A new requirement has been introduced in the Windows 11 24H2 update, which will prevent its installation on older devices. We specifically addressed the issue of low-impact computers, including systems with processors lacking POPCNT instructions. It's worth noting that these instructions were first integrated into AMD processors with the K10 architecture in 2007, and in the case of Intel, they were introduced with the first generation of Intel Core processors built on Nehalem.
Microsoft's new requirement for installing Windows 11
The matter involves the exclusion of previous generations of processors that were once highly popular, such as Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad. For AMD, the impact appears less severe as it primarily affects processors from the first-generation Phenom series. Essentially, this move by Microsoft is entirely natural, as it seems illogical to discuss an operating system launched in 2021 that operates on processors introduced to the market before 2007.
How to check if your computer's processor supports POPCNT,?
Will you be able to install Windows 11 24H2 on your computer? I understand that many of you may be asking this question, and the answer is quite simple. You can easily check whether your device supports the update to Windows 11 by ensuring that the processor is supported by the correct instructions. For AMD processors, it should be supported by SSE4A instructions, and for Intel processors, it should be supported by SSE4.2 instructions.
The best way to check is to use the CPU-Z program and check the list of supported instructions.
The easiest way to check is to download the CPU-Z program from here ⬇️ and verify the supported instruction set.
Simply put, if the instructions SSE4A or SSE4.2 appear in the processor section of the program, as illustrated in the image below, it means your device is ready for the update to Windows 11 24H2.
In the provided image, the necessary instructions for supporting POPCNT are shown, which are essential for updating or installing Windows 11 24H2. It should be clear that if your processor does not support these instructions, you won't be able to install this update, and the installation of Windows 11 will be prevented from the start when it detects the absence of a compatible central processing unit.
What happens if my CPU does not support POPCNT instructions?
If your computer's processor doesn't support these instructions, you won't be able to continue updating Windows 11. However, you can be confident that the previous year's Windows 11 23H2 update will still receive support until November 2025, so you still have some years before that to continue using the operating system if you own an older computer that doesn't support these instructions.
