Trying to upgrade laptop to W11.

SimplyBetter · 30 January at 10:31AM

Surprising that we don't have people on here complaining when someone wants to bypass the need to create a Microsoft account with Windows 11.
After all, it's not what Microsoft wants for you.

I think a few people need to wake up and begin to think for themselves. Install Windows 11 if you want it and tweak it to your satisfaction. It's your PC handling your data. Take control. Don't be a sheep all the time.
Microsoft provided a workaround and there are other similar workarounds. Up to you. Stop all this scaremongering.
I block Telemetry on my install. Of course Microsoft would like me to have it all on. But there is the option to switch it all off. No different from switching off the ability to check if my CPU is beyond their arbitrary cut-off date.

SimplyBetter · 30 January at 10:39AM

flaneurs_lobster said:

@SimplyBetter said:

Now if you have some advice for the OP, then go ahead. Otherwise....
They asked for advice and I'm giving it to the best of my ability. Again, with respect, if you have nothing to contribute to the topic, then perhaps it is best if you stay silent.

With respect....

My advice to the OP is spend £200 on a decent refurb and not to listen too hard to my advice or anyone else's off the internet.

I guess your advice is going to go into the bin, as they only want to spend £100. But don't let me stop you.
Your advice is certainly not better and certainly did not warrant your rude interjection.
My advice, spend £30 to bring it up to spec for the next couple of years. Yours....spend £200 and scrap a serviceable laptop....on a moneysaving website. Impressive.

ThisIsWeird · 30 January at 10:41AM

SimplyBetter said:

ThisIsWeird said:
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.

Your plan was to play it safe and easy in the first place and you haven't changed that position at all. If you are taking the time to open it up, pop an SSD in, install Windows 11 cleanly and pop her files back on. I already told you how to register the licence, but really it makes no difference. It's just belt and braces. If it states that you have a Windows 10 Digital licence, it will work with a clean install or in-place upgrade of Windows 11. You are just overcomplicating everything in your head, making it seem like a daunting task. When really, it's simple.
If you buy a new laptop, you will have to do exactly the same thing anyway. back up from old laptop and restore to new. So what is the difference? I keep asking. The difference is that the other scenario is somewhere down the road
Do it and you'll have until October 2026 to find a new laptop. Of course I'll take this all back if you actually buy a laptop for her within the next month or so. But likely it will all be forgotten and she'll be stuck with a painfully slow laptop because you didn't want to take the time to do a proper job now

Thanks everyone - it's ALL good info. Lovin' the, er, banter too... :-)

I think you have just persuaded me to swap to SSD when I replace the kb, SimplyBetter - as you say, I'll have the machine open anyways. I have an external cradle and that malarkey.

I'll stick with the W10, tho', so as not to complicate things or add any issues that I'll then feel obliged to sort... The SSD should give her a far more usable 'top for a year or more.

So, a pure clone of what she has, and she can keep the ol' HDD in her drawer as a file backup.

What cloning software do you recommend, SB? I have CrystalDisk8 and DiskGenius downloaded, but can't remember what I used them for.

Thanks all - really appreciated.

SimplyBetter · 30 January at 10:44AM

ThisIsWeird said:

SimplyBetter said:

ThisIsWeird said:
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.

Your plan was to play it safe and easy in the first place and you haven't changed that position at all. If you are taking the time to open it up, pop an SSD in, install Windows 11 cleanly and pop her files back on. I already told you how to register the licence, but really it makes no difference. It's just belt and braces. If it states that you have a Windows 10 Digital licence, it will work with a clean install or in-place upgrade of Windows 11. You are just overcomplicating everything in your head, making it seem like a daunting task. When really, it's simple.
If you buy a new laptop, you will have to do exactly the same thing anyway. back up from old laptop and restore to new. So what is the difference? I keep asking. The difference is that the other scenario is somewhere down the road
Do it and you'll have until October 2026 to find a new laptop. Of course I'll take this all back if you actually buy a laptop for her within the next month or so. But likely it will all be forgotten and she'll be stuck with a painfully slow laptop because you didn't want to take the time to do a proper job now

Thanks everyone - it's ALL good info. Lovin' the, er, banter too... :-)
I think you have just persuaded me to swap to SSD when I replace the kb, SimplyBetter - as you say, I'll have the machine open anyways. I have an external cradle and that malarkey.
I'll stick with the W10, tho', so as not to complicate things or add any issues that I'll then feel obliged to sort... The SSD should give her a far more usable 'top for a year or more.
So, a pure clone of what she has, and she can keep the ol' HDD in her drawer as a file backup.
What cloning software do you recommend, SB? I have CrystalDisk8 and DiskGenius downloaded, but can't remember what I used them for.
Thanks all - really appreciated.

Macrium Reflect? https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

Healthy debate plus banter is good. Separates the wheat from the chaff.

ThisIsWeird · 30 January at 10:53AM

SimplyBetter said:

Macrium Reflect? https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

Healthy debate plus banter is good. Separates the wheat from the chaff.

Macrium - that's the fella I used. Thanks.

Och, I chust see wheat.

SimplyBetter · 30 January at 11:03AM

https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=SMEM2Q2AA in case you feel like spending the whole £30 budget. £10 for keyboard, £17.89 for Crucial 240GB SSD or £14.99 for the 256GB Silicon Power and £3(including postage) for an 4GB RAM module to take it up to 8GB.
You might have to open another Amazon account in order to get the free delivery.

GDB2222 · 30 January at 9:38PM

SimplyBetter said:

GDB2222 said:

jshm2 said:

If you download Flyby11, it will remove the check restrictions, and let you install Windows 11 on your hardware.

Presumably this just edits the registry, for those who don’t feel comfortable to do it themselves?

Again you are just guessing and getting it wrong. In fact it automates the setupprep process that I described in the post above.

Absolutely, I was guessing. I signalled that by using the key word ‘presumably' and ending with a question mark.