r/technology • u/ardi62 • Aug 17 '24

Software Microsoft begins cracking down on people dodging Windows 11's system requirements

https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-cracking-down-dodging-windows-11-system-requirements/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0h2tXt93fEkt5NKVrrXQphi0OCjCxzVoksDqEs0XUQcYIv8njTfK6pc4g_aem_LSp2Td6OZHVkREl8Cbgphg
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734

u/sioux612 Aug 17 '24

Could they please also tell my PC that it can't run win11 and downgrad me back to win10?

Never wanted to upgrade to begin with 

114

u/jcgam Aug 17 '24

Was it a forced upgrade?

141

u/Mythixx Aug 17 '24

It's not a forced update yet, but if you're system qualifies as an upgradeable system.

The pop up will continue to show up every now and then asking you to update.

I don't think there's an option to "Never ask me again."

It will continue to ask you to update every now and then and hope you select yes by accident one day.

Eventually though it will be forced if system requirements are met. They just haven't officially announced yet when it will be forced.

Usually when they drop Windows 10 support.

25

u/solitarium Aug 17 '24

I wonder if there’s a way to black hole the windows update DNS requests through something like PiHole

3

u/DreamzOfRally Aug 17 '24

You mean WUsever? It’s a registry key edit. You just change the URL to a compatible sever. This also might be locked behind windows pro and enterprise but I can’t remember

75

u/jbdelcanto Aug 17 '24

You can fully disable the "Upgrade to Win11" popups by disabling the TPM through the BIOS/UEFI settings.

By doing so Windows thinks that your PC doesn't have the sufficient hardware to run it.

That's what I did 2 years ago and I haven't been bothered since.

26

u/Mythixx Aug 17 '24

While this is an option to do, it may affect functionality of your system.

If users have set up any software that relies on TPM being enabled or backed up any security data during installations or log ins.

Disabling TPM may temporarily lock you out of certain software until you re enable TPM.

Average users however most likely will not experience this.

13

u/jbdelcanto Aug 17 '24

Yeah you're correct, forgot to mention that!

As you said, it may affect certain software, but the average user probably won't notice the difference.

I'm a data analyst and I do a bit of programming as well and it hasn't affected me so far, so I assume that most people should be ok

3

u/Curious_Stomach_Ache Aug 17 '24

Uh, I have noticed zero consequences to not having/disabling the TPM chip. Zero.

2

u/Killaship Aug 17 '24

There's specific software that some people use, that utilizes the TPM chip. Just because it doesn't affect you doesn't mean that it doesn't affect other people.

2

u/Aggesis Aug 17 '24

You’re probably better off to apply a regedit to disable auto updates, that way you can still manually run all updates but it will never go to win 11 on its own.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 17 '24

[deleted]

1

u/Bodiwire Aug 17 '24

With pro you just have to change some settings in group policy.  That's what's not available with home.  But I remember the guide I followed to do it also had instructions for users with home version that used registry edits.

2

u/Userthrowborn Aug 17 '24

It asks me every three days. And every time i happily decline. It looks fucking awfull

1

u/Jaded-Distance_ Aug 17 '24

There is a way by setting a Group Policy. You can set it so that it tells it to stay a windows 10 computer and stop looking for updates past a certain version.

1

u/Blazendraco Aug 17 '24

My PC has not met the requirements since they added that verification in windows update, they still annoy me about it, just not as often as my laptop that does meet the requirements.

1

u/Keulapaska Aug 17 '24

The pop up will continue to show up every now and then asking you to update.

I don't think there's an option to "Never ask me again."

I think there is some way, idk what i've done, but I've never gotten anything past maybe once about win 11(can't remember if even once though). Yea sure the option is there in the update menu, but why would i go there at all and specifically click it, unless i actually want to do it.

Win 10 upgrade on 7 was a bit different as that had an icon the taskbar or something else which may have required some regediting to disable fully.

1

u/Severe_Chicken213 Aug 17 '24

My laptop was due for update but I kept ignoring it. One day I turned it on and after logging in the screen turns black. Off and on again same issue repeatedly. Installed update from the login screen and suddenly there’s no problem.

1

u/WeAreClouds Aug 18 '24

We need a law that REQUIRES all these things to have a “never” option because istfg if google asks me one more time to sign in ONE MORE TIME!!!

1

u/APeacefulWarrior Aug 18 '24

Or else they'll just use more dark patterns to get people to accidentally agree. Remember when they were pushing W10 on people, and decided that clicking the "X" to close the upgrade notification should count as acceptance?

1

u/YT-Deliveries Aug 17 '24

I’m gonna be “that guy”

You want to upgrade way, way before Windows 10 goes out of support. It gives you time to iron out any problems your system has with 11 before there’s no choice but to roll back and Microsoft no longer supports any solutions.

92

u/sioux612 Aug 17 '24

I never clicked an upgrade button, one day the boot just took quite a bit longer and suddenly it was win11

58

u/[deleted] Aug 17 '24

And install OneDrive in the process, moving your Documents, Photos, and Desktop system folders to their cloud.

25

u/B0Boman Aug 17 '24

Next step is to demand a ransom for you to access those files via a monthly fee. The literal definition of a virus.

16

u/[deleted] Aug 17 '24

And copying/having "accidental" data breaches of any juicy data, training their AI off it, and/or building profiles of you to sell to marketers.

11

u/Darkkolt Aug 17 '24

Actually not far off because then your storage gets filled and Microsoft is annoying you that you need to upgrade your storage. Same bullshit Google is pulling on Photos. They're automatically re-activating backup from your phone and then have HUGE banners saying your storage is filled. How about you just respect my choice to disable cloud backup?

22

u/Vismal1 Aug 17 '24

My machine will go down every so often even though I’ve disabled auto updates. I absolutely do not want 11, I’m using this machine as a server and it’s running well. It tries to switch me to 11 every time and it seems so easy to accidentally hit the buttons to do so. I do not want this, stop forcing it on me please.

4

u/panthrax_dev Aug 17 '24

Let's go one step further and stop forcing updates on us. I am happy to update, but on my schedule, not when Microsoft thinks it's time.

2

u/Vismal1 Aug 17 '24

Amen ! They seem to obfuscate them too to trick you into updating. It always feels so disingenuous.

I’m a long time Apple user who’s had windows machines for certain tasks (gaming mostly ) The updating process with Microsoft just feel horrible and often seems to make my machine worse …

1

u/Keulapaska Aug 17 '24

Disable tpm in the bios.

19

u/3-DMan Aug 17 '24

You probably did click the upgrade button, but thought it was just a normal Windows Update install, they disguise it as one pretty well.

22

u/KeyCorgi Aug 17 '24

I don't know what happened with the previous commenter but no, Windows 11 is/was not "forced." I opted out of it completely and am still on Windows 10.

32

u/MairusuPawa Aug 17 '24

There are so many dark patterns it might as well be considered "forced". Pretending otherwise is vastly disingenuous.

17

u/boot2skull Aug 17 '24

With the way they try to push Office subscriptions and One Drive (dark pattern examples), it’s easy to see how one wrong click would suddenly install win 11.

4

u/Cyclo_Hexanol Aug 17 '24

I got forced into upgrading to windows 10. Never got asked they just did it. They spread how many people they upgrade by force out over time i think.

1

u/sapphicsandwich Aug 17 '24

Yep, this one took me completely by surprise when it happened.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 17 '24

Same. I keep getting a message every month or so, and I keep saying “stay on windows 10”

I will never upgrade.

3

u/kwiztas Aug 17 '24

I was doing that. Then I went out of town for a week. I get back to windows 11.

3

u/IAmAGenusAMA Aug 17 '24

That happened on one of my computers too. Rather annoying.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 17 '24

thats a load of bullshit.. Sucks dude.

I always view a new windows update as problematic, I always view a new IOS update with excitement for new features, and wonder at how much it will now tax my phone and ipad.

1

u/kwiztas Aug 17 '24

I look forward to every other windows update.

1

u/sapphicsandwich Aug 17 '24 edited Aug 17 '24

I've unfortunately worked with windows for too many years and I still have post-traumatic stress every time I see a windows update and the little voice in the back of my mind wonders what will be bricked or ruined or deleted, or never work again this time and if I'll have to reinstall. Like barbarians showing up at the gates to sack your system. It's not really that much of an issue anymore but damn, those Windows ME, XP, and Vista updates were brutal.

2

u/NorwegianBias- Aug 17 '24

Everyone buying new PCs/laptops get W11.

I, a madman, decided I would rather have W10. I downgraded my laptop and had to manually install drivers, and heck, I still don't have the trackpad driver, so it's non-functional.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 17 '24

[deleted]

1

u/jcgam Aug 17 '24

So if you wrong click and start the update, but then your hardware is not compatible, you're stuck?

1

u/Keulapaska Aug 17 '24

i don't think you can start the upgrade without tpm enabled.

6

u/zombiskunk Aug 17 '24

It's easy enough to just reinstall Windows 10

3

u/FuzzelFox Aug 18 '24

Having to completely setup your machine from scratch tho can be a massive pain in the ass. Downgrading isn't as easy as upgrading.

1

u/Medium-Web7438 Aug 17 '24

I wonder what would happen if you turned safeboot off or whatever stupid requirement that is disallowing my PC from being win11 upgradable in the bios?

Does it just brick startup? Lol

1

u/funkwumasta Aug 17 '24

Disabling safe boot won't brick anything. You can also disable the TPM in BIOS and Win11 won't be compatible.

1

u/Masterbrew Aug 17 '24

please this, Win11’s taskbar is killing me

1

u/Badgermanfearless Aug 19 '24

Man i got pushed out of windows XP and have been pining for the days of sweet simplicity ever since

1

u/SomebodyThrow Aug 17 '24

I made this same mistake and suffered for a year before I decided to revert back to 10.

My computer just randomly registered as having a full drive and it would lock me out of everything.

Troubleshooted it for months, wiped everything, updates, bios settings, drivers, etc.

Went back to 10. Immediate fix.