Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.194 blocks Virtual Machines that lack TPM 2.0

Microsoft has started rolling out a new Windows 11 Insider Preview update to devices on its Beta channel. For some reason, the company decided against distributing Build 22000.194 and Build 22458 simultaneously, instead choosing to stagger them a day apart.

Build 22000.194 adds nothing to Windows 11 21H2 that was not already present in last week's Insider Preview Build. However, Microsoft has started to rollout out several app updates, including revised Snipping Tool, Calculator and Clock apps. Microsoft will distribute these updates through the Microsoft Store; they are not exclusive to Build 22000.194.

Microsoft has not addressed any known issues from Build 22000.184, either. Build 22000.194 contains seven fixes though, including one concerning Virtual Machines (VMs). Microsoft describes the fix as:

This build includes a change that aligns the enforcement of the Windows 11 system requirements on Virtual Machines (VMs) to be the same as it is for physical PCs. Previously created VMs running Insider Preview builds may not update to the latest preview builds. In Hyper-V, VMs need to be created as a Generation 2 VM. Running Windows 11 in VMs in other virtualization products from vendors such as VMware and Oracle will continue to work as long as the hardware requirements are met.

In effect, Windows 11 TPM requirements have now reached VMs, which should not hit the likes of Parallels Desktop that can spoof a TPM. As Liliputing notes, Microsoft now requires Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise Hyper-V Manager to run Windows 11 in a VM if you are not using a Mac. VMWare Workstation Pro is an alternative, but VMWare Player is not as it lacks TPM integration. Hopefully, free VMs start offering TPM spoofing. Otherwise, Windows 11 will be unavailable to those wanting to run it in a VM unless they purchase an expensive license.

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