Microsoft patches out single-command trick to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware

[Alfonso Maruccia]

Bottom line: Microsoft surprised the entire PC ecosystem by introducing strict hardware requirements for installing and using Windows 11. While there are various methods and tricks to bypass these restrictions, the company has now removed one of the simplest options.

The recently released Canary Build 27686 of Windows 11 contains an unwelcome surprise for those looking to run the OS on older PCs. A popular and straightforward method for installing Windows 11 on machines with unsupported hardware no longer works, although users still have several alternative options to achieve the same result.

Windows 11 Build 27686 introduces official improvements, including increasing the size limit for FAT32 file systems from 32GB to 2TB, easier HDR content access on compatible displays, and more. However, the preview OS also removes the ability to bypass system requirement checks using the "setup.exe /product server" command, which previously allowed users to install the OS on older hardware.

Microsoft has faced significant criticism for blocking Windows 11 installations on systems without a TPM 2.0 chip. While the core experience of Windows 11 isn't vastly different from Windows 10, the new hardware requirements have led many users with functional Windows 10 systems to avoid upgrading to the new OS.

The recently released Windows 11 Insider Build 27686 (Dilithium) has patched the "setup.exe /product server" workaround for bypassing the system requirements check. ð¢ pic.twitter.com/G9Q1v3O1uU

– Bob Pony (@TheBobPony) August 15, 2024

Over time, many methods have been discovered to bypass the installation requirements of Windows 11 on hardware designed for Windows 10 or even older systems. The "/product server" trick was one of the quickest and easiest, but the upcoming Windows 11 (24H2) release will likely compel resourceful users to find new ways to run the OS on unsupported machines.

Microsoft is also introducing new "hard" compatibility blocks in recent Windows 11 versions, such as the inability to run the OS on CPUs that don't support SSE4.2 instructions. SSE4.2 technology was first introduced by Intel with its Nehalem-based processors in 2008, so any x86-64 CPU manufactured after that year should still be able to load the OS if the setup process is successful.

The number of undocumented or unofficial tricks to force Windows 11 installation continues to dwindle, but Microsoft still offers certain OS editions that effectively bypass the TPM 2.0 requirement. The IoT editions of Windows appear to completely skip the hardware compatibility check, and Windows 11 LTSC 2024 can be installed on systems with less than 4GB of RAM.

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Microsoft patches out single-command trick to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware

 

[WhiteLeaff]

That must be why Linux is so much faster than Windows these days... Microsoft's priority will never be to create the most efficient OS possible.

 

[The Talking Tech]

Well it's not like someone could sue Microsoft for forcing people on upgrading hardware in order to run their latest OS... otherwise Apple would have been sued 100 times over for running the same scam with the excuse of "better security and comparability"

 

[The Talking Tech]

That must be why Linux is so much faster than Windows these days... Microsoft's priority will never be to create the most efficient OS possible.

Well for starters Linux has always been better than any other OS and not just windows... Microsoft is just learning from Apple that they can always get away by forcing people in ditching their semi-older equipment so they can sell more hardware.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

I see microsoft is really dedicated to going green, reducing waste by clearing out those warehouses of unsold systems! Good on them, all the current PCs should be thrown in landfills, so environmental!

Well for starters Linux has always been better than any other OS and not just windows... Microsoft is just learning from Apple that they can always get away by forcing people in ditching their semi-older equipment so they can sell more hardware.

Linux is entirely dependent on free software, whose labor is currently being hamstrung by groups ban-hammering core devs for wrongthink, no different then what MS does. Hell, the linux community cant even agree on a package manager.

 

[FF222]

This bypass method has already been removed a year ago in build 25977.

"setupprep /product server" still works though.

I wish tech "journalists" would make at least half-hearted attempts to verify the information they take from each other.

 

[opckieran]

Linux is entirely dependent on free software, whose labor is currently being hamstrung by groups ban-hammering core devs for wrongthink, no different then what MS does. Hell, the linux community cant even agree on a package manager.

Oh boy… I’m getting legit 2004 vibes reading this comment. Like you haven’t tried it in the past 5 years, or, you’ve only tried Ubuntu or Mint.

All major web browsers run on Linux, even Edge, without wine! That alone takes care of 97-99% of users’ workloads in 2024. Unless you have to have Offline M$ Office, or just have to play some Activision DRM crapsterpiece, Linux can run just about anything else Windows can with ease.

And at least Linux HAS built-in package managers! How’s that clunky Windows App Store working for you? Or the hit-or-miss WinGet, which, irony not lost here, currently only runs via powershell? Come on now… Flatpak and Snap have streamlined Linux app development and deployment like you wouldn’t believe! The last half-decade has been great, I promise. Even if you still have to pull a few levers and flip a couple of switches, you, and I, and everyone else here, definitely already do that with Windows anyways!

 

[brucek]

Well it's not like someone could sue Microsoft for forcing people on upgrading hardware in order to run their latest OS... otherwise Apple would have been sued 100 times over for running the same scam with the excuse of "better security and comparability"

We'll see. Of course no manufacturer owes the customer any new features, or the "latest OS". The issue if any would be defect liability for security holes left unpatched in Windows 10. As far as I know, no manufacturer has been held liable for this to date. However, Microsoft will really be pushing the boundaries on this one in ways that will be tempting to plaintiffs like never before:

- they are leaving behind hundreds of millions of devices still in active use
- those devices will be perceived by many as otherwise still perfectly useful and usable
- many of those devices were sold as coming with the last / only / perpetual version of Windows ("Win 10 is the last"), which will make it hard for Microsoft to shift blame to these customers for not buying a newer version now.
- MS will likely have provable, actual knowledge of serious defects to come (because so much shared code with Win 11+ and other still-supported products)
- MS may be perceived as having easily been able to mitigate these defects/harms, including having actual fixes already developed (see above), and having intentionally chosen to withhold them for reasons that may not be sympathetic to a judge or jury
- Every lay person now has a much greater understanding of the serious harm that unpatched Windows bugs visits not just on the device owner and the economy at large, which may affect their view on whether Microsoft's behavior is reasonable or negligent.

And yes, lawyers could try to sue Apple too, but it's all a matter of judgment and degree, and at least so far Apple devices have not been advertised as coming with the last version of an AppleOS, are causing less mayhem at least as reported in the mainstream press, and their customers seem more accepting/willing to upgrade when the device finally drops off the support list, perhaps because there is a much more obvious difference between the retired device and the new device (that last part will change for them too at some point.)

 

[kiwigraeme]

We'll see. Of course no manufacturer owes the customer any new features, or the "latest OS". The issue if any would be defect liability for security holes left unpatched in Windows 10. As far as I know, no manufacturer has been held liable for this to date. However, Microsoft will really be pushing the boundaries on this one in ways that will be tempting to plaintiffs like never before:

- they are leaving behind hundreds of millions of devices still in active use
- those devices will be perceived by many as otherwise still perfectly useful and usable
- many of those devices were sold as coming with the last / only / perpetual version of Windows ("Win 10 is the last"), which will make it hard for Microsoft to shift blame to these customers for not buying a newer version now.
- MS will likely have provable, actual knowledge of serious defects to come (because so much shared code with Win 11+ and other still-supported products)
- MS may be perceived as having easily been able to mitigate these defects/harms, including having actual fixes already developed (see above), and having intentionally chosen to withhold them for reasons that may not be sympathetic to a judge or jury
- Every lay person now has a much greater understanding of the serious harm that unpatched Windows bugs visits not just on the device owner and the economy at large, which may affect their view on whether Microsoft's behavior is reasonable or negligent.

And yes, lawyers could try to sue Apple too, but it's all a matter of judgment and degree, and at least so far Apple devices have not been advertised as coming with the last version of an AppleOS, are causing less mayhem at least as reported in the mainstream press, and their customers seem more accepting/willing to upgrade when the device finally drops off the support list, perhaps because there is a much more obvious difference between the retired device and the new device (that last part will change for them too at some point.)

some good points, not sure how liable Microsoft will be, but when they selectively hand out patches on older versions -ie to paying customers . and leave vulnerabilities easily patched it's not a good look.
Plus with PCs good enough for many people that are not hard core gamers, why would someone need to upgrade to a new PC and therefore a new windows,

Yes MS makes lots of money from it's cloud services and commercial clients. Game pass people are more likely to upgrade. I still think not pandering to your windows base is a poor decision, With advances in ARM and windows , windows could revisit phones and t have true integration between phone/PC. Not the on purpose segregation Apple has between iMac and iPad. Pus there might be another smart phone type revolution, Bigger base bigger chance.

I mean if Windows services, PC gaming can be done on Android/ARM . Then Google can go better than a chromebook or steam deck . Especially as APUs/SOCs are becoming incredible , as well as screen and battery tech .
If I was Google I would create tablets with magnetic keyboards to rule it all except Apple. Android Apps, Linux Apps , PC gaming , phone integrations. Media device .

Why the hate on Chromebooks is limited use. Those restrictions are now disappearing if Google wants it

I wouldn't be surprised if W10 is supported for a long long time

 

[noblody]

Flatpak and Snap have streamlined Linux app development and deployment like you wouldn’t believe!

I might be wrong, or the packages I used were not ok, but snap downloaded a ton of data for a program (slack for example), updates were ****, from time to time I had to run some command line to update because the snap store got permanently stuck. this persisted for years. I get it, it's free, it is fast for native programs, but it has issues that are not solved easily by non tech people. Paths change all the time from version to version. Power saving on laptops does not work that well (not their fault, but a laptop without autonomy is useless). For me, running linux on my machines is possible, but a compromise non the less. For the average person that only surfs the internet is ok, but once they need to install additional things it is not great.

 

[DekkB]

When you consistently stop giving users what they want the way Windows 11 does, there comes a point when everyone just leaves. Look at Blackberry, look at Nokia, it can happen. So who could take over? It could be linux but linux is too segmented for regular users to adopt. macOS could spawn a macPC version and rule the PC space. Or perhaps AndroidPC or a more fully rounded version of Chrome OS.
If anyone takes the challenge, they would need to hit Gaming(with AAA games), Home and Office.

 

[Uncle Al]

The ANTI-CUSTOMER approach by MicroSludge is what caused me to move to Linux and I'm glad I did! Until there is new leadership at Microsoft that understands the importance of being on the customer's side they will continue to flounder. There is simply NO reason for these restrictions unless they are conspiring with hardware makers to increase sales .....

 

[Shalimar]

This bypass method has already been removed a year ago in build 25977.

"setupprep /product server" still works though.

I wish tech "journalists" would make at least half-hearted attempts to verify the information they take from each other.

Most big these writers are NOT journalists. Such are a rarity already and most trying to claim they are such are not they are far far more commonly activists. And as for tech aspect. Dontnevebgey mandated on that

The number of dolts I've seemingly to be technicians when they are anything but is staggeringly stupid. If I had a buck for each instance I would be as rich as head not-a-tech Billy himself ffs

Not to mention the # if ***** winbloze babies that can't even turn off their system properly WO a mouse

 

[TheBigT42]

The easiest method is to create a Windows 10 installation USB media and then replace the \sources\install.wim file with the Windows 11 install.wim file.

You can also use this method for cloning a system. You can capture a WIM image of a Installed Windows system (after sysprep) and copy it to the Windows 10 install media.

 

[robert40]

That must be why Linux is so much faster than Windows these days... Microsoft's priority will never be to create the most efficient OS possible.

even for free not many people want that crap lol