Windows 11 not supported for the Intel core i7-7600U @ 2.80 Ghz. Why ?

[BWE1]

Hello, 

I would like to understand why the Intel processor " Intel Core i7-7600U CPU @ 2.80 Ghz is not supported for Windows 11 ? 

It has a TPM 2.0 enable 

It has at least 4 GB RAM ( I have 16 GB RAM)

The C has a secure boot

The processor has 2 or more core 

And despite this is not listed as able to support Windows 11 when odler processors are. 

What characteristics are missing here for this processor to be eligible for Windows 11 ? 

I have a DELL Latitude 7480

Many thanks if I could have some explanations. 

[AlHill · Accepted solution]

Microsoft can explain it to you.  It was their decision to exclude your processor.

Now, if you want to run W11, just use option 1 in this link:

https://community.intel.com/t5/Mobile-and-Desktop-Processors/Processors-TPM-and-Windows-11-24H2/m-p/1647361#M79106

Doc (not an Intel employee or contractor)
[AI is the same as snake-oil]

[BWE1]

Many thanks for this suggestion, I will try it soon.

Best regards

[n_scott_pearson]

To be specific, Microsoft required that compatible Intel processors have the following:

(I admit, this was blatantly sucked from an AI summary page)

1. TPM 2.0: This is a security chip that stores cryptographic keys and is essential for features like BitLocker encryption and Windows Hello.
2. Virtualization-based security (VBS): This feature uses virtualization to isolate security-sensitive processes, making them harder for malware to access. Only Intel's 8th gen and later processors support this feature (and, BTW, for AMD, it was Zen 2 and later processors that supported this feature).
3. Secure Boot: This ensures the computer starts up using only trusted software, preventing malware from loading during the boot process.
4. Intel Boot Guard: This feature protects against unauthorized code execution during the boot process. 
5. Hardware-level protections against Spectre and Meltdown: 8th gen processors and newer have hardware-level mitigations for these vulnerabilities, which were prevalent in older processors. 

Bottom line, your processor fails because it does not meet issues 2 and 5.

Now, all this said, you can still use Windows 11, albeit without formal support from Microsoft and albeit without the security benefits Microsoft was going for, on processors that didn't have these features. You can follow Doc's instructions for doing this upgrade.

Hope this help,

...S