Microsoft Clarifies Stance on Windows 11 Minimum System Requirements 83
Neowin: Microsoft today released the first-ever Windows 11 build to Insiders in the Dev channel, bringing build 22000.51. While most of the announced features made it to the build, there are a few missing ones such as support for Android apps. The firm also posted a few known issues for the release. In addition to the build, the company has also posted clarification about the confusion surrounding the minimum system requirements.
The firm starts off by acknowledging that there has been confusion caused by the PC Health Check tool, something that was updated late last week after negative feedback from users about the lack of clarity on Windows 11 compatibility. It says that the tool was "not fully prepared to share the level of detail or accuracy you expected from us on why a Windows 10 PC doesn't meet upgrade requirements," which is why the company is taking down the tool to address the feedback, adding that the tool will be "back online" later in the fall, closer to the general availability of Windows 11. In a blog post, the company adds: [...] Using the principles above, we are confident that devices running on Intel 8th generation processors and AMD Zen 2 as well as Qualcomm 7 and 8 Series will meet our principles around security and reliability and minimum system requirements for Windows 11. As we release to Windows Insiders and partner with our OEMs, we will test to identify devices running on Intel 7th generation and AMD Zen 1 that may meet our principles.
The firm starts off by acknowledging that there has been confusion caused by the PC Health Check tool, something that was updated late last week after negative feedback from users about the lack of clarity on Windows 11 compatibility. It says that the tool was "not fully prepared to share the level of detail or accuracy you expected from us on why a Windows 10 PC doesn't meet upgrade requirements," which is why the company is taking down the tool to address the feedback, adding that the tool will be "back online" later in the fall, closer to the general availability of Windows 11. In a blog post, the company adds: [...] Using the principles above, we are confident that devices running on Intel 8th generation processors and AMD Zen 2 as well as Qualcomm 7 and 8 Series will meet our principles around security and reliability and minimum system requirements for Windows 11. As we release to Windows Insiders and partner with our OEMs, we will test to identify devices running on Intel 7th generation and AMD Zen 1 that may meet our principles.
Hypervisor (Score:5, Insightful)
TLDR because it was honestly hard to find.
TPM requirements are easy, tons of systems have them or you can add them. That's not the issue.
CPU requirements: Intel 8th gen or AMD Ryzen Zen2 required, possibly also supporting Intel 7th gen and Ryzen Zen1. Only reason given was on an entirely different article I had to hunt down from a year or two ago talking about a new hypervisor extension Microsoft is using. This extension was added to 7th-gen Intel and Zen1 Ryzen. This hypervisor extension is the "requirement", but they don't really give a good enough explanation as to WHY in my opinion. And even in the Windows 11 documents, they're still not even really mentioning it. This is just more hidden bullshit to force hardware upgrades.
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Paraphrasing: Our insecure system is prone to malware. A TPM reduces malware by 60%.
So rather than fixing the security flaws, aka 'features', they're relying on hardware to reduce the attack surface, or something.
But surely an 'insecure' system running Windows 11 is more secure than currently running 'insecure' Windows 10 once the 2025 support period ends.
Re:Hypervisor (Score:5, Insightful)
Paraphrasing: Our insecure system is prone to malware. A TPM reduces malware by 60%.
So rather than fixing the security flaws, aka 'features', they're relying on hardware to reduce the attack surface, or something.
But surely an 'insecure' system running Windows 11 is more secure than currently running 'insecure' Windows 10 once the 2025 support period ends.
Funny how the old super secure windows is always a real piece of shit after the new super secure version of Windows comes out, and in a couple years is likewise an insecure piece of shit
What is not funny is how the faithful just lap that stuff up and never understand.
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What is not funny is how the faithful just lap that stuff up and never understand.
Windows has "faithful"? I'm sure you're right, I just can't imagine anyone who owns windows going out of their way to actually procure it.
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So what are you saying, that you don't like it when things are improved or that you don't like the way you're informed about improvements?
Define the improvement aspect of forcing people onto a Microsoft account - that'e the first step. How will my life be improved?
Will the computer be always free of problems because of the Microsoft account? Will every update work perfectly because of the Microsoft account?
Forcing people to have a completely un-necessary aspect - unless you can prove to me that the computer will not run at all unless the Microsoft account is enabled - is interesting.
You're being groomed by Microsoft. Get ready for a
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Since when were we talking about MS accounts? I thought we were talking about iterative or generational improvements to OS security and how you think that's bullshit.
I've been talking about a Microsoft account for quite a while now. Because if you have Windows home, you can't upgrade without one. I'm quite happy with a local account.
https://www.theverge.com/2021/... [theverge.com]
It's pretty obvious that a Microsoft account has nothing to do with performance. They just want to force you onto a Microsoft account. I'm sure that their spyingH^H^H^H^H^ erm feedback metrics are much improved.
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Why is it funny? Seems perfectly obvious to me - old version of Windows has been kicked around for years, finding hundreds of thousands of bugs (we fixed some). So it's an insecure POC.
New Windows is brand new! All new code - hundreds of gigabytes of it! We fixed the bugs we could find (we didn't look that hard) so it's here for you BUG-FREE! So it's super, duper secure.
See - obvious!
Re: Hypervisor (Score:5, Informative)
TPM doesn't really do anything for malware, and it's not intended for that. It's more for protecting the privacy and integrity of your data. That is, making it more difficult for somebody to steal your data or tamper with it.
Malware protection would have to come through chain of trust for code execution, which requires code signing along with trusted certificates, which the TPM doesn't deal with.
Re: Hypervisor (Score:3)
Correction, it uses certificates for user authentication, but not for code validation.
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It's more for protecting the privacy and integrity of your data.
I haven't looked too much into it, but I was under the impression TPM was about locking your data to the device, which just makes it more difficult to repair or service. I seriously doubt any ordinary people need TPM, and the people who might benefit from it already know they should use something else.
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Zen1 APU start sales in 2018. The successor 3200G / 3400G start sales in mid-2019. So a nearly new 2 years old computer can be un-upgradeable.
Since they refuse so many recent hardware from Windows 11, I am quite sure Microsoft won't be able to end security support of Windows 10 by this decade, not to mention the tight deadline of 2025.
Re:Hypervisor (Score:4, Informative)
Are you talking about Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI)? I'm thinking this may have to do with their use of "...device Encryption, virtualization-based security (VBS), hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI) and Secure Boot."
This may have to do with that, and maybe further use of nested virtualization.
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This is just more hidden bullshit to force hardware upgrades.
Assassins Creed Odyssey and SSE to go with their DRM. Had to upgrade from a Phenom.
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"This is just more hidden bullshit to force hardware upgrades."
Why would Microsoft want the price of complementary goods to increase? That would drive demand for their product down.
Re:Hypervisor (Score:5, Interesting)
Over the years, the "Wintel" hegemony has been so successful because Intel bring out a new chip, then Microsoft upgrade their software to pretty much require you to upgrade to it... and then the use of the "no backporting" lock forces users to upgrade their application software to the latest version in order to have it run on Windows.
In other words, if you want/need a new application feature [like you want to play a new game that has been hard-coded to demand the latest DirectX, which is only available with the new Windows; if you're forced to upgrade because your software vendor is terminating support for the version of a package you're running, forcing you to upgrade, or if maybe you suffer hardware unreliability and need a new computer, you end up having to completely refresh everything. It's a pull-through that has made the desktop computing sector such a money-spinner for decades.
Unfortunately for Wintel, a couple of things have happened recently to throw a spanner in those works... First, the migration from desktop PCs on the desk to thin clients like VDI means that there's much less pressure on desktop PC sales. Second, the Covid pandemic has brought supply chains to their knees, meaning that hardware just isn't available to make the sort of mass-buying upgrades that we've seen in the past.
Make no mistake. Microsoft didn't need to release Windows 11. It was only a couple of years ago they promised us that we'd never need to upgrade beyond Windows 10. This is all smoke and mirrors and misdirection. It keeps all their resellers and software vendors sweet, because a new Windows release will guarantee to put a boost to hardware and software sales.
It's all a con. IBM did less than this and got forcibly broken up. Clearly MS have better lobbyists and/or make more campaign contributions.
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When did IBM get forcibly broken up? IIRC they signed a consent decree to play nice, which they mostly respected.
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This was the change, for example, that brought about to fundamental shifts in IBM's business model. The first was that hardware competitors like HDS (Hitachi Data Systems) and Amdahl were able to build compatible hardware that ran IBM OS and software natively. The second was that elements of the mainfr
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Seems the big thing with IBM is that they tried to follow their consent decree, whereas today it is almost like the big tech companies just ignore governments mostly.
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Yea, it's crazy how campaign contributions work in America. I'm in Canada and Federal campaign contributions are limited to real people who are citizens and currently limited to somewhere around C$1400 per person, it is indexed to inflation. Our election campaigns are also usually short, about 6 weeks and spending on ads etc by 3rd parties is also very limited. There is also heavy party discipline as well, so people generally just vote for the party they want to form government so there is little of the sof
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The reason is as always the windows-intel alliance.
Intel has been struggling for years to make decent progress in actual capabilities of their processors. The only thing they have been advancing is minuscule to mediocre improvements in processing power while keeping electricity waste constant. It is progress, but over the course of the last 5-6 years, it's been nothing but pathetic when compared to the progress AMD, ARM, GPU or Apple processors have achieved in the same timeframe.
https://cpu.userbenchmark.c [userbenchmark.com]
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Windows throwing out old CPUs with a broad stroke, completely obliterating the demand for any non-brandnew CPU, is meant to get people to finally upgrade their CPUs again. Not by offering a better product, a better price, but by arbitrary fiat decision. It shows that the Win-Tel - Tel Aviv alliance between these two companies is still very much alive after all these years.
Suggests that Windows 10 may indeed be the last version.
Apple managed to get the message out that their new chips are cool and make better video meetings (ML). That alone made me feel a bit like, oh well, losing Intel is a pain... but the partner will love having nicer video calls... ok! M1it is!
It's weak... but at least it is something tangible.
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Seems more likely to me that they're interested in taking advantage of new hardware capabilities that will become tomorrow's baseline standard. Every CPU is going to have some kind of TPM feature, so assume it will be there (make it a hardware requirement) and take advantage of it to make the system more secure.
Assuming you don't die first, you're going to buy a new computer. MS doesn't need to push y
What about TPM and camera requirements? (Score:2)
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Re:What about TPM and camera requirements? (Score:5, Informative)
Is TPM v2 still required? Also is a front facing 3D camera still required for facial recognition for tablets and laptops?
Yes, TPM v2 is istill required, either as a module, or as a firmware running on the enclave processor. (Intel PPT or AMD fTPM)
Also, some virtualization instructions are required. That's why all 8th gen Corei and Zen2 cores are supported, but Zen1 and 7th gen is on a case by case basis.
What I find odd is that some virtualization instructions are required but Virtualization capabilities themselves being active is not required.
For Windows 11, cameras in general, and front facing cameras in particular, are required ONLY or mobile machines (i.e. Laptops, Tablets, 2 in 1's) and NOT REQUIRED for desktops.
Having said that, if you want features like Windows Hello or teams video conferencing on your desktop, you will need a camera. As for the cameras for windows hello being 3d, I am 95% sure the answer is no.
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TPM 2 is as wrench in the gears for me (Score:3)
New laptop will need TPM 2. My current 2017 Surface Pro is TPM 1.x, and no you cannot go out and buy one.
Oh well, the budget is blown.
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New laptop will need TPM 2. My current 2017 Surface Pro is TPM 1.x, and no you cannot go out and buy one.
Oh well, the budget is blown.
Nah - it's only Apple that pulls that crap.. Windows takes care of their customers.
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I would wait until 2023 for the hardware prices to come down anyway. Who wants to buy this inflated hardware on old hat manufacturing processes?
By 2023 you should be able to buy 5nm CPUs easily.
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Are you sure it's not tucked away in the BIOS somewhere? Granted I'm not on a laptop, but the health check flagged my Gigabyte Aorus Z390 as being without. I found the settings to modify, and it works.
Re: TPM 2 is as wrench in the gears for me (Score:2)
Surface Pro (2017) is documented as TPM 1.2, I think that's the version it's in bios. Certainly not 2, and it missed by months. Feh.
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No Win11 for me (Score:4, Insightful)
My ASUS Prime Z390-P motherboard with the Coffee Lake i7-9700k CPU doesn't have TPM or even a socket for TPM. I bought this machine from CyberPowerPC a year and a half ago, and it cannot run Windows 11.
Fuck Microsoft.
Re:No Win11 for me (Score:5, Insightful)
Did you check and see if it was in the chipset [intel.com]?
Re:No Win11 for me (Score:5, Informative)
My ASUS Prime Z390-P motherboard with the Coffee Lake i7-9700k CPU doesn't have TPM or even a socket for TPM. I bought this machine from CyberPowerPC a year and a half ago, and it cannot run Windows 11.
Fuck Microsoft.
After updating your BIOS (Firmware/UEFI) to the latests version provided by ASUS, check your BIOS or UEFI to see if you have something called Intel PPT. Normally is located in the advanced options.
If you have it, enable it, and You will be able to pass the TPM 2.0 requirement.
Now, in the voice of Nick Burns:
"You're welcome!"
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Thank you friend. I will check into this.
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This is a mess, as if you have a processor that is Zen2 or gen8 or newer core, then you almost certainly either have tpm2 or are just a uefi setup menu selection away from having tpm2.
The lack of mentioning this has created a huge scalping opportunity for TPM cards that people won't even need.
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Go check your bios. I have a ASUS mb and coffee lake i9. I found mine and turned it on. Works fine and passes the check.
I found mine in the bios under Advanced -> PCH-FW.
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Thank you, brother. That did the trick.
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You're very welcome, and I'm glad it helped. I had just fought that battle an hour before. The manual for my mother board was still on my desk turned to that very page when I saw your post.
That's great news! (Score:3)
At least, for me thinking about future but cheap high - enough - performance hardware rendered useless for Windows 11.
Even though Windows10 will run on my Socket 1156 i7 every contact with Windows 10 brought me further and further away from Windows, after the support ending for Windows 7.
But Microsoft realized it learning from Google/Android is learning to win.
windows 11 / server 2022? run in an VM? need TPM? (Score:2)
windows 11 / server 2022? run in an VM? need TPM in an VM?
With windows 11 / what server build that is based on it blocks VM's then windows server will take an big dive in usage.
Bullocks... (Score:3)
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Switching to macOS is more likely to require buying new hardware than upgrading to Windows 11 is. I guess the viability of switching to GNU/Linux depends on how willing others in your industry are to give up Windows-exclusive, Wine-incompatible applications come the Windows 10 end of support date.
Will they try to lockout linux with the TPM? serve (Score:3)
Will they try to lockout linux with the TPM? server boards can't force secure boot / windows only stuff.
I don't think supermicro will do something that hurts Linux.
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Linux distributions can and do use the TPM also. It is just a secure enclave for holding certain things like encryption keys for your drives. Mac has the same thing except that this is an open standard.
If you want TPM (Score:3, Interesting)
Your latest update, where I closed my laptop, then had to wait 3 hours after dinner for a desktop, convinced me to spend $60 on a new hard drive for a dead laptop and put Linux on it.
If I can't choose what to boot from, and can't ensure closing my laptop for 15 minutes won't involve a 3+ hour "update", then, well...
Fuck you
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A virtual machine is more than enough to run Windows. Why do you want to pay for a new hardware that is designed to protect Microsoft from you? This is the opposite of private property.
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Guess my i5 7500 is too old (Score:3)
I gotcher system requirements right here (Score:3)
My computers all share a system requirement, and it's this: no baked-in DRM. So when Microsoft ends support for Windows 8.1, every one of my computers will become Linux machines. I'll probably switch one over earlier so can try out different varieties Linux and pick a favorite well before I make a wholesale changeover.
Why Win10 PC doesn't meet upgrade requirements !!! (Score:1)
This 'Windows 10 PC' can barely keep up with my typing and yet it was sold as a gaming computer. A one and a half second delay between me typing and the text appears on screen. Soon 'Windows 10' is going to be erased and replaced with a Linux version. antiX [antixlinux.com] ran on a ten year old PC with the same functionality. Browsing, media pla
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Um, you don't normally type text to the operating system, you type it to an application: Word, Open Office Write, a programmer's editor, Notepad...some app. What app is giving you this slow response time?
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Plug your keyboard and mouse into a USB2 slot instead of a USB3 slot. Many input devices do not work properly on USB3 ports for some inane fucking reason.
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Interesting, I've noticed that newer USB sticks will only show up on a particular USB port. I'll try your suggestion. Thanks.
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Unless you're using a roaming or redirected profile that sits on the other side of a slow-ass network, it's a software or driver issue. Check CPU use, I bet something is hammering it.
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Process explorer reports low resource usage. I suspect it's, a slow hard drive, the search indexer running all the time, 8MB memory with 2.1 hardware reserved and a memory compression process running. No keyboard/mouse lag at the moment. There's a bunch of HP processes running, eg 'HP analytics client'. Then when Windows update runs, the keyboard/mouse issue recurs. someone else suggested it was the USB port. Will try swapping USB ports. Solutio
Truly this inept, or lol over the free publicity (Score:2)
Such a great occasion to look elsewhere ! (Score:1)
Seriously, it's a great opportunity to have people give *nix a try.
Help your friends / families around.
Aside from hard gamers (who update their hardware anyway) who the hell really *need* windows ?
Missing something... (Score:3)
Considering the dubious benefits of TPM for most users it's pretty clear the main reason for requiring it in Windows 11 is to force Secure Boot on and to force people who dual boot to choose between Windows as well as make it much harder to even try out OSs other than Windows.
Principles?? (Score:2)
Daddy, help me! (Score:1)
Intel: HELP! We're not selling as many CPUs - COVID, AMD, Windows never changes.
MicroShaft: Aw, come here, snuggle up with Daddy and let's see what we can do for wittle ol' you!