Windows 11 without Secure Boot?

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[rje81849]

I tried installing Windows 11 on my 4th line computer; a 2011 Dell Latitude. Its purpose is to try things I don’t want on computers I need to use. It’s dual booting Windows 10 Pro and Linux Mint.

I downloaded and burned an ISO Windows 11 disc. and did the registry tweak to avoid the CPU and TPM roadblock, but I’m stuck without any Secure Boot in BIOS. Is there any work around for that?

• This topic was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by rje81849.
• This topic was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by rje81849.

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https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/how-to-upgrade-to-windows-11-on-unsupported-hardware/

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I think this shows how to create an ISO that does not check for secure boot.  https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/bypass-windows-11-tpm-requirement

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I used Rufus, but still couldn’t install W-11 on the old laptop. It still “doesn’t meet requirements” because of no Secure Boot capability, despite selecting “no secure boot” and BIOS rather than UEFI.

Anybody have a registry hack for bypassing the Secure Boot requirement?

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Alex’s link goes to a post by a user here who has verified his usage of his bypass.

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That would be this post. https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/how-to-upgrade-to-windows-11-on-unsupported-hardware/#post-2395860

cheers, Paul

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[Paul T]

Paul T wrote:

That would be this post. https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/how-to-upgrade-to-windows-11-on-unsupported-hardware/#post-2395860

@Paul T, that is incorrect.  Click @Alex5723‘s link and go here:

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/how-to-upgrade-to-windows-11-on-unsupported-hardware/

Note that that link is the OP, and there is no post number for an OP.  Your link is to a reply, not to the OP.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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I put in the link to the post confirming the bypass worked, per the post from anon.

cheers, Paul

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Hey Y’all,

So while waiting around for Icegmageddon (most likely what we’ll get vs snowmageddon) I decided to install Win11 on my test platform so here’s my experiences so far.

1. After modifying the ISO and running the Setup.exe it bombed three times when the “Checking for Updates” window was at about 14%.
   Resolution: Turned off my network adapter (no more internet).
2. The install went just fine after that.
3. When it was done I got a popup to sign into Raptr? It wouldn’t dismiss.
   Resolution: Settings->Apps UNINSTALL!
4. Ran Windows Update a couple of times and it didn’t seem to do anything. Then I rebooted and lo and behold Installing Updates…
5. When I went into Settings->Privacy & security clicking on Windows Security does absolutely nothing!
   Resolution: Uninstall MalwareBytes Premium. Well I thought that was the resolution but after a couple of reboots it still does exactly nothing!
6. I ran my System Info PowerShell program and it confirms that Defender is running but there is no indication that I can see in Windows 11 itself! In W10 I have the icon in my Notification Area.
7. Running my Get-WinVer PowerShell program it reported I was still on Windows 10 while running Winver in a Command prompt reported Windows 11.
   Resolution: Change values at:
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
   for the Keys: ProductName & ReleaseID. The program now reports Windows 11 Pro and Release 2109.
8. I absolutely hate the fact that I can’t have a user menu in the Notification Area! I had a plethora of shortcuts in there that I use all the time.
9. On the positive side it does look pretty with those nice rounded corners. However, I want more than a pretty face for my OS!

Notes on the Preparation instructions in the OP:

1. It’s not entirely clear, at least to me, that you are modifying the Windows 10 Install files with the Windows 11 Install.esd or Install.wim file. I had to read it a couple of times.
2. As for mounting the ISO files I’ve never done this and attempting to do it via File Explorer per instructions on the net didn’t work as my context menu didn’t have a MOUNT option. This is because I’ve installed software which apparently replaced that option. I resorted to the PowerShell Mount-DiskImage command which worked great.

Final thoughts:

I’ll be imaging this drive and restoring my W10 image I took before starting. IMHO W11 is “Not Ready for Prime Time”, of course as always YMMV!

 

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

1 user thanked author for this post.

Alex5723

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RetiredGeek wrote:

Notes on the Preparation instructions in the OP: It’s not entirely clear, at least to me, that you are modifying the Windows 10 Install files with the Windows 11 Install.esd or Install.wim file. I had to read it a couple of times.

RG, if this OP is the one to which you refer, the Windows 10 Install files (the installation wrapper) themselves are not being modified.  The only change is substituting the Windows 11 install.esd (or install.wim) for the Windows 10 install.esd (or install.wim).

The installation wrapper in an ISO launches a WinPE (Windows Preinstallation Environment) which is the environment that inspects hardware compatibility, etc. and performs the installation of Windows from the “sources” folder.  The installation wrapper (WinPE) for Windows 10 only checks for Windows 10 compatibility, hence no need for registry editing, etc. in order to install Windows 11.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

2 users thanked author for this post.

RetiredGeek, Alex5723

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Re: Step 7 (the registry hack)

I realize this is a stale post, but the problem is still unresolved in Belarc Advisor and also still shows as Windows 10 at the CMD prompt.  The registry hack offered in step 7 above also does not work, as in the latest release of Windows 11 those two registry keys no longer appear.

 

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Being the one who started this, I’ve decided that although bbearren’s method described in an Oct. 6 post may very well work, I just don’t think getting Windows 11 installed on a 10-year old laptop is worth that much effort to me at this time. The time for Windows 11 on my compatible computers will probably come eventually, unless I skip it as I did with Vista and W-8/8.1.

Thanks to all who contributed.

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rje81849 wrote:

I used Rufus, but still couldn’t install W-11 on the old laptop. It still “doesn’t meet requirements” because of no Secure Boot capability, despite selecting “no secure boot” and BIOS rather than UEFI.

Anybody have a registry hack for bypassing the Secure Boot requirement?

version 3.16 or higher of Rufus has an additional “Extended Windows 11 Installation” option that includes the necessary bypasses to install Win11 on unsupported hardware & w/out secure boot enabled:

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/rufus-introduces-extended-windows-11-installation-support-disables-tpm-secure-boot-ram-requirements.1971/

when I used latest Rufus version (3.17) to create Win11 USB install media and selecting that “Extended Windows 11 Install” option in Rufus, and then booted an old PC directly from the usb drive, I can clean install Win11 without any problems & setup did not prompt me that my old PC doesn’t meet the system requirements cuz the bypass hacks were already created by Rufus.
Note that I ran Win11 setup directly from the usb media outside of Windows, not while running an active Windows OS.

edit – @rje81849: if the version of Rufus you were using does not reveal nor include the extended Win11 install option, download & run the newest version of Rufus

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Cybertooth

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I finally got it, using Rufus. I think my main obstacle (besides my brain) was that my laptop was dual booting W-10 and Linux Mint.  Long agonizing story, but I’m using Windows 11 and learned from it.

So why after about 27 years did the Start Button (and other icons) have to change to centered instead of lower left corner?  They HAD to do that, right?

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wavy

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Yes, they received a direct order from god. I just moved it to the left. I would prefer to have it vertical on the left side, but, hey, this is okay for me. I have yet to feel the need for any of the add-on start menu modifier apps. This is sufficient.

I have been using Rufus 3.3.1400 portable .

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anonymous wrote:

So why after about 27 years did the Start Button (and other icons) have to change to centered instead of lower left corner?  They HAD to do that, right?

Maybe because Apple did it years ago on Macs & iPads ?

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version 3.18 of Rufus recently released – now includes “bypass of Windows 11 restrictions for in-place upgrades”

the 3.16 & 3.17 versions of Rufus only had the win11 restriction bypass for “clean” installs but the newly released 3.18 version also has the bypass for upgrade installs

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wavy

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I just checked my BIOS and secure Boot is disabled, and I can’t remember changing that in recent history so it’s been like that for a very long time – including the upgrade from 10 to 11. I seem to recall something way back with a problem with that and booting a USB stick so might have changed it briefly to see, but disabled is my usual.

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