Force a computer to install Windows 11?

Windows 11 have been out for a few months now and Microsoft have made it very clear that they want to ensure you not only use a Microsoft to help (track) assist you with targeted advertising and content, but to make things more secure with the new security chip called TPM 2.0. This week they have now offered a work around to get Windows 11 on a computer that does not have this security chip. Should you upgrade and why would Microsoft change its mind?

When a company starts to change their mind about stuff, if it a good time to pay attention. Microsoft have published a way to circumvent the requirement for the TPM 2.0 security chip on their website. This involves changing the registry key in your Windows 10 computer to allow the install to ignore the request to check for the TPM 2.0 chip. This will only work on a computer that has the TPM 1.2 chip installed and enabled. The best way to do this is through the BIOS setting on your computer. Now the question is SHOULD you do it. Well I would say no. making a way to install an operating system work on hardware that it was not recommended for is always going to have complications. This would allow you to install Windows 11 on a computer that does not have all the security features that they are claiming that Windows 11 offers.

Now after all that , if you are still interested in doing it you can adjust the registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE|SYSTEM|MoSetup and add AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU, This is a REG_DWORD and set it with the value of 1. Please note that serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using the registry editor or by using another method. These problem might require that you completely reinstall the operating system. You should only modify the registry at your own risk. Afterwards you can then start a clean install of Windows 11 or even perform an upgrade to the operating system, which will allow you to keep your old files on the computer. ALWAYS back up your files anyway. We always suggest a clean install unless you have programs that you do not have the installer for. If you are using this to install on an unsupported CPU, you will have to use the Windows 11 disk image setup instead.

Now that you know how to to it. we go back to should you. First off I would say no just don’t. This is just another way for you to be the subject of an experiment to see which computers it will work on and which will break without taking any of the responsibility. Most of my clients are business owners, and we are suggesting that they stay with Windows 10 unless you are getting a new computer with Windows 11 already on it. There is no hurry to go with Windows 11. Now if you are a computer enthusiastic and you know what you are doing and still want to take the risk, then that is up to you and at least you now know how to do it. If you are not sure, they don’t do it at all. If you want to talk to me about it, by all means reach out at the office and call me at 407-826-0810 or drop me an email.