I have installed Windows 10 on a PC that can hardly boot it. However, Windows 11 refused to install on my 7th Gen Core i7 PC.
The moment was that solving the problem was as easy as turning on specific features.
The real challenge for us was to install Windows 11 on old PCs, including 2nd Gen PC with legacy BIOS.
Thankfully, after a week of experiments and twice formatting the data on my 2 PCs, all 3 of my PCs are currently running Windows 11.
Today, I will share the methods I have used to successfully install Windows 11 on all my new and old PCs.
So, these methods will work if you don’t have an old PC that has been rejected by Windows 11 or you want to forcefully install Windows 11 on the old PC to check out these exciting new features.
And rest assured, I’ve only chosen methods that won’t have a detrimental effect on your computer, such as losing data.
1. Understand the limitations of non-supported PCs.
While Windows 11 can work on most non-supported PCs, that doesn’t mean it will work. Depending on the PC, some features may not work correctly, or Windows may be corrupt or corrupt.
Microsoft also does not recommend installing Windows 11 on non-supported devices; there is no guarantee that such devices will receive all future updates.
So keep these results in mind before installing Windows 11 on your unsupported PC.
However, I am not storing critical data on unsupported devices because I do not trust security and stability.
2. Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot.
Before I show you how to install Windows 11 on uncooperative devices, it’s a good idea to ensure your computer.
Many newer PCs are experiencing unsupported bugs, usually due to a lack of TPM 2.0 and secure boot support.
Unfortunately, I can’t provide explicit instructions for enabling these two options, as they are allowed in the BIOS, which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, I will still deliver instructions that work for most PCs.
First, you need to access the BIOS, which you can do by repeatedly pressing the F10, F2, F12, F1, or DEL key during PC startup.
The key you need depends on the PC maker. For instance, HP PCs use the F12 key.
So you’ll find both TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot below the Security menu.
On some PCs, the secure boot option may be below the boot menu.
When you turn off the BIOS to apply changes, make sure you select “Save changes and exit.”
3. Download the Windows 11 ISO file.
The following methods require a Windows 11 ISO file to work. If you haven’t yet tried to install Windows 11 or have created a bootable drive using the Windows 11 tool instead of using ISO, you should follow the steps below. You must download 11 ISO.
You can download Windows 11 ISO image file from the Microsoft official website. Just scroll down and click Download under the Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) section.
You will need to select your Windows language later to get the link to download it.
4. Make bootable USB without the need for testing.
If you don’t want to edit the registry, you can create a bootable Windows 11 USB or DVD that won’t check TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot support.
This option is even better if you need to install Windows 11 on several unsupported PCs since you will not need to modify it to make every PC compatible with Windows 11.
Plug in at least an 8GB USB drive to your PC and then launch the Rufus app. In the Device section, the connected USB will be selected automatically.
Click Select in the Boot Selection section and then find and open the Windows 11 ISO you downloaded.
A new image options section will appear. Select Extended Windows 11 Installation here. Next, select the MBR or GPT partition scheme depending on your PC’s disk partition scheme.
The rest of the options don’t have to be tweaked to make it work, but you can make changes if you know what you’re doing.
Now press the Start button, and the app will create a bootable USB drive that will not test TPM or Secure Boot support.
5. Edit Windows 10 Bootable USB Drive
This method is complex and erroneous, but it is the only way to install Windows 11 on older PCs with BIOS.
We will use a Windows 10 bootable USB drive and modify it to install Windows 11 instead.
The installer will assume it is installing Windows 10 and will check the exact requirements, but you will install Windows 11 instead.
Step A:
You must first mount Windows 11 ISO. You can select the mount on Windows 8, 8.1, or 10 by right-clicking on the file. On older versions, you need to use mounting software such as WinCDEmu.
Step B:
Once installed, go to the source folder inside Windows 11 and copy the install file.wim (Ctrl + C).
Step C:
Open the bootable Windows 10 USB drive in File Explorer and go to its source folder.
Step D:
Delete the file named install. esd and paste the install.wim file that you just copied. If Windows reports an error that the file is too large to transfer, you must first convert your USB to the NTFS file system.
Step E:
Click Change How to Download Windows Setup Update and select Not Now.
Step F:
Click Next and Windows will ask you to accept the terms and conditions, and then it will tell you which you will install a version of Windows 11 and what data you want to keep.
Step G:
After selecting, Windows will go through the installation process and restart the PC.
Once restarted, it will ask you to upgrade existing Windows or install it on a new drive. Make sure you select Upgrade to live Windows here.
Final Thoughts
The First method is the best because it can handle all these complex tasks automatically, and you will not have to risk changing your computer.
Although nothing works for you, the third method will work as long as your PC can handle installing Windows 10.
