Let's install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware

For the 7" one, I was wondering if one of these might work - to convert it to MSata - but from what I've read, they don't always work. Even then it will still only run Windows 7 or Linux.

It was something like this I replaced the 8gb ssd with before but they don't seem to be available any more - different brand - the one I had was supertalent. There is actually a whole Reddit for Eee Pc's!


I think this was the one I had

Strangely the small screen didn't matter really - you just used it closer

Interesting article here about how to get a samsung 850 evo ssd to work with an Eee pc 901 - but it looks a bit complicated (I have one of those as well). None of them will run (or even boot) Windows 10 because they have GMA 915 graphics. Edit I did actually install Windows 10 on it when it first came out. But after a few updates it wouldn't work any more.

I still have all the installations disks for XP and Linux for all models, and a usb external cd/dvd drive ............. Not that they are much use!

Sorry shouldn't be posting about this here as it's not Windows 11.

Hazel123 said:

For the 7" one, I was wondering if one of these might work - to convert it to MSata - but from what I've read, they don't always work. Even then it will still only run Windows 7 or Linux.

Amazon.co.uk

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I bet you CAN run Windows 10 32-bit on it. Just post the specs and I will confirm it. It's not necessary to have Windows 10 32-bit drivers, use Windows 8 or 7 or even Vista 32-bit drivers. The exception would be if it has Intel 915/925 chipset without WDDM graphics drivers. Even then you can use it with Microsoft Basic Display Adapter, albeit not at full performance.

Windows 10 (no matter x86 or x64) can be more stable and compatible. comparing to W11 or W7.

I have some strong XP computers. and tested OS install of W7 (x86, x64), W10 (x86, x64), and W11. running W7 (x64) and W11, often crashing. W7 (x86), W10 (x86, x64) were ok. I was thinking W10 x64 should be crashing too.

So, old computers (especially those running DDR2) if crashing on W11, W10 would best choice. no matter x86 or x64. but x86 is more compact.

spapakons said:

I bet you CAN run Windows 10 32-bit on it. Just post the specs and I will confirm it. It's not necessary to have Windows 10 32-bit drivers, use Windows 8 or 7 or even Vista 32-bit drivers. The exception would be if it has Intel 915/925 chipset without WDDM graphics drivers. Even then you can use it with Microsoft Basic Display Adapter, albeit not at full performance.

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spapakons said:

I bet you CAN run Windows 10 32-bit on it. Just post the specs and I will confirm it. It's not necessary to have Windows 10 32-bit drivers, use Windows 8 or 7 or even Vista 32-bit drivers. The exception would be if it has Intel 915/925 chipset without WDDM graphics drivers. Even then you can use it with Microsoft Basic Display Adapter, albeit not at full performance.

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It's intel gma 915. I did install Windows 10 on it when it first came out - it didn't fit on the screen of course but I could scroll. Then after a couple of updates it stopped working and then wouldn't install - just refused to install altogether due to the gma 915 (so are you suggesting inserting a driver at the install stage?

Similar to my experience with Windows 11 on the 10" netbook - the first iteration ran nicely - after that - nope - and now impossible.

I don't think I heard of anyone managing to run windows 10 on those 7" Eee pc's Mainly because the drive isn't big enough but I had one with a replacement 64gb drive. Wish I could get a replacement for that drive. They are no longer available (pata mini ssd).

I have seen such old machines running Windows 10 up to v1809 while they have issues upgrading to v1903 or later. I haven't tried to clean install a newer version of Windows 10 on one of them. Maybe they cannot upgrade from an earlier version but a clean installation should work. Also there are no WDDM graphics drivers for Intel 915G, so you are stuck with either Windows 7 32-bit and the Windows XP graphics drivers (XPDM mode), or with Microsoft Basic Display Adapter (aka Standard VGA) in Windows 8 and 10. This basic driver has absolutely no hardware acceleration, everything is done in software (by the CPU) and the machine is slower because of that. At least in Windows 7 32-bit with the Windows XP graphics drivers (XPDM mode) you have DirectX 9 hardware acceleration and is much better than nothing. If you ask me, I prefer running Windows 7 32-bit with the Windows XP graphics drivers for best performance. I would keep Microsoft Security Essentials updated and i would use it as long as possible (until no current application works anymore and I cannot do my job or light gaming).

Reminder for Windows 7: Last Microsoft Office supported is 2016. Last Adobe Reader DC 32-bit will install but will show some errors because or some incompatibility with a specific system file. If you don't want to see these errors (quite annoying), install Adobe Reader XI instead which also loads much faster. Last browser version for Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox Quantum is 109. Still work, but some sites especially banks will refuse opening. Last Mozilla Firefox ESR is 115, better but not perfect. Alternatively you can install R3dfox which is a clone of Firefox modified to run in Vista and Windows 7. Latest version, 140, is very fast and opens everything, even banks.

The drive isn't big enough for windows It's only 8gb. I did install linux onto an sd card once and ran it from that! Shame you can't get those 64gb drives any more.

Hazel123 said:

The drive isn't big enough for windows It's only 8gb. I did install linux onto an sd card once and ran it from that! Shame you can't get those 64gb drives any more.

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Crazy workaround: Create a Windows-to-Go installation on a 64GB or larger USB flash drive. Plug it in the netbook and boot that instead of the internal storage. So you have a working Windows 10 32-bit installation with all your applications and data in a much larger disk. I am not sure if it is possible to install Windows 7 (and boot from USB) instead of Windows 10. It would be challenging. Pity I needed the money and sold my good old Acer Aspire One A150 netbook. It would be great to still have it and experiment with.

spapakons said:

Crazy workaround: Create a Windows-to-Go installation on a 64GB or larger USB flash drive. Plug it in the netbook and boot that instead of the internal storage. So you have a working Windows 10 32-bit installation with all your applications and data in a much larger disk. I am not sure if it is possible to install Windows 7 (and boot from USB) instead of Windows 10. It would be challenging. Pity I needed the money and sold my good old Acer Aspire One A150 netbook. It would be great to still have it and experiment with.

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I'm in two minds - it might just upset me getting it out again It's very frustrating when you have good (if old) hardware that you can't upgrade the drive or run a supported Windows OS. I know the argument is - it's had its day but - the whole point is - nothing ever replaced those 7" netbooks. Tablets? Bah.

Why don't manufacturers get that people like very small laptops?! It's why the ipad mini was hugely popular - and why people are buying chuwibooks etc.'

The GDP P2 Max 8.9" had 16gb ram, a 1tb processor and compatible with Windows 11. Wish I had got one at the time but they were very expensive and don't seem to be available any more.

Hazel123 said:

The GDP P2 Max 8.9" had 16gb ram, a 1tb processor and compatible with Windows 11. Wish I had got one at the time but they were very expensive and don't seem to be available any more.

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Would a 6" screen be too small?

Bree said:

Would a 6" screen be too small?

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Hmm - maybe Not keen on the touchpad being in an odd place

Ok... I have to ask. This is a very long thread and I can't read through them all to find out different.

Is it safe to say the three methods shown in the original post will still function to install Windows 11? I'm particularly interested in the 2nd option (the reg file)?

The computer is running Windows 10 currently. It's an AMD FX6300 processor, 16Gb memory, a DX12 (I think, or DX11 at least) GPU, BIOS in UEFI mode with Secure Boot enabled and TPM 1.2. So about the only thing it absolutely fails on is the 6300 processor since TPM 1.2 is sort of allowed as I understand. So I'm hoping the simple reg file will work and let me update to Win 11.

And BTW, I assume I am to run the REG file in the Windows 10 installation prior to running Setup from the disk created by the most current media creation tool.

Thanks very much and sorry to ask what is probably an "answered many times" question.

Buddywh said:

Ok... I have to ask. This is a very long thread and I can't read through them all to find out different.

Is it safe to say the three methods shown in the original post will still function to install Windows 11? I'm particularly interested in the 2nd option (the reg file)?

The computer is running Windows 10 currently. It's an AMD FX6300 processor, 16Gb memory, a DX12 (I think, or DX11 at least) GPU, BIOS in UEFI mode with Secure Boot enabled and TPM 1.2. So about the only thing it absolutely fails on is the 6300 processor since TPM 1.2 is sort of allowed as I understand. So I'm hoping the simple reg file will work and let me update to Win 11.

And BTW, I assume I am to run the REG file in the Windows 10 installation prior to running Setup from the disk created by the most current media creation tool.

Thanks very much and sorry to ask what is probably an "answered many times" question.

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The easiest way is to burn windows 11 with rufus if you're going to clean install

Well I shouldn't have but I just found another old Eee pc on ebay with a 60gb drive in it and bought it. For the drive .......... So I can use the drive in the 701sd. That still doesn't mean the 7" laptop will run windows 10! But it does mean I can install on it without having to install on an sd card. Eg put Windows 7 back on it - if that is even possible these days. Or put something else on it. 8gb isn't big enough to run anything much these days.

Hazel123 said:

The easiest way is to burn windows 11 with rufus if you're going to clean install

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I want to do in in-place upgrade. That's why I was interested in the second option.

I don't understand why so, but even if doing a clean install might itself be simpler then getting everything installed and back "right" would be a pain. An in-place upgrade should make that go easier... I hope.

Buddywh said:

I want to do in in-place upgrade. That's why I was interested in the second option.

I don't understand why so, but even if doing a clean install might itself be simpler then getting everything installed and back "right" would be a pain. An in-place upgrade should make that go easier... I hope.

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If you've made a usb with Rufus you can use it to do an in-place upgrade, the workarounds will work for that too. Just plug in the USB and run Setup from within Windows.

Buddywh said:

I want to do in in-place upgrade. That's why I was interested in the second option.

I don't understand why so, but even if doing a clean install might itself be simpler then getting everything installed and back "right" would be a pain. An in-place upgrade should make that go easier... I hope.

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According to this site your CPU supports SSE4.2 so you can upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 and later to 25H2 which has the same system requirements.


The old method of replacing a certain file to bypass compatibility check doesn't work on 24H2. What still works is use Rufus to patch Setup or execute Setup with the server parameter. As mentioned the easiest way is to open the Windows 11 ISO in Rufus. It will detect it is Windows 11 and upon clicking to start creating the USB it will show a list of options to bypass compatibility check. Select them all. When the USB is created, disconnect from the internet to avoid a hidden online compatibility check and run Setup.

The other method is to open the ISO with File Explorer (mount). See which drive letter is assigned to the virtual DVD, say D. Disconnect from the internet, press WIN+R to open a Run box and execute this code:
d:\setup /product server

Replace D with the appropriate drive letter if different.