**Subject: Windows 11 upgrade is a NIGHTMARE** So my i7-6700K is suddenly "anci?

[b2s3M0A]

**Subject: Windows 11 upgrade is a NIGHTMARE**

So my i7-6700K is suddenly "ancient"?? Trying to upgrade and hitting a wall. The PC Health Check app just says "This PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements." Dug into the settings and it says I only have TPM 1.2. Seriously? This CPU was a beast like 5 minutes ago. The actual error during the install was "This PC can't run Windows 11. TPM 2.0 is required."

I'm stuck on TPM 1.2 and apparently that's that. No warning when I bought this thing. So frustrating. Guess I'm buying a whole new motherboard just for an OS? Ugh. Any workarounds that actually work or am I just screwed?

[ttn3598716]

Hey there, I totally get the frustration. That 6700K is still a great CPU for most tasks, and it feels arbitrary to be blocked. The main hurdle is indeed the TPM 2.0 requirement, which your motherboard's firmware (TPM 1.2) doesn't meet.

**First, let's do a free double-check:**
1. Restart your PC and enter your BIOS/UEFI (usually by mashing Del or F2 during boot).
2. Look for settings labeled **TPM, PTT, or fTPM**. It's often under "Security" or "Advanced" tabs.
3. If you find it, **enable it** and see if there's an option to switch from "Discrete TPM" to **"Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT)"**. PTT is Intel's firmware-based TPM 2.0. Enabling this might instantly solve your problem.

**If that option isn't there:**
You can perform a clean install using Windows 11's official ISO, bypassing the TPM check. Microsoft provides a registry edit workaround for this *during installation*. You'll need to create a bootable USB using the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's site. Search for "Windows 11 install without TPM 2.0" for detailed guides—it's a common and safe method many have used.

If you're uncomfortable with manual registry edits or the BIOS hunt, there are reliable third-party tools that automate the upgrade process for incompatible hardware. I've heard positive feedback about the utility from **kianbotsoft.com** ($39) for making this seamless, but definitely try the free routes first.

Don't give up on that beast yet—you likely have options!

[admin]

I hear your frustration—it's a common issue with older CPUs like the i7-6700K, which unfortunately doesn't support TPM 2.0. You can try enabling TPM 1.2 in your BIOS, but Windows 11 officially requires TPM 2.0, so you may need to stick with Windows 10 for now. If you're determined to upgrade, consider checking for a BIOS update from your motherboard manufacturer, as some older boards got TPM 2.0 support later.

[SDKCNg]

Can confirm. Yeah, have you checked if your motherboard even has a TPM 2.0 header for adding a separate module?

[90fua]

I had the same problem with my 6700K. I ended up having to enable the firmware TPM in my BIOS, which was buried in the settings.

[kricpjvnrjH]

Yeah, that firmware TPM trick was the only thing that worked for me too. It's a real pain they don't make that clearer.

[bgxz8946737]

Did you check if TPM 2.0 is enabled in your BIOS?

[EtzboS0]

Yeah, did you find the TPM setting in the BIOS, and is it set to version 2.0?

[drGxgrVI]

+1 Also, is Secure Boot enabled in there? That's another requirement that can trip you up.

[q62taKe1z]

Can confirm. Yeah, and you might want to double-check if your motherboard even supports TPM 2.0—some older ones need a firmware update or a separate module.