It turns out I had to briefly switch the UM250 back to Windows 10 in order to copy some data I’d left on the older SSD when I switched. So while I was here I thought I’d grab an interesting screen capture.

You can see in the screen capture that Microsoft is telling me my system isn’t worthy enough to run the latest version of Windows, version 11. That’s because this particular AMD-based system doesn’t have TPM. History lesson: When Microsof first released Windows 10, we were told the fairy tale that Windows 10 was the last version they were going to release. Microsoft intended to have a six month release cadence in which new features would be dropped. Microsoft got considerable blowback from businesses about the cadence frequency and how you couldn’t control it and how business IT departments wanted to test those releases before having to roll them out. Microsoft relented with a seperate release channel with a different cadence and the ability for those business users to control releases. Once the dust settled Microsoft stayed with those cadences.

Then Microsoft gave us all a Halloween Surprise last year with the release of Windows 11 October 2021. As far as I’m concerned it wasn’t a treat, it was more a trick, with many regressions, particularly the demand that a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) be in place for the OS to be installable. I know you can sidestep this issue thorugh extraordinary means, but that doesn’t mean you will always be able to sidestep the issue. Based on what I’ve read, up to 60% of existing x86-64 systems are ineligible to run Windows 11, which presents alternative operating systems capable of providing a secure OS without TPM a golden opportunity. The UM250, which has an AMD processor, runs Linux just fine, thank you very much. Interestingly, Lenovo introduced a series of ThinkPads built around AMD processors that contain an implementation of Microsoft’s Pluton security processor. According to Lenovo even though those ThinkPads will have Windows 11 preinstalled, they won’t be locked down to the Pluton security processor. ThinkPad users will in fact be able to completely disable Pluton in the BIOS, as well as install Linux. Sounds great, until the time when Microsoft release an update to Windows 11 that will require those Plutons be enabled and active.

Pluton isn’t new, it was introduced with the last release of Microsoft’s XBox gaming systems. And it is AMD that supplies the processors for those game machines. Which means that Pluton isn’t to make the system secure against hackers, but to allow all those rights holders to fully implement the final step towards total DMCA control on your machine, against you. Another brutal blow to choice.

My little PC might not be worthy enough to run Windows 11, but it’s more than worthy and capable of running Linux. And so here we are…

Notes

For those worried about Microsoft’s Pluton TPM chip: Lenovo won’t even switch it on by default in latest ThinkPads – https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/20/microsoft_amd_pluton_lenovo/