Microsoft advises against using Windows 11 on older PCs.

For the third anniversary of Windows 11, scheduled for October 5, 2024, some users of Microsoft's operating system may well look grim. A future OS update, expected in the fall, will add a new technical requirement. Violating it will prevent the computer from booting properly.

This new obligation was discovered in mid-February by Bob Pony on X (formerly Twitter), whose findings were then taken up by XDA.

By dissecting the 24H2 version of Windows 11 (build 25905), the person noted “ that a processor with the POPCNT instruction is now mandatory “. “ Several system files require the POPCNT instruction at the CPU level, from Windows 11 kernel to USB XHCI drivers “, he noted elsewhere.

Microsoft already requires a technical minimum for Windows 11

We already knew that Microsoft has provided minimum technical requirements for installing and using Windows 11. The American company also has a utility to check the compatibility of your PC with Windows 11. This being said, even if the software giant advises against launching the 'OS on a PC not supported, workarounds exist.

The POPCNT instruction will clearly make things more difficult, but in practice, the danger for the general public is frankly limited. As XDA points out, the processors which will become tricky are those which predate Nehalem micro-architecturewhich debuted in… 2008. We are therefore talking about components that are at least 15 years old.

Unless you assume that your machine is still running on a CPU from 2008 or earlier, the arrival of this new condition will have no impact. Clearly, if your computer was purchased or assembled after this date, with components that are less than 15 years old, there is no risk. Windows 11 will work as usual after the update.

This change, since it was spotted, has attracted criticism over a certain form of planned obsolescence. Microsoft would thus push for the forced renewal of computers. Reproaches to qualify: individuals generally renew their desktop or laptop PC with a shorter frequency than these 15 years.

Other Internet users consider Microsoft's decision not at all illegitimate, citing other considerations. “ It's 2024, people shouldn't try to run a modern operating system on e-waste processors “, hit Ace on X, in response to Bob Pony.

The person concerned warned that, otherwise, “ performance will be bad, efficiency (power consumption) will be bad, and they will have security vulnerabilities. You can literally buy $100 or $200 mini PCs with modern entry-level CPUs “. Clearly, according to him, “ there is no excuse » not to renew its equipment.

Windows 11 market share today reached 28% in the Windows family.

For further