Microsoft is finally locking out older CPUs and blocking workarounds

2024-02-17 23:00:00

It is no longer a secret that Microsoft has tightened the screws on support for Windows 11 and made significantly stricter specifications for the hardware to be used. The workarounds for older x86 CPUs are now also unsuccessful.

It is no longer a secret that Microsoft has tightened the thumbscrews when it comes to support for Windows 11 and has made significantly stricter specifications for the hardware to be used. The minimum hardware requirements set, among other things, a main processor from the official one CPU-Supportliste, at least 4 GiBytes of RAM, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot and TPM 2.0. But now the Redmond company is pulling out all the stops once once more and is now blocking additional – usually older – x86 processors from its latest operating system. The corresponding workarounds, which were previously able to easily circumvent restrictions, also remain unsuccessful from now on.

CPUs without POPCNT cannot boot Windows 11 24H2

As developer Bob Pony (@TheBobPony) and reported on the short message servicePopcount) not only advances, but also no longer allows this limitation to be easily circumvented with a workaround or bypass. If a CPU without POPCNT instructions is in the computer system, Windows 11 24H2 cannot boot.

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Windows 11 24H2: Microsoft is blocking even more CPUs

Microsoft is tightening the thumbscrews significantly once more with Windows 11 24H2 and is thus locking out further CPUs from the operating system.

The developer had previously assumed that Microsoft’s restrictions might be circumvented as usual, at least by enthusiasts with the appropriate expertise. But this is not the case,

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This means that older processors such as the Intel Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad are finally finished with Windows 11 24H2. The bypass functions via system tools such as Rufus or Ventoy will also be a thing of the past with the release of the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 and will no longer be practical. But certainly bearable for the average user.

First insurmountable requirement

Much more interesting than the venerable CPUs being locked out with Windows 11 24H2 is the fact that the POPCNT instructions appear to be the first insurmountable system requirement for Windows 11. The mandatory features TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot can easily be bypassed, but not POPCNT. Microsoft has learned.

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Those: Bob Pony via X via Tom’s Hardware


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