Windows 11 for HP Compaq Elite 8300 SFF

[Hether1]

I tried the "accepted solution" to upgrade my HP Compaq Elite 8300 SFF that was posted to help upgrade it to Windows 11, and could not get it to work...  (the solution was https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Operating-Systems-and-Recovery/HP-compaq-Elite-8300-SFF-is-inc...  )...  I am not sure if I just didn't do something correctly, or if the solution just won't work for my laptop.   Any suggestions?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Use this newer method, which is almost guaranteed to work:

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

[Hether1]

I did the PC health check, and apparently I have more things I need to attend to for my desktop.  The message said:  

This PC must support Secure Boot

TPM 2.0 must be supported and enabled.  I am using 1.2

The processor is not supported.  Intel Core i5-3470 CPU @ 3.2 GHz

I tried to follow the link PC HEALTH  provided about changing the secure boot, but got stuck because I was not sure how to change to the UEFI when it says I need to reinstall Windows and create a bootable USB drive with Windows 10 or 11 in UEFI mode and then boot from the USB drive by selecting it when in the BIOS boot options.    I didn't know how to create that bootable USB drive.    I know that on the link they provided, they said be careful when making changes in BIOS because incorrect settings could prevent my computer from booting...  so, I stopped and decided to write you instead.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You should be able to do an in place upgrade to your PC with its current settings.

I did an in-place upgrade to W11 24H2 on an older Dell PC with an i5-660 processor, no TPM, no secure boot, no UEFI capability.

Regarding the secure boot issue:  You may be able to correct that problem...

What is the BIOS mode Windows is reporting?  UEFI or Legacy?

Type: System Information

The System information app should show up.

Run the app and the BIOS Mode line will be found about 1/3 of the way down on the report.

[Hether1]

It says Legacy

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You can fix that problem in one of two ways:

Back up any files you don't want to lose onto a portable hard drive first.

1. Convert the drive from MBR to GPT so you can enable secure boot.

Watch this video.  If it works, everything will be as it is now.

How To Convert MBR To GPT For Free In Windows 10

You restart the PC after the conversion is successful.

Immediately tap the ESC key to get the menu of options.

Select the F10 setup option and in the BIOS menu, disable legacy mode and enable secure boot.

That will fix the no UEFI or secure boot problems Windows is reporting as to why your PC can't run W11.

Again, this should not be necessary but it would be better if you can make the conversion.

2. You will have to reinstall Windows in UEFI mode and for that, you may as well use the Rufus method to make a bootable W11 USB installation flash drive with the W11 hardware check bypass options checked, rather than reinstalling W10 and upgrading to W11.

To install W11 in UEFI mode, you boot the USB installation flash drive from the EFI USB boot source, not the legacy one.

You can enable secure boot after W11 has completed installing in UEFI mode.

Watch this video for how to setup Rufus for a clean install of W11:

Windows 11 24H2 Install on Unsupported Hardware with Rufus