Let's install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware

BobOmb said:

The latest version retrieved and is included with this: GitHub - illsk1lls/Win-11-Download-Prep-Tool: Downloads the latest Win 11 x64 ISO direct from MS - Then SysPreps each index, removing: Network requirements during install, TPM requirements, S-Mode, and RAM requirements.

It gets the latest fido to generate a direct MS link then edits the ISO adding AveYo's TPM bypass to the root, for easy in place upgrades on incompatble machines, it also adds an update reset script in case dynamic(through windows update) updates have issues.

You can also find the link directly for it in the readme/description on the github page

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Other than borrowing Fido (which is built into Rufus itself as a hidden feature), the script does a lot of things which can be done using an unattended file. The one exception is bypass HW requirements for an in-place upgrade, but that reg file is already available on ElevenForums.

Kim Parker said:

I think I will wait for 25H2 myself, sounds good. Never heard of Microsoft points. Looked it up, and as you said you have to have a Microsoft Account, then use Bing to search. Are the points from there on added up automatically? There is supposed to be a dashboard, how to find that?

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I don't use Edge and my points were shown in my Microsoft account - I already have over 1000 for some reason (maybe from subscriptions or products bought over the years). I can't remember how I found them in the MS account. I think you just look down the list of categories in your account and find a rewards heading. After clicking on that they showed up at the top of the web page.

Kim Parker said:

Can it come to a stop then? Rather than continue the install. I want to practice in a virtual, using Vmware Workstation.
Thanks

Click to expand...

it doesn't continue the install, it re-creates the ISO from Microsoft, it has to edit each index (edition; i.e. Pro, Education, Home.. there are usually 11) to save the settings it changes like the classic right click option, etc. etc.

You can just get Aveyo's script directly if you want to skip the ISO creation and use a regular Windows ISO, personally I like all of the settings included in the script, and it creates a maximally compatible ISO regardless of version, just in case you drop an older one

when it's done a freshly downloaded/re-authored ISO will be in the same folder as the script

spapakons said:

With both disks connected, probably the old disk (Windows 10 MBR) had higher boot priority, so it became C: drive. Windows 11 boot but then try to load Windows from the old disk and fail. Go in UEFI firmware and make sure the new disk (Windows 11 GPT) has higher priority and try to boot again. If it fails, probably the drive letter is other than C: and you have to fix it. You can download Sergei Strelec WinPE, create a bootable USB flash drive with Rufus and boot it. There are several options including boot into Windows 11 WinPE or Windows 10 WinPE. Choose either and then wait to load. Click on the start button to open start menu with a lot of tools. Find the one to fix drive letters and run it.

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Boot priority shouldn't be the case...as i have disabled the legacy mode, that disk is not at all present in the bootable devices' list

Maybe there's a conflict? Could it be enabled and the boot priority set?

inwell said:

Boot priority shouldn't be the case...as i have disabled the legacy mode, that disk is not at all present in the bootable devices' list

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You may have disabled CSM, but make sure Windows Boot Loader is before anything else. Also the order of the disks matters.

spapakons said:

You may have disabled CSM, but make sure Windows Boot Loader is before anything else. Also the order of the disks matters.

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PS: That's one of the reasons I insist the Windows disk is always connected at SATA0 (if SATA model) and every other SATA device at the next SATA ports. So even if the BIOS is reset for some reason, the Windows disk has always higher priority by order of appearance and I avoid such conflicts. One of my colleagues argues this is not necessary in modern Windows systems, as it boots right no matter where you connect it. He might be right, but better safe than sorry! It doesn't harm to connect it at SATA0 to always have top priority and minimize the risk of something going wrong. For the same reason I always make sure the DVD-RW drive (if any) is always connected to SATA1, so it is always after the hard disk. Compare IDE Primary Master for the HDD and IDE Secondary Master for the CD-ROM in older systems. Connecting the HDD (or SSD) and DVD-RW in that order has saved me many times of similar issues to the OP. Been there done that. I Always make sure the Windows disk is connected to the lower possible SATA port to always have higher priority over other devices. If it is connected on another storage controller, such as a PCIe SATA port or M.2, NVMe, whatever, I always make sure this storage controller has higher boot priority over local SATA ports before booting for the first time.

spapakons said:

You may have disabled CSM, but make sure Windows Boot Loader is before anything else. Also the order of the disks matters.

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There is no csm option available. Just 2 options
Legacy Bios and UEFI . If you enable Legacy Bios, You see the older mbr hdd, usb, cd rom, like options in boot device list else only the uefi entries.

i have to try these 2 following options i guess
1. Enable legacy mode and try to boot from new uefi drive. If that fails, Enable legacy mode and install windows again in UEFI mode with keeping the older mbr disk present in the system at the time of installation.
2.Enable legacy mode and freshly clean install new windows in MBR mode...
Lets see what works for this laptop

I'm confused as I didn't know you could have legacy mode and uefi enabled at the same time! My fallback if something doesn't work is - start again and try something different - as you probably are doing.

Legacy BIOS mode, aka CSM (Compatibility Support Module) is the same thing. Name depends on UEFI firmware, most manufacturers use CSM.

All these are not necessary and he risks damaging his working Windows 11 installation. First make sure the Windows 11 disk has higher priority and boot the PC. If that fails, check again by pressing F11 (or F8 or whatever, check User Guide) to get the Boot menu and select Windows Boot Loader. If that fails, probably the drive letter is not C as it should, just use the appropriate tool in Strelec (see my earlier post) to fix the drive letters, so Windows 11 disk boots properly.

spapakons said:

Legacy BIOS mode, aka CSM (Compatibility Support Module) is the same thing. Name depends on UEFI firmware, most manufacturers use CSM.

All these are not necessary and he risks damaging his working Windows 11 installation. First make sure the Windows 11 disk has higher priority and boot the PC. If that fails, check again by pressing F11 (or F8 or whatever, check User Guide) to get the Boot menu and select Windows Boot Loader. If that fails, probably the drive letter is not C as it should, just use the appropriate tool in Strelec (see my earlier post) to fix the drive letters, so Windows 11 disk boots properly.

Click to expand...

Windows 11 (new uefi) installation boots past logon screen, with only cursor displayed so i am hoping that it is not likely the drive letter issue..but still I will check that too

No harm to check it. After 3-4 failed attempts to load Windows, you see the Troubleshooting screen. From there select Troubleshoot and then Advanced Startup Options. Restart and select 4 Safe Mode. See if the computer boots in Safe Mode. From there uninstall any drivers, disable startup applications and restart.