Trying to upgrade laptop to W11.

SimplyBetter

GDB2222 said:

I’ll put the alternative point of view, perhaps just to be contrary!

This is an old laptop. The software gets bigger every year, and this machine may be frustratingly slow to use . At least I would expect so. Maybe your sil is more patient than me.

I'm reluctant to use the workarounds to install W11 on unsupported hardware, as ms could easily block this at some point, and I would not want to risk being amongst a horde of people suddenly needing to upgrade their computers, all at the same time, and having to pay top dollar. That is why I am dealing with this issue now, rather than waiting until W10 reaches the end of its life in a few months. You are dealing with it now, too, of course. 

So, I think this mostly comes down to money. Can sil afford an upgrade, and will she value having a better computer?  Is she willing to risk a sudden panic if ms block w11 on unsupported hardware, as they are perfectly entitled to do? 

This is really nonsense.
If you can install the feature upgrade then it will run until EOL. Please don't scaremonger.
Currently one can install 24H2 with Microsoft's OFFICIAL workarounds. That will run until October 2026.
We don't know about 25H2 yet.
These are FACTS, rather than your FEARS, which are based on nothing at all other than your lack of understanding of how it works.

SimplyBetter

ThisIsWeird said:

SimplyBetter said:

If you are considering a new laptop for her, you have to transfer the same files(or clone) as if you ran a clean install(to an SSD) on her current device. What's the difference in your mind?
Get it done now and you won't have to think about getting a new laptop for another year or two. Do a proper job. Not half arsedhearted  
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SP-Silicon-Power-Performance-Internal/dp/B07KR25Q72/ref=sr_1_17
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-CT240BX500SSD1-Internal-Solid-State/dp/B07G3YNLJB/ref=sr_1_3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75Hg866SJI0

I have actually fully-assd all my own PCs (see what I did there... :-( ), cloning the old HDD to SSD, and it must be the single most effective upgrade you can do. But a bit apprehensive doing it for someone else - I got myself into some partitioning knots at times, as the two discs were different sizes.

Hers is a little-used laptop, and when it finally needs replacing, all she'd need to do is transfer the actual files she wishes to keep - a lot less scary than a clone :-)

Yes, it's painfully slow, but she doesn't mind. I'm just going to replace the k'board, and suggest she keeps it running as it is, for all the use she makes of it. I'll keep an eye out for a suitable replacement over the year, and grab one when it's a bargain.

Thanks all :-)

Erm...so what's the difference? You or she will be transferring files in just the same way. No need to Clone. Old HDD goes into a caddy costing around £5. She can retrieve files off it at her leisure. But easier to do a file back up with some free backup software and then apply it to the new install. You'll still have the old HDD in a caddy as a back up if anything goes wrong.
Stop making excuses.  Life is too short. Do your best now. She'll appreciate it.

Vitor

I'll say it - Linux Mint! 

ThisIsWeird

SimplyBetter said:

Erm...so what's the difference? You or she will be transferring files in just the same way. No need to Clone. Old HDD goes into a caddy costing around £5. She can retrieve files off it at her leisure. But easier to do a file back up with some free backup software and then apply it to the new install. You'll still have the old HDD in a caddy as a back up if anything goes wrong.
Stop making excuses.  Life is too short. Do your best now. She'll appreciate it.

To clone on to an SSD requires specialist software to transfer every molecule from one t'other. To transfer a few files just needs to use of a stick. Worlds apart, surely?

I have done both a number of times, but sil - with respect - would not be willing to attempt the former, but will have done t'latter. 

The current laptop doesn't really justify the cloning hassle.

If keeping it longer term, then - yes - I agree SSD is worthwhile.

SimplyBetter

ThisIsWeird said:

SimplyBetter said:

Erm...so what's the difference? You or she will be transferring files in just the same way. No need to Clone. Old HDD goes into a caddy costing around £5. She can retrieve files off it at her leisure. But easier to do a file back up with some free backup software and then apply it to the new install. You'll still have the old HDD in a caddy as a back up if anything goes wrong.
Stop making excuses.  Life is too short. Do your best now. She'll appreciate it.

To clone on to an SSD requires specialist software to transfer every molecule from one t'other. To transfer a few files just needs to use of a stick. Worlds apart, surely?

I have done both a number of times, but sil - with respect - would not be willing to attempt the former, but will have done t'latter. 

The current laptop doesn't really justify the cloning hassle.

If keeping it longer term, then - yes - I agree SSD is worthwhile.

Why do you keep writing about cloning? You seem to have cloning on the brain.  Indelibly marked. Let's try to forget about cloning.
You are just backing up her files and restoring them to the new Windows 11 install on the SSD. No cloning. No partitions. Just a USB drive as you mentioned.
Explained here: https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/transfter-files-from-windows-10-to-11.html
Or use third party software: https://www.paragon-software.com/free/br-free/

Backup files to an external storage drive and link her Windows 10 activation to a Microsoft account. Don't neglect Bookmarks.
Swap HDD for SSD and install Windows 11 to it using the Rufus tool to create the media. Restore files to new Windows 11 install from the backup. Restore activation by signing in. No cloning involved 

I don't understand why you are differentiating this scenario from the new laptop scenario. You would have to transfer the old files to the new laptop in exactly the same way. The laptop fitted with SSD is effectively that new laptop. It's the same thing. You are just doing it now. Hopefully it will last her until 24H2 EOL.

GDB2222

SimplyBetter said:

GDB2222 said:

I’ll put the alternative point of view, perhaps just to be contrary!

This is an old laptop. The software gets bigger every year, and this machine may be frustratingly slow to use . At least I would expect so. Maybe your sil is more patient than me.

I'm reluctant to use the workarounds to install W11 on unsupported hardware, as ms could easily block this at some point, and I would not want to risk being amongst a horde of people suddenly needing to upgrade their computers, all at the same time, and having to pay top dollar. That is why I am dealing with this issue now, rather than waiting until W10 reaches the end of its life in a few months. You are dealing with it now, too, of course. 

So, I think this mostly comes down to money. Can sil afford an upgrade, and will she value having a better computer?  Is she willing to risk a sudden panic if ms block w11 on unsupported hardware, as they are perfectly entitled to do? 

This is really nonsense.
If you can install the feature upgrade then it will run until EOL. Please don't scaremonger.
Currently one can install 24H2 with Microsoft's OFFICIAL workarounds. That will run until October 2026.
We don't know about 25H2 yet.
These are FACTS, rather than your FEARS, which are based on nothing at all other than your lack of understanding of how it works.

My understanding is that the 'official workarounds' are actually not official at all. 

W10 will continue working for yonks. There are people running old, unsupported versions of windows. Personally, I think they are foolish and antisocial if they have those machines connected to the internet. 

jshm2

flaneurs_lobster said:

jshm2 said:

You you can install Windows 11 on a mobile phone, if needs be, with a bit of tweaking.

Really? I like a challenge. < jemmies the back off a mobile to fit an SSD.....>

As long as the phone is a 64-bit ARM chip, you can. In fact it's what a lot of "enthusiasts" are doing with those Nokia Lumia's 

timdavid010

ThisIsWeird said:

Hi.
Sil's Lenovo Z575 laptop with an AMD A6-3420M CPU and 6GB RAM. 
Keyboard has failed - I recall replacing it before, a few years back - but it needs a new one again. So wondered, instead, if a new lappie is the way to go. Ie, would this one manage W11 if repaired - is it worth doing?
Getting conflicting info - some of the (2nd hand) W11 laptops I've been looking at have even lesser processors than this, so that would suggest 'yes', sil's 'should' take '11'.
Tried MS's updating service, and tried registering an account for her, only to find one already (possibly me before), but there are no devices on it, and I can't find how to add her laptop to this; I'd hoped to register her existing W10 copy, hence allowing the upgrade to 11.
Phew.
So, how can I add her laptop? It only seems to allow MS devices. And, do you reckon hers is powerful enough to take '11'?
Ta

he Lenovo Z575 with an AMD A6-3420M CPU and 6GB RAM is unfortunately not compatible with Windows 11. Microsoft has strict system requirements, including:

1. Processor Compatibility – The AMD A6-3420M is not on the supported CPU list for Windows 11.
2. TPM 2.0 Requirement – The Z575 likely lacks TPM 2.0, which is mandatory for Windows 11.
3. UEFI and Secure Boot – Older laptops like this often run on Legacy BIOS, another roadblock for Windows 11.

Your Best Options

1. Stick with Windows 10 – Windows 10 is supported until October 2025, so you can continue using it safely for now.
2. Upgrade to a Newer Laptop – If you're looking at second-hand Windows 11 laptops, focus on models with at least an Intel 8th Gen or AMD Ryzen 2000-series CPU to ensure long-term compatibility.
3. Try Windows 11 Unofficially – There are workarounds to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, but this comes with potential stability and security issues.

As for adding her laptop to an MS account, you need to sign into the laptop with that Microsoft account under Settings > Accounts > Your Info and ensure it's linked. However, since Windows 11 officially won’t run on this laptop, it won’t help with the upgrade.

A budget-friendly refurbished laptop (e.g., Intel i5 8th Gen / Ryzen 5 2500U with SSD) would be a better investment than trying to force Windows 11 onto this machine.

ThisIsWeird

SimplyBetter said:

Why do you keep writing about cloning? You seem to have cloning on the brain.  Indelibly marked. Let's try to forget about cloning.
You are just backing up her files and restoring them to the new Windows 11 install on the SSD. No cloning. No partitions. Just a USB drive as you mentioned.
Explained here: https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/transfter-files-from-windows-10-to-11.html
Or use third party software: https://www.paragon-software.com/free/br-free/
Backup files to an external storage drive and link her Windows 10 activation to a Microsoft account. Don't neglect Bookmarks.
Swap HDD for SSD and install Windows 11 to it using the Rufus tool to create the media. Restore files to new Windows 11 install from the backup. Restore activation by signing in. No cloning involved 
I don't understand why you are differentiating this scenario from the new laptop scenario. You would have to transfer the old files to the new laptop in exactly the same way. The laptop fitted with SSD is effectively that new laptop. It's the same thing. You are just doing it now. Hopefully it will last her until 24H2 EOL.

Ah, I see what you mean - soz :-)

You mean to shove in the new SSD and load W11 from a USB?

One of my first Qs on here was about trying to register her W10 on her MS account so that MS would recognise her current digital licence, and would then allow the W11 upgrade.

Anyhoo, I'm going to play safe - and easy - on this one, and just find a better laptop with a fast enough proc and SSD, and I've updated the current one so it'll be ready to run - crawl - when I fit the new keyboard to keep her going until then.

Cheers.

ThisIsWeird

timdavid010 said:

The Lenovo Z575 with an AMD A6-3420M CPU and 6GB RAM is unfortunately not compatible with Windows 11. Microsoft has strict system requirements, including:

1. Processor Compatibility – The AMD A6-3420M is not on the supported CPU list for Windows 11.
2. TPM 2.0 Requirement – The Z575 likely lacks TPM 2.0, which is mandatory for Windows 11.
3. UEFI and Secure Boot – Older laptops like this often run on Legacy BIOS, another roadblock for Windows 11.

Your Best Options

1. Stick with Windows 10 – Windows 10 is supported until October 2025, so you can continue using it safely for now.
2. Upgrade to a Newer Laptop – If you're looking at second-hand Windows 11 laptops, focus on models with at least an Intel 8th Gen or AMD Ryzen 2000-series CPU to ensure long-term compatibility.
3. Try Windows 11 Unofficially – There are workarounds to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, but this comes with potential stability and security issues.

As for adding her laptop to an MS account, you need to sign into the laptop with that Microsoft account under Settings > Accounts > Your Info and ensure it's linked. However, since Windows 11 officially won’t run on this laptop, it won’t help with the upgrade.

A budget-friendly refurbished laptop (e.g., Intel i5 8th Gen / Ryzen 5 2500U with SSD) would be a better investment than trying to force Windows 11 onto this machine.

Hi Tim David.

Thank you - that's probably the perfect answer to all my Qs!

Yes, I've decided to go the second route, and such 'tops can be had for less than £100 with careful choosing, so a no-brainer.

Cheers!