Windows 10: Microsoft blocks one way of installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware

Over the weekend, there has been quite a bit of panic about Microsoft blocking one of the ways to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. Some news sites claimed that this was the end of all bypasses.

Reporting has gone out of hand. This article's aim is to offer a balanced view.

The details:

• One method to bypass Windows 11 hardware requirements is blocked in Windows 11, version 25H2.
• Administrators could run setup.exe with the parameter /product server to bypass requirements.
• Other bypasses, including through Rufus, are unaffected.

Windows 11 Hardware Requirements




Microsoft changed the hardware requirements of its Windows 11 operating system when it launched. The operating system checks during setup if the PC is compatible.

This is done through various checks to determine if the processor and other components are supported. If they are not, Windows setup throws the error "this PC can't run Windows 11".

This does not necessarily mean that the PC is incompatible. Sometimes, certain requirements may be disabled. This can be the case for TPM 2.0, Trusted Platform Module.

Microsoft created the PC Health Check app for users. The app checks if the PC it is run on meets the system requirements of Windows 11.

The message This Pc doesn't currently meet Windows 11 system requirements is shown, if at least one requirement is not met.

Two main cases are possible:

• A requirement is not met that is fixable easily. This can be a lack of storage space or because a feature like Secure Boot or TPM is not enabled.
• Requirements are not met that can't be fixed without replacing hardware. Incompatible processors or systems that do not support TPM at all come to mind.

Requirement checks can be bypassed to install and run Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.

The full number of Windows 10 and earlier PCs that are not compatible with Windows 11 is unknown. In 2023, Canalys Research estimated that at least 240 million devices are incompatible and therefore stuck on Windows 10.

Windows 11: Microsoft created ways to bypass hardware requirements




Microsoft created several methods to bypass hardware requirements of the Windows 11 operating system.

One of them was the aforementioned setup parameter. Many admins liked it, because it required no preparation of the Windows 11 ISO image or changes of the Registry.

Windows enthusiast Bob Pony discovered that Microsoft patched the option in the Windows 11 insider build 27686.

Windows 11 setup threw the error "This PC can't run Windows Server" and stopped the installation as a consequence.

Other bypasses exist. Software, including Rufus and Ventoy, prepare the installation media to bypass the checks. This is a convenient way, as you do not have to manipulate Registry keys manually.

This is probably the easiest option right now to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.

Both use the same Registry bypass, which administrators may also apply during setup of the Windows 11 operating system.

The Windows 11 Registry bypass


You may use Rufus or Ventoy to apply these automatically. This is the manual option:

1. Run Windows 11 setup as you normally would.
2. Hit Shift-F10 during the language setup page; this opens the command prompt.
3. Type regedit and press the Enter-key; this launches the Registry Editor.
4. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup.
5. Right-click on Setup and select New > Key.
6. Name the key LabConfig.
7. Right-click on LabConfig and select New > Dword (32-bit) value.
8. Name it BypassTPMCheck.
9. Double-click on the value and set it to 1.
10. Right-click on LabConfig again and select New > Dword (32-bit) value.
11. Name it BypassSecureBootCheck.
12. Double-click on the value and set it to 1.
13. Right-click on LabConfig and select New > Dword (32-bit) value.
14. Name it BypassCPUCheck.
15. Double-click on the value and set it to 1.
16. Close the Registry Editor window.
17. Close the Command Prompt window.
18. Continue with setup.

The changes bypass the TPM, Secure Boot and Processor checks of Windows 11's setup.

Note that you may also bypass RAM, Storage, and Disk checks.

• BypassRAMCheck - Set to 1 to bypass RAM checks.
• BypassStorageCheck - Set to 1 to bypass storage requirements checks.
• BypassDiskCheck - Set to 1 to bypass disk checks.

Microsoft is enforcing new hardware requirements in Windows 11, version 24H2


Up until now, Microsoft has not enforced hardware requirements. You could install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC and it would run fine. This changes with the release of Windows 11, version 24H2.

Microsoft is enforcing a CPU requirement. The processor needs to support SSE4.2 to run the new version of Windows. This feature is supported by the majority of PCs, as it was introduced around 2008.

Still, users who have installed Windows 11 on a PC that does not support it cannot upgrade their devices to the new version of Windows 11 or install it from scratch.

Closing Words


While there is a possibility that Microsoft is blocking other bypasses in the future, it is equally possible that Microsoft won't. The number of incompatible devices is going down with each passing year, as only compatible PCs are sold nowadays.

For now, other bypasses continue to work.

What is your take on the removal of the bypass? Let us known in the comments below.

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Microsoft blocks one way of installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

read more...

 

Can I Install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware?

Installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware can be a bit challenging, but not impossible. I've tried this process myself on an older computer. First, you need to understand Microsoft's hardware requirements for Windows 11, such as TPM 2.0 and a processor that supports a specific instruction set. If your device doesn't meet these standards, Microsoft officially doesn't recommend installing it.



However, if you're willing to try, there are some third-party tools that can bypass these restrictions. For example, there are tools that can modify Windows 11's installation files to make it ignore hardware checks. One tool I used is called "WinBootmate," which can not only be used to create a boot disk, but also set up to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.

 

Is it legal to install Windows 11 on an unsupported hardware?

I know installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware is unofficial, meaning you will be denied support from Microsoft, if you need support. However, is it legal? If i install Windows 11 on an unsupported hardware, will i be allowed to ask questions on Microsoft Answers, if need help?

Microsoft Support won't be allowed, but will i be allowed to get help from users?

 

Can I Install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware?

I'm trying to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, but I'm having some trouble. Specifically, my computer doesn't meet the official Windows 11 system requirements, such as processor and security requirements. I'd like to understand if it's possible to bypass these restrictions in some way and successfully install Windows 11. If anyone has experience or knows how to do this, please share your methods and suggestions, thank you! This is very important to me, and I hope to find a solution.