Windows 11 Upgrade

[Kirknadian]

Is there a way to make my HP Compaq Elite 8300 capable of running Windows 11.  I know it says it can't run windows 11, but just because they say it can't, does that mean it really can't?  I mean, they also said it could only run on the original psu, but I'm running a 1000W GQ.  So if anyone knows a workaround I'm very interested.  I just can't imagine this PC being ready for the scrap heap in a year.

[BeemerBiker]

https://jensd.be/1860/windows/upgrade-to-windows-11-22h2-on-unsupported-hardware

you will have to do a clean install, not an upgrade.

Go here

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-compaq-elite-8300-microtower-pc/5232859

and get the drivers for windows 7 64 bit.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi, @Kirknadian 

I'm running W11 Pro just fine on two HP 8200 Elite CMT's I have.

You do not necessarily need to clean install W11.

I've done many in-place upgrades on my unsupported W10 PC's to W11.

If you are interested in installing W11 on your PC as is, you can read this discussion for how I upgraded several HP and Dell notebook and desktop PC's that did not meet the W11 hardware requirements to W11 22H2.

You have to use the version of the Rufus utility that I zipped up and attached in the discussion (v3.18).

Re: Issues upgrading to windows 11 - HP Support Community - 8517912

If the in-place upgrade fails, then you will need to clean install W11 using the bootable W11 installation flash drive you made with Rufus.

[Kirknadian]

Thank you very much this is exactly what I was looking for.

[Kirknadian]

The information you provided is greatly appreciated and would have been selected as the final solution except that there was another that allowed an upgrade without requiring a complete reinstall.  You have provided me with valuable information however and I sincerely thank you.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome. 

When W11 23H2 comes out on October 10th, once you see the 23H2 download available on the W11 download site, you will need to make a new bootable USB installer with Rufus v3.18 and the W11 23H2 ISO file to update W11 22H2 to W11 23H2.

Unsupported PC will never be eligible to get the future W 11 releases via Windows update. 

So we will have to do this routine once a year. 

The rest of the year, the  PC gets all of the routine cumulative, security updates, etc.