The Latest Breaking News from Bob Pony

Windows 7 and Vista just made a shocking (unofficial) return in 2026 — but your PC might not survive the comeback

Windows 7 and Vista are back! As Microsoft continues to fumble the bag with Windows 11.

Windows Central · Jan 26

Windows 8.1 graphics get bit-crushed into working in 40-year-old EGA graphics mode — less than half-megapixel display mode is limited to 16 colors

Tech enthusiast gets Windows 8.1 to install on a system restricted by the ancient (1984) EGA graphics standard.

Tom’s Hardware · Aug 30, 2025

Windows 7 running natively on a Steam Deck is an affront to science — this tinkerer has Microsoft's OS booting in portrait mode

It boots, but there's something wrong with it. Then again, if "Bob Pony" devotes any more time to this unusual project, that could all change.

Windows Central · Jul 15, 2025

Microsoft patches TPM 2.0 bypass to prevent Windows 11 installs on PCs with unsupported CPUs

It has been discovered that Windows 11 Insider Build 27686 (Dilithium) has a patch that disables the '/product server' command line used by those without a TPM 2.0-supported CPU, permanently skipping the hardware verification process.

Tom’s Hardware · Aug 17, 2024

Microsoft blocks some PCs from Windows 11 24H2 — CPU must support SSE4.2 or the OS will not boot

Microsoft has added a second system requirement to Windows 11 24H2, this time being full SSE 4.2 support. The good news is that this requirement only affects users who are trying to run Windows 11 on already unsupported hardware.

Tom’s Hardware · Apr 24, 2024

Microsoft removes Copilot from Windows Server, admins reportedly thrilled

Users are baffled after Copilot appears, then quickly disappears, in Windows Server 2025.

TechRadar · Mar 29, 2024

Existing workarounds fail with new Windows 11 requirement that invalidates older CPUs — Microsoft's PopCnt restriction appears to be unbreakable

PopCnt is a CPU instruction that will be required to run Windows 11 starting with 24H2. But unlike TPM or Secure Boot, enthusiasts have found that the PopCnt requirement cannot be bypassed. Any attempts to bypass it lead to boot failure.

Tom’s Hardware · Feb 16, 2024

Older systems now won't be able to update to newer versions of Windows due to reliance on an arcane CPU instruction often used for AI neural networks: Report

A new POPCNT requirement was discovered for Windows 11 24H2, which will need to be met by every system that wants to upgrade to the 24H2 update.

Tom’s Hardware · Feb 13, 2024

PC Gamers, Rejoice! Windows 11 To Get An AI-Powered Gaming Boost

The next version of Windows 11 will now require the POPCNT CPU instruction to run, meaning super old PCs will no longer be able to boot the OS.

International Business Times UK · Feb 13, 2024

Windows 11's next major update may be the end of the line for these old CPUs

If you recently bought a new laptop, your CPU will work perfectly with the new Windows 11 update. A PC from 2008 or earlier, however, might not.

Laptop · Feb 13, 2024