As we have already detailed, Windows 11 has now been released by Microsoft and is now available as an option on all of our new computers.

For existing customers looking to update from Windows 10 to Windows 11 we have some notes and advice, the key bit being the required TPM 2.0 setting.

Our Recommended Update Route

At the time of writing (October 2021) the only way to upgrade to Windows 11 is to either buy a new computer with it pre-installed, or buy a license and install it from scratch on your existing computer (if it meets the minimum requirements).

Microsoft will release a Windows update option to let all Windows 10 customers move across to Windows 11 at some point in the future. This upgrade will be free of charge and we recommend that all of our customers wait for this and then decide whether they want to make the switch across at that time.

Waiting for the Windows update route means you will not have to pay for Windows 11, and crucially we would hope that a lot of the initial bugs will have been resolved by then, and driver support for some older hardware is more widely available.

The Best Way to Move Across Now

If you want to move across to Windows 11 sooner than this then the best route would be to backup all of your files and folders away from the PC and then perform a ‘clean’ installation of Windows 11, this means wiping your C drive clean and installing the new operating system from scratch.

Whilst this is a fairly straight forward process we would caution you that if you do go ahead and wipe your PC then any files, folders, programs, or settings which you have not backed up, or don’t have access to again will be un-recoverable by us or anyone else.

Likewise if you attempt this on un-supported hardware, or leave your computer in a non-working state then the only assistance we can offer is guidance on how to re-install Windows 10 back on to your machine.

Unfortunately any onsite support cover you may have with us is for hardware issues only, we are unable to send support out to you for any software issues. Nor can we perform the upgrade for you remotely as this must be done offline which means we have no ability to remotely connect to your machine during the update process.

For these reasons we recommend waiting for the Windows update rollout of the free Windows 11 update from Microsoft.

Does Your PC / CPU Meet the System Requirements?

There are some fairly major changes to the minimum system requirements for Windows 11 to install properly, the main requirement being a TPM 2.0 module, this is a hardware security chip which can boost system security.

Microsoft also require a minimum of an 8th generation or newer Intel CPU or an AMD Zen2 or newer processor, CPU’s older than this do not meet the minimum requirements and may not receive Windows security updates or other features.

To check what CPU you have installed in your PC the quickest way is to follow these steps:

• Right click on your Start button and then select ‘System’ from the menu
• Under the Device specifications heading should be listed your processor along with a four or five digit code, often followed by a letter.

For Intel chips the first number of the four digit code, or first two numbers of a five digit code designates the chips generation, for example a 9600K is a 9th generation chip, a 7700K is a 7th generation chip, and a 10900KF is a 10th generation chip.

Microsoft require a minimum of an 8th generation chip.

For AMD processors we only started supplying processors from the Zen 2 onwards series so if you purchased a PC from us with an AMD processor then it will meet the requirements.

TPM 2.0 Overview

All Intel processors from the 8th generation onwards, and all AMD Zen2 onward CPU’s should have a built in TPM module on the CPU, i.e. the TPM module is an integral part of your processor already meaning that you do not have to purchase one or physically install one into your PC.

The first problem is that by default the inbuilt TPM is switched off and needs to be switched back on, and this can only be done in your computers BIOS which is not something we can do remotely for you as BIOS access is offline meaning we can’t remotely access it.

The next problem is that this BIOS setting tends to be different for each different brand and series of motherboard so there is not one set of instructions which we can produce to show everyone how to switch on TPM.

Below we have put some basic instructions for common motherboards that our customers will likely be using, you must first discover exactly which motherboard model you have installed, instructions for this are below as well.

First though, you should check the status of your TPM module to see if it is active or not.

How to Check Your Systems TPM Status

The easiest way of understanding your systems TPM status is to follow these instructions:

• Click on your Start Button and type: run
• From the list that appears please select Run
• In the box next to ‘Open:’ please type: tpm.msc
• Press Enter or click OK

A Window should appear and in the middle it should show your TPM status, the lower box shows the manufacturer information and the Specification Version, ideally you are looking for 2.0 here.

How to Check Your Motherboard Make & Model

If your TPM check above says TPM cannot be found then you will need to switch it on in the system BIOS, to check your motherboard make and model please follow these steps:

• Click on your Start Button and type: run
• From the list that appears please select Run
• In the box next to ‘Open:’ please type: cmd
• Press Enter or click OK
• A black screen will appear, on this please type the following: wmic baseboard get product,Manufacturer

This will return a Manufacturer and a Product ID which is your motherboard make and model, please note these down.

How to Switch on TPM in Your BIOS – Intel CPU’s

ASUS Motherboards

• Restart your computer and repeatedly tap the delete key on your keyboard until you enter the system BIOS
• Once in the BIOS press F7 on your keyboard to enter the Advanced Mode
• Using the arrow keys move right on the top menu to Advanced
• Now move down to PCH-FW Configuration and press enter
• Change the option to Enabled using the enter key
• Now Move right on the top menu using the arrow keys to Exit
• Now select Save changes & Reset

Gigabyte Z590 Motherboards

• Restart your computer and repeatedly tap the delete key on your keyboard until you enter the system BIOS
• Once in the BIOS press F2 on your keyboard to enter the Advanced Mode
• Using the arrow keys move right on the top menu to Peripherals
• Now move down to Trusted Computing and press enter
• Change the option to Enabled using the enter key
• Now Move right on the top menu using the arrow keys to Save & Exit
• Now select Save changes & Reset

Gigabyte Z490 Motherboards

• Restart your computer and repeatedly tap the delete key on your keyboard until you enter the system BIOS
• Once in the BIOS press F2 on your keyboard to enter the Advanced Mode
• Using the arrow keys move right on the top menu to Settings
• Now move down to Miscellaneous and press enter
• Change the option for Intel Platform Trust Technology to Enabled using the enter key
• Now Move right on the top menu using the arrow keys to Save & Exit
• Now select Save changes & Reset

AS Rock Motherboards

• Restart your computer and repeatedly tap the delete key on your keyboard until you enter the system BIOS
• Once in the BIOS press F6 on your keyboard to enter the Advanced Mode
• Using the arrow keys move right on the top menu to Security
• Now move down to Intel Platform Trust Technology and press enter
• Change the option to Enabled using the enter key
• Now Move right on the top menu using the arrow keys to Exit
• Now select Save changes & Exit

How to Switch on TPM in Your BIOS – AMD CPU’s

Gigabyte Motherboards

• Restart your computer and repeatedly tap the delete key on your keyboard until you enter the system BIOS
• Once in the BIOS press F2 on your keyboard to enter the Advanced Mode
• Using the arrow keys move right on the top menu to Peripherals
• First move down to AMD CPU fTPM and switch it Enabled
• Now move down to Trusted Computing and press enter
• Change the option to Enabled using the enter key
• Now Move right on the top menu using the arrow keys to Save & Exit
• Now select Save changes & Reset

MSI (Micro-Star International) Motherboards

• Restart your PC and repeatedly tap the delete key on your keyboard until you enter the system BIOS screen
• You need to switch to Advanced mode, pressing the F7 key toggles between Advanced and EZ mode
• Now select Settings
• Then Security
• Then Trusted Computing
• Change the Security Device Support to Enable
• Double check the entry for AMD fTPM is set to AMD CPU fTPM
• Now move right on the top menu using the arrow keys to exit
• Now select Save changes and exit

Final Step

Check that your TPM module has been switched on by running the tpm.msc check again:

• Click on your Start Button and type: run
• From the list that appears please select Run
• In the box next to ‘Open:’ please type: tpm.msc
• Press Enter or click OK

Hopefully it will show a TPM module with a specification number of 2.0.

Any problems with this process just let us know and we will try to help further.

Written by Darren @ Multiple Monitors

Last Updated: October, 2021