Let's install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware

Bree said:

Almost all touch screens are Corning Gorilla Glass, and the 11e is no exception. It seemed bright enough for me.

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Thanks - I'll just have to hope it's a bit better than the dell one then!

Bree said:

Your link lists processors that OEM's are allowed to use in new PCs to be supplied with 24H2. The Pentium Silver N5000 is not on that list.

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It is not just OEM.

Example is the AMD list there is Ryzen retail CPU on the list like 3800X and 7700X which I still have.

At least it comes with Windows 10 Pro. So it'll have 11 Pro. Not that I'd need Pro on it!

KevTech said:

It is not just OEM.

Example is the AMD list there is Ryzen retail CPU on the list like 3800X and 7700X which I still have.

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Again, you are linking to the 'Windows 11 24H2' lists, specifically for OEMs to use in new 24H2 PCs. My links are to the 'Windows 11' supported lists, a more comprehensive list of all supported processors, some of which OEMs are no longer allowed to use in new PCs - but are still supported for use with W11.

This has caused much confusion, leading some in the press to claim that MS has removed support for 8th gen Intel CPUs - that's not the case.

Hazel123 said:

At least it comes with Windows 10 Pro. So it'll have 11 Pro. Not that I'd need Pro on it!

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Mine came with an embedded key for Windows 10 Pro Education, but a Pro Education key is equally valid for and will activate Pro.

Hazel123 said:

How is the screen? When I tried the Dell 11 equivalent, it was nice, but the screen was so bad I could hardly see anything. Thick toughened glass and washed out colours.

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This means the screen was not working at its native resolution or that the laptop didn't have proper graphics drivers installed. Install proper graphics drivers from manufacturer, not Windows Update, make sure you set the maximum resolution supported by the monitor and everything should be much clearer. Also adjust the Cleartype to improve readability.

spapakons said:

This means the screen was not working at its native resolution or that the laptop didn't have proper graphics drivers installed. Install proper graphics drivers from manufacturer, not Windows Update, make sure you set the maximum resolution supported by the monitor and everything should be much clearer. Also adjust the Cleartype to improve readability.

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Thank you.

The lenovo yoga 11e arrived. I do like the keyboard but am probably going to send it back. Firstly it arrived without an operating system (it was sold as having Windows 10 installed).

Secondly there was the odd warning came up when exiting bios (one about tpm and one about something else. I reset bios to defaults, and went to install Windows. It wouldn't install on the drive, so I used parted magic to check the drive partitions and found the drive wasn't even formatted to msdos. So formatted it to msdos and then to ntfs. Went to install windows again and it still said it couldn't install on the drive. Further info said because the drive is mbr and uefi needs gpt.

Couldn't find anything in bios about switching from mbr to gpt and bios said it was uefi, so used cmd to change the drive to gpt, then installed windows.

Did msinfo32 and no mention of TPM (which showed as enabled in bios). It just said something about pcr7 binding not possible (google told me that might be because secure boot was off). Cmd told me TPM was enabled.

So - I then decided to erase the drive (as an afterthought), install Windows again and turn on secure boot and just see what msinfo32 said then.

Secure erase for nvme didn't work. As in it didn't wipe anything. Google says this might be because the drive is encrypted. At least the bios stopped having warnings by then.

So I'm not keen on the idea of not being able to erase a drive because it's encrypted. Parted magic said use PSID but I'd need to open the machine and find the number on the drive (and in past experience that hasn't worked either). I guess if keeping it, the easiest thing would be to just change the drive.

So I can probably sort it out - but if I do want to send it back I have good reason to as it came without an operating system. I don't particularly want to take the back off and replace the drive (and I don't think it's a standard nvme but one of those small ones - which I don't have). Also they are torx screws on the back.

I'm in two minds about it anyway! I do like the keyboard, the screen is ok - but it is not small! It's almost as big as my 14" laptop and slightly bigger than my 12" mini laptop. It is also really quite heavy. It's not that light and portable basically, like a 10" netbook - and I'm not sure it's small enough to need as a second device as not much smaller than my 14" laptop. But - I do like the keyboard!

Bought it from a computer company online.

When on setup screen press SHIFT+F10 to open a Command Prompt. Execute:
This should delete all partitions on the drive and leave it unallocated. Try to install Windows again. No need to create any partitions, just click on the unallocated space and click next to proceed.

Thanks yes I was able to clean the disk and set it to gpt and install windows I'm more concerned with having an encrypted drive that can't be erased.

So I turned secure boot on in bios and msinfo32 now says PCR7 "Binding possible" - but still no mention of TPM - ie it doesn't show up (although cmd says it's enabled).

I think - as I don't want to spend money on a new drive that is an odd size - and I'm wary of an encrypted drive containing malware (that can't be erased). I'd probably better send it back.

I was able to install Windows 11 with Rufus' bypass options on my PC, but the programs take like 30 seconds to 1-2 minutes to start.

The boot process is fine, I don't have nothing installed and the programs that I want to install take forever to load, I can't even install the AMD drivers due to this issue.

I have no idea if this is a hdd issue/conflict (since I have 2 SSDs and 1 HDD, if someone asks, Win11 is installed on the SSD) or what, even though I have SSE 4.2 and a really good GPU. Is there a fix to this?

Processor: AMD FX-6300
GPU: Radeon RX 580 (it's a 590gme but it's the same)

Umby404 said:

I was able to install Windows 11 with Rufus' bypass options on my PC, but the programs take like 30 seconds to 1-2 minutes to start.

The boot process is fine, I don't have nothing installed and the programs that I want to install take forever to load, I can't even install the AMD drivers due to this issue.

I have no idea if this is a hdd issue/conflict (since I have 2 SSDs and 1 HDD, if someone asks, Win11 is installed on the SSD) or what, even though I have SSE 4.2 and a really good GPU. Is there a fix to this?

Processor: AMD FX-6300
GPU: Radeon RX 580 (it's a 590gme but it's the same)

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It was Windows Defender, I did a system repair (DISM/SFC) and now they ran fine again, managed to install AMD's drivers.

I honestly wanted to disable it to gain a bit of performance but oh well

it's MS doing these kinds of changes

Hazel123 said:

I'm more concerned with having an encrypted drive that can't be erased.

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Encryption can be turned off at any time. This is a non-issue.

Maybe it's not encryption then but locked. Something to do with the PSID? It just won't erase because locked - or- I assumed encrypted previously?

Some SSD's have HW-level drive encryption (separate from BitLocker), and to wipe it you need to read the PSID printed on the drive's product label.

1. Open the laptop, and look underneath for the SSD. Take a clear photo of the drive label, looking for a printed PSID.
2. Download Visual Studio 2015 run-time.
3. Download the sedutil tool from GitHub.

4. Follow the instructions here:
PSID Revert

This should allow you to wipe the drive assuming it has a PSID visible on the product label.

If it is locked just return for replacement. Don't open the laptop, it will void Warranty and they won't accept it back!

garlin said:

Some SSD's have HW-level drive encryption (separate from BitLocker), and to wipe it you need to read the PSID printed on the drive's product label.

1. Open the laptop, and look underneath for the SSD. Take a clear photo of the drive label, looking for a printed PSID.
2. Download Visual Studio 2015 run-time.
3. Download the sedutil tool from GitHub.

4. Follow the instructions here:
PSID Revert

This should allow you to wipe the drive assuming it has a PSID visible on the product label.

Click to expand...

This is what I was thinking - Parted Magic has an option to enter the PSID number but I don't really want to open it up (and I don't like torx screws - some of which look like they may be a bit stripped as well). But as well as that, I read something about it being a Lenovo firmware thing with some of their laptops and the only way to erase it is to remove the drive from the machine to unlock/erase it.

Might be easier just to change the drive (although that type are hard to find). So I just need to decide whether I want to keep it or not ........ I probably won't keep it. Just because it's bigger and heavier than expected - and because of the hassle! I'd have to really really want it to start messing with it!

spapakons said:

If it is locked just return for replacement. Don't open the laptop, it will void Warranty and they won't accept it back!

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Yes, see above Although it would be for a refund rather than replacement - they are hard to find second hand. I have good reason to return as it came without an operating system installed (not as advertised).