Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Win 11 hardware requirements

Hi everyone,

For all the smart guys guys and gals out there:

I have been playing around a little with Windows 11. I took one of the our spare desktops, and tried to install this. Message came up saying hardware not compatible.

So, as I was looking, it appears that there are 3 possible areas of concern.
1. System firmware: requires UEFI, secure boot capable. Mine has BIOS mode legacy
2. TPM: Trusted platform module version 2.0 required, mine indicates "cannot find".
3. Graphics card: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver, mine is 1.2.

My guess is that these are not "correctable", and that the computer cannot be upgraded to Windows 11.

The problem is….Most of our computers are of this vintage. So I suspect similar issues will occur across the board.

It looks like Windows 10 has 4 more years of support, so there is absolutely no urgency to this. But I had wanted to try to get a bit of experience with with Windows 11.

Any comments/suggestions?

Thanks.

Gene

Hi Gene,

There are several small free programs that will quickly test a computer for W11 compatibility:

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/windows11compatibilitychecker.html

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/windows_11_compatibility_checker.html

Here's a link to the Major Geeks search for Windows 11 compatibility, which shows lots more:

https://tinyurl.com/ms67jbxc

***

Unfortunately, if your system lacks UEFI, it's probably time to take it out behind the barn and shoot it--there's no upgrade.

For some systems without the TPM 2.0 features, a fairly cheap chip can be installed--just buy it and plug it into the socket on the motherboard.

(There are also registry hacks for a missing TPM 2.0.)

If your graphics aren't up to snuff, you can probably install a suitable PCI card and remove the other card or turn it off in the BIOS if it's built-in on the motherboard.

Fortunately, W11 is still a ways off.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Many older PC's that don't meet the automatic Windows 11 update requirements should be able to update to Windows 11 manually:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/202...-pcs-if-you-install-the-update-manually/

Run it in a VM in VirtialBox or VMware workstation player. They are free. Win 11 preview ISO is free too. See this:

https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/install-windows-11-virtual-machine

Hi ffac and Carl,

Will the VM/Win 11 run on a PC that does not meet Win 11 hardware requirements?

I looked at Carl's link on manual install and was confused...unspecified registry changes may be necessary on an older PC.

Thanks

Gene

The host PC shouldn't matter. The VM emulates what is needed to run the guest Win11.

Yes there are ways to get Win11 to run natively on unsupported hardware. There are some registry hacks and there is 1 where take files from win 10 iso and copy them into the win 11 iso, then install. There are lots of articles and step by steps on both of these on the interwebs. But whether those will work on the final RTM version of Win11 is yet to be determined. For now, I'd stick with checking out Win 11 in a VM, since it is preview software after all.

Thanks ffac!

When life slows down (!!!!!) I will try the VM

Gene

It's funny how things turn out. The very day (Friday) we were talking about this topic, Microsoft does this:

https://www.theverge.com/22644194/m...m-system-requirements-processors-changes


TL,DR MS will allow one to install win 11 on old unsupported hardware but not by upgrade. Has to be by clean/fresh install via ISO file. Also, they do not guarantee your experience on unsupported hardware will be very good and you may not be entitled to updates, even security updates.

FYI, that still does not stop one from taking a Win 10 drive out of old PC, putting it into a new PC, and then performing the upgrade to Win 11 (if one even wants to). That saves one from having to re-install everything from scratch.

Yeah well they don't guarantee a good experience of state of the art hardware, either, so there's that....

Big question is will AC have more crashes on Win 11? Further from Win 7 we get, the more the old code is likely to have bugs.

What possible benefit is there to "upgrading" to Win 11?
Another couple of years of frustration and chasing down glitches for better 3D experience?

Freeware program downloads a Windows 11 iso to a USB drive with the option to bypass the Secure Boot and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) features not found in many older computers:

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/easeus_win11_builder.html

Everyone,

I have been keeping track of the the evolution of Windows 11 with a high interest since its announcement. I found the Windows 11 announcement particularly curious because during the Windows 10 marketing campaign we were told Window 10 would be the last operating system made by MS. Of course, those of us among the IT elite knew that announcement about Windows 10 being the last OS was mere marketing ploy when we first heard it. I truly hate marketing people some days.......

Here is my, and my various colleague's, stance on Windows 11:

-- We will deploy Windows 11 only with new PCs or with PCs that fully support Windows 11. We will not be doing upgrades - even wipe and replace upgrades - on hardware that does not fully support Windows 11
The reason for this stance is simple: We deploy technology only in fully supported scenarios. While there are a lot of (cough) "IT people" (cough) out there who like to break the rules and deploy things any old way they see fit, and while those ways may seem cheaper upfront, the number of times I've seen these unsupported scenarios blow up and cost tons of money and downtime are legion. And then the client is left staring at the IT cowboy wondering what to do next with no clear answers. Calling MS support is off the table since the configuration is not supported and when they call me I tell them that sure I can help if they agree to do things the documented way. Always remember, the only place Dirty Harry belongs is in the movies. A cop (IT cowboy) like that has no place in real life. Or in your place of business.

-- We will deploy Windows 11 only with networks that have a Windows Server 2022 Server.
While Windows 11 will clearly work on a network with a Windows Server 2019, or even 2016, domain controller and that scenario is fully supported, there will be some functionality that cannot be controlled in Windows 11 by the older domain controller. Out of all three stances, this is the one we are most likely to be flexible with since it isn't that big a deal in most cases, but we prefer to keep things uniform and I always push to make sure that at least the domain controller is on par with the latest workstation deployed at the client.

-- We have no plans to deploy Windows 11, or Windows Server 2022, until very late this year.
There are still a lot of announcements to be made about licensing and so on, I need to test Windows Server 2022 in my home Hyper-V cluster environment using the official RTM (Release To Manufacturing) bits, and there has yet to be an announcement about SQL Server 2022 so we are waiting on that. We also need time to prepare our clients for the massive change in licensing of Exchange 2022, SharePoint 2022, and so on, which is all going to a subscription model. The days of buying these various servers outright and running the same version for 10 years before someone like me comes along pulling your teeth to upgrade are almost over. The Subscription Model Cometh.

For those of you who are still on Windows Server 2012, or older, NOW is the time to get your upgrade going especially if you don't want to deal with the inevitable licensing changes coming with this new Windows Server and vendors such as AC who state they support the new Windows Server yet their support engineers sound like they've never even heard of it when you have them on the phone.

And I know there are quite a few of you out there still running Server 2012 or older. If you're current IT isn't discussing the options with you, or if you just want some different input or quotes for the sake of comparison, feel free to reach out to me. Many of you have in the past with database work and so forth and, believe it or not, I do general IT as well.

I consider November/December to be the cut-off months before I start recommending Windows Server 2022 - and by then you'll probably need to purchase downgrade rights from MS (more money) to run Windows Server 2019, anyway, so may as well move forward at that point.

Questions are always welcome. More news as it comes.

James Summerlin
Data Integration Solutions, LLC
james@dataintegrationsolutions.net
910 297 6241

Gee James....

Sounds like you actually want us to stay up to date....

What a novel idea....

Seriously, thanks for your perspective. Very useful.

Thanks

Gene

Which OS combo server/workstation will generate the least AC crashes? We ought to have some experience posted here.

@Dr. Larry Solo

The OS server/workstation combo is not what determines AC crashes as long as you are running supported software. The following can assist you with having a better AC experience:

-- Follow best practices with your server set up. That means things such as having the domain controller on its own virtual machine. Making sure you're running supported operating systems that are fully patched.

-- Having no other software on your servers other than what you need. Making sure you're running supported operating systems that are fully patched. Remove all software you don't need. If the machines came from Best Buy packed full of crap, then a wipe and re-install may be in order to get the machines clean.

-- Use the default settings when installing Amazing Charts.

-- Make sure you are using fairly new Gigabit switches in your office.

-- Test all network cables. Replace faulty ones.

-- Don't run everything over wifi. I get it, installing cables is a pain. But that is a one time pain. Dealing with apps crashing because they just can't get the bandwidth or reduced latency they need over wifi is a pain that lasts forever.

-- Use business class printers. Home printers require you to install everything including the kitchen sink just to print.

JamesNT

What printers do you recommend?
We have not had good luck recently with Brother/HP/Canon. They have all been desktop laser monochrome printers which I believe were "business class." They last about 2-4 years but maybe that's just their lifespan.

Dr. Josue,

I don't have a list of printers I recommend since these things change year after year. But here are some tips to help out.

-- If you want to print glossy reports, go with inkjet. If you care about volume, go with laser.

-- Always consider the PPP (Price Per Page) of a printer. PPP is determined by how many pages a toner cartridge is rated at and the price of the cartridge. What you'll find very quickly is the more expensive printers you've been ignoring because of sticker shock have a lower PPP and longer lifespan than the cheaper printers you've been buying.

--- Avoid all-in-one printers unless you really need all that functionality. A "workhorse" printer should be just a printer.

--- Black and white printers are your friend. Get an inkjet for the occasional glossy report, but use the black and white laser for all your every day stuff. Unless you just have to have color.

--- Lifespan of a printer is determined how many pages printed, not years of service. A printer that printed 1 million pages but lasted only 2 years had a much higher lifespan than the printer that printed 150,000 pages but lasted 4 years. So, depending on the cost of your printers, how many pages did they print? If you are printing 1,000 pages a month, that 2 - 4 years may be pretty good depending on printer price.

Happy Printing!

JamesNT

Hi James,
Thanks so much for your input. I see your point on lifespan.
It astonishes me that we have a 15-year-old hp inkjet still working alongside a Windows 2000 Dell laptop. But we print maybe 15-20 pages/month on it. Our laserjets print much more.
Also, I'm not a doctor. I help with the IT at my folks office.

@James doing all that already. Not to many crashes but a random few. Won't the old .net code designed during Win 7 be less compatible on a 3 generation newer OS?

@Dr. Solo,

.Net Framework compatibility is a non-issue. All previous versions of the .Net Framework are fully compatible on all versions of Windows. However, newer versions of the .Net Framework may not be available on older versions of Windows. Backwards compatibility exists, forward compatibility does not.

Keep in mind my advice is to maximize the reliability of applications such as Amazing Charts and others, not guarantee it. I cannot speak for the quality of third party applications.

That's a polite way of acknowledging that AC does have its issues.

JamesNT

@James appreciate the advice. For professional IT management I agree latest /greatest hardware/software after a shakeout period. My shakeout period is 1 year for Microsoft. Anything newer and we seem to be doing beta testing.

For us amateur IT managers/(doc), I'm often upgrade shy as it always bring new issues that require time to track down. Server 2012R2 has been more issue free than 2016 for me. 2012R2 limited only by Microsoft's lack of effort fixing bugs on an old platform. Based on that I haven't ventured to 2019 yet other than my home server - seems ok so maybe I'll jump to 2019 from 2012R2.

Workstations are all Win 10 fall releases usually ~6-12m old as that seems to yield least issues.

Opinions?

Dr. Solo,

If you would like assistance jumping from Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2019, you'll find my rates most reasonable. I can also get you very reasonable hardware and licensing for Windows Server 2019. For 2012R2, we are in the extended support period where only security fixes are made to the OS.

-- Mainstream Support First Five Years: Security and bug fixes.
-- Extended Support Last 5 Years: Security fixes only.

For workstations, keep them updated as much as possible since that is where end users are involved. Also, to ensure stability, make certain all line-of-business software installed is less than 5 years old. That 2009 version of Adobe Standard and copy of Office 2010 isn't doing you any favors. Lastly, make certain only the software you need is installed. Get rid of the trial version of QuickBooks and what-have-you that came with the machine if you bought it retail.

Oh, and run one AND ONLY ONE antivirus. Don't have Norton, This defender, and that Defender, and all the others installed and running at the same time.

JamesNT