Since its launch, Windows 11 has been marked by strict hardware requirements, preventing many users from upgrading their machines. Today, Microsoft is going one step further by blocking updates on PCs that have managed to bypass these initial restrictions. This policy fuels the debate on programmed obsolescence and Microsoft’s real desire to make its system accessible to all.
Microsoft imposes new limitations on Windows 11 updates
Microsoft continues to tighten its control over Windows 11 updates, imposing new restrictions that directly affect users of PCs deemed “non-compatible”. While Windows 10 had already been subject to progressive limitations, it’s now Windows 11’s turn to be subject to stricter blocking.
A recent screenshot (see below) illustrates this policy: an alert message clearly states that “the end of support for your version of Windows has arrived”, implying that the device concerned will no longer be able to receive the updates essential to its security and proper operation. This message applies not only to older versions of Windows, but also to recent installations of Windows 11 on PCs not certified by Microsoft.
Since its launch, Windows 11 has imposed precise technical criteria, including :
- Intel processor 8th generation or higher or Ryzen 2000 and higher
- The mandatory presence of a TPM 2.0 module
- Secure Boot support
Until now, some users had found ways around these restrictions, by installing Windows 11 on older hardware. However, Microsoft seems to have decided to block these configurations by preventing access to feature updates and security patches.
After imposing a watermark on non-compatible PCs running Windows 11, Microsoft is taking the next step by restricting access to system updates.
Affected users now have just a few options: stay on Windows 11 without updates, switch back to Windows 10 while its support is maintained, or explore alternative solutions like Wubuntu.
Millions of working PCs pushed towards obsolescence
The imposition of strict hardware criteria for Windows 11 and the recent blocking of updates on non-compliant PCs have had a direct impact on a large number of users. Millions of perfectly functional machines are now deprived of software upgrades and security patches, artificially accelerating their obsolescence.
This phenomenon particularly affects home users and small businesses, who don’t renew their hardware as frequently as larger organizations. A PC equipped with a 7th-generation Intel processor or a Ryzen 1000 that is still capable of performing office and multimedia tasks is now excluded from updates, even though it can run Windows 11 without any noticeable problems.
This situation poses both environmental and economic problems. Forcing the replacement of working computers contributes to an increase in electronic waste, and forces users to invest in new equipment when their real need does not necessarily justify it. Such a policy seems to respond more to commercial issues than to any real technical necessity, by driving the purchase of new PCs rather than extending the lifespan of existing equipment.
While Microsoft argues that stability and security are important, these restrictions appear to be an indirect strategy of programmed obsolescence, in which software becomes the main lever for forced hardware renewal.
Secure Boot and TPM 2.0: of little use to home users
Since the arrival of Windows 11, Microsoft has made Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) essential prerequisites for system installation and updates. Officially, these technologies are presented as enhanced security measures. But in reality, their relevance varies greatly depending on the context of use. While these requirements are essential for the enterprise, they are largely unnecessary for the majority of home users.
For the average user, these requirements have a negligible impact on day-to-day security. Rootkits affecting firmware are extremely rare on consumer machines, and most attacks target browsers and software via more conventional malware. As for disk encryption, it is rarely essential for the home user, and can even pose a problem if recovery keys are lost, unnecessarily complicating access to personal files.
Microsoft’s imposition of these restrictions brings no significant benefit to home users, but contributes to artificially limiting the compatibility of Windows 11 with hardware that is still performing well. This policy is forcing many home users to renew their equipment, not out of technical necessity, but because of arbitrary software constraints. Behind the security argument, it is above all a commercial strategy that is taking shape, where programmed obsolescence is now achieved through software rather than hardware degradation.
Why should a PC that runs Windows 11 perfectly be sidelined?
Should a computer capable of running Windows 11 without any slowdowns or particular problems be excluded from updates on the grounds that it does not meet certain technical criteria imposed by Microsoft? This may seem an absurd question, but it lies at the heart of a policy that deprives millions of users of normal access to updates to the operating system.
Here, we’re not talking about a simple phasing-out of support, as we might see with an obsolete version of Windows, but a deliberately imposed restriction. It’s not the system’s performance or stability that is at issue, but technical criteria defined by Microsoft, such as the presence of a TPM 2.0 module, Secure Boot or an officially certified processor.
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