Although we will not know the new Windows in detail until the end of next week, thanks to the leaked ISO this week we have been able to get an idea of everything that the new OS will bring. The truth is that, for now, Windows 11 is nothing more than a Windows 10 that has gone through sheet metal and paint; the same operating system with changes to the desktop. However, it seems that Microsoft has more changes in mind, short or long term. And it is that not only will the Windows 11 desktop change, but its minimum requirements will also change.
Most of the problems installing or updating Windows are due to the large number of older computers on the market. The hardware changes at full speed, and what is today the most modern and advanced processor, in 5 years may have become obsolete and not meet security standards. Not counting the possible failures that may appear, and the absence of certain dedicated chips necessary for error prevention.
The computers that give the most problems when installing the new versions of Windows 10 are those that already have very low-end computers (ultra low-cost Chinese gears) and those that have little RAM memory, or very old and unsupported sound or network cards.
Microsoft wants to end these problems for Windows 11 . And the only way to do that is to set much higher minimum requirements to install and use this new operating system.
Trusted Platform Module and Secure Boot, the two most controversial requirements
Since January of this year, all Windows Server products require the hardware to have TPM 2.0 . Trusted Platform Module is a technology included in all modern processors, from 2016 onwards, necessary for cryptography functions to work properly. CPUs include a TPM chip used to generate, store, and limit the use of cryptography. Thanks to this chip, the data encryption and decryption functions do not consume resources on the PC.
It is not known if Microsoft wants to use this requirement to limit the use of Windows 11 to more or less old computers, or if it is because this new OS will come with BitLocker enabled by default as an additional security measure. What is certain is that, if our CPU does not have this component, we will not be able to install it. You can quickly check if your PC supports it by typing “tpm.msc” in the Windows search engine and opening the tool.
Another requirement to be able to install this OS is that our PC has UEFI and Secure Boot enabled . Secure boot is one more layer of firmware protection against the use of unwanted software on the PC, and is available on more or less modern motherboards.
Other possible Windows 11 requirements
In addition to the two previous requirements, Microsoft also intends to increase the other minimum requirements necessary to be able to use its operating system. Among others, Microsoft intends to block the installation of Windows 11 to users who have less than 64 GB of free hard disk space . This does not mean that the system will occupy that space, but rather that it aims to eliminate the many problems that appear when updating due to lack of space.
Microsoft also intends to expand the minimum RAM to be able to install the new OS. Although there are users who have managed to install Windows 11 with 512 MB of RAM in virtual machines, Microsoft is going to ask us to have at least 4 GB of RAM .
Hopefully these not-without-controversy requirements changes will fix many of the bugs in Windows 10.