How To Install Windows 11 On Older PCs

How to install Windows 11 when check says unable to?

Well, I am always one who is curious whether it is Ubuntu Linux or Windows OS. And talking about Windows 11, I can't just sit down and wait while others have all the fun (and headache!).

I'll go straight to the point. While the PC Health Check app may say that this PC is unable to install Windows 11, the requirements that the check is looking for is the ideal scenario where all the features and functionalities will run properly and smoothly.

N.B.: PC Health Check was taken down after WhyNotWin11 proved better, providing more details to the user than the other guy.

And I am writing this article to say that millions of old, older and even newer computers don't meet that requirement. My latest laptop is an HP EliteBook 755 G3 which uses an AMD processor, and this machine passes the WhyNotWin11 list except for the CPU Compatibility item. The best I own so far is an 8-year-old HP Envy TS15 laptop that uses an i7-4910MQ processor after I replaced the original i7-4700MQ CPU. And this particular laptop fails CPU compatibility and TPM checks. And I have other older laptops from different manufacturers like Asus, Acer, eMachines (yeap, this is now under Acer), some more HP models, etc.

So what I'm saying is that it is possible to install Windows 11 on older PCs, even those that do not pass the check. In fact, none of my laptops pass the check. Really! And to be honest, Microsoft is also eager to know how Windows 11 will fare on older machines, at least those devices just within 5 years, and at most for those even way older than that. 

Good thing we have some enthusiasts who know what to do, and they share that knowledge with the world.

I've been following articles on Windows 11 ever since it was announced for release. When? That doesn't matter now. Some really are good in simply attracting internet traffic but giving nothing in return. But when I came upon this article in zdnet.com, How to bypass Windows 11 limits and install on almost any old PC, that's where I started getting some tangible results (as if I can hold Windows 11, eh). Nah, I mean, I was either able to do an inline upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 (HP EliteBook 755 G3 laptop) or do a clean install using USB device (for all my other laptops).

First note: Windows 11 becomes like Android now in the sense that previous devices are listed as possible sources of back-up with which you can install settings and apps from.

How to download the installer file is from xda.developers.com's article, How to install Windows 11 on almost any unsupported PC, as mentioned in the zdnet.com article. And how to bypass the check during install is from bleepingcomputer.com's article, How to bypass the Windows 11 TPM 2.0 requirement. As I said, after reading and following several earlier posts and articles, this is where I was able to really install Windows 11, either through inline upgrade or a clean install.

To be honest, I got most of the help from the XDA article, telling and explaining more than I am willing to know now. But the one that helped me most is the tool OfflineInsiderEnroll, which automates Windows Insider enrolment, even bypassing the Windows 11 checks and getting you in through the backdoor. That's what I call ethical hacking!

After install, I switched to Beta Channel, and I'm all set.

Second note: Windows 11 has slightly rounded corners, so you would know right away those applications that don't follow the new Windows 11 scheme as they retain the unrounded corners, Hey, Office 365 does not, so it affects Microsoft applications, too. WhatsApp sports a rounded corner, but Visual Studio (2013, 2015, 2019, 2022 Preview) all have sharp mitred corners.

Third note: Windows 11 is faster than Windows 10, that is why after I had it installed in the supposedly 'newer' or better laptops, I had to try it on the really old laptops. I have a 2008 Compaq V3000 machine, and it is fitted with a 1TB HDD, 4GB RAM. Pretty the basic specs for an old laptop. And my Asus U36J unit, while having a 1TB SSD, is using 2x 2GB 1066 RAM sticks. And yes, Windows 11 installed successfully on these 2 machines! (Total I installed Windows 11 on 8 machines).

So how did I download the installer? I had to read the XDA article a number of times, until I saw the UUP Dump link somewhere near the bottom end. When on the page, click on Dev Channel and select the Windows 11 flavor you want to install (14 to select from as of this writing). Just make sure that the architecture you pick is matching your unit's capability. UEFI or BIOS comes later, and that is via Rufus when you finally create the USB installer. When you go this way, please be patient, and plug in your laptop as the download will take some time. An hour? Could be more or less,

Well, I end here. While I open the door, I leave the rest of the steps for you to test and know. I'm sure being able to install Windows 11 on your machine and your favorite applications after will leave you curiouser and curiouser. I almost forgot to say I wrote this article using one of the laptops running Windows 11.

Till then!