Microsoft allows Windows 11 to be installed on older, unsupported hardware but specifically nixes official support — minimum requirements for full compatibility remain unchanged
When installing on unsupported hardware, Microsoft will push a small disclaimer that effectively cancels your warranty in case of compatibility-related mishaps.
In case you didn't know, your Windows license allows you to contact Microsoft directly for support if you are having issues. (Just be sure its an actual Windows issue and not a software/hardware issue)
This will effectively end that support for your device.
The only thing I can see this affecting is the Secure-boot requirement.
Which is very odd to consider that anything compatibility related would likely have nothing to do with secure boot, and everything to do with Windows being Windows.
So, most windows installations come with an OEM key because it came pre-installed. OEM keys, last I knew, don't have this support, because the manufacturer is responsible for that.
If you bought a lenovo laptop, its on lenovo.
But anyone has been able to buy windows directly with a standard license key and windows supports those computers directly. I've never bothered to use it but I worked with people who did and (again, last I knew, some 10+ years ago) they got someone with a thick accent reading from some support article who didn't know what they were about.
What is the point in an official upgrade if it is unsupported? Seems like a way to trick people into an upgrade so they can start nagging users to throw away their hardware and get a new computer.
So glad I don't have to worry about this bullshit on my 11+ year old computer that is perfectly fine running Linux without any major issue or lack of support.
Security updates, mostly. If you're running an old Windows install on a computer connected to the internet, it's only a matter if time until it gets comprom byised.
When installing on unsupported hardware, Microsoft will push a small disclaimer that effectively cancels your warranty in case of compatibility-related mishaps. Likewise, you won't be entitled to receiving updates - including security updates - so we're back to square one.
What is the point in upgrading if you wont get security upgrades either way. Just more spyware and ads in the newer version.
I have a 4770/1060 machine. When windows 10 support is gone I'll be swapping over to Linux mint. I can assure you, I won't hesitate. The only reason I haven't swapped that machine is it'sy spare under the TV kids computer. And it's 6TB of games would need to be tweaked and I can't be assed to do it yet.
My partner was on a Windows 11-compatible machine running Win 10. She doesn't keep up to date on computer stuff, and when prompted to upgrade to Win 11 she did, thinking it would be an upgrade. She hated it, and now she is running Linux Mint.
Thats hilarious and accurate to what I've been seeing elsewhere. Non-techies jump to windows 11, notice half their custom settings are gone and it's harder to find their stuff, then get furious and want to get off of windows.
What’s the point in installing Windows 11, which potentially won’t work or may cause problems - and which will not be supported with security updates over a working Windows 10 installation, which is also unsupported after October 2025?
Also thank fuck I'm not in my company's IT department. Like really? Busy with engineering parameters and getting parts drawn up and ready for procurement? How about a little Windows update? Its just going to take a few Microsoft minutes.... 2seconds to be exact, 3 hrs actually, 25 days, 23 seconds, 7:15! , 4 years exactly, 19hrs, 256368468 microseconds!....were almost there! You're not on your first ow two planned work from home days are you? Admim password please! Oh hey, don't shut down the computer!
Updates on Linux are painless, I install them and keep working, and even when it's done, I save and reboot, then back to work. I can even check what services were impacted and restart those instead of rebooting.
I don't underhand why Windows and macOS overcomplicate things. I run a rolling release distribution (Tumbleweed) and things have been smooth for years. But even release based distributions are way simpler to upgrade than either Windows or macOS.
I'm dealing with a fair bit of this because my predecessor had the brilliant idea to put windows 11 on unsupported hardware (which I'm actively working on getting replaced). Every time I think I've found the last stupid thing they did, I find more janky shit like that.
I tried. It got worse because there was a crack in the plastic. Now I got Windows on my desk and it's spilling on the floor. Scotch tape won't hold much longer!