As Windows 10 approaches its end-of-life on October 14, many users are contemplating an upgrade to Windows 11. However, not all machines meet Microsoft’s stringent requirements for this new operating system. For those facing compatibility issues, tools like Rufus and Flyoobe offer alternative pathways to install Windows 11 on older hardware.
Flyoobe, previously known as Flyby11, presents itself as “A better way to set up Windows.” This versatile tool boasts a range of features designed to enhance the Windows 11 experience, particularly on less powerful machines. Users can:
- Upgrade a Windows 10 machine to Windows 11
- Remove AI components
- Slim down Windows 11
- Enhance the overall Windows 11 experience
- Install commonly used applications
The latest Flyoobe release, available on its official GitHub repository, is version 1.10. To get started, users simply need to extract the files to a folder on their desktop and double-click the Flyoobe application.
Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11
For instance, on a vintage Lenovo X220 equipped with a 2nd-Gen Intel Core i5, I prepared to install Windows 11. Instead of creating an installation USB drive with Rufus, I opted for Flyoobe, which can download the latest Windows 11 ISO and utilize a Windows Server variant of the setup tools to bypass hardware checks for TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and the unsupported 2nd-Gen i5.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for those looking to upgrade:
- Open Flyoobe.
- Click on “Get Windows 11.”
- Choose “Download ISO from Microsoft website,” which will open a browser.
- Download the Windows 11 multi-edition ISO, selecting your preferred language before clicking Confirm.
- Click on the generated link to download the Windows 11 ISO.
- Drag the downloaded ISO into Flyoobe to initiate the installer.
- Follow the prompts to run the installation, selecting whether to keep files, settings, apps, or just personal files.
- When ready, click on Install to proceed with the installation of Windows 11 over the existing Windows 10 setup. The installer will reboot automatically and execute the post-installation setup script.
Tweaking Windows 11 with Flyoobe
Once Windows 11 is installed on an unsupported machine, the next step is to optimize it for better performance. A good starting point is to remove unnecessary AI features. Here’s how to do it using Flyoobe:
- In the Flyoobe app, select the AI tab.
- Click on “Check” to search for all possible AI components.
- Select the components you wish to disable.
- Click on “Turn off selected” to deactivate the AI elements.
- Reboot your machine for the changes to take effect.
Install Updates and Drivers with Flyoobe
After installation, my Lenovo X220 functioned well with Windows 11, but the trackpad scroll button was unresponsive. To address this, I needed to install the correct drivers and updates:
- Right-click on the Flyoobe app and select “Run as Administrator.”
- Select the Updates tab and click on “Check for Updates.”
- Select all relevant updates and click on “Install Updates.”
- Wait for the process to finish, ignoring any errors that may appear.
- Reboot for the changes to take effect.
Improve the Windows 11 Experience with Flyoobe
Windows 11 introduces several changes, including a centered Start menu, which may require some adjustment. To enhance the overall experience, Flyoobe offers a quick list of modifications:
- Open Flyoobe and navigate to the Experience tab.
- Select “Use quick settings” from the dropdown menu.
- Click on “Toggle All” and then click Apply.
- Wait for the process to finish, and reboot for the changes to take effect.
Remove Unwanted Apps with Flyoobe
Like its predecessors, Windows 11 comes pre-installed with numerous applications, some of which may not be necessary. To achieve a cleaner setup, Flyoobe can assist in removing unwanted apps:
- Open Flyoobe and go to the Apps tab.
- Using the dropdown menu, select “Minimal Windows” or another option that suits your needs.
- Click on “Remove Selected Apps” to initiate the uninstallation process.
- Wait for the process to finish, ignoring any errors that may arise.
- Reboot for the changes to take effect.
Install Apps with Flyoobe
After streamlining the system, users often wish to install essential applications. Flyoobe simplifies this process with its Installer tab:
- Open Flyoobe and navigate to the Installer tab.
- Select the desired applications from the list.
- Click on “Install Apps” to begin the installation process.
- Wait for the process to finish, and go to the Start menu to find your newly installed apps.
Flyoobe Extensions
Flyoobe also offers extensions designed to further enhance user experience, including:
- Post-setup cleanup
- Restoring deleted apps
- Viewing telemetry settings
- Tweaking the File Explorer
For example, to run Disk Cleanup via Flyoobe, follow these steps:
- Open Flyoobe and go to the Extensions tab.
- Select the Post-setup cleanup option.
- Click on “Run” to initiate the cleanup process.
- Wait for the process to finish, and choose any additional cleanup options as needed, ensuring to back up important data beforehand.
