Microsoft naturally wants as many people as possible to upgrade to Windows 11 when it is released on October 5, but the Redmond company warns users that installing the OS on older PCs is at their own risk.

It has already been confirmed that Microsoft will not block the installation of Windows 11 on PCs with older CPUs, i.e., those without the required TPM, but that does not mean it is recommended. However, that does not mean it is recommended. Attempting to install the latest version of Windows on hardware that does not meet the minimum requirements will force you to sign a waiver releasing Microsoft from liability should a problem arise.

The agreement was originally discovered by The Verge and contains the very clear phrase "Installing Windows 11 on this PC is not recommended and may cause compatibility issues."

Of course, you are free to sign this agreement and install Windows 11. Some users who have already accessed Windows 11 have reported no problems so far running Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. However, the real problems may come down the road.

Hardware that does not meet the minimum requirements is considered unsupported by Microsoft. The disclaimer even states that unsupported PCs "are not entitled to receive updates." This means that they may be stuck with the first day version of Windows 11, which has various bugs and security issues.

Not only could older PCs not receive important security updates, but the disclaimer even states that "damage to your PC due to incompatibility is not covered by manufacturer warranty." While older hardware is likely to be out of warranty anyway, it is still something to consider: if installing Windows 11 causes damage to your PC, you bear the full risk and consequences.

With so many potential drawbacks, the risk of installing Windows 11 on an older PC may not be worth it; you may be better off upgrading to one of the best laptops that supports Windows-11 or holding out a little longer with your existing version of Windows You're probably better off with your existing version of Windows.

If you're not sure if your hardware can run Windows 11, you're in luck. Microsoft has reintroduced the PC Health Check app. The app was removed in June after user complaints of inaccurate results, but it was restored this week and appears to be working correctly.

Windows 11 is scheduled to debut on October 5, but older PCs may not get an upgrade option until sometime in 2022.