Let's install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware

ExBrit · Jan 28, 2024

Nor do I.

Hazel123 · Jan 28, 2024

spapakons said:
Microsoft provides a WDDM 1.0 (Vista version) graphics driver for old Intel onboard graphics, such as 945G I guess your Acer Aspire One has, or the Intel Mobile 4 family (aka GMA 4500) I have on my test laptop (1st system specs). This allows you to set the native resolution of the display and provides hardware acceleration. However there are third-party drivers for Windows 10 64-bit (that also work in Windows 11) that provide the full functionality of the Windows 7 drivers and access to Intel Graphics Properties. The official Intel drivers for Windows 7 are locked by Intel to prevent installing on Windows 8 or higher. These third-party drivers are a hacked version of the Windows 7 drivers to remove this restriction and install on Windows 8, 10 and 11.

Regarding Windows 11 23H2, if you already run Windows 11 22H2 you can install all updates to reach build 22621.1506 or higher, then you can install the 23H2 Enablement Package as mentioned to upgrade to 23H2 without doing the full upgrade. This method doesn't check compatibility and needs no tricks on unsupported computers.

I'm on I'm on 22000.2538 and it's been saying Windows is up to date all day.

Hazel123 · Jan 28, 2024

It seems I'm only on 21H2 - yet says no more updates.

Hazel123 · Jan 28, 2024

So what would happen if I burned the latest windows 11 iso with rufus? Would that install?

Bree · Jan 28, 2024

Hazel123 said:
It seems I'm only on 21H2 - yet says no more updates.

21H2 has reached end of servicing, so there are no more CUs for Windows Update to find. An unsupported device won't be offered a Feature Update, so the only way forward is to do a manual in-place upgrade.

Hazel123 said:
So what would happen if I burned the latest windows 11 iso with rufus? Would that install?

Yes, as long as you set it up to bypass the checks for a supported device you should be able to do an in-place upgrade.

Personally I've never bothered to use Rufus, I did all my in-place upgrades with an unmodified ISO made by the MCT. I used the appraiseres.dll workaround, as I described in post #1,851

Hazel123 · Jan 28, 2024

I find Rufus easier

Just making it now .....

Hazel123 · Jan 28, 2024

The latest version of Rufus allows you to bypass setting up a Microsoft account, as well as bypassing, TPM, Security and 4gb ram requirement.

spapakons · Jan 28, 2024

You can upgrade directly from 21H2 to 23H2, but you won't see this option in Windows Update for an unsupported computer. You need to manually download the 23H2 ISO, disconnect from the internet, run Setup to create the hidden folder, and then replace the hidden file C:\$Windows\sources\appraiserres.dll with an empty fake to bypass compatibility check. Using Rufus to create the USB flash drive saves you this step as the file is already replaced. Then proceed with the upgrade and stay disconnected from the internet until it is completed.

As far as I know there is no third-party graphics driver for Intel GMA 3600, you are stuck with Microsoft's drivers from Windows Update. If it is a desktop or tower just add a cheap VGA card to use that instead.

Hazel123 · Jan 28, 2024

I have a 64 bit Vista graphics driver that does the job

I can't remember who recommended it a long time ago. I have the 23H2 ISO and just used Rufus to install it to usb with the bypasses.

spapakons · Jan 29, 2024

My test laptop (1st system specs) is proof that Windows 11 work on every computer you can install Windows 8 64-bit. This is all Intel 64-bit CPUs or AMD-64 second generation and higher with at least 2GB RAM (1GB might work but it will be too slow to use). First generation AMD-64 lack specific instructions so they cannot run Windows 8 64-bit or higher, they are limited to either Windows 7 64-bit or Windows 8/10 32-bit. Likewise all Pentium III 700MHz or Pentium 4 up to Prescott socket 478 and respective AMDs with at least 512MB RAM can run Windows Vista and 7 32-bit despite what Microsoft wants you to believe. As you suspect "minimum" specs are far from true minimum. Microsoft's usual trick to boost computer sales.

Hazel123 · Jan 29, 2024

I’ve installed 24H2 on the Eee pc. And done all updates. Just about everything is fine except an issue with Explorer - a blank section along the top where the ribbon should be and files don’t open in explorer.

I installed with a local account but an update took me to partial OOBE again and required signing in with a Microsoft account. I did that anyway just to see if explorer came right but it didn’t.

Bree · Jan 29, 2024

Hazel123 said:
I’ve installed 24H2....

I think you mean 23H2... :wink:

Hazel123 said:
I installed with a local account but an update took me to partial OOBE again and required signing in with a Microsoft account.

Yes, by default it may 'Show the Windows welcome experience after updates...'. Turn that off here:

Hazel123 · Jan 29, 2024

Yes I was on my phone and it gives terrible typos! Some are me, some are the stupid suggested spelling thing. I did mean 23H2! So I need to turn off that notification before doing updates then as it just booted up to the OOBE offers.

Any idea what to do about explorer? I was wondering if it’s just the netbook now cant handle everything - or if others have had similar and Windows is knobbling installs for unsupported hardware?

Bree · Jan 29, 2024

Hazel123 said:
Any idea what to do about explorer?

Of all the unsupported devices I have that are running Windows 11, I have just one that has that same 'blank ribbon in Explorer' problem at times. I've not found the cause yet, but suspect it may well be a graphics driver issue. If you want to compare specs, its my System Two below.

I have found a way to get it working for a while though, but for how long it will stay working I can't promise - probably until the next reboot.

Open Task Manager. On the Processes tab find Windows Explorer (easiest way is to type in the Search box). Then click on 'Restart task'.

Hazel123 · Jan 29, 2024

Thank you. Yes it may well be the graphics driver and windows may have become too feature heavy for the old driver perhaps. Although it is just explorer.

spapakons · Jan 29, 2024

Try installing Explorer Patcher and change the default Windows 11 theme in File Explorer to Windows 10. See if that helps.

Hazel123 · Jan 29, 2024

How do I change the default explorer theme?

spapakons · Jan 29, 2024

If you download and install Explorer Patcher, you go to settings, File Explorer.

Hazel123 · Jan 29, 2024

Bree said:
Of all the unsupported devices I have that are running Windows 11, I have just one that has that same 'blank ribbon in Explorer' problem at times. I've not found the cause yet, but suspect it may well be a graphics driver issue. If you want to compare specs, its my System Two below.

I have found a way to get it working for a while though, but for how long it will stay working I can't promise - probably until the next reboot.

Open Task Manager. On the Processes tab find Windows Explorer (easiest way is to type in the Search box). Then click on 'Restart task'.

View attachment 85465

No that didn’t do it unfortunately. It’s not very useable at the moment. I can double click on a file to open it but right click won’t work in file explorer. It’s also very sluggish generally now. I guess the graphics driver isn’t up to scratch any more. With 21H2 on it it was running nicely.