The release date for Windows 11 is just around the corner. Eligible PCs are set to receive one of Microsoft’s largest OS updates starting October this year. Microsoft initially imposed requirements for Windows 11 except before the 7th generation Intel processor, but then the Redmond giant slightly expanded the officially supported CPUs eligible for Windows 11 updates. bottom. It’s now clearer what users can expect when installing Windows 11 on an unsupported PC. And well, we’re here to discuss how it affects you.
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What to expect if you update to Windows 11 on an unsupported PC (2021)
Apart from its previous stance of strictly avoiding updates to Windows 11 7th generation Intel CPUs, Microsoft has added some models to the list of supported CPUs. We’ve elaborated on what you often miss when choosing to update an unsupported PC to Windows 11. So let’s get started.
List of newly added Intel CPUs in Windows 11 Supported CPU list
There are no major changes from the first list of supported CPUs, except for non-Intel ones. In fact, as far as the first generation AMD Zen processors are concerned, there are no new additions. That said, Microsoft has added some Intel CPUs to the list, including:
- Intel Core i5-7640X
- Intel Core i7-7740X
- Intel Core i7-7800X
- Intel Core i7-7820HQ (based on DCH design principles)
- Dell Precision 5520
- Lenovo ThinkPad T470p
- Surface Studio 2
- Intel Core i7-7820X
- Intel Core i7-7900X
- Intel Core i7-7920X
- Intel Core i9-7940X
- Intel Core i9-7960X
- Intel Core i9-7980XE
- Xeon W series
To the disappointment of many, the vast majority of 7th generation Intel CPUs are uncut. Check out the updated list of target Intel CPUs from the linked article for a complete list of supported CPUs.
What you get when you install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC
But what if you decide to install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC? What happens then? Well, Microsoft says it won’t stop you from doing it. You can manually download the Windows 11 ISO and flash it yourself to enjoy all the new features of Windows 11. The following section describes the steps to manually install Windows 11. If you use this route, you only need a dual-core CPU with TPM 1.2, at least 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage...
However, there is a big compromise — update. If you’re always on the lookout for Windows 11 news, you know that Microsoft has switched to an annual cycle of feature updates since Windows 11. Therefore, you get one major Windows 11 feature update each year.
In a statement The Verge, Microsoft has clarified that Unsupported PCs will not receive Windows Update.. The worst part here is that these users may not receive security and driver updates. Also, new vulnerabilities are discovered every other day, so it’s not a wise decision to stay in a vulnerable Windows build that can be exploited. In addition, you have to update Windows 11 yourself, so a clean install of Windows 11 every time a new ISO is available can be very inconvenient.
Who needs to use Windows 11 on an unsupported PC?
A review of Microsoft’s new stance on Windows 11 on unsupported PCs revealed that it requires users to upgrade to a new system that can run Windows 11. If you want to run Windows 11 on your old PC, be prepared to tinker. Around for feature updates and potentially driver updates. In fact, Microsoft isn’t even completely transparent about that approach.While Microsoft is saying The Verge ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley reports that security and driver updates may be withheld. Unsupported PCs may or may not include security and driver updates. This, in turn, causes unnecessary confusion.
Given that Microsoft hasn’t officially acknowledged this catch and is talking to the media about it, there’s still some hope left. You may get security updates on older unsupported PCs / laptops running Windows 11. When a stable update for Windows 11 begins rolling out later this year, we’ll have to wait to see how Microsoft handles this situation.
However, we do not recommend running it as the primary OS on a PC that does not officially support Windows 11. According to Microsoft, kernel mode crashes increased by 52% on PCs that did not meet the minimum requirements. This is also known as the infamous blue screen. Unless you care too much about visual overhaul, Windows 10 is a great choice with a guaranteed update until October 14, 2025.
How to update to Windows 11 anyway?
If you risk installing Windows 11 on an unsupported PC, check out the detailed article on how to officially download the Windows 11 ISO and install Windows 11 from USB on your PC.
If you don’t like Microsoft’s latest view of Windows, you can easily roll back from Windows 11 to Windows 10 at any time. However, instead of going back to Windows 10, we recommend that you customize the Start menu and taskbar to make it more relaxing. Windows 11 brings a myriad of UI changes and enhancements. This may seem awkward at first, but the updates are getting bigger and bigger. Therefore, please try before downgrading to Windows 10.
Things to remember before installing Windows 11 on an unsupported PC
So, if your PC doesn’t meet the official requirements, this is all you need to know about installing Windows 11. Microsoft is also testing an updated PC health check app with Insider to provide more details on why PCs aren’t eligible for Windows 11. On the other hand, you can use this free app to find out why your PC can’t run Windows 11. In addition, after installing Microsoft’s new OS, check out the best features of Windows 11 here.
