Attention! Windows 11 may stop working on your PC!

Microsoft's upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update is expected to arrive with yet another hardware requirement. Focused on SSE4.2 or Streaming SIMD Extensions 4.2, a crucial component for modern processors, the new Windows 11 24H2 with build 26080 will only boot on CPUs that support the instruction set. This basically means that Windows 11 may stop working on your PC if you want to use the new version.

Attention! Windows 11 may stop working on your PC!

This information comes from Bob Pony in X (formerly known as Twitter). This follows previous reports from February stating that CPUs without support for the POPCNT instruction were no longer supported in Windows 11. The updated requirement is essentially the same. However, they now require the entire SSE 4.2 instruction set instead of just the POPCNT instruction it contains, as previously required.

These newly discovered changes surpass the initial criteria to be eligible to install or upgrade to Windows 11, which included secure boot, TPM support, and a newer Kaby Lake or CPU. In particular, POPCNT and SSE 4.2 requirements will be unique to 24H2. However, they are expected to roll out to later versions of Windows 11.

While this change is likely intended to optimize performance and ensure compatibility with newer hardware architectures, Microsoft has essentially made life more difficult for users who want to run the latest version of Windows 11.

It's important to note that the Windows 11 hardware compatibility list excludes older CPUs.

This means that anyone with compatible hardware should not be affected by the strict requirements. However, users with older hardware and limited knowledge of navigating hardware verification may encounter challenges.

With Windows 11 24H2 expected to launch later this fall, AI is expected to be a big focus for Microsoft. With Intel, AMD, and even Qualcomm bringing new chips with integrated neural processing units (NPUs), Copilot in Windows 11 24H2 should bring much-needed improvements. In addition, we can expect new features such as “Super Resolution”. So, you can use AI to increase graphics quality in games, support voice clarity, a revamped power saving mode, and various other design changes.