Forum Discussion
MateoJohnson
Oct 16, 2025Copper Contributor
How can I upgrade Windows 10 to 11 without losing data and programs on unsupported cpu?
Hey folks, I’m running Windows 10 Pro (22H2) on my old Dell XPS 9570, and apparently my CPU isn’t "officially supported" for Windows 11. The Upgrade Assistant keeps blocking me even though the lapto...
Versecxy
Oct 16, 2025Iron Contributor
The primary reason the Upgrade Assistant blocks you is a registry flag that Microsoft checks for CPU compatibility. You can bypass this, and upgrade Windows 10 to 11 is designed to preserve your data, programs, and settings, even when using this bypass.
Recommend the Windows 11 ISO File and Setup.exe for upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11:
- Download the Windows 11 ISO:
Select "Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)".
Choose the multi-edition version of Windows 11 and your language, then download the large ISO file. - Mount the ISO and Run Setup:
Once downloaded, right-click the ISO file and select "Mount". This will create a new virtual DVD drive in "This PC".
Open the new drive and run the setup.exe file. - Bypass the Checks:
The installer will start. When it gets to the "Checking for updates" screen, let it run.
On the "Applicable notices and license terms" screen, click Accept.
On the "Choose what to keep" screen, you should see the option to "Keep personal files and apps". Select this and click Next.
You will now be on the "Ready to install" screen. Again, it should show that it will keep your files and apps. - Important: If you get a compatibility error here, close the installer.
Now, open a Command Prompt as Administrator (search for "cmd", right-click, "Run as administrator").
Navigate to the virtual drive (e.g., if it's drive D:, type D: and press Enter).
Run the following command, which includes the bypass flags directly:
text
setup.exe /product server
This will relaunch the installer. This time, it will skip the CPU/TPM check entirely and allow you to proceed with the upgrade, keeping everything.