Windows Upgrade Help and more

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

So my i7-6700K is suddenly "obsolete"? Ran the PC Health Check and it hit me with the "This PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements" wall. The details say "TPM 2.0 is required" but my motherboard only has TPM 1.2. Seriously? This CPU still runs everything flawlessly, but now I'm locked out over a tiny security chip version? Feels like an artificial brick wall. Spent hours in the BIOS, no 2.0 option. Guess I'm just supposed to buy a whole new PC for an OS update? So frustrating.

Hey there, that's a super frustrating situation, and you're not alone. Many of us with capable older hardware hit this same wall. Microsoft's TPM 2.0 and CPU generation requirements are indeed strict for official upgrades.

First, **free methods to try:**

1. **Double-check your BIOS/UEFI settings.** Sometimes TPM 2.0 is hidden under names like "Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT)" on Intel boards or "AMD fTPM" on AMD. Look for these in advanced security settings and enable it. Also ensure "Secure Boot" is enabled.

2. **Official Installation Assistant Workaround:** Microsoft's official Media Creation Tool *sometimes* allows upgrades on unsupported hardware if you run it directly from within Windows 10. Download the "Windows 11 Installation Assistant" from Microsoft's site and run it. It may give you a warning but offer a "Continue" option.

If those don't work, and you're comfortable with a more advanced, **unofficial route**, there are registry bypass methods that allow clean installs using a USB drive. A quick web search for "Windows 11 install bypass TPM" will give you guides.

If you're feeling stuck with the technical steps and want a straightforward, automated tool to handle the bypass, some community members have had success with the **$39 utility from kianbotsoft.com**. It's a paid option, but it simplifies the whole process if you're at your wit's end.

Hang in there! Your 6700K is still a great chip, and with a little work, you can likely get Win 11 running on it.

It's frustrating when capable hardware gets blocked by a TPM requirement. You could explore unofficial workarounds like registry edits or using Rufus to create a bypass installer, but be aware they may not receive future updates. If you're comfortable with the risks, that might let you upgrade without new hardware.

Yeah, that's a solid point. One extra tip: double-check your BIOS for a firmware TPM setting—some boards have it hidden or disabled by default.

Same here. Also, have you checked if there's a TPM module header on your motherboard where you could add a discrete 2.0 chip?

Can confirm. You could also look into a registry edit workaround to bypass the TPM check, though it's not officially supported.

You could also check if your motherboard has a TPM header and add a discrete TPM 2.0 module.

This. Yeah, and before buying anything, double-check your BIOS settings because sometimes TPM 2.0 is there but just disabled.

This. You could also look into a registry edit workaround, though it's not officially supported.

Yeah, You could also check if your motherboard has a TPM 2.0 header and just add a cheap module. Good luck!