Hp 15 af131dx can’t update win 10 and can I upgrade to 11?

[Lushi]

I bought this and thought it would be best to just start fresh because they had it streaming thru onion. I didn’t want any weird problems cuz I didn’t know what they were doing there right? Well, I think that was mistake not sure if was updating before but I reset to factory before I did research. Oh boy, so now I’m stuck because it won’t go up to ver 1909, it just gets stuck there. Know issue but wasn’t known by me ok. My bad! I saw that I could do clean install using create tool and usb flash drive. 
my questions are:

1 if I do this where do I get activation key from? Is this free or do I have to purchase software? And if not free why not?

2 I want windows 11 on this laptop. I believe it is able to with a 2 ghz quad core processor, 500g hd and 4 g ram (soon to be 8g ram). Is win 11upgrade free if I upgrade thru win 10?  If I have to purchase, do I have to go thru 10 upgrade or would I just go straight there clean install? 
I have no files I need to save its clean. 

Help please. Don’t really need much power just simple internet browsing stuff and didn’t want to buy new just yet. 

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

1.  Your notebook's Windows 10 Home 64 bit product key is encrypted in the BIOS.

You don't need the product key to reinstall W10.

You can make a bootable W10 installation USB flash drive with the Microsoft media creation tool from the link below:

Download Windows 10

After W10 has completed installing you can install the drivers and available software from the HP business-class equivalent of your notebook since HP has retired driver support for the 15-afXXX model series.

HP 255 G4 Notebook PC Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Support

Do not use the BIOS files because they may be slightly different than what your notebook uses.

2.  Your notebook does not meet Microsoft's minimum W11 processor requirement which is an AMD Ryzen mobile processor 3xxx series or newer.

After you install W10, if you are happy with your PC and if you are interested in installing W11 24H2 on your PC as is, 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 24H2 on Unsupported PC (Early Access) 2024 (youtube.com)

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

Download Windows 11 (microsoft.com)

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.

[Lushi]

Thank you so much for your response! So much great information much appreciated. Yes, I did the usb windows 10 install. It worked. I went to AMD site for drivers. They worked. So so. 
You are correct, hardware wise not compatible for windows 11 upgrade because of TPM. 
But, being the nerd, I wanted to do it anyways. 
so thrilled for your instructions and yes I will try it! You saved me many hours of searching thank you. 
ya I want new laptop but just not do able this moment so playing with this one is what I got. 
Love the challenge, wish me luck!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Your notebook's A6-5200 processor also does not meet Microsoft's minimum W11 hardware requirements.

Needs to be an AMD Ryzen 3xxx series or newer.

I am running W11 on older HP notebooks than yours, so the video I posted should work for you.

You may want to install another 4 GB DDR3L-1600 memory chip in there if W11 runs too slow on your notebook.

4 GB is the minimum memory requirement to run W11.

[Lushi]

Ya I was going to. Thanks a million I’m going to try upgrade now. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime. 

Glad to have been of assistance  

If all goes well, you may also want to replace the 2.5" mechanical hard drive with a much better performing 2 5" solid state drive (SSD).