Would update actually know whether a PC is " authorized" or not?

krasnejv · Feb 17, 2022

So apparently MS has stated that, at some time in the future, they will no longer supply updates to machines that don't meet their draconian specs for installation.

Microsoft Will Disable Updates on Unsupported Windows 11 Installs

Microsoft Will Disable Updates on Unsupported Windows 11 Installs

My question is, would update actually know whether a PC is " authorized" or not? There are already thousands of unauthorized PC's running W11 just fine, and (to this point) receiving updates. Would MS do some kind of checking of the hardware in the future before allowing an update?

I'm kind of hesitant about "upgrading" and then at some point down the road not being able to get security updates. The way MS is handling this whole process, with the only-10-day rollback period, the hardware requirements, and the 202X cutoff for W10 support, seems like some kind of sick joke.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Archigos · Feb 17, 2022

From what I've read, they are already disabling updates for certain machines that don't fit the requirements. When Windows Updates grabs the update, it re-checks the hardware and throws an error if/when it doesn't match. However, I've also heard that for the updates that currently check, you can just re-download the latest ISO directly from Microsoft and do the standard way of bypassing the check in installation.

krasnejv · Feb 17, 2022

Archigos, thank you for the prompt reply. I currently have W11 installed on my oldest (Toshiba) laptop which has an unsupported CPU and no TPM. So far it is receiving automatic updates just fine. It is the uncertainty of future updates that is keeping me from going to W11 on my other laptop and my desktop, which are more important to me (both unsupported). I personally haven't seen that they are disabling updates as of yet. I guess I'll keep monitoring the Toshiba and keep W10 until its end of life and I'm forced to make a decision. I suspect that thousands of other people are in the same situation.

Archigos · Feb 17, 2022

If I remember correctly, the updates that currently re-check are on the Insider's Build track, not the one that normal users would have, so it'll be a while before that happens (if at all).

sgage · Feb 17, 2022

My computer does not meet the CPU requirement for full compliance - I have a 7th gen, and 8th gen is the standard. I have TPM and SB and all. I have received every update so far.

In the link the OP posted, which was old news (Aug 21), MS reserves the right to stop providing updates to 'non-compliant' machines. Whether and when they do is anyone's guess, and whether they'll change any 'requirements' is also a question mark. I guess I keep hoping they'll eventually qualify 7th gen CPU's. No biggie for me - I dual boot Win10 and Win11 and keep them both fully updated. If they cut me off from updates, I'll just go back to Win10, which I tend to spend more time in anyway.

sgage · Feb 17, 2022

Archigos said:
From what I've read, they are already disabling updates for certain machines that don't fit the requirements. When Windows Updates grabs the update, it re-checks the hardware and throws an error if/when it doesn't match. However, I've also heard that for the updates that currently check, you can just re-download the latest ISO directly from Microsoft and do the standard way of bypassing the check in installation.

Do you have a link? I have not heard of any non-compliant computer running Win11 being denied updates so far...

sgage · Feb 17, 2022

krasnejv said:
So apparently MS has stated that, at some time in the future, they will no longer supply updates to machines that don't meet their draconian specs for installation.

Microsoft Will Disable Updates on Unsupported Windows 11 Installs
Microsoft Will Disable Updates on Unsupported Windows 11 Installs

My question is, would update actually know whether a PC is " authorized" or not? There are already thousands of unauthorized PC's running W11 just fine, and (to this point) receiving updates. Would MS do some kind of checking of the hardware in the future before allowing an update?

I'm kind of hesitant about "upgrading" and then at some point down the road not being able to get security updates. The way MS is handling this whole process, with the only-10-day rollback period, the hardware requirements, and the 202X cutoff for W10 support, seems like some kind of sick joke.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Update absolutely knows if a given machine 'qualifies' or not - it says so on my Win10 install Update page. They will do what they want with that info, but there is no question that they know the capabilities of the machine.

Archigos · Feb 17, 2022

I don't have a link, I was on another forum and someone that claimed to be on the Insider (or Dev) builds said that in the release notes to a recent update stated it would check requirements. I'm unsure if this is true, but they seemed to be a well-known user so I have no reason to doubt what they were saying.

Scott · Feb 17, 2022

krasnejv said:
with the only-10-day rollback period

The rollback period is unlimited if you create a image backup of your Windows 10 install.

Bree · Feb 17, 2022

krasnejv said:
So apparently MS has stated that, at some time in the future, they will no longer supply updates to machines that don't meet their draconian specs for installation.

Microsoft Will Disable Updates on Unsupported Windows 11 Installs

That article states that it was "published August 30, 2021". It's now nearly six months later - and they haven't done so yet. MS do however reserve the right to do so, but so far unsupported devices have had all the updates.

My question is, would update actually know whether a PC is " authorized" or not?

An update doesn't need to run any checks. The results of the initial assessment that triggered that red warning in Windows 10's Settings saying ''this PC can't run Windows 11" are held in this registry key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\CompatMarkers\CO21H2

krasnejv · Feb 17, 2022

"An update doesn't need to run any checks. The results of the initial assessment that triggered that red warning in Windows 10's Settings saying ''this PC can't run Windows 11" are held in this registry key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\CompatMarkers\CO21H2"

So (theoretically at least) changing values in that registry key could remove the warning, right?

bronskimac · Feb 18, 2022

If you download the updates manually then apply them, do they still do the check on the hardware or is it a part of the automatic update process? Not as good as automatic updates, but possibly a workaround.

glasskuter · Feb 18, 2022

It is just my personal opinion and opinions are worthless but I think they will cut off updates eventually. It has been reported they have shut down insiders from using 11 on unsupported machines and their insiders are who the ones who do their testing for them. They may cut off your updates but probably won't keep you from continuing to run 11 as they have for some insiders. The truth is we won't know what they're planning until they actually do it. MS knows exactly which machines are unsupported and their sketchy response last year has left the door open for whatever they decide to do. The fact they put such restrictions on 11 in the first place tells me they're pretty serious about this security issue and they were prepared to alienate much of their customer base by doing so.

Since 10 will be supported for 3 1/2 more years, I can't see why anyone on unsupported hardware is concerned about it. 10 is the most solid and well organized OS MS has ever built, much more so than 11. If you don't get updates, re-install 10 and keep trucking or continue to run 11 without updates. Anyone installing 11 on a unsupported device takes a gamble and MS is the dealer.

davehc · Feb 18, 2022

As above! Also my personal opinion.
Microsoft offered a bypass themselves, for those willing to take the risk. Their only proviso was that you may not receive updates in the future. There was no mention OS's being crippled in anyway.
Having sent out their own hack, they would, as a legal minimum, have to give a very early warning to users who had taken that path.
By then, those users could well have installed their own software. Suddenly creating access to the OS , worst case, could result in financial implications for them, never mind the game players etc., who would be only embarrassed of handicapped by such an occurrence. Keeping an image going would, f course, circumvent that small problem
For most of us (I am one, on a couple of computers) the loss of updates alone, is an insignificant issue. I read, also on Microsoft Pages, that you can, if needed, continue to download and install these manually.
If anyone wants to plough through the various ambiguous ms links, relating to this, try starting here:

Ways to install Windows 11 - Microsoft Support

Learn how to install Windows 11, including the recommended option of visiting the Windows Update page in Settings.

support.microsoft.com

jbcarreon123 · Feb 18, 2022

As of today, MS does not disabled the updates on incompatible machines.

That may change in the next CU.

We discussed it on this thread:

Let's install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware

Inspired on this thread: Let's run Win10 on really really old hardware - Windows 10 Help Forums Most of our machines are unsupported on Windows 11, why not force it? --------- Run Windows 11 on unsupported machines --------- 1. How to Bypass Windows 11's TPM, CPU and RAM Requirements 2...

www.elevenforum.com

davehc · Feb 19, 2022

"As of today, MS does not disabled the updates on incompatible machines."

That's good news for me. Where did you read that+ Any links.........?

I don't see any reference to it in the thread you link?? But I confess I do not have the patience to wade through 38 posts.

clam1952 · Feb 19, 2022

Nothing has been said officially by Microsoft and I doubt it ever will be, it's all based on user experience, as in those using unsupported hardware are currently getting updates. What happens in the future is unknown until we get there. :wink:

davehc · Feb 19, 2022

Lol. So nothing new

obelix · Feb 19, 2022

It doesn't matter if you opened a microsoft account in 2012 and bought a key for say 12 euros and installed windows, you will always have a digital license for that computer, even if today 2022 you install windows 11 on the SAME COMPUTER and still have updates.

ThrashZone · Feb 19, 2022

Hi,
I just updated 11 yesterday on a non-compliant install I haven't used since I upgraded it 2-3 months ago.

No gpt disk/ no uefi only boot/ no secure boot/ no active tpm
It updated fine although the system could be all those things I choose not to do an install as such likely never will.

I do not use insider/ developer builds never will.