Question Update for Windows 11

gamerfan

Member
Nov 24, 2017
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What is the safest and most efficient way to upgrade to Windows 11 without losing files, settings, and programs on a PC without TPM 2.0 support (i5 3470, 16GB DDR3 RAM) and without a USB flash drive or DVD disc? I have the Windows 11 ISO on my PC.
 
Jul 27, 2020
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Run that and then mount the ISO (right click ISO file and click Mount) and run Setup.exe (the one with the kinda green looking icon) in the mounted virtual DVD drive.

It's very painless. I was surprised how quickly it finished on a 15W Core i7-1065G7.
 

gamerfan

Member
Nov 24, 2017
152
7
81

Run that and then mount the ISO (right click ISO file and click Mount) and run Setup.exe (the one with the kinda green looking icon) in the mounted virtual DVD drive.

It's very painless. I was surprised how quickly it finished on a 15W Core i7-1065G7.
Works in W11 Pro x64 25H2? not block features, updates, not remove files original system iso? programs i use w10 works normally?
 
Jul 27, 2020
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in future updates blocke by microsoft because incompatible hardware?
There is a possibility. My suggestion would be to turn off Windows Updates. Every six months or so, make a complete backup of the Windows partition, turn on updates and see what happens after the reboot. If it works fine, you are good. If not, revert to the partition backup and never update Windows again. At that point, if you want more updates, either use Win11 LTSC or upgrade your hardware.
 

Jimminy

Senior member
May 19, 2020
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There is a possibility. My suggestion would be to turn off Windows Updates. Every six months or so, make a complete backup of the Windows partition, turn on updates and see what happens after the reboot. If it works fine, you are good. If not, revert to the partition backup and never update Windows again. At that point, if you want more updates, either use Win11 LTSC or upgrade your hardware.
Normal updates every patch tuesday won't be blocked. But when the next major annual update comes (26H2?), it won't be offered to machines which don't meet microsoft's draconian requirements. You'll have to download the new ISO and apply the needed workarounds to install it.

I've done it several times, and the easiest is to use rufus to create an installer flash USB drive. Rufus has all the needed patches for noncompliant computers. A popup window will let you select the specific patches you need (or just select all of them). You can either boot the USB if you want a clean install, or you can also just run the setup file on the USB drive if you want to do an update install but ( keeping all your current software and settings ).