A recent development has stirred the waters in the tech community: a support document guiding users on how to install Windows 11 on unsupported PCs has vanished from Microsoft’s website. This change, noted by Neowin, aligns with the company’s ongoing narrative of a “year of the Windows 11 PC refresh,” which seems to subtly nudge users toward investing in new hardware that meets the updated operating system’s requirements.
Disappearing Workarounds
When Windows 11 debuted in 2021, Microsoft introduced TPM 2.0 as a mandatory hardware feature, a decision that faced considerable backlash from users. To mitigate the frustration, the tech giant previously provided a support document that outlined a method for users to modify their registry key values, thus bypassing the TPM 2.0 requirement. This workaround was accompanied by explicit warnings, emphasizing that users who opted for this route did so at their own peril.
However, the recent removal of this document suggests a shift in Microsoft’s stance, indicating a lack of endorsement for the registry key workaround. The ongoing debate surrounding the TPM 2.0 requirement continues to simmer, especially with the impending end of support for Windows 10 later this year. Microsoft has reiterated that this transition will not alter the hardware criteria necessary for Windows 11.
The Implications of Support Changes
As the end of support for Windows 10 approaches, a significant number of users are expected to remain on older PCs. The absence of critical security updates will inevitably expose these machines to vulnerabilities, increasing the risk of malware and cyber threats. This scenario raises concerns, particularly for older users who may be more susceptible to cybercrime.
For those still inclined to explore the TPM 2.0 bypass, the original support article can still be accessed through the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine. While it remains uncertain whether the workaround has been rendered ineffective or if Microsoft merely seeks to downplay its visibility, it may still be worth investigating for those determined to navigate the restrictions.
