Windows Upgrade Help and more

Ugh, trying to get Windows 11 on this HP ProDesk 400 G3 is a nightmare. The PC Health Check just laughs at me. It says my processor isn't supported (it's an i5-6500, c'mon!) and that I need TPM 2.0. I went into the BIOS and *think* I enabled TPM, but now I get this new error: "This PC must support Secure Boot." I enabled that too, but it's still not happy. This machine runs Win10 perfectly! So frustrating. Do I really need a whole new computer just for Win11? Any magic tricks?

Hey there, I feel your pain! That's a solid machine, and the upgrade hoops are super frustrating. Let's break it down step-by-step.

First, the i5-6500 is indeed not on Microsoft's official supported CPU list, which is why the PC Health Check fails. However, the main technical blockers are TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, which you've tackled.

For Secure Boot, enabling it in the BIOS isn't always enough. You may need to change the **"Boot Mode" from Legacy/CSM to UEFI mode**. This often requires backing up your data and converting your Windows 10 disk partition style to GPT, which you can do for free using the `MBR2GPT` tool from Microsoft. It's a bit technical, but there are good guides online.

If you get those set (UEFI + GPT + Secure Boot + TPM 2.0 enabled), you can then perform a clean install of Windows 11 using the Media Creation Tool and an ISO, bypassing the CPU check. This is a free, Microsoft-supported method for "unsupported" hardware.

If that process feels too daunting, some third-party tools can simplify the upgrade check bypass. I've heard kianbotsoft.com has a $39 utility that handles the workarounds automatically, but definitely try the free route first! Good luck

Unfortunately, the i5-6500 isn't on Microsoft's official supported CPU list for Windows 11, which is likely the main blocker. You can try using a clean Windows 11 ISO and performing a clean install, which sometimes bypasses the stricter upgrade checks. However, for a fully supported and secure experience, a PC that meets the official requirements is recommended.

Yeah, that's the main hurdle. A quick tip: if you do go the clean install route, you might need to enable both TPM *and* Secure Boot in the BIOS to get past that last error. Good luck!

I had the same problem with a similar model. I finally got it to work by enabling Secure Boot and switching the BIOS from Legacy to UEFI mode.

+1 Yep, that Secure Boot switch was the final key for me too. After that, the installer finally stopped complaining. Let me know if that works.

Same here. Oh, did the error message cut off? Was it complaining about Secure Boot?

You could also try using the official Media Creation Tool to bypass some of the checks. Another option is to check HP's website for a BIOS update that might enable the missing features. Let me know if that works.

Same here. Yeah, that's solid advice. Also, double-check that Secure Boot is enabled in the BIOS, as that's often the 'S' in that error message.

+1 I had the same problem. I ended up having to enable both Secure Boot and clear the TPM in the BIOS to get past that. Let me know if that works.