You would probably be aware that there are quite a few methods available that allow users to install Windows 11 on PCs that do not meet the necessary requirements. A new version of Rufus, the popular bootable media creation tool, has recently been released which will automatically bypass certain requirements when creating Windows 11 bootable media.
The comparatively newer multi-boot tool Ventoy has also released a method whereby Windows 11 requirements can be bypassed, although it does involve a somewhat complicated procedure. Then there are the numerous publications across the web detailing registry hacks to overcome requirements.
There have also been many warnings from Microsoft that the company would not provide updates for Windows 11 installed on PCs that do not meet requirements. However, reports are coming in from users that they are still receiving updates even when their PCs do not meet requirements.
The question is — while these requirement bypass methods and Windows Update appear to be working at this point in time, will Microsoft eventually stick to its guns and no longer honor these installations? Bearing in mind that Microsoft has consistently stood by its harsh requirements and repeatedly warned that Windows 11 installations on unsupported PCs will not receive any updates.
Remembering Update KB4023057
I can’t help thinking of update KB4023057 which Microsoft released regularly and often to reverse measures taken by users to block or control Windows Updates. No doubt Microsoft has the means to continue checking requirements for Windows 11 installations on unsupported PCs and maybe, just maybe, will eventually deprecate these installations in some way. Possible ramifications include:
- De-activating installations that do not meet requirements… or
- Not supporting these installations with Windows updates… or
- Both
I don’t have a crystal ball, of course, and can only suggest that installing Windows 11 on PCs that do not meet requirements is a risky business. If Microsoft does indeed decide to take action against these installations, there is no going back to Windows 10 and users might well be stuck with a partially functioning Windows 11.
BOTTOM LINE:
My advice for users running PCs that do not meet Windows 11 requirements would be to stick with Windows 10 for now and wait and see what happens. And, if you simply can’t wait and want to install Windows 11 now, please create a full system image backup of your existing Windows 10 installation beforehand.
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Windows 10 is still fully supported till October 2025. Why would you force an installation of something that’s probably going to give you some problem when what you currently have is working fine and is fully supported?
As a Microsoft insider, I’ve used Windows 11 for quite some time and outside of some security updates and a few cosmetic updates, there really isn’t anything earth shattering in Windows 11 that warrants forcing onto a system that isn’t ready for that new OS.
Either wait till 2025 or, buy a system that’s ready for Windows 11.
The advice offered to create an image backup is a sound one and should be followed, just in case.
Hey Norbert,
There is always a large group of users who are keen to install the latest Windows, always has been, always will be. I remember before the days of digital delivery when long queues lined up outside stores to get their hands on the latest Windows DVD.
I did it just to see what would happen. I used Microsoft’s registry bypass. I just received the out of band update yesterday and everything is fine. Why do you say there would be no going back to Win 10? I made a full system backup with the AOMEI Backupper beforehand and it’s sitting on the secondary hard drive. I’m sure I would be able to use that to revert back.
It’s true that there doesn’t seem to be much difference than 10, yet. There are changes upcoming though that will make it much more of a different OS. There really is no difference for me other than cosmetic because of how I use my computers. I don’t do video chats, don’t use multiple or split screens, don’t need widgets, I basically just use the same features that have been present since Windows 98 was the norm. I surf, do email, and play some high end games. That’s about it. The only things that interest me about 11 are the upcoming promised gaming enhancements. I don’t how much longer I’m going to stay with 11 on this laptop but I’m pretty sure I will do the upgrade on my gaming desktop that fully qualifies when it is offered through Windows Update.
“Why do you say there would be no going back to Win 10?”
No rollback option. Microsoft has made it clear that once Windows 11 has been installed for 10 days or more users cannot rollback.
“I made a full system backup with the AOMEI Backupper beforehand and it’s sitting on the secondary hard drive. I’m sure I would be able to use that to revert back.”
Did you not read the very last line of the article (in bold)?
And Donald better also hope that nothing goes wrong with his secondary hard drive image sitting inside his PC – that would include hard drive age/wear failures or any other form of random corruption that can happen the very next time he turns his PC on !
Unless you really don’t care about potential data loss never ever rely on a single backup image on hard drive that is inside the PC. You always need one (or more) “offsite” backups.
I have never had a hard drive fail or get corrupted so I’m not worried.
“I have never had a hard drive fail or get corrupted so I’m not worried.”
What a brilliant piece of logic that is.
The no roll back option is nothing new. Every time you upgrade to a new version, you have 10 days before the Windows Old directory gets automatically deleted. You can revert within those 10 days but not after. This has always been the case.
Did I say it was something new?
There are many users who might not be aware of the 10-day rollback period Donald, just because you know doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone knows.
I have several computers (desktops and laptops) that I enjoy tinkering with. My oldest (a desktop) has Linux Mint installed. The rest have Windows 10. My Intel desktops and laptops are unsupported (too old) for any Win11 upgrade. One of the desktops and one of the laptops meet all of the Windows 11 upgrade requirements — except that their respective AMD CPUs are unsupported. Since I only keep my data on the AMD desktop (backed up elsewhere), I downloaded the Win11 ISO and followed Microsoft’s instructions for installing it onto my unsupported AMD laptop. I chose the option to save data, but not to save programs. The upgrade installed quickly, activated and worked perfectly. The first thing I did afterwards was to run Windows Update, which installed several updates; since I also opted in for driver updates, it included those as well. I did have to roll back one of the drivers (for AMD graphics), but otherwise this was a successful upgrade. If at some future point Microsoft reverses itself and deactivates this PC or refuses to offer Windows updates, I will just wipe the hard drive and either reinstall Windows 10 or install Linux. Nice experiment so far!
Hey Elliott,
Sounds like you’re all over it. Thanks for the interesting info, appreciated.