How to Use Ashampoo Windows 11 Check & Enable — Step‑by‑Step GuideUpgrading to Windows 11 often requires ensuring your PC meets specific hardware and firmware requirements (TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, CPU compatibility, etc.). Ashampoo Windows 11 Check & Enable is a utility designed to scan your system for these requirements and help enable components like TPM and Secure Boot when possible. This guide walks through installation, scanning, interpreting results, enabling features, and troubleshooting common issues.
What Ashampoo Windows 11 Check & Enable does
- Scans your PC for Windows 11 minimum requirements: TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, RAM, storage, and CPU compatibility.
- Detects whether TPM is present and whether it’s enabled in firmware.
- Detects Secure Boot status and guides you to enable it in UEFI if available.
- Provides step‑by‑step instructions, links, and checks to help you prepare your PC for a Windows 11 upgrade.
Before you begin — prerequisites and precautions
- Back up important data. Changing firmware or enabling Secure Boot/TPM settings involves UEFI/BIOS changes; mistakes can make a system unbootable.
- Have a recovery drive or Windows installation media ready in case you need to repair startup.
- Note your current BIOS/UEFI password (if set) or ensure you have admin access on the PC.
- Make sure your Ashampoo product is downloaded from the official site to avoid tampered installers.
Step 1 — Download and install Ashampoo Windows 11 Check & Enable
- Visit Ashampoo’s official website and locate the Windows 11 Check & Enable tool page.
- Download the installer and save it to your PC.
- Run the installer as an administrator and follow on‑screen prompts.
- If prompted by Windows SmartScreen or antivirus, confirm the publisher and allow the installation.
Step 2 — Run the scan
- Launch Ashampoo Windows 11 Check & Enable with administrator rights (right‑click → Run as administrator).
- Click the main scan or “Check” button. The tool will enumerate hardware, firmware settings, and OS attributes.
- Wait for the scan to complete — it typically takes a minute or two.
Step 3 — Understand the scan results
The tool reports a set of checks. Typical entries include:
- TPM: reports presence and version (e.g., TPM 2.0 or TPM not found/disabled).
- Secure Boot: reports whether Secure Boot is enabled or disabled.
- CPU: indicates whether your processor is on Microsoft’s supported list.
- RAM and storage: confirms minimum amounts.
- Windows version and build: checks whether your current Windows is compatible with upgrade paths.
Important: Bold key outcomes in this guide—if the tool reports TPM 2.0 present and enabled or Secure Boot enabled, you meet those specific requirements. If it reports TPM disabled or Secure Boot disabled, you’ll likely need to enable them in UEFI.
Step 4 — Enabling TPM (if present but disabled)
If the tool shows a TPM chip is present but disabled, enable it in UEFI/BIOS:
- Reboot your PC and enter UEFI/BIOS settings — usually by pressing Delete, F2, F10, or Esc during boot (the exact key varies by manufacturer).
- In UEFI, look for “Security”, “Advanced”, or “Trusted Computing” menus.
- Locate the TPM setting. It might be labeled:
- TPM, PTT (Intel Platform Trust Technology), or fTPM (AMD Firmware TPM).
- Set it to Enabled. If prompted choose “PTT” or “fTPM” for firmware TPM on newer Intel/AMD systems.
- Save and exit UEFI (commonly F10). The system will reboot.
After boot, re-run the Ashampoo tool to confirm it now reports TPM 2.0 present and enabled.
Step 5 — Enabling Secure Boot (if supported but disabled)
If Secure Boot is available but disabled:
- Reboot and enter UEFI/BIOS.
- Locate “Boot”, “Security”, or “Authentication” settings.
- Find Secure Boot and toggle it to Enabled.
- If required, switch the Boot Mode from “Legacy/CSM” to “UEFI”.
- If a key enrollment or default keys option appears, choose to install or reset to factory defaults (this installs the Microsoft default keys needed for Windows).
- Save and exit.
Re-run the Ashampoo tool to verify Secure Boot enabled.
Step 6 — CPU compatibility issues
If Ashampoo reports your CPU is not on Microsoft’s supported list:
- Check whether your CPU is actually supported by Microsoft’s official documentation; sometimes vendor-specific model naming or firmware updates can affect detection.
- Consider firmware/UEFI updates from your PC or motherboard manufacturer — they can add compatibility or fix detection.
- If your CPU is truly unsupported, Windows 11 may still install using workarounds, but this is not recommended for stability or security and may block future updates.
Step 7 — Additional fixes and tips
- Update UEFI/BIOS: Manufacturers occasionally add or improve TPM/Secure Boot support in firmware updates.
- Check Windows settings: For TPM, you can also view status in Windows via Start → Run → tpm.msc (if available). Secure Boot state is shown under System Information (msinfo32).
- Use manufacturer resources: Laptop/desktop vendor support pages often have model‑specific instructions for enabling TPM/PTT/fTPM and Secure Boot.
- If enabling Secure Boot prevents booting into an older OS (or custom drivers), you may need to update drivers or disable legacy options selectively.
Troubleshooting common problems
- System won’t boot after enabling Secure Boot:
- Re-enter UEFI and temporarily disable Secure Boot. Boot and update drivers or remove unsigned drivers.
- Ensure Boot Mode is UEFI (not Legacy/CSM). Convert disk to GPT if necessary (be careful — conversion can affect bootability).
- TPM not listed in UEFI:
- Some systems expose TPM settings only after toggling advanced/hidden menus or after an SMM/firmware update.
- If it’s absent, your motherboard may lack TPM hardware; some support an add‑on TPM module.
- Ashampoo reports conflicting results:
- Reboot and run the scan again. Also validate with tpm.msc and msinfo32 for cross‑checks.
When to proceed with the Windows 11 upgrade
Once Ashampoo reports the necessary items as present and enabled (TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, sufficient RAM and storage, and CPU compatibility), you’re ready to proceed with the Windows 11 upgrade using Windows Update, the Installation Assistant, or an ISO.
Quick checklist (before upgrading)
- Backup your files.
- Confirm TPM 2.0 enabled and Secure Boot enabled.
- Verify disk has required free storage and system is up to date.
- Create a recovery drive or have installation media ready.
If you want, I can: provide step‑by‑step screenshots for a specific PC model, draft UEFI steps for Intel vs AMD motherboards, or convert this into a shorter how‑to card. Which would help most?
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