Should i upgrade to Windows 11?

onionat · 2026-06-22T08:48:02-0400

Hi,
I'm on Windows 10 ESU with unsupported hardware for a Windows 11 installation. I know i can use rufus to bypass hardware requirements but i want to know if it's worth it doing. Are there pros and cons? My aim is to do a debloated installation through rufus. Thanks

Fishmill · 2026-06-22T09:06:53-0400

What would be your motivation other than the fear that you are missing out on something?

What are your specific complaints about operating with Windows 10?

onionat · 2026-06-22T09:10:16-0400

Fishmill said:
What would be your motivation other than the fear that you are missing out on something?

What are your specific complaints about operating with Windows 10?

When the ESU will be over i won't receive security updates.

Alejandro85 · 2026-06-22T09:21:59-0400

onionat said:
When the ESU will be over i won't receive security updates.

Have ever any of the security updates you received ever had any positive value?
I mean, did it protect from a concrete threat that you were affected by?

More often than not the "no security updates" argument is just repeating the MS sales pitch rather than a concrete need. Think in term of new features you'll have, removed features you'll lose, time needed to learn the new layout and to setup everything as you like in the new install.

onionat · 2026-06-22T10:24:17-0400

Alejandro85 said:
Have ever any of the security updates you received ever had any positive value?
I mean, did it protect from a concrete threat that you were affected by?

According to your logic i could still stick to Windows 7, then

Jokes apart, just because i've never had any issues doesn't mean i can't be protected against potential vulnerabilities that are fixed through updates and security patches.

Alejandro85 said:
More often than not the "no security updates" argument is just repeating the MS sales pitch rather than a concrete need. Think in term of new features you'll have, removed features you'll lose, time needed to learn the new layout and to setup everything as you like in the new install.

You're right. I'm already familiar with Windows 11 environment so no big deal. My question is if it is worth upgrading even with unsupported hardware.

Ghot · 2026-06-22T11:04:42-0400

onionat said:
My question is if it is worth upgrading even with unsupported hardware.

Welcome to ElevenForum.
Here's ten points, just for filling out your computer specs.

As for your question, many folks have upgraded to Win 11 on unsupported hardware, very many.

Here are their tales... (might want to start with the last post and read them backwards)

Let's install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware

Inspired on this thread: Let's run Win10 on really really old hardware - Windows 10 Help Forums Most of our machines are unsupported on Windows 11, why not force it? --------- Run Windows 11 on unsupported machines --------- 1. How to Bypass Windows 11's TPM, CPU and RAM Requirements 2...

www.elevenforum.com

Here's an article explaining how to use RUFUS (free) to accomplish this...

Create Windows 11 bootable USB for unsupported hardware with Rufus

Use Rufus to create a Windows 11 bootable USB that bypasses TPM, Secure Boot, RAM, Microsoft account, and BitLocker requirements.

pureinfotech.com

As for whether it's worth it... only you can decide that.
The only real technical advantage is that you'll get updates, for free.
Win 11 does do more things than Win 10, but nothing I've personally needed.

If you do decide to upgrade to Windows 11, these may help you on your journey...

Quickie Eleven Forum Setup Guide for new Members

Quickie Interface tour... Quickie set up... At the top right, click on your name, then choose "Preferences". Then go through everything on the left side. Quickie navigation... Click Forums and choose a subforum, OR... Click Forums, then New Posts or What's New Ranks, Trophies...

www.elevenforum.com

Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper and Hasleo Backup Suite - GUIDES

How to use backup software... 1. When everything is working perfectly... make a full Windows backup. 2. Then, if something breaks... restore from the latest backup. 3. Then... try "whatever you were doing" a different way. If it still breaks Windows, then... go to step #2. 4. Repeat...

www.elevenforum.com

Windows 11 Tweaks - Leader Board.

These are tweaks I've seen asked for... many times. They are collected here for easy access. All of these and more can be found in the Eleven Forum Tutorials Make sure to read the "notes" in the various tutorials. At the bottom of the first post in all the "tutorials", there are links to...

www.elevenforum.com

gunrunnerjohn · 2026-06-22T11:25:33-0400

onionat said:
You're right. I'm already familiar with Windows 11 environment so no big deal. My question is if it is worth upgrading even with unsupported hardware.

I recently upgraded an aging HP ENVY desktop from 2014 to Windows 11 Pro, it was running Windows 10. I used Rufus to bypass the TPM and MSC Account issues. It was painless to update, and the system has received several updates since. A nice surprise was since I already had a Windows 10 installation, it was apparently registered with MSC as I didn't need to provide a fresh license for the upgrade. The HP-ENVY originally came with WIndows 8 as I recall.

monkeylove · 2026-06-22T11:43:27-0400

It's critical to use the new OS because of security updates. If you can't do that, then use the latest version of a free OS that works with your device.

Bree · 2026-06-22T11:53:56-0400

onionat said:
My question is if it is worth upgrading even with unsupported hardware.

onionat said:
Are there pros and cons?

My System Two in 'My Computers' below is an unsupported device. I have had it running Windows 11 since the launch in October 2021 to check out just that question.

The 'pros' are obvious, you'll have a supported OS that gets all the same cumulative updates as any supported device would get.

The only significant 'con' is that it will never see Windows Update offer the Feature Update to the next version of Windows.

For that you'd have to upgrade it yourself, as I had to do each year. Some years that meant an in-place upgrade with an ISO and a workaround, for others (like 24H2 to 25H2) that shared a common set of system files they were feature updates by means of a small enablement package. These were available to download from this forum, and install like a cumulative update (no workaround needed). The next feature update (25H2 to 26H2) is going to be another enablement package.

onionat · 2026-06-22T12:07:55-0400

Bree said:
The only significant 'con' is that it will never see Windows Update offer the Feature Update to the next version of Windows.

For that you'd have to upgrade it yourself, as I had to do each year. Some years that meant an in-place upgrade with an ISO and a workaround, for others (like 24H2 to 25H2) that shared a common set of system files they were feature updates by means of a small enablement package. These were available to download from this forum, and install like a cumulative update (no workaround needed). The next feature update (25H2 to 26H2) is going to be another enablement package.

Could you elaborate this for me, please?

Try3 · 2026-06-22T12:16:29-0400

onionat said:
Could you elaborate this for me, please?

Only fully-compliant computers get offered feature updates [Version updates] automatically.
The rest of us have to download & install them manually. It's only once a year so it's not a big burden.
All get offered monthly Cumulative updates.

So the "con" referred to is in comparison to buying a new computer that is fully-compliant.
It is not a "con" in relation to the decision to upgrade to Windows 11 in the first place.

Denis

cereberus · 2026-06-22T12:39:17-0400

Alejandro85 said:
Have ever any of the security updates you received ever had any positive value?

That is a daft and pointless statement.

The security updates mostly work quietly in the background doing their job. They do not seek glory and fanfare.

Your argument is like asking if car seatbelts have had any positive value.

Of course they do nothing the vast majority of the time BUT WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED, they have great value reducing risk of being thrown through a windscreen. The same is true of security updates.

So OP, upgrade and stay secure. Why take risks you do not need to - end of story.

Bree · 2026-06-22T13:12:58-0400

onionat said:
Could you elaborate this for me, please?

Only a supported device will be offered the next version of W11 as a feature update in Windows Update.

Some feature updates were a full replacement of all system files. For an unsupported device these required installing from an ISO using a workaround. Rufus is one such workaround.

Others shared a common set of system with the previous version, the new features were delivered as part of the most recent cumulative updates. These features remained dormant until the enablement package was installed.

Version 21H2: Initial release. (Full Update/OS Swap)
Version 22H2: (Full Update)
Version 23H2: (Enablement Package)
Version 24H2: (Full Update)
Version 25H2: (Enablement Package)
Version 26H2: (Enablement Package)

Windows 11 version history - Wikipedia

EB2XR6 · 2026-06-22T13:14:30-0400

Part of the security for Windows 11 is the hardware requirements.
If security is your priority then compatible hardware should be part of the solution.

onionat · 2026-06-22T13:19:42-0400

EB2XR6 said:
Part of the security for Windows 11 is the hardware requirements.
If security is your priority then compatible hardware should be part of the solution.

Well, if i could afford to buy a totally new hardware i would have not asked the question...

EB2XR6 · 2026-06-22T13:36:43-0400

onionat said:
Well, if i could afford to buy a totally new hardware i would have not asked the question...

I interpreted your post as being concerned about security.

onionat · 2026-06-22T13:51:06-0400

EB2XR6 said:
I interpreted your post as being concerned about security.

Yes, also. Since Windows 10 will no longer be supported in a few months and will no longer receive security updates and over time, many programs will likely stop supporting Windows 10 as well (i think) i was wondering if it makes sense to “force” the upgrade to Windows 11

Bree · 2026-06-22T14:16:26-0400

EB2XR6 said:
Part of the security for Windows 11 is the hardware requirements.
If security is your priority then compatible hardware should be part of the solution.

onionat said:
Well, if i could afford to buy a totally new hardware i would have not asked the question...

Yes, some of the extra security in W11 does depend on newer hardware and/or drivers. Memory Integrity, for example, cannot be enabled on some older systems because, being out of support, compatible drivers are no longer being developed for them. However, running W11 on such a system should be no less secure than it was when running a fully updated W10 - and maybe a bit more secure.

hsehestedt · 2026-06-22T14:55:06-0400

Remember that security is not the only potential reason to change over to Windows 11. At least for me, I find some of the features compelling.

But here is my suggestion: Just try it. Make a full disk image backup so that you can go back to where you were easily, then install Windows 11 and run it on trial to see if you like it. You could also rely upon the ability to roll back if it doesn't work well for you, but my preference is to have a full backup "just in case".

Another option would be to simply install it in a VM to see if you like it, but ultimately, you want to see how well it works on your hardware with all of your drivers.

Speaking of drivers: I would suggest backing up all your drivers while in Windows 10, and then simply restoring them onto Windows 11 (if you do a clean install). If you need details, just ask.

Cromax · 2026-06-22T15:05:20-0400

onionat said:
Yes, also. Since Windows 10 will no longer be supported in a few months and will no longer receive security updates and over time, many programs will likely stop supporting Windows 10 as well (i think) i was wondering if it makes sense to “force” the upgrade to Windows 11

i run w11 on 4770k ezpz you just debloat it with christitus winutil or winhance and you are set, its win 10, all these "security features" are non essential with you behind NAT on router.. i literally deleted win defender 4-5 years ago and had no issues.. i full scan once a year with emsisoft emergency kit and never found anything

Should i upgrade to Windows 11?

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