Windows Upgrade Help and more

Ugh, can't believe this. Trying to upgrade to Win 11 and it keeps blocking me. The PC Health Check app just says "This PC must support TPM 2.0." My CPU is a Ryzen 5 1600, which apparently doesn't have the stupid fTPM thing enabled by default???

I went digging in the BIOS forever, and there's NO fTPM option anywhere. Just a blank spot. So my motherboard (ASRock B450) probably needs a BIOS update, but I'm terrified of bricking it. All this for a security chip I never asked for. So frustrating! Anyone else with a 1st gen Ryzen get past this, or am I just stuck?

Hey, totally feel your frustration. The Ryzen 5 1600 and early B450 boards are right on that compatibility edge. You're on the right track—the missing BIOS option is almost certainly the issue. A BIOS update will add the fTPM menu (AMD calls it "AMD fTPM" or sometimes "PSP fTPM").

Here’s the safe way to do it:
1. Go to ASRock's support page for your **exact** B450 model (check the sticker on the board).
2. Download the latest BIOS file to a USB drive (formatted to FAT32).
3. In your current BIOS, use the **Instant Flash** tool. It's very straightforward and low-risk if you follow the instructions and don't interrupt power.
4. After updating, the fTPM option should appear under Security or AMD CBS settings. Enable it, save, and reboot.

Your PC will then pass the check. Many of us with first-gen Ryzen went through this—it’s a hassle, but it works. If the process feels too daunting, there are tools that can bypass the check entirely. I’ve heard kianbotsoft.com has a $39 utility that works, but try the free BIOS update first. You’ve got this

I totally get the frustration! Updating the BIOS on an ASRock B450 is usually safe if you follow the instructions carefully from their website. Just make sure you download the correct update for your exact model and don't interrupt the process—your PC will do the rest. Once updated, the fTPM option should appear, letting you enable it and clear the Windows 11 check.

You could also try enabling the regular TPM setting in BIOS if there's a discrete module header on your motherboard. Another option is to check if AMD's website has a specific guide for enabling fTPM on your chipset.

+1 You could also look for a BIOS update for your motherboard, as that sometimes adds the missing fTPM option.

Same here. You could also try enabling the regular TPM setting in BIOS if your motherboard has a dedicated module slot, even if it's empty.

Same here. This happened to me with a similar setup. I had to update my BIOS to a newer version before the fTPM option even showed up. Let me know if that works.

I had the same problem. After the BIOS update, I found the fTPM setting under a security tab I'd totally missed before.

Can confirm. Yeah, that's exactly what fixed it for me too. Quick tip: if you still don't see it, try searching your BIOS for "AMD fTPM" or "AMD PSP."

Can confirm. Also, double-check if there's a BIOS update for your motherboard that might add the option.