Windows 11 is the latest operating system from Microsoft, boasting new features and improvements over Windows 10. Despite these advancements, Windows 11 has higher system requirements, potentially causing incompatibility issues with some older laptop processors. In this tutorial, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide to help you install Windows 11 on an old laptop processor that currently supports only Windows 10.

Please note that installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware may lead to performance issues, instability, and lack of support from Microsoft. Proceed at your own risk.

Requirements:

1. A laptop with a processor that supports Windows 10

2. A USB flash drive with at least 8GB of storage

3. A stable internet connection

4. Windows 11 ISO file

Step 1: Download Windows 11 ISO file

1. Visit the official Microsoft website to download the Windows 11 ISO file: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11

2. Click on “Download now” and follow the instructions to download the ISO file.

3. Save the file to a location on your computer.

Step 2: Create a bootable USB drive

1. Download Rufus, a free tool to create bootable USB drives: https://rufus.ie/

2. Install and launch Rufus.

3. Insert the USB flash drive into your laptop.

4. In Rufus, select the USB drive under “Device.”

5. Click on “Select” and browse to the location where you saved the Windows 11 ISO file.

6. Choose the “GPT” partition scheme and “UEFI (non-CSM)” target system.

7. Click on “Start” to create the bootable USB drive.

Step 3: Modify the Windows 11 ISO file to bypass system requirements check

1. Download and install a file archiver software like 7-Zip: https://www.7-zip.org/

2. Right-click on the Windows 11 ISO file and select “7-Zip” > “Extract files.”

3. Navigate to the extracted folder and go to “sources.”

4. Locate the “appraiserres.dll” file and delete it. This will bypass the system requirements check during installation.

Step 4: Prepare your laptop for Windows 11 installation

1. Backup all important data on your laptop, as the installation process may erase your files.

2. Connect your laptop to a power source to avoid any interruptions during the installation.

3. Restart your laptop and press the appropriate key (usually F2, F10, F12, or Del) to enter the BIOS/UEFI settings.

4. Enable “UEFI Boot” and “Secure Boot” if available.

5. Set the boot order to prioritize the USB drive.

6. Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings.

Step 5: Install Windows 11

1. Your laptop should now boot from the USB drive.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 11.

3. When prompted for system requirements, the bypass should allow you to proceed with the installation.

4. Complete the installation process and set up your new Windows 11 environment.

Conclusion:

By following these steps, you should be able to install Windows 11 on an old laptop processor that only supports Windows 10. Keep in mind that this method is not officially supported by Microsoft, and you may encounter issues or lack of support. Always backup your data and consider upgrading your hardware for a smoother Windows 11 experience.