Posted on 02/14/2024 5:19:59 PM PST by fireman15
Your PC without this CPU feature won’t boot Windows 11 24H2
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Windows 11 24H2 update requires the POPCNT CPU feature, making it impossible to run on super-old PCs.
Modern CPUs support POPCNT, so if you recently bought a new PC, you won't have any issues.
PCs older than fifteen years will be affected by this change and won't be able to boot Windows 11 without POPCNT support.
Windows 11 24H2 is the next big update that Microsoft will roll out later this year, and it might finally put an end to the practice of running Windows unofficially on super old PCs. The software giant seems to be in the process of updating the minimum hardware requirements, making the POPCNT (stands for Population Count) CPU feature required to be able to boot Windows 11 24H2.
All the best modern CPUs support POPCNT, so if you recently bought a new PC, it won't come in the way of booting the next version of Windows. Instead, people who are still running PCs that are more than fifteen years old will be affected by this change. Why fifteen years, you ask? Well, the POPCNT instruction was first introduced by Intel on Nehalem-based Core i7 processors, released way back in 2008. If you've PCs older than that, you're out of luck.
Bob Pony's post on the X platform indicates that Microsoft quietly made POPCNT a requirement to run Windows 11 last year. The change first arrived with Windows 11 Insider Preview build 25905, which consists of various system files requiring CPUs that are capable of executing POPCNT instructions. For example, USB XHCI drivers, which are responsible for managing USB 3.0 and later, now utilize the functionalities of the said instruction.
(Excerpt) Read more at xda-developers.com ...
“ Stay away from Microsoft products as much as possible is my professional opinion.”
*********************************************
Yep, I’ve been gradually converting all my Excel records to Apple Numbers records. It’s particularly annoying that Microsoft is trying to force you onto software SUBSCRIPTION programs. I loved Excel but not enough to be chained to Microsoft subscriptions.
The computer that I am using is only 5 years old with a modern but not approved processor. The headline made it sound like people in my situation were going to be having difficulties soon. But it was just one more article trying to enforce planned obsolescence.
Almost no one in the thread was able to figure out why I posted this. We are told by Microsoft and a bunch of hangers on that you need to buy a new computer. I personally could not care how old a computer is as long as it is capable of doing what I want it to use it for.
“the windows os on A pc I built not 5 years ago, a good box has already refused to upgrade to 11 due to some firmware garbage, I assume it’s tracking software not on the pc. Oh Well. My 10 yr old Mac keeps on trucking and updating.”
I built my Intel PC in 2014. Got a free Windows 11 upgrade last year. Runs fine.
I bought this a few months a go, Linux mint, great computer, Microsoft has gone full control, https://www.ebay.com/itm/276274872271
Finally a version of windows that doesn’t open.
I get the picture (window)...
For some reason, when I see POPCNT it makes me think of Miley Cyrus.
If you want to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11... it is very easy. It is very unlikely that your firmware has anything to do with your difficulties. If your processor is not on the list you have to install Windows 11 using other techniques.
Here is an article that probably makes it sound more difficult than it actually is. I have done several types of Windows 11 installations on older hardware and have had no difficulties.
https://www.xda-developers.com/install-windows-11-unsupported-pc/
Once I retired and no longer had to toe the tech line at work I got an Imac and never looked back.
Mine too. (Linux Mint user)
Me too, Linux Mint for many years. I really don't like Winblows but I have a dual boot system I built just so I can run certain software that doesn't run on LM. I've never been a Mac fan either even though Linux and Mac are both Unix derivatives. Nothing particularly wrong with it, it just doesn't feel intuitive to me.
After working in Winblows for a while for whatever reason then reboot back into LM I feel like a prisoner just freed from a particularly uncomfortable extra locked down prison. MS is a control freak company. When they changed the entire layout in Win10, that really irked me. Why should everyone have to relearn where everything is and what it's called. Idiocy on the part of MS IMHO.
Don't know you, but think you may be my long lost brother from another mother.
This reply comes to you courtesy of my now 12 year old AMD FX-8350 with 32GB of memory, 1TB Samsung SSD Drive and 20TB SSD RAID Array.
12 years old. Windows 10 and Ubuntu Linux 23.10 dual-boot. Runs like a scalded cat. Who needs new?
(Ok, my newest computer is an AMD Ryzen 5700X w/64Gb Memory and 20TB SSD RAID Array) which I use mostly for music production and virtualization. It runs Ubuntu 23.10 exclusively.)
So does my 14 year old Mac.
In a few years it will be old enough to drive itself!
I wish I could upgrade my Win7 computer to XP. At least my Microsoft Office 2013 runs smoothly. Google Chromium spyware complains, however.
Two words, Windows 7
U do?
You appear not to have a sense of humor.
I went Apple 3 years ago and never had another problem. Will not go back to Windows.
My professional opinion is that Microsoft has kept my portfolio above water and that everyone should buy as many Microsoft products as possible.
And these Microsoft changes don't really benefit that company. They are designed to bail out Intel, AMD, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, etc.
When Windows 11 came out, there were processors that had been released within the previous few years that did not make the approved list. The reasons were incomprehensible in some cases especially when people were immediately able to get 11 running fine on nearly all newer processors.
“ PCs older than fifteen years will be affected by this change and won’t be able to boot Windows 11”
Those aren’t going to run worth a flip anyway too old too slow.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.