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mister19stick
Contributor
Contributor

Update to Windows 11 via Windows Update?

Fusion 12.2.3. Macbook Pro 2017 OSX Monterey 12.4.

"Great news—your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11. Specific timing for when it will be offered can vary as we get it ready for you."

Is the above message in Windows Update to be believed?

Can i just click "See if it's ready to install" and follow the wizards?

Or do I have to do something else, e.g. create a new VM?

 

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mister19stick
Contributor
Contributor

Thank you for the boilerplate reply.

it doesn't address my question let alone answer it.

Reading between the lines, though, the answer is implied to be yes, you can and should.

Great, thanks, will do!

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scott28tt
VMware Employee
VMware Employee

This is sort of a Fusion question for VMware users, but mostly a Windows one for Microsoft users.

 


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mister19stick
Contributor
Contributor

This is absolutely a Fusion question.

If it's not virtual, just a machine I know what to do.

Since it is virtual, though, it's not entirely clear that everything is the same.

Especially since a quick google suggested that I'd need to create a new VM.

Is it generally true that a Fusion Windows VM can be treated in every respect exactly the same as a non-virtual Windows install?

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Technogeezer
Immortal
Immortal

Personal opinion here. 
For the most part, a virtual machine looks to its installed operating system like a physical machine. The big difference is device drivers.

Windows 11 minimally needs a 64 bit CPU with 2 cores, 4GB memory, a 64GB HDD/SSD, a TPM device, and UEFI Secure Boot. I believe if upgrade checks find these capabilities in your system (either physical or virtual), Microsoft will offer you the Win 10 to 11 upgrade. 

Where I’d be careful is if your VM is not set up for UEFI booting and is not configured with a TPM device. (I’d be surprised if Microsoft offered you the upgrade in this case. You’ve piqued my interest and I’ll have to try it out to see what happens). If you don’t have these two configured in your existing VM, it might be easier to create a new Windows 10 VM with these features enabled than to try to change the VM config. At least save away a copy of your VM (not use a snapshot) before accepting Microsoft’s “offer”. That’s easier for a VM than a physical machine :grinning_face_with_big_eyes:

- Paul (Technogeezer)
Editor of the Unofficial Fusion Companion Guides
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Technogeezer
Immortal
Immortal

Ok, as a quick check:

Fusion 12.2.3, Monterey 12.4, mac Mini 2014 (core i5, 2.6 GHz)

VM is Windows 10, 2 vcpu, UEFI, not encrypted (no TPM device).

Windows Update does not offer me the update saying my system does not meet Windows 11 requirements. PC Health Check within the VM reports that I do not have a TPM device, and that my CPU (Intel i5-4278U) is not supported for Windows 11.

As a double check to what Windows Update is telling you, run PC Health Check in the VM. If it says that there's no compatibility issue, then in my mind you should be OK to install the Windows 11 upgrade. That is, if you want to (and make a copy of your VM first!... just in case).

- Paul (Technogeezer)
Editor of the Unofficial Fusion Companion Guides
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RDPetruska
Leadership
Leadership


@Technogeezer wrote:

(and make a copy of your VM first!... just in case).


Also so that you can run both a Windows 10 VM and a Windows 11 VM...

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ColoradoMarmot
Champion
Champion

Highlighting that last point: make a copy of your vm.  Don't use time machine, shut it down (not suspend) and copy it somewhere.

Then try the upgrade and see if it works.  If not, you can troubleshoot.  That's one of the big advantages to a VM over a physical machine.