn’t move from Windows 11 23H2 to Windows 11 24H2 on a PC that I had set up using Rufus. I had to download the 2024 version and set up a new installation with Rufus. Once my PC was equipped with 24H2, I could download the latest updates.
Why not just buy a new PC with Windows 11? In my case, I rely on my older Lenovo laptop for its dual batteries and high-quality keyboard, features I’d hate to lose by replacing the machine with a newer and less user-friendly model. I’m sure many other people are in a similar boat. Eventually, we may all have no choice but to buy new Windows 11 PCs. But for now, workarounds are still available even though Microsoft may not like them.
Source: Robotics - zdnet.com
