CPU compatibility Archives

Winsage

April 15, 2025

How to upgrade your ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 now

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will stop providing security updates for Windows 10 PCs unless users enroll in the Extended Security Updates program. Upgrading to Windows 11 on machines older than five years may result in an error message about CPU compatibility, as Microsoft will not change the requirement for a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. While automatic upgrades may be hindered, there are workarounds for most PCs designed for Windows 10. To upgrade, the computer must boot using UEFI, support Secure Boot, and have an enabled TPM (version 1.2 is acceptable). Users can check their system's BIOS mode and TPM status using the System Information utility and the Trusted Platform Module Management tool, respectively. If UEFI is not an option or if the PC lacks a TPM, an undocumented hack can be used to bypass compatibility checks. A new restriction with the Windows 11 version 24H2 update requires CPUs to support SSE4.2 and PopCnt instructions, making upgrades impossible for PCs built in 2008 or earlier. Most Intel CPUs from 2009 and AMD CPUs from 2013 should meet this requirement. Users can bypass CPU checks and accept any TPM version through a registry edit, which requires running the Setup program from the current Windows installation. The process involves creating a registry key and modifying its value. Alternatively, the Rufus utility can be used to create a bootable USB drive that circumvents compatibility checks, but it cannot bypass the restrictions for very old CPUs lacking support for SSE4.2 and PopCnt instructions.

Winsage

April 2, 2025

Your ‘unsupported’ Windows 10 PC can still run Windows 11 in 2025

Microsoft will cease support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Users considering upgrading to Windows 11 may face obstacles due to hardware requirements, including TPM 2.0 and specific CPU models. Workarounds exist for upgrading incompatible PCs. To check compatibility: - Determine if the PC uses UEFI or Legacy BIOS via System Information (msinfo32.exe). - Ensure BIOS Mode is UEFI. - Check TPM status using the TPM Management tool (tpm.msc). - Verify CPU compatibility; most Intel CPUs from 2009 or later and AMD CPUs from 2013 or later should meet the standards. Option 1: Registry Edit Method (for PCs with TPM 1.2+ and UEFI) 1. Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe) as an administrator. 2. Navigate to HKEYLOCALMACHINESYSTEMSetup; create MoSetup key if absent. 3. Create DWORD (32-bit) Value named AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU, set value to 1, and restart. 4. Download Windows 11 ISO from aka.ms/DownloadWindows11. 5. Mount the ISO file and run Setup.exe. Option 2: Using Rufus (for PCs without TPM or UEFI) 1. Download Rufus version 4.6 or later and Windows 11 ISO. 2. Prepare a USB flash drive (16GB or larger). 3. Launch Rufus, select the USB drive, choose the Windows 11 ISO, and check the box to remove requirements for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0. 4. Create the bootable drive and run Setup.exe from the USB drive. These methods are unofficial workarounds. Users may encounter compatibility warnings, and the registry method is preferred for its simplicity. Some very old systems, especially those with AMD processors lacking SSE4.2 support, may still be incompatible.

Winsage

November 21, 2024

Can your old PC handle the upgrade to Windows 11? Here’s how to tell

As of October 2025, Microsoft will cease monthly security updates for Windows 10, prompting users to consider upgrading to Windows 11 if their hardware allows. The eligibility for Windows 11 is largely determined by the age and specifications of the CPU rather than the purchase date. - PCs designed in 2019 or later typically support Windows 11, provided they have TPM version 2.0. - PCs designed between 2016 and 2019 may still be eligible for an upgrade through a registry edit, even if their CPUs are not on the supported list. - PCs from 2010 to 2015 can potentially upgrade if they have a TPM and compatible Intel CPUs, though AMD processors may face challenges. - PCs from 2009 and earlier generally lack the necessary components for Windows 11 and may require alternative operating systems like Linux.

Winsage

October 5, 2024

Microsoft cracks down on Windows 11 upgrades for ‘incompatible’ PCs, but there’s a workaround

Microsoft introduced stringent hardware compatibility requirements with the launch of Windows 11 in 2021, requiring a compatibility appraiser to assess hardware for upgrade eligibility. If a CPU is unsupported or if a PC lacks a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0, the upgrade is halted. Two methods to bypass these restrictions have emerged: one involves a registry modification for corporate clients with TPM enabled, while the other uses a hack to replace the compatibility appraiser module with a zero-byte file, facilitated by the Rufus utility. However, a recent update with Windows 11 version 24H2 disrupted the Rufus method, leading to error messages during upgrades. Rufus developer Pete Batard provided a workaround involving specific registry commands to allow successful upgrades. Systems with TPM and UEFI/Secure Boot can upgrade easily, while older hardware without TPM or using Legacy BIOS faces significant challenges. Feedback from users experiencing issues is encouraged for documentation and resolution.

Winsage

October 4, 2024

Microsoft cracks down on Windows 11 upgrades for ‘incompatible’ PCs, but there’s a fix – for now

Microsoft introduced Windows 11 in 2021 with strict hardware compatibility requirements, including a compatibility appraiser that checks for an approved CPU and the presence of Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. Users found ways to bypass these restrictions, including modifying the registry and replacing the compatibility appraiser module (Appraiserres.dll) with a zero-byte file using the Rufus utility. However, the rollout of Windows 11 version 24H2 on October 1 disrupted the second method, leading to upgrade failures for users without TPM and Secure Boot. Rufus developer Pete Batard provided a workaround involving registry commands to facilitate upgrades. Systems with TPM and UEFI/Secure Boot can upgrade without issues, while older hardware lacking TPM faces usability challenges.

Winsage

September 29, 2024

How to upgrade your ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11: Two options

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will stop providing security updates for Windows 10 PCs unless users enroll in the Extended Security Updates program at a high cost. Upgrading to Windows 11 on older PCs may be problematic due to CPU compatibility and TPM version 2.0 requirements, which Microsoft will not change. Supported workarounds exist, but systems must boot using UEFI, have Secure Boot enabled, and have an active TPM (version 1.2 is acceptable). Users can check their system specifications using the System Information utility and the Trusted Platform Module Management tool. To bypass CPU checks and allow installation on PCs with older TPMs, users can edit the Windows registry by creating a key named MoSetup and setting a DWORD value to allow upgrades with unsupported TPM or CPU. Alternatively, the free Rufus utility can be used to create a bootable USB drive that bypasses compatibility checks entirely. Users can then initiate the upgrade process from the USB drive.

Winsage

August 17, 2024

Microsoft patches TPM 2.0 bypass to prevent Windows 11 installs on PCs with unsupported CPUs | Tom’s Hardware

Many users with unsupported PCs have successfully upgraded to Windows 11 using a command line trick with the '/product server' directive, despite the operating system's stringent hardware requirements. Microsoft has patched this workaround in its latest Canary Build, which now requires the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 protocol. The current Windows 11 24H2 version still allows the bypass, but future updates may restrict it further. Users have been able to install Windows 11 on older CPUs, including Athlon and Core2Duo models, by circumventing TPM and RAM verification checks. The workaround has been particularly useful for systems capable of running Windows 11 but lacking TPM 2.0 support. Compatibility for adding a TPM module is limited to Intel's 8th generation and AMD's 2nd generation Ryzen CPUs. In enterprise editions, the CPU compatibility list starts with two-core CPUs at a minimum of 1 GHz, with TPM 2.0 being optional. As Microsoft continues to release patches, these bypass methods may soon become ineffective, leaving users with options to revert to older Windows versions, explore Linux, or upgrade hardware.

Winsage

August 9, 2024

You can upgrade your old PC to Windows 11 – even if Microsoft says it’s ‘incompatible’. Here’s how

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will stop providing security updates for Windows 10 PCs unless users enroll in the Extended Security Updates program. Upgrading to Windows 11 may be challenging for users with older machines due to strict CPU compatibility requirements and the need for a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0, which Microsoft will not change. Users can bypass these restrictions through two supported methods: 1. A clean installation of Windows 11 can be done by booting from installation media, which avoids the CPU compatibility check but requires reinstalling applications and restoring data. 2. A registry modification allows the Windows 11 Setup program to ignore compatibility checks for CPUs and older TPM versions. This involves opening the Registry Editor, navigating to HKEYLOCALMACHINESYSTEMSetupMoSetup, creating a new DWORD value named AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU, and setting its value to 1. After making this change, users can proceed with the installation despite compatibility warnings. During installation, options include a Full Upgrade, Keep Data Only, or a Clean Install. Additionally, the open-source utility Rufus provides an alternative method for creating installation media.

Winsage

August 6, 2024

Nvidia drivers are crashing some Windows 10 PCs. Here’s how to avoid it

Nvidia announced that graphics card drivers released from version 555 onward will cause blue screen crash loops on older Windows 10 PCs that cannot execute the POPCNT (Population Count) CPU instruction. Users with CPUs lacking this capability should avoid installing these newer drivers and continue using older versions, such as Release 550, for system stability. Nvidia has stated that these unsupported CPUs are already excluded from support on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. To check if a CPU supports the POPCNT instruction, users can utilize Microsoft’s Coreinfo tool. The POPCNT instruction, introduced in 2008 with Intel’s Nehalem architecture, counts the number of set bits in a binary number and is beneficial for various computations.