Bits of .NET

🪟 ‘This PC Can’t Run Windows 11’ on a PC That Clearly Can

A perfectly capable PC blocked from upgrading with a vague TPM 2.0 error is one of the most common Windows 11 upgrade complaints — and in a large share of cases, the PC actually HAS a TPM 2.0 chip, it’s just disabled in the BIOS/UEFI firmware by default.

🔍 Check What You Actually Have First

Win+R -> type: tpm.msc -> Enter
# Look at "Specification Version" under TPM Manufacturer Information.
# If it shows 2.0, your hardware supports it - it's just not
# currently enabled/exposed to Windows. If tpm.msc shows
# "Compatible TPM cannot be found," it may genuinely be disabled
# in firmware rather than absent, on most PCs from the last ~6 years.

✅ Fix 1: Enable TPM (Usually Called ‘PTT’ or ‘fTPM’) in BIOS

• On Intel systems, look for a setting called PTT (Platform Trust Technology) or Intel PTT.
• On AMD systems, look for fTPM (firmware TPM) or AMD PSP fTPM.
• Both are software-based TPM 2.0 implementations built into the CPU itself on most systems from the last several years — no separate hardware chip needed.

⚙️ Steps

1. Restart and enter BIOS/UEFI setup (commonly Del, F2, or F10
   during boot - varies by motherboard/laptop manufacturer).
2. Look under Security or Advanced settings for "TPM", "PTT",
   or "fTPM" and set it to Enabled.
3. Save and exit (commonly F10), then boot back into Windows.
4. Re-run tpm.msc to confirm it now shows Specification Version 2.0.
5. Re-run the Windows 11 PC Health Check app to confirm eligibility.

✅ Fix 2: Also Check Secure Boot

• Windows 11’s compatibility check requires BOTH TPM 2.0 AND UEFI Secure Boot enabled — a PC can pass the TPM check and still fail on this second requirement.
• Same BIOS/UEFI menu, usually under Boot or Security settings, labeled “Secure Boot.”

⚠️ If Your PC Genuinely Doesn’t Support It

• Microsoft’s PC Health Check app gives the specific reason for ineligibility, not just a pass/fail — run it after any BIOS changes to confirm exactly what’s still blocking, if anything.
• Bypassing the check entirely (registry edits, modified install media) is possible but unsupported by Microsoft and may affect future update eligibility — worth knowing before going that route.