Microsoft seems to want to prevent the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update from being installed on computers with older processors. In this case, such a limitation, which was officially present in Windows 11 from the very beginning, is no longer the case. Microsoft reportedly wants to make POPCNT instruction support a mandatory requirement.

This instruction is supported by quite old CPUs, many of which are officially unsuitable for installing Windows 11. However, the lack of POPCNT support seems to pose a more serious obstacle to installing the update on old computers.

For example, Intel Core 2 Duo processors do not support the required instructions. Intel first added support to first-generation Core i processors, and AMD introduced such support in processors based on the Barcelona architecture. Most likely craftsmen will find a way to bypass the ban, but for ordinary users this will be an additional obstacle.