Windows 11 Unavailable for XPS13 9343

This is not a Dell issue but rather a Microsoft issue. Your laptop has a 5th generation CPU and Windows 11 is only compatible with 8th gen CPUs and newer. If you ran the MS health check app (available here at the bottom of the page) you would find that your system fails due to the CPU age. And you would also need TPM 2.0. Dell will not release drivers or support a laptop that MS has stated will not be supported for Windows 11.

Now if you are determined to install Windows 11 there are numerous videos on YouTube describing how to install on systems with unsupported specs.

I did run the health check app but it only said my processor wasn't supported, said nothing about processor age. It said TPM 2.0 was fine. Only the processor was given as an issue. 

This article on the Dell site implies that the issue is Dell not testing, and thus not providing drivers, for unlisted models, which includes mine. If it's purely a processor generation issue why don't they make that clear? 

Feels to me like I've been badly let down by Dell after years of happy use of my XPS 13 which continues to satisfy my needs

When I mentioned age I was referring to the fact that the gen 5 CPU had been released some time ago. And you are correct that the CPU generation is the stumbling block, again an MS decision. You can install using the media creation tool here (2nd choice) which will bypass the CPU check as per MS own information. I can understand your frustration but keep in mind that Dell and the other PC manufacturers were blindsided by MS when they decided to limit the CPU to 8th gen and newer.

Ok, thanks for your response. What you appear to be saying is that Microsoft doesn't support an upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 on a machine with an older CPU, but that Windows 11 will work fine on that self same older CPU if it an install rather than an upgrade. Is that a valid statement?

It then seems to follow that Dell are not providing updates, drivers, etc for older CPUs entirely on the basis that you can't *upgrade* to Windows 11 on said older CPUs. Also a valid statement?

I'd be very reticent to try and run an OS that the vendor of my machine refuses to supply drivers for so a clean install is out of the question for me. So I guess my very expensive Dell laptop becomes a brick in due course. There's a lesson there, do not buy top end expensive Dell kit. Money would be better spent on cheap knock off kit which you could buy 3 or 4 of for the price of 1 Dell.

I'm not sure how plugged into Dell management you are but this is something that needs to be escalated to the upper echelons of management. Is this something you can do?

John

I don't know who you are Chino but that is a totally disrespectful and unhelpful comment. My questions were respectful and polite, there's no need to come on here and give abuse. If you have nothing helpful to say then it is better to keep quiet

It seems that OP has no issue with the laptop.  Beside forum Mods, everyone here is not working for Dell and just helping out other fellow users to resolve technical issues.  So asking rhetorical questions and ranting rubbish here won't get you any result.  Even the forum bot didn't bother to ask for service tag info must tell you something, lol.

I'm not working for Dell but I am giving you 2 cents that can help saving you times and grief.  Your high-end laptop is worth less than 200 £ and is considered EOL by all business practices.  Microsoft made decision to provide free upgrade for selected regions and for recent purchases within 2 - 3 years.  All the PC markets are affected and they all have to make similar changes to provide supports.  Not receiving a free Windows upgrade is not the end of the world, yet to some, it became a devastation.  On the contrary, many people want to go back to Win 10 because so many bugs and issues with Win 11.  At some part of the world, people with 1 - 2 years old device can not upgrade because of TPM.

So don't kid yourself that you purchased a lifetime device and people owed you to provide support for ever.  Be unkind to fellow user who provided free help to you is also very petty and immature.

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@johnstanners wrote:

Ok, thanks for your response. What you appear to be saying is that Microsoft doesn't support an upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 on a machine with an older CPU, but that Windows 11 will work fine on that self same older CPU if it an install rather than an upgrade. Is that a valid statement?

It then seems to follow that Dell are not providing updates, drivers, etc for older CPUs entirely on the basis that you can't *upgrade* to Windows 11 on said older CPUs. Also a valid statement?

I'd be very reticent to try and run an OS that the vendor of my machine refuses to supply drivers for so a clean install is out of the question for me. So I guess my very expensive Dell laptop becomes a brick in due course. There's a lesson there, do not buy top end expensive Dell kit. Money would be better spent on cheap knock off kit which you could buy 3 or 4 of for the price of 1 Dell.

I'm not sure how plugged into Dell management you are but this is something that needs to be escalated to the upper echelons of management. Is this something you can do?

John

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Kind of contradictory but that is exactly right. MS has established gen 8 CPUs as the oldest supported except in 2 rare instances of specific gen 7. But they have made it clear in their posts that you can bypass the CPU test with a clean install from using the media creation tool. It's their Windows world and we just live in it.

Also true inasmuch as MS won't support those older CPUs then Dell has no choice but to refrain from posting any drivers. That would be pointless.

Windows 11 will install drivers during the clean install and since it is based on Windows 10 many of the drivers are the same. For example my MSI MB drivers on their web site for Windows 11 are the exact same drivers that they post for Windows 10.

As for plugged in, not at all. We are all volunteers that do this work for the sheer pleasure of helping others and our passion for computers. Besides if you read the FAQ at the top of this forum it is stated pretty clearly that if a system is not supported with drivers now, it never will be.

One last thing to mention that is rarely brought up. MS has clearly stated that somewhere down the line if a system is not supported by Windows 11 updates will no longer be available and in fact the OS could become inoperable. They are not saying when it will happen but said it is going to happen eventually. 

I hope all this helps out!

Thanks once again for your response. It's a shame you have no connection to Dell management, they at least would stand a chance of putting pressure on MS compared to us end users.

You're last paragraph echoes my sentiments entirely. Absolutely no point in upgrading to an OS that is not supported by either the hardware or software vendors. I guess I'll stick with Windows 10, they at least seem to be continuing to support that for another couple of years. Although it does seem to make a bit of a mockery of this quote Windows 11 is built on the same foundation as Windows 10, so the investments you have made in tools for update and device management are carried forward. Windows 11 also sustains the application compatibility promise made with Windows 10, the Windows 11 licensing page "Windows 11 is built on the same foundation as Windows 10, so the investments you have made in tools for update and device management are carried forward. Windows 11 also sustains the application compatibility promise made with Windows 10"

Thanks for your responses all the same

John

Happy to help out! And remember that Windows 10 will be supported until 2025 so you have plenty of time to use an OS that is actually very stable and well supported for the present. By 2025 you may be ready for a new system then this whole discussion becomes moot.

@Chino de Oro​  I got my XPS 13 and spent quite a lot of time and a lot of money because I figured it was going to be my last computer. I am almost 70 but still have to work to eat and a new machine is out of the question. Is it going to be a problem to just keep using  windows 10? 

@kashmier , as long as your machine is working well, there will be no problem to keep using Windows 10.  As time progress from the release of Windows 11, Microsoft is considering to continue with supporting Windows 10 for a fee (30 USD) when October arrives.

Technical speaking, your machine is capable and can upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 if you prefer, even if the hardware is not officially supported.

@Chino de Oro​  Thank you so much. I was scrambling to get a new laptop to take advantage of the holiday sales. I had myself convinced I needed to get a new one as soon as possible before the government starts trying to implement tariffs. Now I can take a break.  Again thank you,  Marisa H from LeatherwoodDesign 

I would prefer to use windows 10. I got a laptop with windows 11 on it and I actually find 10 better. I am glad I didn't like the laptop and already sent it back. I don't live anywhere near a store to go out and get a feel for the machines I have to hope I like what I researched.

@Chino de Oro​ Ooh, that was a little weird.