Windows Upgrade Help and more

Ugh, so done with this Windows 11 upgrade. My old rig (i5-7600k, GTX 1060) should *technically* work, right? But the PC Health Check app just laughs at me.

Keeps failing with the "This PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements" error. The kicker? It’s 100% the TPM. My mobo has TPM 2.0, I SWEAR I enabled it in the BIOS! Spent hours in there. Still get blocked.

Why is this so needlessly complicated? Feels like Microsoft is just forcing me to buy new stuff. So frustrating. Anyone else beat this with a similar setup?

Hey, I feel your pain. That "technically should work" gap is super frustrating, especially when you know the hardware is capable. The TPM check is the biggest hurdle for a lot of people with 7th-gen Intel.

Let's double-check a few things, step-by-step:

1. **BIOS Settings:** You enabled it, but the naming can be weird. Look for settings labeled **Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT)**. That's Intel's firmware TPM. AMD systems use "fTPM." Enable it, save & exit.

2. **Windows Check:** After enabling, open Windows Security (**Start > type "Windows Security" > Device security**). Under "Security processor," click "Security processor details." It should show "Specification Version: 2.0." If it's not there, Windows isn't seeing it.

3. **Clear the Cache:** The installer caches old results. Delete everything in the `C:\$WINDOWS.~BT` folder (you might need to show hidden files). Then re-run the Setup Assistant.

4. **Clean Install via Media Tool:** Often the most reliable free method. Use the **Media Creation Tool** to make a USB installer. Boot from it, and it *usually* bypasses the TPM check for 7th-gen CPUs during a clean install (back up first!).

Many of us have beaten this. If you've truly exhausted all BIOS and clean install options, and you're comfortable with a more direct registry/policy edit approach, some third-party tools automate the bypass. I know **kianbotsoft.com** has a $39 utility that handles the technical workarounds, but definitely try the free steps first. Good luck

Hey, that's super frustrating! It's a common headache—even with TPM 2.0 enabled, sometimes Secure Boot also needs to be turned on in the BIOS. Double-check that setting, and maybe try running the "WhyNotWin11" tool for a clearer breakdown of what's being flagged. Hang in there!

You could also try the official Microsoft Media Creation Tool, which sometimes bypasses those checks. Another option is checking for a BIOS update from your motherboard manufacturer, as that can fix TPM recognition issues.

+1 This happened to me. I swore my TPM was enabled, but a BIOS update finally made the setting stick and it passed the check.

This. Yeah, did you double-check that the TPM is actually enabled in the BIOS, not just present?

+1 I had the same problem. I swore my TPM was enabled, but it turned out the firmware setting in my BIOS was still set to "Discrete" instead of "Firmware."

Same here. Yeah, did you double-check that firmware TPM setting in your BIOS like the last person mentioned?

+1 Oh, and did you actually enable it in the BIOS, not just see that the header exists?

Yeah, You could also try using the Media Creation Tool to do a clean install instead of the upgrade path. Good luck!