Is your hardware compatible with Windows 11?
Although the new Win11 offers a number of great features and options, Microsoft has taken a fairly uncompromising approach to the system specification. The first big change is that the new OS will only run on 8th generation Intel Core (Kaby Lake Refresh) or AMD Ryzen 2000 and more recent processors. These are processors released not before 2017. A new criterion is the requirement for TPM version 2.0 - a special cryptographic processor.
What if my hardware doesn’t meet the requirements? The upgrade cannot be automated – in practice, each of the hundreds, or thousands, of computers in an organization would have to be reinstalled manually by IT. What’s more, Microsoft strongly warns against this procedure, because in the event of an upgrade on a non-compliant device, compatibility with future updates and patches is not guaranteed.
The current situation in organizations
We analyzed data from more than 25,000 computers in dozens of organizations.
Over 27% of devices will not be eligible for automatic upgrade, because they do not meet the technical requirements.
Only 73% of tested computers met the prescribed processor requirements. Almost 96% of all devices did meet the RAM requirements. Tests for TPM capability came off the worst. Only 65% of devices had the correct version – 17% had none detected at all.
The numbers show that organizations will need to combine a planned O/S upgrade with a partial hardware refresh
Organizations gearing up for Windows 11 upgrade
The survey also revealed other interesting figures.
The new OS currently runs on only 10,5% of all detected devices. Most (83,3%) of the analyzed computers are still running Windows 10. The remaining percentages were split between Windows 7 (4.2%), Windows 8 (1.5%), and Windows XP (0.5%).
The numbers suggest that organizations are only just preparing for a major system upgrade.
How can you readily find out if your hardware is fit for an automatic upgrade? You need up-to-date records of your IT assets.
Firstly, the organization needs a complete and up-to-date inventory of assets, to know exactly which computers it will update. Then, it needs information about the technical configuration of the hardware, to determine whether and which computers are ready to be upgraded.
Don’t rely on scattered asset records using spreadsheets or paper. Without up-to-date real-time information, even such a simple task as finding out the technical parameters of all your computers can take hours of work.
Most of the devices analyzed are currently still running Windows 10
A full inventory of assets is key
Microsoft has released a methodology approach using apps (InTune and CCM) to make the transition easier. However, without a comprehensive overview of assets, that can really burden IT. Most particularly, because these applications are not primarily intended as tools for asset records and do not provide all the necessary data.
How to make upgrade quickly and easily
Organizations that record their assets in specialized tools such as Asset Management will have a much easier job of scoping out and planning their upgrades.
Asset Management traces all your devices inside and outside the internal network. The tool provides you with information about configurations, software licenses, and users who use the equipment. You will get a complete register of assets within a few minutes.
With accurate data, you can easily identify any computers and servers with outdated software. Based on the data, you create an action plan for updating or decommissioning your kit. It is also easy to then calculate the expected cost of new hardware and so make the move to Windows 11 transparently clear and smooth.
Do your own audit with ALVAO
Are you already using ALVAO? We have prepared for you the option to run a quick check, whereby to find out easily and quickly from your asset records how many of your computers meet the necessary parameters and which ones will not be upgradable.
Download the Windows 11 Readiness Check Data Query
Don’t leave the upgrade to the last minute
Windows 10 support ends on October 14, 2025, but why postpone the upgrade? Not only is it inevitable and free, but you might as well take full advantage of all the benefits of this new operating system sooner rather than later. If you are being held back from upgrading by incomplete and uncharted asset records, try the 30-day free Asset Management trial or contact our ITSM experts at info@alvao.com.