Solved Windows 11 runs in an old desktop by swapping SSD

CB · Jul 25, 2021

I just bought a new desktop with 10th gen Core i5 and put in the system SSD from the old desktop which is incompatible with Windows 11. When done upgrading to Windows 11 I grabbed new M2 with bigger capacity and replaced the old SSD.
Put back the old SSD to the old desktop. My intention was to repartition it and put back Windows 10. I was curious what if I run it first before hand. It happened! Windows 11 is running flawlessly on the old desktop which never been able to install for once.
Who knows anyone want to try this what I call it as accidental trick. But surely it needs a new licence to activate.
The old desktop is Intel 3rd gen Core i5 with Intel DH55PJ chipset.

Cheers,
Kevin.

spapakons · Jul 25, 2021

This is a known trick. It seems Windows Setup only checks compatibility during installation (there are ways to bypass the checks, see other threads). After installation the minimum requirements are the same as for Windows 10, so it can work on non-compliant systems, but not upgrade to the next build unless you trick the setup again to bypass the checks.

CB · Jul 25, 2021

Yes. So it won't install but it will still run. Sure, no one will do some hassle upgrading the version back and fort. Maybe it will benefit by doing it once the stable version is available plus some minor update probably.

jbcarreon123 · Jul 25, 2021

Kevin Ismail said:
Yes. So it won't install but it will still run. Sure, no one will do some hassle upgrading the version back and fort. Maybe it will benefit by doing it once the stable version is available plus some minor update probably.

Yes. I was bypassed Windows 11 install requirements by adding an specific DWORD on the registry. Windows 11 run flawlessly in my 10~11 y/o system. Also my system has an HDD boot drive, having my 16GB USB stick run my needed programs.

CB · Jul 25, 2021

A week before having my new desktop, I also did adding DWORDs in registry to bypass TPM and secure boot. But still no luck.

CB · Jul 25, 2021

jbcarreon123 said:
Yes. I was bypassed Windows 11 install requirements by adding an specific DWORD on the registry. Windows 11 run flawlessly in my 10~11 y/o system. Also my system has an HDD boot drive, having my 16GB USB stick run my needed programs.
View attachment 4048
View attachment 4049

It wonders me. The written specs are definitely at minimum.

Bree · Jul 25, 2021

Kevin Ismail said:
But surely it needs a new licence to activate.

As far as activation goes W11 and W10 are the same thing. A PC with an existing digital licence for W10 in the edition you installed (Home or Pro) will activate from the digital licence when running the same edition of W11.

Bree · Jul 25, 2021

Kevin Ismail said:
The old desktop is Intel 3rd gen Core i5 with Intel DH55PJ chipset.

Just look at the specs of my System Two in 'My Computers' below this post....

CB · Jul 25, 2021

Bree said:
As far as activation goes W11 and W10 are the same thing. A PC with an existing digital licence for W10 in the edition you installed (Home or Pro) will activate from the digital licence when running the same edition of W11.

In my case the current licence already went to the new desktop. Then I found the oldd one already had it's licence revoked.

NavyLCDR · Jul 25, 2021

Kevin Ismail said:
In my case the current licence already went to the new desktop. Then I found the oldd one already had it's licence revoked.

That must be something new happening now because you are the very first report I have read of that happening (a digital license being revoked). I honestly suspect there is another reason for not activating rather than Microsoft revoking a digital license.

Mark Phelps · Jul 25, 2021

spapakons said:
This is a known trick. It seems Windows Setup only checks compatibility during installation (there are ways to bypass the checks, see other threads). After installation the minimum requirements are the same as for Windows 10, so it can work on non-compliant systems, but not upgrade to the next build unless you trick the setup again to bypass the checks.

I had expecting this failing of updates too --but at least so far, with .51, .71, and now, .100 -- it has updated without issues. And the PCs I have it on meet very few of the Win11 "requirements". I know updates will fail eventually, but for the time being, it seems to be updating every week without issue.

CB · Jul 25, 2021

NavyLCDR said:
That must be something new happening now because you are the very first report I have read of that happening (a digital license being revoked). I honestly suspect there is another reason for not activating rather than Microsoft revoking a digital license.

Sorry. My bad. Licence wasn't revoked. I found it only unable to activate.

Bree · Jul 25, 2021

Kevin Ismail said:
Sorry. My bad. Licence wasn't revoked. I found it only unable to activate.

If you had a specific retail key installed, then that could explain it. You aren't allowed to activate two machines at the same time with one key.

However, if you had then changed the installed key to the generic key for the installed edition (Home or Pro) it would have activated from that PC's exiisting digital licence.

Generic Product Keys to Install Windows 10 Editions

List of Generic Product Keys to Install Windows 10 Editions

www.tenforums.com

jimbo45 · Jul 27, 2021

Bree said:
If you had a specific retail key installed, then that could explain it. You aren't allowed to activate two machines at the same time with one key.

However, if you had then changed the installed key to the generic key for the installed edition (Home or Pro) it would have activated from that PC's exiisting digital licence.

Generic Product Keys to Install Windows 10 Editions

List of Generic Product Keys to Install Windows 10 Editions

www.tenforums.com

Hi there
Not quite true
I still have a very old SONY VAIO laptop running W7 X-64 Ultimate. On another laptop I used that key to "Update" to W10 which worked perfectly and then upgraded that to W11 - and it's fine with a digital license. Meanwhile the old Sony W7 laptop is still working perfectly and remains activated.

Cheers
jimbo

blacxarea · Jul 27, 2021

I tested some clean install on old PCs here, and all of them running Win11 with no problems, including the updates. Differences are on performance as far as I can see. The last PC I installed with Win11 Build 22000.100 is a HTPC with embedded AMD processor, 2GB RAM, and 250GB HDD using MBR partition, no GPU. And, of course, no TPM, no SecureBoot. No big problems, no serious errors, just performance.

CB · Jul 27, 2021

blacxarea said:
I tested some clean install on old PCs here, and all of them running Win11 with no problems, including the updates. Differences are on performance as far as I can see. The last PC I installed with Win11 Build 22000.100 is a HTPC with embedded AMD processor, 2GB RAM, and 250GB HDD using MBR partition, no GPU. And, of course, no TPM, no SecureBoot. No big problems, no serious errors, just performance.

That is new. The compatibilty check never missed that step. If your PC was able to install probably it's not old enough to be excluded. Are you sure there is no fTPM in the BIOS?

blacxarea · Jul 27, 2021

Kevin Ismail said:
That is new. The compatibilty check never missed that step. If your PC was able to install probably it's not old enough to be excluded. Are you sure there is no fTPM in the BIOS?

Even it doesn't have UEFI BIOS. I just do some registry tricks before installation. The current PC that I use also has no TPM and SecureBoot. But I can use it everyday since the first leaked version of Win11. Here is my daily PC specs:

CB · Jul 27, 2021

That is good. Registry trick didn't work on my side.

blacxarea · Jul 27, 2021

Kevin Ismail said:
That is good. Registry trick didn't work on my side.

Installed on 4 old PCs so far using registry tricks. Waiting for other dumped old PCs from some friends to come and run the test again. An old laptop just arrive today. Will see can it run Win11 or not..

jbcarreon123 · Jul 27, 2021

blacxarea said:
Installed on 4 old PCs so far using registry tricks. Waiting for other dumped old PCs from some friends to come and run the test again. An old laptop just arrive today. Will see can it run Win11 or not..

Try to run Win11CompChk after you installed Windows 11 on those incompatible PCs.

Windows 11 Compatibility Check

Windows 11 Compatibility Check This resource is now available on GitHub! Win11CompChk uses CMD, PowerShell, WMIC and more Built-in Windows tools to provide accurate results if your PC can run Windows 11. No installation or setup required! (In...

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