Why can’t my computer run Windows 11?

QI’d like to upgrade my Dell Inspiron laptop to Windows 11. Microsoft’s PC Health Check app shows it has a TPM, but it’s not enabled. Dell’s instructions are absurdly complicated. I’m afraid I could damage the computer if I go ahead. Do I need to enable the TPM or could I install Windows 11 anyway? Zhivko Gulaboff

AYou can force Windows 11 to install without TPM by hacking the Windows registry. However, we sense you’re not comfortable with such intricate methods that could cause problems if performed incorrectly.

There’s also the risk that future Windows 11 updates could make bypassing TPM impossible, and an absolute requirement for running it. That could damage the PCS of anyone who’s applied such hacks. If so, don’t expect Microsoft to care because it never promised Windows 11 would run on these computers.

Which brings us back to the simplest, safest solution – and that’s to enable the TPM that your computer does have. We’re not sure which Dell instructions you’ve seen, but we suspect it’s the support page at www.snipca.com/41284 (see screnshot above). This does seem to make a mountain out of a molehill, covering different versions of TPM for a range of Dell machines.

However, in essence, enabling TPM is pretty easy. First, soon after switching on your laptop, tap F2 to access the

UEFI/BIOS. Next, using the cursor (arrow) keys to navigate and Enter to select, choose Security.

Finally, find the switch labelled Intel Platform Trust Technology (that’s Intel’s name for TPM) and flip the switch to On. Press Escape (Esc) to exit the UEFI/BIOS, choosing Yes to save the changes.

If you want to know why your computer can’t upgrade to Windows 11, ask us and we’ll explain in this box every issue

Dell's online instructions for enabling TPM appear to make the process more complicated than it actually is