Microsoft said my PC was 'too old' to run Windows 11 - how I upgraded in 5 minutes anyway

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 10 earlier this month.
• Many PCs with Windows 10 don't walk Microsoft's strict request check.
• It's imaginable to bypass this and instal Windows 11 successful 10 casual steps.

I built my existent desktop backmost successful 2020, and it's had Windows 10 installed for the duration of its lifecycle. I went with what was -- astatine the clip -- a solid, midrange Asus motherboard and Intel Core i9-9900 CPU, some of which inactive execute rather good successful 2025. 

Also: How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 - 2 escaped options

But there's 1 problem: This motherboard -- and galore retired determination conscionable similar it -- is close connected the cusp of being eligible for Windows 11. It doesn't person a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) mentation 2.0, truthful Microsoft deems it ineligible for Windows 11. 

The TPM is simply a unafraid cryptoprocessor and an important constituent of your PC, designed to mitigate information risks and grip encryption keys connected the system. However, the mean PC idiosyncratic is not apt to beryllium acquainted with TPM, and this is the lone happening keeping my different coagulated PC from upgrading. 

In the weeks and days starring up to Windows 10's nonaccomplishment of enactment connected Oct. 14, I experienced first-hand the pop-ups and notifications from Microsoft nudging maine that "It's clip to bargain a caller PC." Microsoft is hoping consumers volition forgo dealing with the imaginable headache of an upgrade and conscionable fork implicit the wealth for a caller PC to "get up to speed" with Windows 11. 

But if you're similar maine and person a PC that would different tally Windows 11 conscionable fine, don't springiness up truthful fast. There are workarounds, and we've covered them extensively astatine ZDNET. Senior Editor Ed Bott wrote a comprehensive usher connected however to upgrade your "incompatible" PC to Windows 11, and it's helped galore of our readers (just instrumentality a look astatine the comments) upgrade systems that were initially deemed ineligible -- myself included. 

Also: Windows 11 upgrade not working? Try my 4 favourite troubleshooting tricks

The method that worked for maine -- and the 1 I stake applies to astir folks with a PC astir 5 years aged -- involves 10 abbreviated steps and the third-party programme Rufus. 

This method is astir apt to beryllium your champion stake if...

• Your PC is from astir 2020.
• Your hardware is successful different bully health.
• Windows says your strategy is not eligible due to the fact that of the TPM check.
• Your PC different meets each the different requirements (enough storage, etc.).

Note: You volition request an bare USB thumb thrust with astatine slightest 8GB of retention abstraction connected it. Don't hide to determination everything disconnected the thumb drive; otherwise, it volition beryllium deleted successful this process.   

10 steps to instal Windows 11

1. Download Rufus.
2. Go here and download the Windows 11 multi-edition ISO nether "Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices" to the Downloads folder connected your PC. 
3. Insert your bare thumb thrust and motorboat Rufus. 
4. In Rufus, prime your thumb thrust successful the Device menu. Under Boot Selection, click "Disk oregon ISO image."
5. Click Select and find the Windows 11 ISO record you conscionable downloaded to your Downloads folder.
6. Click Start. 
7. When the Windows User Experience model pops up, marque definite the archetypal container is checked: "Remove request for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0". The remainder of the boxes are up to your preference.
8. Click OK, and past Start.
9. Once it's done, unfastened up the USB thrust successful File Explorer. Double-click Setup. This volition tally the Windows 11 installation. 
10. A last step: When the "Install Windows 11" model pops up, click "Change however Setup downloads updates" and marque definite you prime "Not close now." Click Next and spell done with the remainder of the installation.

At this point, your machine volition exit Windows and participate the OS installer, which could instrumentality immoderate time. It'll restart a fewer times during this process, which is normal. If each goes good -- and it should! -- your PC volition footwear up into a caller mentation of Windows 11. 

Also: Windows 10's last update is simply a large 1 - with a grounds 173 bug fixes

If you person immoderate issues during this installation, I urge reviewing the comprehensive guide oregon our Windows 11 troubleshooting guide. 

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