Swapping TPM Module around?

[FatRakoon]

Possibly a stupid question, but hopefully a good one.

A few weeks ago, I kind of noticed that one of my Motherboards has a TPM Port. Now, that in ityself didnt do anything for me, but I also noticed that another one of my boards has a TPM Module that I can unplug.

I ignored these for a short while, and then, I simply took it out of the one board as it wanted me to upgrade to Windows 11, and then I thought... Can I use that Module in another board? It does fit, but would it be saafe to try it?

This is purely because my daughter is using the setup that has a port but not the module, and if it took the module, then it would upgrade automatically wouldnt it?

Just thinking?

 

[Tetras]

Pretty much any PC that supports Windows 11 will already have a TPM through the platform that you can enable in the BIOS (though sometimes an update is required).

Removing a TPM module can bork the Windows install if you use stuff like Windows Hello or Bitlocker.

 

[FatRakoon]

The TPM Module that I am talking about is a physical thing, that plugs onto the board. Sure some of my boards have a BIOS option to enable/disable, but on these particular boards, its a thing that simply plugs in and out.
What I have done, is installed Windows 11 onto one board that has it, however, is a fairly low end setup ( AMD A8-7800 ) and I have taken that thing out and it has NOT affected the install ( AFAIK? ) and it does physically fit into another board, but I have NOT powered the thing up, just in case???

I could absolutely simply put a funky install onto it, but I dont want to.

The ONLY PC that I really dont want Win 11 on, is my main PC and thats gone and updated behind my back and I am genuinnely annoyed cos its now slower than ever. Even Notepad takes a few seconds to load up, and my games are sometimes jerky.

 

[Tetras]

The TPM Module that I am talking about is a physical thing, that plugs onto the board.

Yes, I know. My point is: any CPU that has official support for Windows 11 should not need one.

What I have done, is installed Windows 11 onto one board that has it, however, is a fairly low end setup ( AMD A8-7800 ) and I have taken that thing out and it has NOT affected the install ( AFAIK? )

Yeah, I think the requirement for TPM 2.x is only checked during install time, you can disable/remove the TPM once Windows is installed. The exception is if you use features that rely on the TPM, like Windows Hello or Bitlocker. Removing a TPM with Bitlocker enabled can prevent you from accessing the storage anymore.

 

[Mcnumpty2323]

From memory
When the whole you will need a tpm
For windows 11 started
People were scalping on tpm modules
Before the fact built in cpu tpm would work
Became apparent
They were definitely selling board/manufacturer specific modules
So it might fit
Will it work is a different matter
Could it cause any damage if it's board specific?
Don't know

But there's other risk free options
Software like flyby11
Should allow upgrading without a tpm
Software like rufus would allow clean install
Without a tpm

There's also some trick I haven't tried
It's something like use server edition for install
Until it passes the checks
Then remove it and put in normal windows media
And finish the install