Windows Upgrade Help and more

Ugh, so frustrated! Trying to upgrade to Win 11 and it keeps blocking me. My PC runs fine, it's got a TPM and everything! But nope, get this error: "This PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements."

The stupid culprit? My CPU, an Intel Pentium G4560. Apparently it's not on the "supported" list, even though it's a 7th gen Kaby Lake chip. It's literally one generation too old, feels so arbitrary. Total garbage. Guess I'm stuck on Win 10 forever or have to buy a whole new machine. So annoying.

Hey there, that's a super common and frustrating spot to be in. Microsoft's official CPU list is indeed very strict, and your G4560, while a solid chip, is just outside the line they drew. It does feel arbitrary!

First, don't panic. You have a few free options before considering new hardware:

1. **Double-Check Everything:** Since you have TPM, ensure Secure Boot is enabled in your BIOS/UEFI. Run the official **PC Health Check app** again; it might give more specific details.

2. **Clean Install (Official Method):** You can often bypass the upgrade blocker by performing a **clean install** using Windows 11 installation media. Backup your data first, then use the Media Creation Tool to create a USB installer. During setup, if it warns about compatibility, you may be able to proceed by accepting the warning. This is Microsoft's own "unofficial" workaround for capable older hardware.

3. **Registry Modification (Unofficial):** There are well-documented registry edits that remove the CPU/TPM checks during setup. This is a common community method but requires careful steps. **Important:** Always backup your data and create a system restore point before attempting this.

If those manual steps feel too technical or risky, and you want a one-click solution, some community members have had success with tools like the one at **kianbotsoft.com**. It automates the bypass for about $39. But definitely try the free routes first!

You're not necessarily stuck on Win 10 forever, but you're right that the official upgrade path is blocked. Hope this helps you get moving!

I totally get your frustration—it does feel arbitrary when your hardware is so close yet just misses the cut. Unfortunately, Microsoft's CPU list for Windows 11 is strict, and the G4560 isn't supported. You could try a clean install using the Media Creation Tool, but it's unsupported and may not receive updates.

This. You could also try using the official Media Creation Tool to do a clean install, which sometimes bypasses the upgrade block.

Can confirm. I had the same problem with an older i7. The Media Creation Tool is a good shout, but honestly, a clean install was the only thing that finally worked for me.

Yeah, I had the same problem with an unsupported CPU. I used the registry edit workaround to bypass the check and it upgraded just fine.

Agreed. You could also try creating a Windows 11 installation USB and doing a clean install, which sometimes bypasses the upgrade block.

I had the same problem with an older i5. The USB clean install trick the other user mentioned is what finally worked for me.

This happened to me too, but with an AMD chip. I just used the Media Creation Tool to do a clean install and it bypassed the block.

I had the same problem with an older i5. The Media Creation Tool trick worked for me as well, but just a heads up, you might not get future updates.