Compatible TPM cannot be found – now what?

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I just ran TPM-msc and received the above message in its reply screen.

Compatible TPM cannot be found on this computer.  Now what?

The message also says:  Verify that this computer has a 1.2 TPM or later and it is turned on in the BIOS.

This response raises a number of questions for me.

1. How can I determine if I have TPM on my motherboard, or the BIOS, or wherever it is supposed to be?
2. Is it possible to get TPM 2.0 or activate (turn on) TPM 1.2 through the BIOS?  If so, how would I do that?  K-I-S-S please – thanks.
3. If I can’t “turn it on”, is there an available software fix for the firmware on the motherboard that would do the trick?

I know that Windows 10 is supposed to be active through 2025, so I could still use it until then and then buy a new PC with a TPM compatible motherboard.  I am guessing the Microsoft will need to do something as there are probably millions (?) of folks out there with incompatible motherboards and I am assuming that they will scream loud and clear about their situation as they do not wish to buy a new PC + the inability to be able to move the Task Bar is just stupid/poor interface design IMHO and needs to be fixed so that it can be placed anywhere on the screen as it can in Windows 10.

Ron M

 

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Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 through either:

1) Firmware in your CPU
2) Hardware (soldered to mobo or discrete)

Download and run the latest version of PC Health Check to see if your hardware is compatible.

Microsoft PC Health Check App

You need to be more specific when you make a post. CPU? Chipset? Video Card? Does the motherboard support UEFI?

You are correct, however. Millions of devices will not be eligible for upgrades to Windows 11. Windows 10 will be supported through 2025.

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Just as an aside, some Kaby Lake (7th Gen.) Intel  processors have firmware in the CPU that will support TPM 2.0 without the TPM being actually physically on the motherboard. If it is a mobile processor (laptop), probably not; but if it is a desktop computer, maybe yes. For instance, an Intel Core i7-7700 K processor in a desktop PC will support TPM 2.0 in the CPU firmware, but an Intel Core i7-7700 H processor in a laptop will not. Of course, the computer must be running Windows 10, preferably the latest version, and have UEFI secure boot in any case for Windows 11.

 

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More likely it is the reverse of this. Most recent laptops supposedly do have PTT or TPM capability (PTT is Intel’s firmware-based version of TPM), while many desktops either require an addon chip (via a header on the motherboard) or don’t expose the PTT feature within the CPU itself. All the Intel chips released since Haswell supposedly have PTT capability.

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Carl wrote:

Download and run the latest version of PC Health Check

Microsoft has removed PC Health Check.

Use 3rd party WhyNotWin11 (3rd party tools are always better than anything Microsoft)

2 users thanked author for this post.

gjacwel, EyesOnWindows

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Smaller and more informative too:

06/25/2021 08:46 AM 14,114,816 WindowsPCHealthCheckSetup.msi
06/29/2021 06:26 AM 1,054,208 WhyNotWin11.exe

HP Compaq 6000 Pro SFF PC / Windows 10 Pro / 22H2
Intel®Core™2 “Wolfdale” E8400 3.0 GHz / 8.00 GB

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Carl, thanks for the response.  I did not realize that this type of information was required, so I will try and address your points.

The PC Health check app  is not available.  Alex5723, WhyNotWin11 shows up as dangerous software to my antivirus program, so I will have to figure out a way around that – to come.

CPU:  Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-10900K CPU @ 3.70GHz 3.70 GHz

Chip set:  I am not sure what is meant here, nor do I have any idea where to find it.  I am sure you can help me with this.

Video Card:  NVIDIA Geforce RTX 2060 Super

Right now, I am relying on Win 10 being supported until 2025

Mobo and UEFI: According to what I can find out, the BIOS mode is UEFI.

Hope this helps.  Right now, I am relying on Win 10 being supported until 2025 as I will probably buy a new desktop by then and, hopefully, it will support Win 11.

Ron M

 

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Ron M wrote:

WhyNotWin11 shows up as dangerous software to my antivirus program

Either set exception in your A/V app or replace it.

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[JohnW]

Ron M wrote:

How can I determine if I have TPM on my motherboard, or the BIOS, or wherever it is supposed to be? Is it possible to get TPM 2.0 or activate (turn on) TPM 1.2 through the BIOS? If so, how would I do that? K-I-S-S please – thanks.

Since you have a current Intel based system, you should be able to select Intel PTT (Platform Trust Technology) in your BIOS setup, as a valid firmware alternative to a TPM 2.0 chip.

How to enable Intel PTT: https://www.legitreviews.com/how-to-enable-bitlocker-with-intel-ptt-and-no-tpm-for-better-security_211713

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by JohnW.

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JohnW, thanks for the insight. I think that, before I start “mucking” around in an area that I don’t know that much about (I am definitely not very techie), I will wait and see what Microsoft is going to do.  I have to wonder if they will change some of the “requirements” as they seem to be getting a lot of unfavourable feedback.

I will keep your reference for future reference.

Ron M

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Alex5723, I went at WhyNotWin11 again and it downloaded and ran successfully, so  I do not know what happened the first time.

I am not sure how to paste the results here.  Perhaps someone can help.

FYI, the only RED item is the TPM Version which shows up as Missing/Disabled.  Everything is GREEN

Ron M

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My Desktop is 13 years old ( 2007 )

HP Pavillion a6030in Desktop PC.

How to upgrade / install TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot ?

Is it possible to upgrade to TPM 2.0 hardware  or not ? Who can check and tell about it ?

 

 

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It’s not just the lack of a TPM chip and Safe Boot that will disqualify your computer for Win11.
To qualify for Win11 you need at least an 8th generation CPU (Coffee Lake) which wasn’t released until in Sept 2017.

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TPM configuration if you have Intel chips (information posted June 27, 2021); change three BIOS settings:

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/win11-pc-health-check-tool-compatibility-checker/#post-2373898

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For those not of a hardware inclination looking into TPM…

At an elevated command prompt the following line will identify the motherboard so you can check the manual to see what TPM configuration you might have options of:

wmic baseboard get manufacturer,product

The following details the TPM (I can’t test it; I lack one..) – it needs to be turned on in BIOS often – how to do that should be in the manual.

wmic /namespace:\\root\CIMV2\Security\MicrosoftTpm path Win32_Tpm get /value

Source for that info: https://www.prajwaldesai.com/check-tpm-status-command-line/

In a Windows run box (Windows key and R) the following brings up the Windows TPM dialog (which depends on the TPM being on, of course):

mmc tpm.msc

As to retro fitting a TPM – it needs a chipset and BIOS software it can work with, and they’re near extinct as a module, and even where they might become available the postage is a bit steep.. and you still need to work out how to actually wire it in so I’m putting the chances of a retro fit TPM working at low to none, but for those who must (or who get lucky as there is a standard design somehow..):

https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/Advantech/PCA-TPM-00B1E?qs=%2Fha2pyFaduirIJdHpsE3ZGPIPWfi1hIaWAIzAqS9acHspV7s9AwVbw==

As to HP pavilion, couldn’t find your model at partsurfer – quite often you can get a motherboard description, or by googling the part number a photograph of the motherboard, either of which might illuminate as to if you have somewhere the module might fit and the facilities to support it..

https://partsurfer.hp.com/Search.aspx

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One could always try a jedi-mind-trick on the Win11 installer…
(in a VM, wouldn’t dream of it on full metal)

More info: https://gist.github.com/AveYo/c74dc774a8fb81a332b5d65613187b15

Caveats: may only work for a limited period until MSFT either
stop supplying patches (I doubt), use telemetry to H/W check and block (more like it)
The choice is there.
Not mine though as Windows is just a pane

Keeping IT Lean, Clean and Mean!

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