Dell Inspiron and Windows 11

cx6

I am thinking of buying a Dell Inspiron desktop (link below) which comes with Windows 10

I had a pre-sales "chat' with Dell who are adamant that it can be upgraded to Windows 11 but that no Inspirons come with the TPM module on the mobo.

Since Windows 11 requires TPM, how can this be upgradeable?

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/desktops-and-all-in-ones/new-inspiron-small-desktop/spd/inspiron-3891-desktop/cd389112

biscan25

TPM will just need to be activated in the BIOS.
The i5-10400 processor in your chosen machine is TPM compatible.

neilmcl

cx6 said:

I am thinking of buying a Dell Inspiron desktop (link below) which comes with Windows 10

I had a pre-sales "chat' with Dell who are adamant that it can be upgraded to Windows 11 but that no Inspirons come with the TPM module on the mobo.

Since Windows 11 requires TPM, how can this be upgradeable?

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/desktops-and-all-in-ones/new-inspiron-small-desktop/spd/inspiron-3891-desktop/cd389112

This would suggest otherwise: https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-uk/000189676/windows-10-how-to-enable-the-tpm-trusted-platform-module

cx6

Interesting that link - it suggests the the Inspiron does indeed not have TPM but uses Intel PTT (which is a kind of 'pretend' TPM written in firmware).

This is why you can upgrade Dell Inspiron to Windows 11 even though it does not have a TPM.

neilmcl

PTT is fully compatible for Windows 11 as an alternative to TPM.

cx6

Thanks for the info - why does Microsoft say a TPM is required, and not a TPM or Intel PTT? They are definitely not the same thing.

[Deleted User]

cx6 said:

Thanks for the info - why does Microsoft say a TPM is required, and not a TPM or Intel PTT? They are definitely not the same thing.

To the operating system, eg Win 10/11 etc, the PTT will look and act like a TPM because it meets the required Microsoft standards for TPM 2.0.

The difference is:

TPM is a dedicated and separate chip on the motherboard that contains a CPU and some memory and dedicated firmware - a microcomputer in itself all on 1 chip. This is also known as dTPM (discrete TPM)

fTPM (firmware TPM) is also known as PTT for Intel device and as fTPM in AMD devices. Apple also use a similar device known as the "T2 chip".

PTT differs in that it is built into the firmware of the chipset manufacturer eg Intel, rather than being a separate device.

Both are equally good for consumer use but the PTT is often used as it is cheaper and consumes less power so is useful for laptops and other low power devices.

On a full sized PC motherboard, you may actually see an optional connector for a discrete TPM chip as per photo below.





It is great that Microsoft have now got everyone talking about TPM's and PTT's, they've been around for over a decade waiting to be used in many PC's without the user being aware.

It will however become more important to make sure people keep their firmware up to date on the PC's as any exploits to the TPM/PTT can be patched that way. It is often overlooked by most users.

cx6

Thanks @[Deleted User] that is very useful information. If only Dell customer support knew it.

Summary of chat with 2 separate agents....

"does Inspiron have TMP" - No

"are  they upgradeable to Windows 11" - yes

"How is this possible as W11 requires TPM" - no idea

OnlyTheBestWillDo

cx6 said:

I am thinking of buying a Dell Inspiron desktop (link below) which comes with Windows 10

I had a pre-sales "chat' with Dell who are adamant that it can be upgraded to Windows 11 but that no Inspirons come with the TPM module on the mobo.

Since Windows 11 requires TPM, how can this be upgradeable?

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/desktops-and-all-in-ones/new-inspiron-small-desktop/spd/inspiron-3891-desktop/cd389112

https://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/SecondaryInventorySearch.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdfh1&l=en&s=dfh&sign=PXhcOSHtr1T4IOw/PR7Udd1PIPKz2swr2F8uSV5WnsdIqJo+Pjuhbno3dAvxz7dZSK4efhfCSsnFTBIYucsyMTIM8VP/JIWU/His5cPCXstD1//pEpT6dUFa41NvKAzwns7qiKIf3DUx5LubmmcukN0YTydcrHJdYDqOM6lXkV9WQLNayz+hA1egQ+OTKbzflZFwGL/UUFjz5SS2Wg4x3VtQjxnTOw/vSMJZH3XcPlaqFHngiNQTQA==

https://www.dell.com/learn/uk/en/ukdfh1/campaigns/first-time-customer-dell-outlet-uk

cx6

Thank you!

OnlyTheBestWillDo

cx6 said:

Thank you!

You can use DOINSPD10 instead of the First Time Discount.

https://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/InventorySearch.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdfh1&l=en&s=dfh&brandid=1&sign=PXhcOSHtr1T4IOw/PR7UdRn+CytAgrkGbeoyRXlSq4MneYnMvucmFh172MRQxXxTYPhayYuCTYidKZrT725foa151XxVAMdbnqO01TRHc4g5ZDtS1JCGIkbDlp6OAsc54/rZYeDWoAuLrPiTrJ1ujwbjM60p9w8m8nUo8tBdKlXZ0O7l35TqkMyAPNZhR8XfSPf8UqSIRuxvGRNPjYujFmX2O4NzFbytB8E/a2oU7Op+csrj1KmoZtz016KqlENkshsknwPKdYiTNBnh2f7aEQ==