Question Is it a bad idea to install Windows 11 on old PC without TPM ?

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modeonoff

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Hello, I read that Windows 11 needs TPM to make the PC more secure and the software assumes that TPM is doing its job. However, my computer is old and does not have TPM. Actually it is an old Intel Mac.

From Rufus, we can choose "Extended Windows Installation (no TPM/ no Secure Boot)" as an Image option. If I install this version of Windows 11 to this computer, will it make the computer less secure? I know the installation will work but not sure if it is better to install Windows 10 instead as the computer may be less secure running Windows 11 without TPM.
 
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When you say old, how old would the system be? Chances are the installer would prevent you from installing if the system doesn't meet the minimum system requirements.

If I install this version of Windows 11 to this computer, will it make the computer less secure?
You might want to pass on the specs to the build like so;
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

You might want to use Windows Media Creation Tools instead of Rufus.
 
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modeonoff said:
Hello, I read that Windows 11 needs TPM to make the PC more secure and the software assumes that TPM is doing its job. However, my computer is old and does not have TPM.


From Rufus, we can choose "Extended Windows Installation (no TPM/ no Secure Boot)" as an Image option. If I install this version of Windows 11 to this computer, will it make the computer less secure? I know the installation will work but not sure if it is better to install Windows 10 instead as the computer may be less secure running Windows 11 without TPM.
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How old? Specs?
What OS is on it now?

It won't make it "less secure" than it is now.

modeonoff said:
Actually it is an old Intel Mac.
Click to expand...
Why not an Apple OS?
 
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modeonoff said:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/112606

There is no problem installing Windows 11 on this computer. I have done that. I screwed up something so I need to reinstall the OS. I am trying to decide whether to install Windows 10 or 11.

I need to run Windows applications natively on this computer. I had Windows 7 installed in the past.
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Well, if you had 11 on it previously, continue on!

But for me....a 15 year old system is pretty suspect.
 
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Perhaps the question should be whether it is more secure to use Windows 10 or Windows 11 without TPM.

This is a bad time to buy a laptop. If I have a choice, I would wait until the Fall to see if there is any new Snapdragon X Elite laptop with 16-18" 4K built-in screen and is dead silent. I can't find any currently. If there is no such system in the Fall, I might get a M4 Pro/Max MacBook Pro 16" and run Windows VM. However, I need one now for work while travelling. So either revive this old MacBook Pro or just buy a M3 Pro/Mac MacBook Pro and run Windows VM.

Silicon MacBook Pro: Dead silent but cannot run Windows/Linux natively. Need lots of RAM to make the VM performs relatively well and expensive.

Windows laptops: Fan noise. Will Snapdragon X Elite equipped laptops be dead silent when driving 4K/5K displays? Can we dual boot Windows and Linux on such systems?
 
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USAFRet said:
What specific Windows software will be used?

Is Linux an option?
Click to expand...

No. CAD software and Borland C++ Builder.

I tried to make this computer dual-boot Windows and Linux. In the past, Linux worked fine on this computer. Not sure the reason but the latest version of Ubuntu halted all the time after login. Tried Pop OS and it halted during installation. Tried several times already.

For this trip, Windows OS alone is sufficient for my work but if Windows 11 without TPM makes the system less secure, it is a concern.
 
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modeonoff said:
No. CAD software and Borland C++ Builder.
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Have you run this CAD software on this particular system?

From the specs, 4 or 8GB RAM is pretty thin for CAD applications.
I had to bump up to 64GB for my CAD uses.

Lastly, since this is a 'work system', why isn't a new one a business expense, or supplied by your employer?

Win 10 is still fully supported until Oct 2025. I would hope there is a new system for you between now and then.
 
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It depends on whether the Boot Camp drivers for your system still work on Win11. Apple have made it such that some older models won’t even support Win10 (mostly pre-2011).

So you’re dealing with two levels of missing official support (Apple and Microsoft). Personally I wouldn’t be doing this for doing mission critical work.

Edit: Bootcamp OS link https://support.apple.com/en-au/102622
 
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No problem running CAD software on this system under Windows 7. I have 8GB. I just need to decide what to use to get through between now and the Fall. I seldom use this computer as I mainly use desktop Windows PC the past few years. It is for personal work. I need the system to be secure because I will use it to do on-line banking while in other countries. In this case, is it better to go back to Windows 10?

Speaking of Boot Camp. Windows 11 installed fine on this computer. Just no bluetooth, right click on trackpad nor sound. I installed Boot Camp. There was no problem during installation but as I recall, system halted sometimes. I reinstalled Windows 11 again and individually installed audio driver. I got sound. I added a USB bluetooth dongle and problem solved.
 
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modeonoff said:
No problem running CAD software on this system under Windows 7. I have 8GB. I just need to decide what to use to get through between now and the Fall. It is for personal work. I need the system to be secure because I will use it to do on-line banking while in other countries. In this case, is it better to go back to Windows 10?

Speaking of Boot Camp. Windows 11 installed fine on this computer. Just no bluetooth, right click on trackpad nor sound. I installed Boot Camp. There was no problem during installation but as I recall, system halted sometimes. I reinstalled Windows 11 again and individually installed audio driver. I got sound. I added a USB bluetooth dongle and problem solved.
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If it is to be replaced within the next 16 months, I would just put Win 10 on it.
 
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NedSmelly said:
I would not use this computer to do online banking… or online anything. Even with its supported version on MacOS (very out of date). Use your phone instead. Assuming that’s a recent one.
Click to expand...

I considered that but when the bank's system detected that I was using a phone, it decided to provide less information or at least not laying out everything as clearly as if I were using a computer. How come less details are shown when using a smart phone?
 
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Just tried to install Windows 10 on this computer. For unknown reason, after Windows Update and reboot, a big blue Windows logo (four blue rectangles) showed up. Pressing any key did not result in the login screen. I had to perform a forced reboot. Could login but when tried to preform another Windows Update, same thing happened. Three times in a row already. Perhaps Windows 10 does not work on this computer reliably. Strange thing is there was no such problem installing Windows 11 and doing Windows Update on this computer. Is this normal?
 
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For unknown reason, Windows 10 and Linux don't work on this computer. If I install Windows 11 and security software like Bitdefender, will it still be less secure or the combo is as good as Windows 11 with TPM?
 
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modeonoff said:
I tried to make this computer dual-boot Windows and Linux. In the past, Linux worked fine on this computer. Not sure the reason but the latest version of Ubuntu halted all the time after login. Tried Pop OS and it halted during installation. Tried several times already.
Click to expand...
Shot in the dark here, but - Perhaps you try to run/install Linux on a windows partition (exfat or ntfs)? This is not recommended, you should always install Linux on a partition natively supported by Linux, like ext4.
 
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No reason why most W10 machines cannot run W11, with the same or in some cases better performance. TPM2 is supposed to be for security, but in most peoples eyes, used as a an excuse by Microsoft and OEMs to force hardware refresh and boost profits. If TPM1.2 is not secure, then why hasn't Microsoft enforced it for W10 that is still supported, just BS !
 
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One issue that comes to mind with Windows 11, is at anytime MS can decide arbitrarily to not support updates on a non-conforming machine. If possible I would try Windows 10 again; at least if it works you know it will be properly updated until October 2025. Another idea is to pickup a used T148 Thinkpad. You can find them on eBay for around $250, the memory and SSD are upgradable, they have Windows 10 Pro license in the Bios and are Window 11 compliant (you can download the OEM Windows 10 OS from the Lenovo website), so they will update to Windows 11 if you prefer.
 
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