Oldest PC Running Windows 11?

XxXxX · Nov 6, 2025

PCUser said:
So is Gnome a Linux VM?
OR, which CPU is in a Gnome box?

Sorry, I've just now heard of a Gnome box.

Gnome Boxes is a very cut down version of Virtual Box which runs on a Linux system, its very simple.
it has very limited access to the host CPU you can play with the file system but that normally FUBAR's the VM installation.

hence the work around to install Windows 25H2 directly within the VM using a bootable USB.
plus i like to play as it cant really mess the host operating system up
but if it works on unsupported systems that Windows 25H2 wont install on, all the better.

best of luck Steve ..

DJNelson · Nov 6, 2025

The oldest machine I've managed to install W11 (22H2 Ghost Spectre version) is on a 2009 model HP elitebook with a 1st gen Core i7 840QM, 16GB DDR3, and a 2TB 2.5" SSD. Gave it to a homeless person who survives by sitting in a coffee shop playing video games and doesn't bother anyone.

PCUser · Nov 6, 2025

maur0 said:
@PCUser have asus rampage iv extreme with xeon e5-2697v2 Do you think DDR3 ECC memory would work here? In theory, the motherboard doesn't support RDIMM or ECC, but the CPU does.

@maur0
You can look up specs for processor and appropriate ran types and timings. You need the right trifecta though.
CPU-RAM-MOTHERBOARD
That all support the combination of each other.

The motherboards I'm using support the ECC memory and timings. Timings must by correct for both, looking up specs is the way to know.

PCUser · Nov 6, 2025

Bree said:
The oldest PC I have run 23H2 or earlier on was a Samsung NP-R519 from 2009 with a Celeron T3100 that came with 2GB RAM (which I upgraded to 4GB) and 32-bit Win7 Pro, since upgraded to 32-bit Win10 Pro. I had to scrap that one when the screen broke, replacing it and swapping HDD/RAM/etc. into another R519 with a Pentium T4300, neither of those CPUs have SSE4.2.

Although it's capable of running Win11 23H2, that reaches EoL on November 11, 2025. I have it running its Win10, enrolled for ESU until October 2026.

@Bree a 2009 Celeron?!
I haven't heard that CPU name in a while!

I wonder how long these EOL 23H2 PCs will still work, be safe, and reliable?

Any guesses?

PCUser · Nov 6, 2025

XxXxX said:
Gnome Boxes is a very cut down version of Virtual Box which runs on a Linux system, its very simple.
it has very limited access to the host CPU you can play with the file system but that normally FUBAR's the VM installation.

hence the work around to install Windows 25H2 directly within the VM using a bootable USB.
plus i like to play as it cant really mess the host operating system up
but if it works on unsupported systems that Windows 25H2 wont install on, all the better.

best of luck Steve ..

@XxXxX
That's genius outside the box thinking Steve! Inspiring and coming at it from a different angle.

No limits! I really like that.

Bree · Nov 6, 2025

PCUser said:
I wonder how long these EOL 23H2 PCs will still work, be safe, and reliable?

Any guesses?

The last Patch Tuesday CU for 23H2 will be 11th November. There may (or may not) be a non-security Preview update later in the month.

After that the only updates will be Security Intelligence Updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus (even Win7 MSE still gets AV updates).

PCUser · Nov 6, 2025

DJNelson said:
The oldest machine I've managed to install W11 (22H2 Ghost Spectre version) is on a 2009 model HP elitebook with a 1st gen Core i7 840QM, 16GB DDR3, and a 2TB 2.5" SSD. Gave it to a homeless person who survives by sitting in a coffee shop playing video games and doesn't bother anyone.

@DJNelson That is very cool, and inspiring too. I LOVE the idea of making these older PCs work well and then sharing these older PCs with people that NEED & USE them. I donated some PCs earlier this year to an organization that helps families with PCs 🖥.

This time, I think I'll install and configure them and donate to people directly.

Well done @DJNelson , when we help others, it makes the world

a better place.

That SSD drive and 16GB of ram in that HP elitebook must have made it FEEL LIKE A BRAND NEW QUICK PC!

PCUser · Nov 6, 2025

Bree said:
The last Patch Tuesday CU for 23H2 will be 11th November. There may (or may not) be a non-security Preview update later in the month.

After that the only updates will be Security Intelligence Updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus (even Win7 MSE still gets AV updates).

@Bree So security-wise, these Windows 11 23H2 PCs should likely be good for at least a couple years for end-users right?

Chef Duane · Nov 6, 2025

One of my early builds:

PCUser · Nov 6, 2025

Chef Duane said:
One of my early builds:

View attachment 151864

I see the tubes and transistors, but which CPU? How old is the CPU, and is it running Windows 11 successfully?

If so, WHICH version of Windows 11?

PCUser · Nov 6, 2025

XxXxX said:
Gnome Boxes is a very cut down version of Virtual Box which runs on a Linux system, its very simple.
it has very limited access to the host CPU you can play with the file system but that normally FUBAR's the VM installation.

hence the work around to install Windows 25H2 directly within the VM using a bootable USB.
plus i like to play as it cant really mess the host operating system up
but if it works on unsupported systems that Windows 25H2 wont install on, all the better.

best of luck Steve ..

@XxXxX Still thinking about different applications & scenario hypotheticals Using VM running Windows11 . . . Thanks for that Steve

Chef Duane · Nov 6, 2025

PCUser said:
I see the tubes and transistors, but which CPU? How old is the CPU, and is it running Windows 11 successfully?

If so, WHICH version of Windows 11?

Intel 4004 in quad array with a trubo encabulator. Circa '71. Running GM-NAA I/O emulation mode. Runs Win1.01 like a champ.

PCUser · Nov 6, 2025

Chef Duane said:
Intel 4004 in quad array with a trubo encabulator. Circa '71. Running GM-NAA I/O emulation mode. Runs Win1.01 like a champ.

But can it run Windows 11? As in topic "Oldest PC Running Windows 11?"

That said, a working 1971 computer is something.
Microsoft Windows 1.01, the first public version of Windows, was released on November 20, 1985.

Microsoft Windows 1.01

PCjs offers a variety of online machine emulators written in JavaScript. Run DOS, Windows, OS/2 and other vintage PC applications in a web browser on your desktop computer, iPhone, or iPad. An assortment of microcomputers, minicomputers, terminals, programmable calculators, and arcade machines...

www.pcjs.org

www.pcjs.org/software/pcx86/sys/windows/1.01/ega/

Chef Duane · Nov 6, 2025

PCUser said:
But can it run Windows 11? As in topic "Oldest PC Running Windows 11?"

I'm still working on getting Win 1.01 stable.

XxXxX · Nov 6, 2025

@PCUser
this is just an idea which i have been toying with but haven't done, yet.
same idea but using NTlite, which is free to use.

use NTlite to extract a Win 11 22H2 ISO and a Win 11 25H2 ISO into separate folders
exchange the boot files in the 25H2 ISO with the boot files from the 22H2 ISO

then let NTlite create that hybrid ISO
use Rufus to create a bootable USB from that hybrid ISO
then try the install on unsupported systems.

something i will get around to doing sometime.
best of luck Steve ..

PCUser · Nov 6, 2025

XxXxX said:
@PCUser
this is just an idea which i have been toying with but haven't done, yet.
same idea but using NTlite, which is free to use.

use NTlite to extract a Win 11 22H2 ISO and a Win 11 25H2 ISO into separate folders
exchange the boot files in the 25H2 ISO with the boot files from the 22H2 ISO

then let NTlite create that hybrid ISO
use Rufus to create a bootable USB from that hybrid ISO
then try the install on unsupported systems.

something i will get around to doing sometime.
best of luck Steve ..

@XxXxX Can you do it with Win 11 23H2 and Win 11 25H2 (instead of 22H2)?

XxXxX · Nov 6, 2025

PCUser said:
@XxXxX Can you do it with Win 11 23H2 and Win 11 25H2 (instead of 22H2)?

yes i don't see why not.
the reason for using Win 10 22H2 is that it has no restrictions in place within the boot menu or boot loader
thereby allowing an interrupted install on unsupported systems especially those without SSE4.2

but there is no reason not to use another Windows boot menu/loader/files
as long as they are able to bypass the restrictions, including SSE4.2, that have been imposed within the install ISO.

Rufus should be able to burn the hybrid ISO which has options to bypass certain restrictions
but wont be able to bypass the SSE4.2 restrictions.
best of luck Steve ..

Bree · Nov 6, 2025

XxXxX said:
@PCUser
this is just an idea which i have been toying with but haven't done, yet....
.extract a Win 11 22H2 ISO and a Win 11 25H2 ISO into separate folders
exchange the boot files in the 25H2 ISO with the boot files from the 22H2 ISO
......something i will get around to doing sometime.

PCUser said:
@XxXxX Can you do it with Win 11 23H2 and Win 11 25H2 (instead of 22H2)?

The easiest way to make hybrid install media is to take a 23H2 install USB, delete its sources\install.esd (or .wim, or .swm) and replace it with one from the 25H2 USB.

Doesn't get round the SSE4.2 requirement though. It's not just the boot files, the 24H2/25H2 kernel needs SSE4.2 instructions too.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.....

Bree said:
First issue was that it couldn't even boot from the standard 24H2 install USB made by the MCT. It gets as far as the Windows logo, then reboots before it even starts the spinning 'loading up' circle.

Second attempt was with my hybrid 23H2/24H2 USB. That at least copied all the files, set them up and got to the first reboot. Same issue, it shows the logo, but then reboots before the circles appear.

Just to confirm that the install wasn't corrupt, I've taken the SSD out and put it into a slightly newer laptop that does have SSE4.2 (but very little else, Legacy bios, no TPM, and MBR only). This time it did boot and continued with the install. It has just finished the install and has booted to the OOBE.

I'll now take the SSD out and try it in another old AMD laptop that has POPCNT, but no SSE4.2, only SSE4a. This one stalls at the Windows Logo, no spinning circle, but no reboot either....

Windows 11 24H2 has un-bypassable hardware requirements... - post #282

XxXxX · Nov 6, 2025

Bree said:
The easiest way to make hybrid install media is to take a 23H2 install USB, delete its sources\install.esd (or .wim, or .swm) and replace it with one from the 25H2 USB.

Doesn't get round the SSE4.2 requirement though. It's not just the boot files, the 24H2/25H2 kernel needs SSE4.2 instructions too.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.....

Windows 11 24H2 has un-bypassable hardware requirements... - post #282

yes i believe that is the restriction placed upon a clean install of Windows 25H2
but i was able to run Windows 25H2 in Gnome boxes on Linux in flatpak
Gnome boxes or flatpak doesn't have/use SSE4.2. the whole VM is done by emulation.

also Gnome boxes flatpak doesn't allow USB passthrough so you cant boot or upgrade by USB stick.

the work around there was to install Windows 10 22H2 within Gnome boxes and then fully update.

#####
then .. copy the complete contents of a Rufus USB of Windows 11 25H2 to a folder on the Linux system
upload that folder to OneDrive. then download that Rufus Windows 11 25H2 folder to the Windows 10 22h2 VM.

there is only one option an in-place upgrade keeping all files/folders/settings
as a clean install or deleting everything is not possible as that would also delete the Rufus folder.

when the upgrade starts disable 'get updates while upgrading'
then allow the upgrade to take place. once the upgrade to Windows 25H2 completes restart the VM.

you now have Windows 25H2 running in Gnome boxes on Linux using the Windows 10 boot loader/menu/files
but running Windows 25H2 without SSE.4.2. i have done this recently and it works without problems

best of luck Steve ..
edit by me. spelling.

Frecklesnoot · Nov 7, 2025

I do have one other system currently running windows 11 25H2.

AMD FX-8350 8 core, 32gb 1333mhz ram, ATI Radeon 3000 on board graphics, 240gb ssd (windows installed), 4tb HDD (data drive), Networked.
Mainboard: GA-78LMT-USB3 (rev. 6.0)

This is a backup machine for my Media PC, I will be adding more drives later.

Oldest PC Running Windows 11?

Just a Computer User

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Active member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Active member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Active member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Just a Computer User

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Just a Computer User

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Just a Computer User

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

"That Repair Guy"

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Similar threads

My Computers

My Computer

My Computers

My Computers

My Computers

My Computers

My Computers

My Computers

My Computer

My Computers

My Computers

My Computer

My Computers

My Computer

My Computers

My Computers

My Computers

My Computers

My Computers

My Computer