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Microsoft watermarks Windows 11 on unsupported hardware

22.3.2022

Translation: machine translated

With tricks, Windows 11 can be installed on PCs that do not meet Microsoft's system requirements. On many systems, the OS runs without problems. Microsoft now indicates unsupported hardware with a watermark.

The system requirements of Windows 11 are defined by Microsoft in such a way that many PCs do not meet them due to a missing TPM module or a processor that is "too old". Nevertheless, the operating system can be installed on them with tricks. The use has been possible without restrictions so far, even though Microsoft itself advises against it because problems could occur. However, such PCs now receive a desktop watermark with an update.

The watermark contains the text: "System requirements not met. Go to Settings to learn more". This is reminiscent of the notice of an unactivated Windows. However, the lettering is kept a bit less prominent. Nevertheless, it will remind users consciously or unconsciously every day that Windows 11 is not actually intended for the device by the manufacturer.

«Systemanforderungen nicht erfüllt. Gehe zu den Einstellungen, um mehr zu erfahren.»

Microsoft has just included the new watermark in the Release Preview. It should therefore be released to all Windows 11 users in the coming days. It's quite possible that a workaround will be found by then to deactivate the new "feature" in the registry. Apart from that, no further restrictions seem to be planned for the time being. Nevertheless, Microsoft reserves the right to impose such restrictions on unsupported hardware in the future - up to the potential refusal of updates.

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Martin Jud

Senior Editor

martin.jud@digitecgalaxus.ch

I find my muse in everything. When I don’t, I draw inspiration from daydreaming. After all, if you dream, you don’t sleep through life.

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