Create Windows 11 bootable USB that supports installation from old hardware

Question

Hi all,

I have an old PC and can't get Windows 11 installed with the USB created by Windows 11 media creation tool. The error message says:

This PC can't run Windows 11.

In fact, this PC has very powerful hardware specs, including Intel quad core i7 6700k processor, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD and RTX 5060TI 8GB graphics card.

Is there any workaround out there to let me create Windows 11 bootable USB and install Windows 11 on this unsupported PC?

Answer 1

Your 6th gen Intel processor will be a blocking factor on the upgrade to Windows 11, the minimum requirement is an 8th Gen Intel processor, it is not about the speed or strength of the processor, it is about the security functions supported on the processor, also, most likely you will not have a TPM chip on the motherboard, that will be another blocking factor.

Microsoft originally provided a registry tweak that allowed Windows 11 to be installed on unsupported hardware, but when they released version 24H2 of Windows 11, they removed that from their website and that registry tweak no longer works, there are still workarounds, if you search online, you will find a few methods to bypass the hardware requirements to allow you to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, however, Microsoft strongly advise you do not do that and they would not be responsible for hardware failure after doing that.

Answer 2

Your PC's hardware is indeed quite powerful, but the main reason you're seeing that error is likely due to Windows 11's strict hardware requirements, especially the TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot features, or the CPU compatibility. The Intel i7 6700K is an older CPU that isn't officially supported for Windows 11, which can trigger the compatibility check.

However, there are workarounds to bypass these checks and install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. Here's a general overview:

1. You can edit the registry during setup to bypass hardware checks.
2. When booting from the USB and reaching the Windows Setup screen, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
3. Some community-created modified ISOs are pre-tweaked to bypass these checks, but be cautious about downloading unofficial ISOs due to security concerns. If you choose this route:

• Search for trusted sources or forums where people share modified Windows 11 ISOs.
• Always verify the integrity of the ISO before use.

4. Alternatively, you can create a bootable Windows 11 USB and embed scripts or modifications to bypass checks:

• Use tool to create bootable media.
• Add a script that runs during setup to set the registry values above automatically.

5. Consider Windows 10 with Upgrades

Since your hardware is very capable, you might prefer installing Windows 10, which has less strict hardware requirements and supports your CPU natively. Windows 10 can be upgraded to Windows 11 later if needed.

Answer 3

Your hardware (Intel i7 6700K, RTX 5060TI, etc.) is quite capable, but since the setup process detects unsupported hardware, you need to prepare an installation that doesn’t trigger these checks.

Step 1: Prepare a Windows 11 ISO

Download the official Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft.

Step 2: Mount or extract the ISO

Use a tool like 7-Zip or WinRAR to extract the ISO contents to a folder.

Step 3: Remove or modify appraiserres.dll

Navigate to the sources folder inside the extracted files.

Find the file named appraiserres.dll.

Rename it to appraiserres.dll.bak or delete it.

This DLL is responsible for hardware compatibility checks. Removing it prevents the installer from blocking the installation based on unsupported hardware.

Step 4: Create Windows 11 bootable USB

Use a tool to create a Windows 11 bootable USB from the modified ISO.

Step 5: Install Windows 11

Boot from the USB on your PC.

Proceed with the installation.

Answer 4

To create Windows 11 bootable USB that supports installation. Your powerful hardware suggests that your PC is capable of running Windows 11, but the "This PC can't run Windows 11" message from the Media Creation Tool indicates it doesn't meet some of Microsoft's official system requirements for Windows 11. The most common reason is TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot not being enabled or detected.

Your CPU (Intel i7 6700K) is technically not supported officially because it predates the 8th gen, but many users have successfully installed Windows 11 on such hardware using workarounds. TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are the primary hurdles.

Answer 5

Windows 11 requires a UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) BIOS and Secure Boot. Ensure these are enabled in your BIOS settings. If you're using a legacy BIOS, Windows 11 won't install. Ensure legacy mode is disabled. Windows 11 requires UEFI/GPT partitioning. Some older hardware may require specific compatibility settings in the BIOS. Consult your motherboard's documentation for guidance.

To create Windows 11 bootable USB that supports installation from old hardware, use the official Microsoft tool (Media Creation Tool) to create the USB drive. Don't use third-party tools.