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💾 Windows 11 Readiness Check

Check Your PC Is Ready for Windows 11 Before Installing

Windows 11 setup refuses some PCs in the middle of installation - after you have already erased things. Ten minutes of checking first tells you whether your PC is officially ready, and stops the install from failing at the worst moment.

✍️ Technical Anshu💾 Windows 11⏱️ 8 minute read
🎥 Watch the full video - Windows 11 installation with Rufus and with Ventoy, both methods step by step

Windows 11 has a stricter checklist than Windows 10 did. Setup verifies TPM 2.0, Secure Boot capability, a supported processor, UEFI firmware, 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage. If a required item fails, the normal setup stops with a message that this PC cannot run Windows 11. Check first, install second.

Windows 11 - Minimum Requirements
Processor1 GHz, 2+ cores, supported list
RAM4 GB minimum
Storage64 GB minimum
FirmwareUEFI with Secure Boot
TPMVersion 2.0
GraphicsDirectX 12 compatible
Microsoft's published minimums. Minimum means setup allows it - a comfortable PC has more RAM and a much bigger SSD.
1

Run the Official Check First

Microsoft publishes a free tool that reads your hardware and reports pass or fail per item - no guessing.

  1. Install Microsoft's PC Health Check app from the official Windows 11 page
  2. Click Check now - it lists exactly which requirement fails, if any
  3. A pass here means the normal installation will accept the PC
  4. A fail names the part - most commonly the processor list or TPM - so you know where you stand before touching anything
2

The Settings You Can Check Yourself

Two requirements are often just switched off in firmware rather than missing from the hardware.

  1. TPM - press Windows key plus R, type tpm.msc and check Specification Version shows 2.0
  2. If TPM shows as not found, many boards enable it in BIOS under names like Intel PTT or AMD fTPM
  3. Boot mode - type msinfo32 and read BIOS Mode. It should say UEFI, not Legacy
  4. Secure Boot state is shown in the same msinfo32 window - On is the expected state for a standard install
3

What the Numbers Mean in Real Life

Passing the check and enjoying the PC are two different standards.

  1. 4 GB RAM passes, but Windows 11 on 4 GB is slow under real multitasking - 8 GB is the practical floor
  2. 64 GB storage passes, but updates and apps fill it fast - 128 GB or more is the sensible minimum
  3. The processor must be on Microsoft's supported list, not just fast enough - an old but powerful CPU can still fail
  4. Most PCs sold from roughly 2018 onwards with Intel 8th generation or AMD Ryzen 2000 series and newer are on the list
4

If Your PC Fails the Check

Honesty matters here, because the internet is full of ways to force the install.

  1. First fix the fixable - enable TPM or Secure Boot in BIOS if the hardware has them
  2. If the processor is unsupported, the PC is officially out. It stays a perfectly usable Windows 10 machine while Windows 10 support lasts
  3. Bypass methods exist and this channel covers them in dedicated videos, but an unsupported install is a compromise, not a pass - read the honest limits before choosing it
  4. For a PC that must run for years, unsupported hardware is the signal to plan an upgrade, not to force the install
🔴 Readiness is checked before the erase, never after. Run PC Health Check and confirm TPM and boot mode while your current Windows still works - that is the only moment a failed check costs you nothing.

🎥 Watch the Complete Installation in the Video

Both methods live on screen - making the USB with Rufus, making it with Ventoy, booting and installing Windows 11 step by step.

▶️ Watch Full Video
❓ Common Questions (FAQ)

My PC has TPM but the check still fails

Open tpm.msc and read the version. TPM 1.2 is not enough - Windows 11 needs 2.0. On some boards a BIOS option switches the TPM mode, and a BIOS update can also change what is offered.

Can I install Windows 11 without Secure Boot on?

Setup checks that the PC is Secure Boot capable. Most UEFI PCs from the last decade are capable even when the setting is currently off - enabling it in BIOS is the normal fix.

Is 4 GB RAM really enough?

It installs, but it is not a good experience. If your PC allows a RAM upgrade, 8 GB changes daily use more than any other single upgrade.

This guide is based on the Technical Anshu Windows 11 Rufus and Ventoy installation video • Stuck on any step, ask in the video comments 🙏