Upgrade an old laptop to Windows 11?

[#1]

@Townman   Attached is the method I’ve used at least a dozen times on various machines. This was found somewhere or other on the internet not long after Windows 11 was introduced.

I seem to recall in the early days of Windows 11 there was a semi-official workaround for testing purposes but I think Microsoft ‘blocked’ it after the official launch ?

The method attached was last used by me a few weeks ago as I tend to do a ‘clean’ install from time to time.

[#2]

Thanks @Batfrog  I’ve already been down the Rufus route but with a later version. Some of the options in your PDF were not available so I’ve downloaded the earlier version, I’ll let you know how it goes.

[#3]

I'm another person who's installed Windows 11 on several non-compliant desktops and laptops, all of which generally were sold initially with Windows 7. All get updates as normal EXCEPT the annual yyH2 "revision".

So, for example, a 22H2 installation will NOT upgrade to 23H2 when it becomes available thus starting the "end-of-life" clock ticking where eventually even security updates will cease.

There are various ways of forcing through those "revisions" which Microsoft has tried to close, so sometimes a reinstall is the easiest way forward as the update route is made tricky.

That said, 25H2 has just been released and the process to move to it from 24H2 is ridiculously easy; Microsoft has totally changed the process. Maybe they'll block off the easy process sooner rather than later though. 😓

[#4]

@Townman  @Champnet @HPsauce

Just for information.  I’ve Just tried a clean install using Rufus 3.18 and a freshly downloaded Windows 11 iso version 25H2 and it installs no problem at all.

Needless to say the laptop I used – a Lenovo ideapad 320 fails the Microsoft compatibility test.

[#5]

I need to get my finger out on this and give it ago.  I’ve potentially got 3 or 4 devices to re-purpose.

[#6]

For those (including the OP) who may prefer to stick with W10 for whatever reasons for as long as possible, I've gone with the free 12 month Windows 10 extended security option by syncing my account settings with OneDrive, which didn't take up much of the rather meagre 5GB free storage place offered (although of course it could have involved paying for extra storage if I had already been using it for backups etc.)

Seems to have worked, in fact a new batch of updates arrived shortly after doing it.

(Will be interesting to see whether Microsoft come up with new ways of trying to bully the Win 11 refuseniks into 'upgrading'...)

[#7]

Not so much ‘refuseniks’ as not directly possible to do without buying new hardware.

Whats the extend service option?  I have paid for one drive and I’ve not seen an offer.

[#8]

Ok @Townman, not all refuseniks, but I'm sure there are plenty of people with compatible machines who are in no hurry to engage in a new battle to try to stop Microsoft's apparent intention to dictate how they use them.

Extended Security Updates: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/extended-security-updates

[#9]

@Batfrog 

Thank you for the instructions in post #16. 

Can this be used to prepare a flash drive for use on a different computer? If so, presumably the flash drive should be removed from the downloading PC at stage 9 and moved to the machine that needs updating?

Stage 20 confused me. When you write: 'Wait for the creation of USB to complete', I assumed that it is completed at stage 9? Should this really be:  'Wait for the creation of Win 11 on the target disk to complete'?

[#10]

@Baldrick1 

I suspect you've confused the stages of the instructions.  AIUI, the first part refers to the downloading of the ISO file (Your ref to stage 9); the second part refers to the creation of the bootable USB drive (Your ref to stage 20).  Installation on the target device follows that.

[#11]

@Baldrick1  This is as downloaded from the internet some years ago, I agree the wording is a bit confusing.

Yes, once completed the USB stick can be used on any computer providing the “Target system” machine has UEFI (non CSM) or BIOS system as selected in Rufus.

In practice I found it best to download the W11 iso and browse to it rather than download and prepare the USB in one process, in case of problems preparing the USB stick or preparing for a different system i.e. BIOS or UEFI

Item 20 is the time it takes to transfer and modify the iso to the USB stick. (can be a bit slow)

[#12]

Just a quick note re 25H2 if you have it installed, the October update has just been re-released just a few days later with the build number increased by just two, i.e. from 6899 to 6901! This is pretty unusual.

Reading comments online it seems that 6899 had a major problem with the recovery environment (that kicks in if you have big problems/crashes) in that USB devices such as mouse/keyboard do not work within it, making it pretty useless. 😖

So, if you're on build 6899, which arrived with: "2025-10 Cumulative Update for Windows 11, version 25H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5066835) (26200.6899)" it's probably best to get updated with "(KB5070773) (26200.6901)" sooner rather than later. 

[#13]

@HPsauce  Thanks for that I've just checked and it seems the latest iso is OK

my spec:

Edition Windows 11 Home
Version 25H2
Installed on ‎21/‎10/‎2025
OS build 26200.6901
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.253.0

[#14]

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@Champnet wrote:

Having looked after a solitary Unix box in a server room full of Netware, later Microsoft, boxes I have no intention of learning Linux or any variant......

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Fundamentally, your Synology NAS devices are running Linux; DSM does a fine job of hiding it from you. 

[#15]

@TheRoadCrew   Ooops, I've a couple of Synology boxes, but in defence I use the OS or software menus not the CLI. So my statement : "I have no intention of learning Linux or any variant."  still stands........