Let's install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware

spapakons said:

Why install an Insider's Preview version? Unless you want to see the upcoming features I recommend sticking with the official release version. Especially in an unsupported computer.

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I use my seriously well below spec Acer AOD270 netbook as a yardstick - not because I need to run W11 on it (it's happier running 32-bit W10) but because if it can run on that it should run on anything. I upgraded from 21H2 to 22H2 release preview in post #854 without any issues.

Well done. Have a drink

What's the latest on running W11 on incompatible hardware? I was running it on a 5th generation processor, but that computer has been out of use for a few months (needing some repairs). Is W11 still running fine since latest updates?

Hazel123 said:

I was running it on a 5th generation processor..... Is W11 still running fine since latest updates?

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Yes. The latest updates don't seem to cause any problems. I have 22000.778 running well on a 1st gen i5, and the 22H2 Release Preview build 22621.169 running on a Celeron N2930 (Bay Trail, from Q1 2014).

Hazel123 said:

What's the latest on running W11 on incompatible hardware? I was running it on a 5th generation processor, but that computer has been out of use for a few months (needing some repairs). Is W11 still running fine since the latest updates?

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22H2 is running in my VM and on my old Toshiba Satellite A210. All are up to date with no issues! I have installed Windows 11 22H2 on a number of test machines using clean install and upgrade methods. I haven't found an issue yet in either of them.

Thanks :)

21H2 running great on my desktop..... on the General Availability channel.

What is the general availability channel?

Fancy wording for the regular channel..... not an insider. :}

I have installed Windows 11 Pro v21H2 on my test laptop (see 1st system specs) and updated up to 22000.778 without any issue. Except for the first time at installation, never was another compatibility check. I didn't have to use any hack to install the updates.

Hazel123 said:

What's the latest on running W11 on incompatible hardware? I was running it on a 5th generation processor, but that computer has been out of use for a few months (needing some repairs). Is W11 still running fine since latest updates?

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Everything is still running fine for Windows 11 on incompatible computers. Just two days back I got a feature update on Beta Insiders channel and the upgrade to Window 11 22H2 (OS Build 22622.290) took place without a hitch.

I am running Windows 11 on my test laptop with Intel Core 2 Duo dual core unsupported system (see my 1st system specs) and on my main PC with 3rd generation Intel Core i7 3770 unsupported system (see my 2nd system specs). Both installations are on Legacy BIOS mode (MBR) without TPM 2.0 without Secure Boot. My laptop doesn't even have WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, only WDDM 1.x, so is the most unsupported. Both computers run the official 21H2 release (not Insiders or Dev) and updated to the latest available update, I have even installed the new optional update up to 22000.778 Never was any warning about compatibility. I never had to hack anything to install Windows updates. I used a hybrid Windows 10/11 USB Flash drive to bypass compatibility check for the initial installation only. Never had to hack again. I just search with Windows Update and install anything it finds (except optional drivers of course, so as not to break anything). If you wonder what is the oldest possible system you can install Windows 11 on, I have already said on an earlier post that it is an old Intel Pentium 4 6xx socket 775 64-bit (yes, that is one of the first Intel 64-bit CPUs) with 2GB RAM and IDE hard disk (not even SATA). As long as you can find at least Vista 64-bit drivers for the graphics (that is at least WDDM 1.0) and you have an Intel 64-bit or AMD 64-bit CPU, you can install Windows 11 on. The exception are the first generation AMD 64 CPUs that lack the necessary instructions to install Windows 8.0 64-bit or higher. These either take up to Windows 7 64-bit or Windows 10 32-bit.

PS: If there is no WDDM 1.0 or higher graphics driver, then Windows use Microsoft Basic Display Adapter which has no hardware acceleration (all visual effects are done in software) so the CPU usage is always high and the system is slower than with a WDDM graphics card. To improve performance just disable all useless visual effects such as transparency and fades.

I may go to stable again because I turned off updates for weeks now.

I'm contemplating whether to put 10 or 11 on our boy's recently fixed HP Spectre X360. It would be for school work and the odd game. On the one hand 10 would be the safer bet, if he saves his schoolwork on it. On the other hand he will see 10 as "old hat" and want the latest OS!

Or - might just keep it as my Windows 11 test machine and buy him a new one. But that costs money.

Hazel123 said:

Or - might just keep it as my Windows 11 test machine and buy him a new one. But that costs money.

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Or maybe a used one? I get all mine from Cash Converters, supported devices start at around £120. This is just one example, with 8GB RAM and an 8th gen i5. (it's missing its battery though, but it's a Dell so should be easy to replace)

Install Windows 11 to have the latest. As said a million times before, an unsupported PC running Windows 11 is EXACTLY as much safe as it would be running Windows 10 64-bit with the same applications and same settings. You gain NOTHING in terms of security by installing Windows 11 even on a supported PC. All these advertised security features are already present in Windows 10 64-bit. All you have to do is enable them. In Windows 11 the SAME features are enabled by default and as an extra security measure Windows Setup won't proceed unless these features (UEFI, Secure Boot TPM 2.0) are enabled, unless of course you bypass check like most of us. Needless to say that all Windows 10 64-bit drivers also work in 11 as do all Windows Vista 64-buit and 7 64-bit and 8 64-bit drivers with some known exceptions (such as Intel graphics drivers for Windows 7 64-bit). If it works in 10, it also works in 11 with very rare exceptions.

Thanks. It had 11 on it before the hard drive died and was running fine. I was always slightly apprehensive that Microsoft might suddenly knobble unsupported hardware with an update.

Good point Bree - not easy to find cheaper used ones with 8th generation on processors though. I am tempted to put 11 on it and it be his schoolwork computer anyway - could get dropped and broken! I know what he really wants is something like the HP Envy 13 which has a token gesture of MX450 Nvidia Graphics (for playing some games as well). Minecraft is about the only thing that works with integrated graphics.

Buy a relatively a refurbished PC with at least 8GB RAM and SSD and add a medium graphics card. He will be able to play many games without giving a fortune for a gaming PC

Hazel123 said:

Good point Bree - not easy to find cheaper used ones with 8th generation on processors though.

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Since I started looking for (and found) what became my System One to replace my aged but reliable old 'main machine' I've kept my eye on Cash Converters to see what bargains may turn up. Sometimes they are too good to miss, that's how I found my 'System Three' (I squeezed its specs it into 'Other Info') with its 32GB RAM and a 10th gen i7.

If you have the patience it's well worth watching and waiting.......

With help from a modified installer from Tom's Hardware this 10 year old Thinkpad has been running W11 just fine - time I thought for it to join Windows Insiders. No go though, joining Insiders in Win 11 triggers another hardware check. I s'pose I could take it back to W10 and join Insiders from there, then reinstall 11 but that's a heck of a lot of effort. Do I have any other option? Not my main machine btw.