Uncertainties about the future of Windows 11 on my old PC

Hi there!! My name is Vladimir, and back in the day, I was a member of EightForums and TenForums. I had been running Windows 10 on my old rig for over a decade, but a week ago I decided to upgrade to Windows 11 on unsupported hardware using AveYo's TPM Bypass script, which worked like a charm!!! However, I noticed that I ended up stuck on build 22621 and unable to enroll in the Insider Program through Windows Update, so I resorted to the Offline Insider Enroll method and updated to build 22635 yesterday!!! Although everything has gone well so far, I wonder how long I will continue to receive updates through the beta channel and if a future update could eventually make Windows 11 unbootable on my old rig. My PC is an Intel Q9550 2.83 GHz | 8GB DDR 1333MHz | VGA R7 450 4GB GDDR5 | 1TB SSD. Any thoughts?

Supposedly, on next major feature update build 24H2: Windows 11 24H2 goes from “unsupported” to “unbootable” on some older PCs

You may have problem installing Windows 11 version 24H2.

This can't be bypassed - if the Windows Kernel requires CPUs with SSE4.2 / SSE4A instructions set.

Such as: Sse 4.2 CPU List

Welcome to the forum, Vladimir. I run supported hardware myself so all I can do is give my opinion on what I would do if I did based on what I've observed from recent moves and announcements by MS. We have to consider that MS is MS. No one knows what they will ultimately do and there's always uncertainty, but as others said, the writing seems to be on the wall.

If I depended on only one incompatible system to be my daily driver,I certainly would not be running an insider build. Running an insider build is a risk but doing so on incompatible hardware has a more than uncertain future. If one machine was all I had and it would no longer update, I would get it to the latest stable release build that it would run and use it as long as I could. 22h2 will be supported until 10/25 and run beyond that, albeit without security updates. There are ways to prevent MS from attempting to automatically updating it to a later build.

The one thing I took to heart when I got in the Win10 Insider Program was not to use it on a Production or the only machine available as there would be changes and things may break. After Win11 came out and I got new computers, Notebook and Desktop, I relegated the IP machine to Linux Mint, working fine.

Hi @VladdyProsa and Welcome to the Windows 11 Forums. I hope this isn't your main computer. Unless your CPU supports SSE4.2 it won't be able to run any 24h2 builds. If your computer dose upgrade to a 24H2 build it won't be able to boot unless it does support SSE4.2. I would take some time to consider if you really want to use Windows 11 let alone an insider build on this computer.

If you don't have POPCNT, 24H2 won't run, period.

In general, if your unsupported processor ran Windows 10, it will run Windows 11.

Hi @Winuser I also have an old Core i3 laptop where I'll keep Windows 10 and the vast majority of my data is safe in backup!!! Also, my second SSD has a healthy Windows 10 install, so in the worst case scenario I'll just have to rearrange the disks and reinstall a bunch of stuff!!! It may sound weird but I have a sentimental attachment to my old Dell Optiplex that has served me well for the past 10 years!!! However, it's time to face the truth!!! I'll probably use Windows 11 23H2 as long as I can on it and start thinking about building a decent machine as soon as possible!!!

You can make a System Image file using Macrium Reflect or your favorite Image/Clone app. So, if Windows updates and disables your system automatically, you can restore to the previous version easily.
Other than that, Windows 10 is Supported until October 2025.

VladdyProsa said:

I have a sentimental attachment to my old Dell Optiplex that has served me well for the past 10 years!!! However, it's time to face the truth!!! I'll probably use Windows 11 23H2 as long as I can on it and start thinking about building a decent machine as soon as possible!!!

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As far as I can make out your Core 2 Quad Q9550 does not have the SSE4.2 instruction set which introduced the PopCnt instruction. It cannot run 24H2, and if you install it then it won't even be able to boot.

VladdyProsa said:

I also have an old Core i3 laptop...

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Which generation? My System Two in My Computers below has a 'previous generation' (ie, the one before 2nd gen) Core i5-520M and that one does have PopCnt - in fact I've successfully tested installing 24H2 on it.

You can use CPU-Z to see if your CPU meets 24H2's requirement for SSE4.2 (or SSE4A if it's an AMD).

VladdyProsa said:

Hi @Winuser I also have an old Core i3 laptop where I'll keep Windows 10 and the vast majority of my data is safe in backup!!! Also, my second SSD has a healthy Windows 10 install, so in the worst case scenario I'll just have to rearrange the disks and reinstall a bunch of stuff!!! It may sound weird but I have a sentimental attachment to my old Dell Optiplex that has served me well for the past 10 years!!! However, it's time to face the truth!!! I'll probably use Windows 11 23H2 as long as I can on it and start thinking about building a decent machine as soon as possible!!!

Click to expand...

It good to hear that you are prepared for the worst. There are a number computer users that wait until it's to late and we can't help them. After owning and using the computer for 10 years I can understand your sentiment. Seeing how your running a Dev build there is an expiration date. Type winver in the search box and click on the shortcut. Winver will show you the date. I never tried it so I don't know what happens if your build goes past that date.

Bree said:

Which generation? My System Two in My Computers below has a 'previous generation' (ie, the one before 2nd gen) Core i5-520M and that one does have PopCnt - in fact I've successfully tested installing 24H2 on it.

Click to expand...

I just checked it, and my Core i3 40005u has the SSE4.2 instruction set, so I'll test installing 24H2 on it this weekend!!! Anyway, it's past time for me to build a modern machine to serve me for another ten years!!! Thanks for the reply!!! :))