Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 11, has generated considerable buzz since its announcement. However, its rollout has not been without hiccups, as evidenced by recent reports of some Windows 10 users receiving upgrade prompts despite their devices not meeting the minimum requirements.
According to reports, a Twitter user by the name of PhantomOcean3 was among the first to notice the error when Windows 10 displayed a full-screen notification informing him that he could install the software on a system that only had 2GB of RAM. This issue affected certain hardware-ineligible Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices and prompted an inaccurate upgrade offer to Windows 11.
Windows 11 free upgrade being offered to unsupported Windows 10 devices/VMs?
Screenshots from a Windows 10 22H2 VM that does not meet the Windows 11 system requirements, big ones being TPM (none) and RAM (2 GB) pic.twitter.com/VNNswgMLiC
— PhantomOcean3?? (@PhantomOfEarth) February 23, 2023
In response to these reports, Microsoft issued a support document acknowledging the error and stating that the ineligible devices did not meet the minimum requirements to run Windows 11. The affected devices were unable to complete the upgrade installation process, and Microsoft resolved the issue the same day it was detected.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Microsoft has erroneously prompted some Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11. Last year, hundreds of Windows Insider beta testers were able to install the operating system, even though their machines did not meet the minimum requirements.
These incidents highlight an ongoing frustration with Windows 11. Microsoft requires that a PC feature a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) before installing the latest OS. However, there has been confusion about which PCs can run Windows 11 since Microsoft first revealed this requirement.
The latest episode further emphasizes the importance of checking a device’s compatibility before upgrading to Windows 11. While Microsoft has taken steps to address the issue, users are advised to exercise caution and ensure that their devices meet the necessary requirements before proceeding with the upgrade.
