Since the introduction of Windows 11 in the fall of 2021, users of Windows 10 have enjoyed the luxury of remaining on their familiar operating system without any immediate pressure to upgrade. However, this comfort will come to an end in October 2025, when Microsoft will cease free support for Windows 10, leaving users vulnerable as security updates will no longer be provided. While Microsoft does offer extended security updates (ESU) for a fee, these are time-limited and can add to the operational costs for businesses. For those looking to transition to Windows 11, the upgrade process is accessible through Windows Update, an installation wizard, or via a USB stick, provided that the hardware meets specific requirements, including a 64-bit CPU, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot.
Exploring Upgrade Options
Many older devices may not meet these stringent requirements. Nevertheless, it is still possible to install Windows 11 on a wide range of PCs, albeit with some creative workarounds. The critical requirement is a 64-bit processor, as Windows 11 is exclusively available in this format. If a device is currently running a 32-bit operating system, a fresh installation will be necessary.
Probably the best way to navigate this upgrade is by utilizing the free Rufus tool, which allows users to create a modified USB stick that bypasses the hardware checks.
To begin, users should download the Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft and integrate it into Rufus. This tool can be configured to remove the RAM, TPM, and Secure Boot requirements during the USB stick creation process. The steps are straightforward:
- Download the Windows 11 ISO directly from Microsoft, ensuring to select the multi-edition version for x64 devices.
- Save the ISO file locally on your hard drive.
- Launch Rufus and select the “Select” option to integrate the downloaded ISO file.
- For modern systems, choose “GPT” as the partition scheme and “UEFI (without CSM)” as the target system.
- Activate the option to “Remove requirement for 4GB RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0” before creating the USB stick.
- Confirm the settings, and Rufus will create the customized installation medium in a few minutes.
Once the USB stick is ready, it can be inserted into the running Windows 10 system, where users should open the “Setup.exe” file. Upon the appearance of the installation window, select “Change how updates are downloaded from Setup” and set it to “Not now.” After agreeing to the license conditions, if prompted about unsupported hardware, simply click “Accept.” Users will then have the option to retain their personal data and installed programs. A final click on “Install” initiates the upgrade process, typically completed within 30 minutes while preserving all settings and data.
Interestingly, this installation method also accommodates older computers, provided they support at least the SSE4.2 command set extension. Although the Windows setup may flag the hardware as unsupported, it still allows installation upon confirmation. Once installed, Windows 11 generally operates without issues, with Windows Update and the Microsoft Store functioning as expected.
However, users should be aware that annual feature updates, such as 22H2 or 24H2, may not be available via Windows Update on incompatible PCs. Rufus can assist here as well; users will need to download the new ISO annually, create a new USB stick with Rufus, and perform the update manually. Fortunately, this effort remains manageable.
Another consideration involves UEFI mode and Secure Boot. While these are officially required, both can be bypassed using the Rufus stick. Nonetheless, transitioning to UEFI with compatible hardware is advisable, which may necessitate changing the hard disk’s partition style from MBR to GPT, highlighting the importance of data backup.
For those looking to enhance performance on older hardware, simple upgrades such as adding more RAM or installing an NVMe SSD—often feasible through a PCIe adapter—can yield significant improvements at a relatively low cost.
