Upgrading to Windows 11 on old PC

ElevenLeaves · Thursday at 11:47 AM

Specs: Win 7 (original version, upgraded to Win 10 later), processor: Intel Pentium E5800, 4 GB RAM, motherboard: Foxconn 2A8C; no Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, SSE4.2, and POPCNT

Is it still possible to update my friend’s PC? He said can’t afford a new PC, so we have no other option.

antspants · Thursday at 12:03 PM

Hi, welcome.

Not without an SSE4.2 CPU, no
You can bypass TMP2.0 but strictly not the CPU issue.

Bree · Thursday at 12:08 PM

ElevenLeaves said:
Specs: Win 7 (original version, upgraded to Win 10 later), processor: Intel Pentium E5800, 4 GB RAM, motherboard: Foxconn 2A8C; no Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, SSE4.2, and POPCNT

Is it still possible to update my friend’s PC? He said can’t afford a new PC, so we have no other option.

Welcome to Eleven Forum.

Without SSE4.2 the PC cannot run Windows 11 24H2, SSE4.2 was a new requirement introduced for 24H2. None of the CPUs that fit this PC's Intel Socket 775 have SSE4.2 either, so a CPU upgrade will not help.

This PC could run Windows 11 versions up to 23H2 (with the known workarounds) but 23H2 reaches end of support on Nov 11 2025, just one month after end of support for its current Windows 10.

Your friend's best option for continued updates is to stay on Windows 10 and enrol for one year of Extended Security Updates (ESU). This can be free if you have 1,000 Microsoft Reward point, or sync your PC's settings. Enrolment is being rolled out to W10 PC's and should be available to all by the end of August.

Hopefully within a year your friend can save up for a newer PC. It doesn't have to be that new, 8th gen Intel Core CPUs are supported devices.

Can I now purchase the extended ESU for Win 10? If so, where? - Windows 10 Help Forums

Can I now purchase the extended ESU for Win 10, for individuals? If so, where? Thanks.

www.tenforums.com

antspants · Thursday at 12:12 PM

Bree said:
This PC can run Windows 11 versions up to 23H2

? The CPU has a max SSE3

ElevenLeaves · Thursday at 12:13 PM

Bree said:
Welcome to Eleven Forum.

Without SSE4.2 the PC cannot run Windows 11 24H2, SSE4.2 was a new requirement introduced for 24H2. None of the CPUs that fit this PC's Intel Socket 775 have SSE4.2 either, so a CPU upgrade will not help.

This PC can run Windows 11 versions up to 23H2, but the reaches end of support on Nov 11 2025, just one month after end of support for its current Windows 10.

antspants said:
Hi, welcome.

Not without an SSE4.2 CPU, no
You can bypass TMP2.0 but strictly not the CPU issue.

OK, thank you. What other option / alternative do we have, if buying a new PC is too costly?

zbook · Thursday at 12:14 PM

Does the SSE4.2 CPU requirement block upgrades only to 24H2?
Upgrades to 21H2, 22H2, 23H2 may work?

Would that make the choices
Win 10 with ESU
Win 10 with third party AV software
Win 11 23H2

ElevenLeaves · Thursday at 12:18 PM

zbook said:
Does the SSE4.2 CPU requirement block upgrades only to 24H2?
Upgrades to 21H2, 22H2, 23H2 may work?

Would that make the choices
Win 10 with ESU
Win 10 with third party AV software
Win 11 23H2

Yes, I forgot about ESU. Where can we buy/order it?

antspants · Thursday at 12:18 PM

Good luck running Windows 11 (23H2 or otherwise) with a CPU that only supports SSE3/SSSE3

I’m sure someone will say Hey, but here’s one I made earlier… It would run like a bag of

so why would one bother?

ElevenLeaves said:
OK, thank you. What other option / alternative do we have, if buying a new PC is too costly?

None.

There is no bypass for a CPU that doesn’t have 4.2

ElevenLeaves You could ask here in the DIY section and see the absolute bare minimum cost one would need to build something. Even a second hand throwaway PC that’s 11 years old (like mine)

glasskuter · Thursday at 12:25 PM

Welcome to the forum. IMO with a system of that vintage, I believe you will have many hurdles to cross. Even if you somehow manage to do it, with system specs that low, with windows 11 there would be bottlenecks on all sides..

Things to consider:
If you have NO SSE4.2, then you can not under any circumstance upgrade to or install Windows 11-24h2. If you can find a windows 11-23h2 iso, you can use the rufus method of installing on incompatible hardware Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

11 of any version barely runs in any acceptable fashion on 8 gb ram and certainly not 4. Even with 8, you will still bottleneck. Though not a requirement by MS, you won't get satisfactory performance with less than 16.

A system that old is probably partitioned as MBR so you'd need to do a web search for installing 23h2 on a mbr disk.

Also, IMO, if at all possible I suggest you buy a newer machine, preferably one 100% compatible. But at the very least buy one that satisfies the SSe4.2
requirements of 24h2. There are tons of used systems out there. Then you can use the Rufus method to bypass all the other requirements.

Otherwise, It's my suggestion your friend's best bet would be to install one of the linux distros as a last resort.

Upgrade Unsupported PC to Windows 11: Rufus Guide

Upgrading an Unsupported PC to Windows 11 with Rufus As Windows 11 rolls out with refined hardware requirements, many users find themselves locked out simply because their systems do not meet criteria like TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, or a minimum of 4GB RAM. If you’re dealing with an aging machine but...

windowsforum.com

zbook · Thursday at 12:25 PM

Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10

Learn about the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10. The ESU program gives customers the option to receive security updates for Windows 10.

learn.microsoft.com

Product Lifecycle FAQ - Extended Security Updates

Lifecycle FAQs around the Extended Security Update program.

learn.microsoft.com

Using the server example the date is whenever Microsoft decides to release the key:

Code:

Download and installation of Extended Security Updates
Delivery, download, and application of ESUs for Windows Server is no different than other Windows Updates.
The updates provided through ESUs are only Security updates.

Before you can download and install ESUs, you must have installed the latest Servicing Stack Update (SSU) and the Licensing Preparation Package.
To learn more about the steps required to install the latest SSU and Licensing Preparation Package, see KB5031043:
Procedure to continue receiving security updates after extended support has ended on October 10, 2023.

You can install the updates using whatever tools and processes you already have in place.
The only difference is that the system must be registered with the key that was generated in the previous section.
Once the system is registered, the updates will download and install.

For VMs hosted in Azure, the process of enabling the server for ESUs is automatically completed for you.
Updates should download and install without extra configuration.

How to get Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows Server 2012, and 2012 R2

Learn how to get Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2 after the end of their support lifecycle.

learn.microsoft.com

KB5031043: Procedure to continue receiving security updates after extended support has ended on October 10, 2023 - Microsoft Support

support.microsoft.com

Bree · Thursday at 12:30 PM

ElevenLeaves said:
OK, thank you. What other option / alternative do we have, if buying a new PC is too costly?

Buying a used PC that meets the minimum specs for W11. That's an 8th gen or later Intel CPU (or equivalent from AMD). For TPM most would have firmware TPM that can be enabled in the bios (fTPM for AMD, Platform Trust Technology (PTT) for Intel).

At a pinch, an older unsupported PC that at least has SSE4.2 could be made to run 24H2 with a workaround to get past the install checks.

antspants · Thursday at 12:30 PM

@Hazel123 whats the bare min you’ve been spending on a 2nd hand Laptop that runs Windows 11? (Before people talk this poor person into wasting their time)
Sometimes I wonder about advice given in this forum. What are you going to do with a PC that once belonged to Moses if you throw Windows 11 at it?

I wish you luck, times are tough and I sincerely hope you find an option.

Cheers.

Bree · Thursday at 12:34 PM

The W10 ESU for consumers is described here:

Consumer ESU program cost
You can enroll in ESU by one of the following three ways:

At no additional cost if you are syncing your PC Settings

Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points

One-time purchase of $30 USD or local currency equivalent plus applicable tax

All enrollment options provide extended security updates through October 13, 2026. You will need to sign into your Microsoft account in order to enroll in ESU. You’ll be given these options to choose from when you enroll in the ESU program. You can use your existing ESU license on up to 10 devices.

Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program - Microsoft Support

support.microsoft.com

Bree · Thursday at 12:38 PM

antspants said:
? The CPU has a max SSE3

That is sufficient for W11 up to 23H2, only 24H2 and above requires SSE4.2.

zbook · Thursday at 12:39 PM

When using third party AV software for Windows 10 many users chose third party AV over defender.

With the uncertainty more are considering ESU but it does not appear to be different than the prior choice of third party AV vs defender.

Those that were using defender or defender with Malwarebytes appear to be the users that have lost the free AV updates.

Users of third party AV have no improvement with ESU?

bobkn · Thursday at 12:43 PM

Makes me feel a little guilty. I've scrapped motherboard/CPU combinations that are a lot newer than Socket 775 (the ES5800, launched in 2010).

antspants · Thursday at 12:44 PM

Bree said:
That is sufficient for W11 up to 23H2, only 24H2 and above requires SSE4.2.

Bree, I sincerely think the bigger picture is that it just wont run well. If it runs at all. Reliability wise, a pure nightmare.

Windows 10 extended is a good option.

antspants · Thursday at 12:45 PM

ElevenLeaves said:
OK, thank you. What other option / alternative do we have, if buying a new PC is too costly?

What country are you in?

zbook · Thursday at 12:47 PM

The computer user could save $30 by using any third party AV software?

Bree · Thursday at 12:49 PM

zbook said:
When using third party AV software for Windows 10 users chose third party AV over defender.

With the uncertainty more are considering ESU but it does not appear to be different than the prior choice of third party AV vs defender.

Microsoft have committed to providing AV update for at least the next three years. This is for everyone, not just those on ESU.

The ESU provides security patches for the Windows 10 kernel, that is in addition the the AV updates that everyone should get.

Microsoft will also continue to provide Security Intelligence Updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus through at least October 2028.

How to prepare for Windows 10 end of support by moving to Windows 11 today

Bree said:
In practice the AV updates are likely to continue long after that. MS did the same thing for Windows 7 while in ESU. Everyone whether on ESU or not got the definitions and scan engine updates for Microsoft Security Essentials. While W7 ESU ended over 4 years ago, MSE still gets AV updates to this day - exactly the same ones as Windows Security for Windows 10/11.

How safe after Oct 14th - Windows 10 Help Forums

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