Avast ye, mateys! Beware, for soon some decrepit PCs shall lose the backing of Windows 11, arrr!
2024-02-13
Arrr, me hearties! 'Tis high time fer ye to consider an upgrade, fer Windows 11 be a stubborn matey that won't set sail on them ancient processors. Avast ye, lest ye be stuck in Davy Jones' locker!
Windows 11 has faced compatibility issues since its launch, and now even more computers will be left out in the cold with the upcoming version 24H2 update. The update, rumored to launch in September 2024, will no longer boot on computers with very old processors that don't support the POPCNT instruction. The tweet from Twitter user Bob Pony states that many system files in Windows 11 require the POPCNT CPU instruction, meaning that processors without it won't be able to run the operating system.POPCNT became standard in CPUs starting from the mid-2000s, so PCs manufactured in the past 15 years should not be affected. It also shouldn't affect modern PCs that are unsupported by Windows 11, meaning those who have found workarounds will still be able to run the operating system post-update.
While this update may be user-unfriendly for those with older processors, it makes sense from Microsoft's perspective to ensure that Windows 11 runs smoothly on newer machines. The 24H2 update will focus on next-gen AI experiences, performance and security updates, and new features. Spec requirements need to be up to par to ensure these features work as intended, especially as Microsoft expands Copilot support to enhance the Windows interface.
Although the growing emphasis on AI features and tools may be off-putting to some, it is worth noting that Microsoft is solely focusing on updating Windows 11 and not switching to a whole new OS like Windows 12. This move avoids further dividing the already heavily divided user base that overwhelmingly supports Windows 10.