Windows 11 23H2 upgrade likely possible on unsupported PC

Thanks for sharing. I will try both methods, just for the sake of it. I will update my main PC (2nd system specs) to 22621.2508 and then run the 23H2 enabled package and I will download the 23H2 ISO and try the "traditional" compatibility check bypass method on my test laptop (1st system specs). Hopefully both methods will work. I will post here and in this thread: Let's install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware

I update my unsupported pc to 23H2 yesterday via the download of the enablement pack posted by Brink.

windows11.0-kb5027397-x64.msu (ZIP)


I didn't know what the arm64.msu link was about, tried to download it, and got a message that it didn't apply to my machine, so that was cool.

After I did everything and restarted Windows, I got the Copilot icon on the taskbar so I knew things were good even though the version number was still on 22H2.

A couple of hours later (4 or 5) I checked (winver and About) and the version number had updated to 23H2.

I learned what the arm64.msu is all about from Ghot's post this morning. Thanks.

The first part (updating from build 22621.2428 to 22621.2506) went OK on my main PC (2nd system specs). After I had already started the update I read a thread about it causing issues to some PCs. Thankfully there was no issue in mine! Of course as all major updates it reset my customized icons to default, but I will fix them once I have also installed the 23H2 enablement package. I will report again later.

Works fine here on 2 unsupported machines, 3rd will be updated shortly.

As I have already posted on the other thread, I installed the enablement package successfully and now have 23H2.

Wolfzz said:

Windows 11 23H2 upgrade likely possible on unsupported PC (CPU/TPM requirements not met)

Users who are happily running Windows 11 22H2 on unsupported PCs as per Microsoft's system requirements for Windows 11 should be able to upgrade to the new 23H2 feature update using the EKB.

www.neowin.net

Click to expand...

Updated without issue. 5 minutes.

It’s always possible lol. Run tpm bypass, disconnect internet and update it. Never not worked.

No need for a "traditional" lengthy upgrade. Thankfully if you have build 22621.2506 you can just install the enablement package and switch to 23H2 in 5 minutes without any compatibility check, so no hacks necessary for unsupported computers.

I was able to upgrade my old HP8200 from 22H2 to 23H2 by downloading the ISO and copying the zerolength dummy appraiserres.dll into the $WINDOWS.~BT\sources folder after the initial failed check. I didn't disconnect from the network. Exactly the same procedure that Spapakons suggested for my initial upgrade from Windows 10. Cheers.

The "traditional" upgrade using the ISO and replacing the file works, but disconnecting from the internet is strongly recommended. If you don't you have over 70% chance to fail. If you take into account Murphy's Law (if there is a chance something goes wrong it will), you have 99.99% chance to fail. I am not willing to take this risk, so I make sure I stay disconnected from the internet during the installation.

spapakons said:

The "traditional" upgrade using the ISO and replacing the file works, but disconnecting from the internet is strongly recommended. If you don't you have over 70% chance to fail. If you take into account Murphy's Law (if there is a chance something goes wrong it will), you have 99.99% chance to fail. I am not willing to take this risk, so I make sure I stay disconnected from the internet during the installation.

Click to expand...

Huh?

Previous posts state running enablement package works fine.

Staying connected worked fine on 5-5 of my old computers !

cereberus said:

Huh?

Previous posts state running enablement package works fine.

Click to expand...

Yes, the new way to upgrade to 23H2 by installing the enablement package works OK. I was referring to the old, "traditional' method of using the ISO and replacing the file. The new method doesn't require to disconnect from the internet, I have stated in an older post.

I should add that before using the traditional method, I made sure the system was fully updated from Windows Update and I also ran cleanmgr to clear any sludge. At the beginning of the install I chose not to check for updates (can't remember the terminology) so this likely mitigates any network interference. Famous last words but I think that beyond the initial install obstruction checks, Microsoft isn't doing any further probing.

What you did is running Setup from the ISO. The new method is installing the Enablement Package in a matter of seconds. A full upgrade is not necessary.

Hi I have 23H2 on my 13 year old desktop.

I5-760
AsusP7h57
32gb ram

The install was 22H2, it updated on its own to 23h2. Without being an insider on a local account.

Probably after installing all updates up to 22H2 build 22621.2506 you are eventually offered the 23H2 Enablement Package which installed automatically and you upgraded to 23H2 build 22631.2506 I wasn't sure if I would be offered the Enablement Package and didn't want to wait, so I manually installed it on my main PC.

I didn't do anything. It did whatever it wanted to like Windows does. Unless you explicitly tell it not to randomly do random things based on other random things. Which you have to be quite specific about "WHAT" you don't want, and in most cases they will remove your work later on for lol or who knows what. yay

ps my winSXS folder is now 30GB and dism already cleaned it up.