secure boot

[imback]

Hi from Ireland, i hope someone on here can help me please.I recently bought a used Zbook 15 G4 runnig win 11 but after running updates i received a warning about "windows end of service" Im running wiin 11 version 21H2. After some checking up i found that "secure boot is disabled" but when i went to switch it on i found 3 options

Im a novice so i hope someone can help.

regards.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

What setting is the BIOS on now?

If it is the first one, and you go to change it, the notebook won't boot up because W11 was erroneously installed in Legacy mode which uses the MBR partition table and in order to enable secure boot, the drive has to be formatted with the GPT partition table.

What you have to do is to convert the drive from MBR to GPT and then you can set the BIOS to the second setting in your screenshot.

So, the first thing to do is to confirm that your PC's drive is formatted in MBR and if so, do the conversion.

If it is already in GPT, you can select the second option and that should enable secure boot.

Watch this video for how to convert the drive from MBR to GPT and after you do that, you should change the BIOS setting to the second option.

Will work the same way for W11:

How to Convert MBR to GPT for Free on Windows 10 without Losing Data (Easy Method)

[imback]

hi paul thank you for your help, i bought the zbook online because if was W11 as my old laptop didnt qualify so it seems i was misled. I just watched the video and my drive is already in GPT so i selected the second option of secure boot which worked fine, on reboot i tried updates but still get the alert. As i meet the requirements ( tpm 2.0 and secure boot) should i try a full install of w11 from windows web site or follow the instructions in the video link? Plus there is a HP firmware driver update in the optional updates should i install it?

many thanks for your help.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I found out what the problem is:

You bought a model that is one series too old.

Looking up the specs, the ZBook15 G4's come with Intel 7th gen core processors, and W11 requires 8th gen core processors at a minimum.

Here is an easy workaround to update your PC to W11 24H2 on unsupported hardware:

Watch this video, which is the easiest way to do it in my opinion, and I have tried many 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 each October when Microsoft rolls out the new builds because a PC that does not meet Microsoft's minimum W11 hardware requirements will never automatically get the update to the next build.

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.

You can upgrade your old laptop from W10>W11 using this method too, as long as it has an Intel 1st generation core or newer processor or an AMD processor that not older than 10 years or so.

It doesn't need to have a UEFI BIOS, or TPM security device either, but it must be on W10 64 bit. 

[imback]

thank you paul for all your advice (i was conned buying this model) ah well you live and learn. I will follow your advice on upgrading and hope that Microsoft keep putting out updates beyond October.

once again many thanks

paul in ireland

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime, Paul.

Glad to have been of assistance.

Your notebook should run just fine on W11 24H2 if it is running fine on W11 21H2, which is why it never updated each year.

I imagine that Microsoft will continue to release updates for W11 until they come out with W12, which is supposedly on the drawing board.

Remember that when they introduced W11 to market in 2021, W10 got an update that year (21H2) and then the final update to W10 was 22H2, but W11 has gotten two more updates beyond that--23H2 and 24H2.

Just keep checking that Microsoft W11 download site each October to see if a new ISO file has been released.

The next one would be 25H2 if they update W11 this year.

Cheers, from Paul in the USA.