Windows 11 has a perplexing bug that means it doesn't detect the TPM with some CPUs and therefore doesn't recognize that the host PC supports the OS, with one CPU in particular, the popular Ryzen 7 5800X3D.
Neowin (Opens in a new tab) pointed out to a bunch of Windows users that they have a "TPM certification failed" problem that makes the PC incompatible with Windows 11.
This is despite the system getting the green light in terms of detecting the TPM as "out of the box".
As noted, this happens on a number of Ryzen processors (and even Intel models in cases of peripherals), and the 5800X3D seems to be affected more than others. In some cases, users report that with a different CPU, the TPM requirement is met without issue.
One person who encountered the bug writes (opens in a new tab): "After upgrading my CPU from Ryzen 5 2600 to Ryzen 7 5700X, the Windows Security Chip app reports "Certification: Not Supported but "Memory: Ready." In the TPM console, it says that the TPM is ready to use."
They add: "When I go back to my old Ryzen 5 2600, everything works."
Analysis: Come on Microsoft, AMD, it's not good enough
This is a headache for sure, but we have official word from Microsoft on the bug.
In a known issue categorized as Windows Autopilot issues, the software giant notes (opens in a new tab): "TPM attestation for AMD platforms with ASP TPM firmware may fail with error code 0x80070490 on Windows 10 systems and Windows 11. There are currently no updates available to resolve this issue.
Now, Windows Autopilot is a technology used by IT teams to deploy multiple Windows PCs, so it's not something the home user will encounter. But obviously, there are consumers who get stuck with this error when trying to install Windows 11 with certain processors.
It's really disappointing to hear that there's no resolution, or more accurately, evidence that Microsoft is at least looking into what's going on here. We also haven't gotten any word from AMD that it's looking into the gremlin or trying to figure out what's going on.
For affected PCs, it seems that the only possible remedy is to install a separate TPM module and not rely on the one built into the processor. To say that it is less than ideal is an understatement.
As another concerned Reddit user (opens in a new tab) who was upgrading from a 5800X, which worked great with Windows 11, to a 5800X3D said: "I looked online and there are a ton of people with 5800X3D who have exactly the same Same problem and no one knows why or how to fix it Some have bought an external TPM but why the hell would you do that when Ryzen 5800 has one on board?
This is actually a very good point. One suggestion we've seen (in the Reddit thread above) as a solution for those upgrading to a new processor stuck with a TPM attestation error is as follows. Reseat the old processor, disable the TPM, clear the CMOS, reseat the new processor, and then re-enable the TPM. Take it as a savage kick in the dark though, but one power-up claims it worked for them.
And that's more of a clue than Microsoft or AMD have given us so far, that's for sure.