X
Stefan

Install Windows 11 on an old PC – 2024 update

It's been a while now in 2024 and people still want to know how to install Windows 11 on an old PC.

Installing Windows 11 on an old PC has some advantages. This way, this old PC can be used as a test computer and you can first experiment with Windows 11. This has the advantage that testing can be done before Windows 11 is actually installed on a computer that is used daily.

Read also
Windows 11 PC Health Check app is now available

Maybe you only have an old PC and you want to equip it with Windows 11, while this old PC does not actually meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11. Whatever the reason, I've put together this article that will help anyone install Windows 11 on any computer, whether it's old and doesn't meet the minimum system requirements. This is how it works.

Install Windows 11 on an old PC

To begin download the Windows 11 ISO file. We need the contents of this ISO file.

Open the Windows 11 ISO file by right-clicking on it and choosing “Mount”. Then copy all files and folders from this ISO file to a new local folder on your computer.

Preferably on the C:\ drive. The name of the new folder does not matter.

Once you have copied everything. Search for “cmd.exe” in the taskbar. Right-click on “Command Prompt” and click “Run as administrator”.

Now use Command Prompt to go to the folder where you extracted the ISO file. Specifically, go to the “sources” folder.

Then type and confirm with ENTER.

setupprep.exe /product server

Installing Windows server will now start. Click the “Change how updates are downloaded with Setup” link.

Select “Not now”. Click next.

Accept the terms.

Choose what you want to keep. I recommend keeping files, settings and apps. You then keep everything, so to speak.

Windows 11 will now be installed on your old computer that does not meet the system requirements.

You have now successfully installed Windows 11 on an old PC. I hope this helped you. Thank you for reading!

Read also
Install Windows 11 from USB (Complete installation guide)
Categories: Windows

View comments (61)

  • Nice description and runs like a charm, all drivers etc were included. Thank you very much for your efforts and this great instruction.

  • Hallo,
    For me, everything always works more or less differently than normal.
    After method 1 failed because I burned a DVD instead of using a USB stick, I skipped methods 2 and 3 and in the meantime bought a new PC, which I did run Windows 11 on.
    Until I found the solution through the German magazine PC WELT, I then successfully created a custom USB stick with Rufus.
    I was not ready to install Windows 11, because the USB stick was not found by my AM3+ UEFI BIOS.
    Then I did it differently.
    I first installed Windows 7 Pro, which I was able to activate.
    And then? Then I didn't have a Windows 10 installation DVD with the correct Windows 10 version.
    According to Microsoft, Windows 10 version 2004 is required to upgrade to Windows 11. I did have 2005, so called because I downloaded it in May 2020.
    But I thought, version 21H1 will also work.
    Anyway, booted that DVD in Windows 7 Pro (64 bit).
    After upgrading to Windows 10, I restarted the PC to avoid possible activation problems.
    Then I updated Windows 10 21H1 to version 22H2, and clicked on 'I don't have a License Key'.
    After installing this update, Windows 10 Pro was automatically activated.
    Then it was time to install the USB (2.0!) stick made with Rufus with Windows 11 (version 21H2) from Windows 10.
    I made a small mistake, because I had checked for updates.
    This is because of drivers and other files.
    After Windows 11 was installed, he started downloading and installing the Update, 4 GB in size, which was apparently version 22H2 of Windows 11.
    I'm not sure if everything went according to the rules, but Windows 11 was updated and runs smoothly.
    My method is preferable to the normal Rufus method because all the apps and settings from the previous versions were retained.
    I don't even have to adjust the Taskbar.
    Anyway, I'm happy with it, that AMD3+ (with Phenom II Dual Core CPU) was not checked, there is no TPM on it, and the graphics card was also a bit old, an R7 240.
    The performance is not disappointing!
    I have now managed to upgrade the old PC to an AMD Radeon R9 270X graphics card, which is a lot faster than the R7 240!
    What have I made now? A Retro multiboot Game PC with Windows 7 32 bit, Windows 10 32 bit, and Windows 11 64 bit. Of course on 3 disks, including 1 SATA SSD of 500 Gb.
    Not bad, for an old AM3+ motherboard, which I almost discarded... But it works, and that's what matters. But the AM3+ motherboards already have UEFI, in a primitive form, but I had to have that, because the newer motherboards no longer run 32 bit Windows.
    And it can accommodate large drives, larger than 2 TB, which is also important.
    Except for the FM2+ motherboards, you can still run Windows XP 32 bit on them, not that 32 bit doesn't run on it, but it is officially not possible because of the 64 bit drivers of the motherboard.
    Although, I haven't tested that yet.
    I didn't succeed, but I have an AM3 PC for that, which can run everything from Windows XP, 32 bit and 64 bit. I still have to adjust that, I'm curious whether I can get Windows 11 to run on it, with the Rufus Method I might be able to do that (I hope).
    Due to all the situations, I have to upgrade my Microsoft account, because I lost it for a while. It'll be fine. I'm now running with a local account on my computers
    Nice gaming PC to play older games.
    It was a lot of work, but I enjoy it a lot, in my old age (I'm 67).
    Even though I'm retired, I have to keep busy, I can't live without my 4(!) computer(s).
    I would say I hope you like this story!
    Thanks for all the information!

    • Hello, quite a story, but nice to read that you are still so actively involved with computers! Hopefully my website will contribute something.
      Best regards :)

      • That's because computers are part of my life, they live through me even when they're turned off.
        It's more than a hobby for me. Without a computer I am destitute.
        I'm also not a fan of TPM, because people have had their files encrypted by the hardware, even during Windows 11 Setup, without warning. That seems very nice, but all you have to do is make one mistake and you will be locked out of your own files because they are encrypted! And if you don't have a key, what then? Or you lose your Microsoft account, then you can no longer even retrieve the key stored online from Microsoft. Or Windows crashes.
        A mistake can happen in a small corner.
        Therefore, no TPM 2.0 for me.
        Then you have a very big problem!
        That's why I don't put my files in the directory of my Microsoft account, because then the risk is too great that they will disappear. I have always done that separately in my own directory. That is a safeguard against disappearance.
        Moreover, it can really slow down Windows startup, especially if you have many thousands of files such as photos or pictures in it.
        It's not that bad with an NVME SSD, it's usually fast enough, but you'll have to work with a hard drive... then you'll beep differently.
        I have also not formatted my hard drive every time I reinstalled Windows, regardless of version. Something like that too.
        Better to have 5 old Windows directories than make 1 mistake and lose everything.
        I use Total Commander for this, because I cannot work well with the Explorer. I only do that in case of emergency.
        I'm terrified that something will happen to my music, I really can't stand it!
        Can you write a piece about that?
        I want to use Windows on my own PC the way I want. I decide that, not Microsoft, with its strict hardware requirements and increasingly strict conditions. I've had my fill of that.
        Help me free Windows 11 from its limitations, please! Thank you!
        My PC is mine, and I can do whatever I want with it, because it is indispensable.
        I am happy with your website, which I found by chance. I know quite a lot about it, but with Windows 11 I sometimes wonder, ehh, how should I do that? Where do I find that?
        And with a local account I have no hassle.
        I do have Office 2019, but I have to use Office 2003 in addition, which no longer runs on Windows 11 64 bit. The program still starts, but immediately freezes. It still works well on Windows 10. I want to be able to number by hand, as I sorted in Access, 1st line 1, the 2nd a 2 in the box below, after which I only have to press the down arrow, without having to manually enter 24.000 numbers of up to 5 digits. have to enter. 1 mistake, and my list is no longer correct!
        Do you know how to do that in Office 2019?
        That's really a thing for me. I don't mean automatic numbering.
        The saying goes: You shouldn't throw away old shoes before you get new ones! With which you can walk just as well, as you are used to with the old shoes.
        Also applies to Windows!
        That's why I use a dual boot system on 2 disks on my Desktop PC. A bit difficult to configure, but it works.
        Sorry for the long story.
        Keep it up!

  • Dear Stephen,

    I tried the way you describe below (update September). That works fine! Thanks, now running Win 11 on the Surface Pro and so far without a problem.

    Regards,
    Peter Paul

  • Hello Stefan, I installed Windows 11 via method 1 and it went fine. Now I want to install version Windows 11 22H2, but I get the message: it cannot be determined whether Windows 11 can be run on your PC. Close setup and try again. What can I do to circumvent this? Mrs. Ton.

    • That's possible, I even made a Trio Boot, from Windows 7 32 bit, Windows 10 32 bit and 64 bit Windows 11.
      It is recommended to use EasyBCD (2.4?), otherwise only Windows 11 will boot.
      At least I had. 7 and 11 were suddenly untraceable for me.
      Always install the oldest one first, because it does not recognize the newer Windows versions 10 and 11.
      Windows 7 does not run on the newer AMD Ryzen and Intel processors, as the Windows 7 installation medium must be adjusted. Not possible without description.

    • Hi, I would use method 4 and then install dual boot from this USB.
      Greetings, Stefan

      • "You can use this USB stick to install Windows 11 via a “clean” installation."

        With "clean" install I expect W10 to be erased and overwritten right?
        So I want to place W11 on a separate partition.

        • Hello, yes that is correct. Windows 10 will then be updated to Windows 11 and therefore in fact overwritten. What you mean is "dual boot", that is two Windows next to each other, so Windows 10 as the boot choice and Windows 11 next to it on a different partition as the boot choice.
          You can make a Dual boot this way (note technical knowledge required!): https://www.pc-tips.info/tips/windows-tips/windows-dual-boot/
          There is another option to consider and that is a virtual machine via Virtualbox or VMware.
          Greetings, Stefan

Leave a comment
Related message
  1. Commonly used keyboard shortcuts in all versions of Windows
  2. Automatically switch wallpaper with WinDynamicDesktop
  3. Name window in Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome