Windows 11 Controversy as ‘Phony’ System Requirements Come Under Scrutiny

One of the biggest problems users have faced when it has come to Windows 11 has undoubtedly been seen in its rather terse system requirements. With even 1st-gen AMD Ryzen processors not being invited to the upgrade party (despite only being 5 years old by the way), in combination with the Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 requirements, it’s honestly hard to estimate just how many ‘current’ systems are compatible with it. Let alone, you know, how many people actually want to make the upgrade (even calling it an ‘upgrade’ is a highly debated subject in the community!).

Following a report via PCGamesN, however, Windows 11’s supposed system requirements have been brought under scrutiny (not for the first time) as the latest preview release offered to those within the ‘Insider‘ program was reportedly capable, and happily offered, to be installed on practically anything.

Yes, this includes systems that seemingly didn’t come even mildly close to meeting its so-called ‘minimum requirements’.

Windows 11 Insider Build – Sun Valley 2

Late last week Microsoft announced the preview release of what is expected to become the first major update to Windows 11 since it was released last November. Currently going under the codename ‘Sun Valley 2’, while this will predominantly look to essentially introduce new ‘quality of life’ features, there was no indication that this was set to represent the long-rumoured update that would finally see Windows 11 drop its honestly pretty high levels of hardware/system requirements.

Following various reports on social media portals, however, it seems that when this preview was released, it was offered to all Windows Insider members. – What does this mean? Well, in a nutshell, this preview version was basically capable of being installed on pretty much anything. This even included systems that didn’t have Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 enabled. The rabbit hole goes deeper though as even those who didn’t have a supposedly compatible processor were also able to install the operating system.

Everyone got it! And, as such, people have, once again, started questioning whether Microsoft’s insistence that the operating system’s minimum specifications have a purpose is really true or not! – I mean, it can’t surely be that ‘required’ if this preview version offered itself to basically anything, right?

What Does Microsoft Say?

Microsoft has confirmed that the latest Insider Build was incorrectly offered to incompatible systems and that a bug allowed it to install where, under normal circumstances, it should not have. As such, it’s hardly surprising to find that this version has since been removed.

It has, however, clearly raised the question as to if it is capable of being installed on ‘incompatible’ systems, why doesn’t Microsoft simply doesn’t drop the TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and CPU requirement stuff and just allow everyone who wants to make the upgrade do so!

Well, the short answer (albeit not an entirely convincing one) is probably security. The key features offered within Windows 11 predominantly look to fastly improve the overall system security seen in Windows 10. In this specific regard, TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot do play a key role. This also includes the processors too as they have to be capable of operating under and with these settings. – It’s complicated, but only because this new level of security is complicated.

As noted above though, this preview build release has certainly raised a lot of fresh questions as to if security really is the issue, or whether Microsoft may have another motive for wanting people to transition to newer hardware. – No, Microsoft doesn’t necessarily directly profit from hardware sales, but these system requirements would certainly help people migrate away from Windows 10 and 7 a bit faster… And, let’s face it, Microsoft has had huge problems getting people just to move away from Windows XP, and 7, let alone getting the masses to, once again, make the change from 10 to 11.

Just in case it needed to be said though, although it can be done, installing Windows 11 on an incompatible system is not recommended. – Albeit, I daresay the vast majority of you reading this are probably happy sticking with Windows 10 anyway.

What do you think? – Let us know in the comments!