Z600 upgrade from W10 to W11 as per Paul Tikkanen

[DavR0s]

Hi

I am trying to perform the W11 upgrade as per the method shown by Paul Tikkanen a few years ago.

I believe I have followed all the instructions to the letter but when i get to the the install I get the error message that my PC doesnt meet W11 system requirements - specifically TPM2.0/Secure boot support and processor not supported.  That is despite my selecting the option to not check for these in Rufus.

Should this method still work or has MS closed this workaround in the meantime?

Thanks for any guidance, David.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

I would use the newer method that was provided this year by the video at the  link below:

Watch this video, which is the easiest way to do it in my opinion, and I have used several different ways to do this during the last 3 years.

How to Install Windows 11 on Unsupported PC in 2025 (New Easiest Method, No CMD)

Download the W24H2 ISO file and use that (3rd option).

Download Windows 11

You can download the free 7-Zip file utility from the link below. The top line is for 64 bit.

7-Zip

You'll have to repeat this procedure if and when Microsoft rolls out the new W11 builds because a PC that does not meet Microsoft's minimum W11 hardware requirements will never automatically get the update to the next build.

They have been releasing new W11 builds each October so far.

Other than that, your PC will continue to get the monthly cumulative and other updates.

That's only a minor inconvenience to have continued OS support beyond October of 2025.

If things don't work right on W11, you have 10 days to easily go back to W10 as long as you don't delete the W11 upgrade files or the Windows.old folder.

How to Go Back to Windows 10 from Windows 11 (Tutorial)

[DavR0s]

Thanks Paul - that’s very helpful.  I have watched the video.  Before I attempt it just one question.  I have a z600 and z800 that I want to upgrade.  They both have Xeon processors so the bit about the I-processor doesn’t apply.  Can you see any obvious problem with upgrading with these processors?

I have done a full bootable image of my W10 setup so I can easily roll back if it messes things up but wanted to understand as much as I can before I start.

thanks David

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, David.

There should be no problem with the processors not being able to run W11 because both the z600 and z800's list of supported processors support SSE4.2 which is the new requirement to run W11 24H2 and future releases of W11.

Prior to W11 24H2 any 64 bit capable processor could support W11.

I have 3 PC's (a notebook and two desktop PC's ) that I have to leave on W11 23H2 because the processors do not support SSE4.2

[DavR0s]

Thanks again - and pleased to feedback that I’ve upgraded the z600 this afternoon.  Very straightforward when you know how.  Very pleased to have sorted this out.  I’ll try the z800 once I’ve tidied and backed it all up.  Really appreciate the help.

re the annual process - will  it show as an update that refuses to process in which case I go and repeat this process?

thanks David

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, David.

The new W11 releases will not show up at all on any W11 hardware-unsupported PC.

That's why you have to check each October/November on the W11 download site to see if a new W11 version has been released.

We may see one or two more W11 updates released in my opinion.

I'm thinking that in the near future Microsoft will be releasing W12.

When the new W11 update shows up,  you can download the ISO file and repeat the same procedure again.