Quick Facts:
- Windows 11 version 24H2 requires UEFI, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot enabled.
- Supported CPUs: Microsoft has an official list of compatible Intel and AMD processors.
- Workarounds exist for installing Windows 11 on unsupported CPUs, but limitations apply with version 24H2.
Detailed Breakdown:
Windows 11 version 24H2 requires certain specs, including UEFI, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot, along with specific CPUs from Microsoft’s official list.
However, it’s still possible to bypass these restrictions with methods like Registry edits, using Rufus/Ventoy, or running the installation command with “/product server.” This allows Windows 11 to be installed on systems not meeting the CPU criteria.
For Windows 11 version 24H2, systems with CPUs lacking the “POPCNT” (population count) feature cannot install the update. Affected models include AMD Athlon 64 X2 and Intel Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, among others. On the other hand, Intel Core i Gen 1 and newer, as well as AMD 10h or K10 and newer (e.g., Phenom, Athlon II, Turion II), are compatible.
To check if your CPU supports version 24H2:
- Open CPU-Z and look in the “Instructions” section.
- Intel CPUs need “SSE4.2” and AMD CPUs need “SSE4a” to have the POPCNT feature.
For those lacking POPCNT, Windows 11 version 23H2 remains an option.