Running the Windows 11 PC Health Check has seen users confused that their new and otherwise capable machine apparently can't run Microsoft's next OS.

   This confusion hasn't been helped by Microsoft itself which had system requirements listed online, detailing a soft and hard floor for Windows 11. That was the difference between being able to install and being advised not to. But the correction has been made now which stated that the only way you're going to be able to get Windows 11 on your home PC is if it's got specific TPM 2.0 support.

   TPM stands for Trusted Platform Module, and it is to protect data used to authenticate the PC your using. The TPM can also be used to maintain platform integrity, facilitate disk encryption, store password and certificates, the list goes on.

   Windows is the most popular OS in the world, and that has made it a relatively easy target for hackers. By making TPM 2.0 a requirement, Microsoft is hoping to make the life of hackers just that little bit harder. As David Weston, Director of Enterprise and OS security says: "Today, we are announcing Windows 11 to raise security baselines with new hardware security requirements built-in that will give our customers the confidence that they are even more protected from the chip to the cloud on certified devices."

   Intel has various technologies that offer TPM 2.0 support, under a variety of names, but keep an eye out for PTT and IPT before trying to turn on TPM 2.0 in your UEFI/BIOS. AMD has supported TPM 2.0 since the Ryzen 2500, with its fTPM. So all of its Zen 2 and Zen 3 processors are also covered. One option, if your CPU doesn't natively support TPM 2.0, is that you can add a separate physical module to your machine to upgrade its support. Upgrading to a more recent CPU is probably a better use of your money.

   For a slightly prettier way to check if TPM 2.0 is enabled, is to hit [Win]+R and type tpm.msc into the run windows before hitting return. Laptops will generally support TPM off the bat, as are plenty of machines that are intended to be used in managed office environments.

   Unless something changes, it feels like Windows 10 is going to stay the dominant OS for years to come which is frustrating for the gamers, as DirectStorage is currently down as a Windows 11 exclusive.