I tried to upgrade to Windows 11 and failed — here’s what went wrong

I tried to upgrade to Windows 11 and failed — here'south what went wrong

(Prototype credit: Shutterstock)

Microsoft offers a free upgrade path for Windows 11. And so long as you take Windows 10 and a reasonably modern PC, you tin update your operating organisation. However, Microsoft warns users that installing Windows 11 on older PC comes with risks. Should yous install the operating arrangement on older hardware, you'll need to sign a waiver absolving Microsoft of arraign if issues ascend.

The warning and disclaimer aren't unreasonable. After all, upgrading to a new Windows Bone could potentially make your PC unusable. Those cases aren't as common as some would have you believe, but the risk is in that location regardless.

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Failing to run across Windows xi requirements

The (small) chance of an upgrade bricking my PC is the reason I've never upgraded my Windows Bone. I've always opted to buy a new PC or laptop with the latest Windows preinstalled. This was going to be my plan for Windows eleven since I had been planning to build a new PC since the summer. Notwithstanding, because I haven't heard of whatever major issues upgrading from Windows ten to Windows eleven, I decided to upgrade.

Things didn't go equally I expected.

I reasoned that my PC, which I congenital with all-new parts six years ago, could come across Windows 11'southward minimum requirements. Obviously, I should have looked up the requirements first, but I honestly wasn't expecting to meet any bug. Before installing, I downloaded Microsoft'southward free Wellness Check app to verify if my PC could handle Windows xi. This is something I propose yous all exercise if you're interested in upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11. It's a quick install and it takes less than 30 seconds to browse your PC.

This is the message I received after the Health Check app finished its scan.

Windows 11 warning — (Image credit: Future)

Incompatible hardware

My CPU not meeting the requirements came as a shock but the matter that truly caught me off-baby-sit was TPM not beingness detected on my PC. What is a TPM? TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is a secure cryptoprocessor that protects a figurer by way of an integrated cryptographic central. It protects your PC confronting malware and hackers trying to access your data. TPM security is institute on nigh modern PCs but non on dinosaur computers like mine, obviously.

I met the other minimum requirements (iv GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage infinite, two or more cores, and a 1 GHz or faster processor clock speed), simply since my CPU (an Intel i7-4790) isn't on the compatibility listing and I lacked TPM, I was out of luck. I could have installed Windows 11 anyway, just considering how I need my PC for work and leisure, I decided to err on the side of circumspection and forgo installing the operating system.

I'd honey to offering some clever solutions for getting Windows eleven to run on older rigs. Simply the truth of the matter is that, if you want to run Windows 11, you're going to have to upgrade your PC or build/buy an all-new one. Thankfully, yous can purchase and install all of the required components. Things tin can go pricey depending on what you buy, only if you lot're but purchasing components that run across Windows xi'south minimum requirements, y'all won't break the bank.

You can add TPM 2.0 functionality by purchasing a uniform module for your motherboard. Y'all'll have to search for your motherboard's model to see if its manufacturer released a compatible TPM. Be enlightened that some manufacturers no longer produce TPMs. If you procure a compatible module, you'll accept to find the TPM pins on your motherboard and snap it in (after ensuring you've enabled TPM in the BIOS menu).

Since I didn't want to deal with all that, I decided to forget about installing Windows 11 on my current PC. The state of affairs is somewhat disappointing just non altogether unexpected. Technology is always advancing, making older hardware obsolete. It'due south a fact of life we've all come to begrudgingly accept. Fifty-fifty if your sometime PC is still going strong, a time will come when yous tin no longer update its software.

Stick with Windows 10 for now

If you're happy with Windows 10 and your electric current PC then, by all means, continue making the near of it. You don't need to have Windows 11 when it launches and probably won't need to become familiar with information technology for a long time yet. But if you lot're like me and want to exist upwardly-to-date with the latest Windows Os then you're going to have to upgrade your hardware to employ Windows 11.

Speaking of tech problems, we have a list of all the tech fails of 2021.

More than: How to install Windows 11 - a step-by-step guide

Tony is a computing writer at Tom'due south Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attention Hard Stone/Heavy Metallic concerts and going to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and various independent gaming sites.