Can I upgrade my old computer to Windows 11?

Your i5-6XXX isn’t officially supported, but you can still install Windows 11 by bypassing the checks. I used WinBootsMate to create a bootable USB that skips TPM and Secure Boot — worked like a charm.

I get it from official site: https://www.pctipdaily.com/install-windows-11-on-old-pc

Replace the Windows 10 install.wim or install.esd file with the Windows 11 ISO, and use the compatibility of the old system to trick the installer. This method is suitable for upgrading my old pc to windows 11, but it may cause some new features to be missing (such as the Android subsystem).

If you still want to try upgrading old computer to windows 11, it is recommended to use method 1 first or combine it with hardware upgrades (such as installing a TPM module). If stability is a priority, you can continue to use Windows 10 until the end of support in 2025.

I know there are a lot of users who have successfully upgraded the old PC to Windows 11 even for the latest Windows 11 24H2. You can do this with the help of Media Creation Tool.

Step 1: Download Media Creation Tool and make a bootable Windows 11 USB.

Step 2: Insert the created installation USB flash drive into the old PC that needs to be upgraded.

Step 3: Reboot the computer, and during the boot process, press the appropriate keys (commonly F12, Del, Esc, etc.) to enter the BIOS or UEFI setup interface according to the on-screen prompts.

Step 4: In the BIOS or UEFI settings, adjust the boot order to prioritize booting from the USB flash drive (the BIOS or UEFI settings interface may be slightly different for different computers, but generally can be set in the “Boot” or “Boot” option).

Step 5: Save the settings and exit the BIOS or UEFI, the computer will boot from the USB flash drive and enter the Windows 11 installation interface.

Step 6: In the installation screen, select the “Customize: Install Windows only (Advanced)” option.

Step 7: In the Disk Partition screen, select the disk partition where you want to install Windows 11. If you want to erase the existing system and reinstall it, you can select the corresponding system partition and click the “Delete” button (Note: this will erase all data on that partition), then select the unallocated space or the newly created partition and click “Next”.

Step 8: The system will start the fresh installation of Windows 11, after the installation is completed, you can reinstall the previously used applications and restore data from backups as needed.

This is a very simple solution to the question "Can I upgrade my old pc to windows 11?". However, you need to backup the data first!

If you want to upgrade my old PC to Windows 11, but your computer does not meet the official hardware requirements, here are two ways to try to bypass these restrictions:

1. Start Windows 11 installation: First, download and launch the Windows 11 installer and choose the upgrade path.
2. Press Shift + F10 to open the command prompt: While the installer is loading, press Shift + F10 to open the command prompt window.
3. Open the registry editor: Type regedit in the command prompt and press Enter to open the registry editor.
4. Navigate to the registry path: In the registry editor, expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup.
5. Create a new registry key: Right-click on the Setup folder, select New > Key, and name it LabConfig.
6. Create DWORD values: Under LabConfig, right-click and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, create the following two DWORD values:

BypassTPMCheck, and set its value to 1.

BypassSecureBootCheck, and set its value to 1.

     7. Save and exit: After completing the above steps, close the Registry Editor and continue to install Windows 11. You should now be able to bypass the limitations of TPM and Secure Boot and successfully upgrade my old laptop to Windows 11.

Upgrading old computer to Windows 11 can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride, especially if you’re not fully prepped. A cluttered hard drive can lead to issues. You might need to clear up some space before upgrading—Windows 11 needs some wiggle room to do its thing during installation. Use Disk Cleanup to remove old files or, if you’re feeling classy, consider trying Storage Sense to help manage things automatically.

Check that your drivers (especially for graphics and chipset) are up to date. Old drivers can cause all sorts of headaches. Sometimes you can use Windows Update to grab these, but if it’s been a while since you had updates, consider manually downloading the latest drivers from your manufacturer’s website.

Also, before upgrading old computer to Windows 11, check if your essential software is compatible with Windows 11—like any programs you rely on for work or gaming. Microsoft sometimes has compatibility tools, but just Googling “Is [software name] compatible with Windows 11?” can save you from future headaches. A cluttered hard drive can lead to issues. You might need to clear up some space before upgrading—Windows 11 needs some wiggle room to do its thing during installation. Use Disk Cleanup to remove old files or, if you’re feeling classy, consider trying Storage Sense to help manage things automatically.

Upgrading old laptop to windows 11 can be a bit tricky due to the stringent hardware requirements, particularly the need for TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. However, many users have found ways to bypass these requirements, though it’s important to note that doing so may expose you to some risks and could cause compatibility issues in the future. Here’s a breakdown of your situation and some options you have:

1. Checking for TPM
Given your CPU is from the 6th generation Intel Core line and you’ve mentioned uncertainty about TPM 2.0, it’s likely you won’t pass the official requirements without some workarounds. Before upgrading old laptop to windows 11, you should double-check if your computer actually has TPM. You can do this:

Press Windows + R and type tpm.msc, then press Enter. This should open the TPM management console.
If it says "The TPM is not detected", then it's likely you do not have TPM enabled or present.

2. Installation Workarounds

If you decide to take the plunge and bypass official checks, here are a couple of common methods people use to install Windows 11 on unsupported devices:

Registry Edit: Create a Windows 11 Installation Media: Use Microsoft's Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive or download an ISO.
Edit the Registry:

• Open the Registry Editor (regedit).
• Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup.
• Right-click on the right pane, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) and name it 
• AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU.
• Set its value to 1.

Proceed with the Installation: Use the installation media you created. When prompted for installation, it should allow you to continue despite the hardware limitations.