The arrival of Windows 11 has caused some people to cringe, for a number of reasons. The first being that it’s a new OS from Microsoft; it’s a pain, you have to change your habits, even if the system retains its general ergonomics. The other reason concerned hardware restrictions that turned out to be purely artificial. The proof is that, as Windows 10 support comes to an end, Windows 11 updates are being offered, and even deployed, on machines that didn’t comply with the initial list of supported hardware!
Windows 11 deployed on old hardware!
As the end draws near for Windows 10, we learn that Microsoft is bending its original W11 deployment policy. Originally, recent hardware was required, while a TPM 2.0 module had to be active on the configuration in order to install the system legitimately. Of course, workarounds existed at the time, but this was Microsoft’s official policy.
Now, we find ourselves with updates that are offered or even installed automatically on older hardware. In one case, 22H2 was proposed for installation on an old DELL laptop that had no active TMP module. Another troubling case is that of a PC equipped with a Core i5 4590 which successfully received the system upgrade, etc.
In short, it’s clear that Microsoft is breaking its original rules in order to migrate as many users as possible to its new system. This even goes as far as deploying UEFI patches (forcing TMP 2.0 activation when available?) via the Windows update of Windows 10 in order to expand the list of compatible hardware. Microsoft would go even further via upgrades triggered via the W10 routine update process, without explicit user consent. After a system reboot, the W11 installation procedure is launched.