How to get windows 11 update assistant working on very old computers

Since you have an old desktop that lacks TPM 2.0 and has an unsupported CPU, you might find that the Windows 11 update assistant on unsupported PC refuses to proceed with the upgrade, saying the device isn’t compatible. However, since your system still runs perfectly fine, there's a workaround: performing an in-place upgrade using a Windows 10 ISO.

Here's how to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 using this method:

1. Download the Windows 10 ISO

2. Mount the Windows 10 ISO

   Right-click the ISO file and choose Mount.

   This creates a virtual drive with the setup files.

3. Run the Setup for In-Place Upgrade

   Open the mounted drive and double-click setup.exe.

   Follow the prompts to begin the upgrade process.

4. Choose Keep Files and Apps

   When prompted, select "Keep personal files and apps".

   This ensures your data and applications remain intact.

5. Complete the Upgrade

   The setup will check for compatibility issues.

   Since your device is incompatible with the standard Windows 11 upgrade.

   The Windows 11 update assistant on unsupported PC might refuse to proceed.

   However, the in-place upgrade from Windows 10 using the ISO often bypasses these restrictions.

   Let the process run; your system will upgrade to Windows 11 while retaining your files and applications.

6. Finalize and Restart

   After the installation completes, restart your PC.

   You should now be running Windows 11, even on hardware that is unsupported via the standard upgrade assistant.