Windows 11 installed on non-compatible ENVY

[mormegil27]

I am trying to correct a problem with an [HP ENVY x360 Convertible 15m-bp1xx] where the hard drive disk usage is almost always continuously at 100%, causing the computer to be immensely slow.  I figured this might be a BIOS issue because I tried to update Windows fully (which took a long time), and this didn't solve the problem.  

So I went to the HP website to download the BIOS drivers and it asks me to select my OS... with the only option being Windows 10.  But... this computer has Windows 11 on it.  Ok, so I went to this forum and found this post:

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/HP-Envy-X360-not-compatible-wi...

Which suggests that the ENVY x360 is not compatible with Windows 11.  Well how did it get on here then?  Like, shouldn't it be impossible to upgrade to an OS that is not compatible with your computer?  I have a desktop that is in this category, and windows gives me a message saying something like "your computer doesn't meet the minimum specifications for Windows 11.  Find out more..."

This is a family member's computer who is absolutely not computer savvy, so I have no idea how it got into this state.  The computer was purchased from Best Buy sometime around 2017, so I doubt they sold it with an incompatible OS.

What should I do?  Should I wipe it and reinstall Windows 10?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You are comparing apples with oranges.

The notebook you posted in the other link has an AMD processor that does not meet Microsoft's minimum W11 processor requirements.

Notebooks in the 15m-bp1xx model series can come with Intel 7th generation core processors (not supported by Microsoft for W11), and Intel 8th generation core processors (supported by Microsoft for W11).

HP ENVY x360 15m Convertible PC Maintenance and Service GuideIMPORTANT! This document is intended fo...

If you have no idea how the notebook got upgraded to W11, then it must have an Intel 8th generation core processor, and was eligible for the direct free upgrade to W11.

Simple as that.

HP has done a very poor job supporting the consumer class PC's with the older processors that did meet the W11 processor requirements with W11 drivers, which is why you can find no W11 drivers or BIOS updates for the PC.

You can run the risk of running the W10 BIOS update on W11 as some have done (including me) on PCs that have no W11 drivers and hope it works, or you can go back to W10 if you believe that will solve the problem.

Updating the BIOS is not a cure-all for fixing problems.

I reviewed the release notes for the BIOS v.52 update and the previous versions listed, and none address adding support for W11, or fixing hard drive performance issues.

If you want to go back to W10, the notebook should be supported by the HP cloud recovery tool which you can use to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall Windows, the drivers and the software that originally came with the PC.

Here is an info link for how to use the utility.  You will need a 32 GB USB flash drive to create the recovery media with.

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Customer Support

You can download the software from the Microsoft Store.

HP Cloud Recovery Tool - Microsoft Store Apps

[mormegil27]

Ah, ok.  That would explain it.  The processor is: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8550U CPU @ 1.80GHz 1.99 GHz

Thank you for all the suggestions!  I will make a decision about the rollback based on this...

[mormegil27]

Although, I should also ask: do you know of anything that would cause the disk usage to go to 100% even though Task Manager shows no task using any disk usage?  I mean, I'm sure it could be tons of reasons.  I wish there was a better tool that showed the real disk usage, it is not clear to me that what is shown here is actually what is going on...

[mormegil27]

Maybe I should start a new question?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Does the PC have a 2.5" mechanical hard drive or a solid state drive?

If it has a mechanical hard drive, that alone could be the reason.

How much memory does the notebook have?

W11 requires a minimum of 4 GB, 8 GB is marginal, and 16 GB would be the least memory you could have and expect good performance.

[mormegil27]

Hey, thank you again.  I had to swap computers because the problem laptop was so slow!

Yeah, it's 16 GB.  Wow, Win 11 needs a lot if 16 GB is the requirement for "manageable".   I built my own desktop in 2010 (i5-750) and it still runs Win 10 great with an upgrade to only 12 GB (plus I added an SSD).  

It has two drives in dfrgui, both are "Hard disk drive", so I would guess its the 2.5" based on that.

So I'm thinking:

(1) I should look up whether I can upgrade this to an SSD.

(2) If I can, can clone the HDD drive to the SSD?  Or do I have to just reinstall?  Of course, maybe cloning will not work if the disk is bad.

(3) What utility should I use to check if it's the HHD?

[mormegil27]

Crucial thinks it can be upgraded to an SSD.  So that's good news!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Post the notebook's product number so I can see what type of drive it came with according to the parts list.

Run the Windows system information app and the product number is on the SKU line.

Microsoft upped the minimum W11 64-bit requirements from 2 GB to 4 GB as it had been on W10 and W7.

Operating systems are becoming more memory hungry as well as programs.

The notebook should be running well with 16 GB of memory installed, so the bottleneck must be with the drive.

It might be on its way out.

If the notebook does have a 2.5" mechanical hard drive, you can install a 2.5" SSD.

You can buy a SATA to USB cable, plug one end into the notebook's USB port and the other end into the new SSD and clone the OS to the SSD.

Amazon.com: BENFEI SATA to USB Cable, USB 3.0 to SATA III Hard Driver Adapter Compatible for 2.5 inc...

I used the free Macrium Reflect Home software to do that. 

It's not free anymore but you have 30 days to use the trial version.

Macrium Reflect Free Trials

I would not install it until you were ready to clone the drive.

Or you can use that cloud recovery utility to create a bootable USB recovery drive to install the HP factory image on the SSD.

[mormegil27]

Great; the SKU = 1KS76UA#ABA