Are you the go-to tech guru for your family and friends? When that inevitable call comes asking for help with a Windows PC, the first thing to check is its operating system. If it’s still running Windows 10, then it’s time for some urgent intervention. The clock is ticking, and continued use of an unsupported OS carries significant risks.
Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, for retail customers. This means that if you or someone you know is still on Windows 10, they’ve already missed critical monthly security updates since November 2025. With hundreds of millions of PCs worldwide still running Windows 10, it’s a widespread issue that needs addressing promptly.
Why You Need to Upgrade Now
Operating a PC that’s several months behind on security updates is like leaving your front door unlocked in a bad neighborhood – it’s an open invitation for trouble. Without these patches, your system becomes vulnerable to malware, viruses, and other cyber threats. The personal data on an unpatched machine is at severe risk.
So, what are your options? You could enroll in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which stretches the support deadline to October 2026. However, that’s only a temporary reprieve, and it comes with a cost. The more permanent, secure, and feature-rich solution is to upgrade to Windows 11.
Navigating the Windows 11 Upgrade Path
Upgrading to Windows 11 isn’t always straightforward, especially for older machines. Many PCs more than five or six years old might hit roadblocks, receiving error messages that their CPU isn’t on Microsoft’s official compatibility list. You might also encounter issues if your PC lacks a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0 or if it’s not enabled.
While these are the official policies, there’s often fine print to consider. If your PC is less than 10 years old and boasts sufficient memory and storage, there’s a good chance you can still upgrade it. These official restrictions mainly prevent automatic upgrades via Windows Update or the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, but workarounds exist.
Over the past few years, countless ZDNET readers have successfully upgraded their Windows 10 machines, even those with hardware that supposedly didn’t qualify. These methods generally apply to PCs originally built for Windows 10. For devices older than a decade, especially those with certain AMD processors, the path might be trickier.
Before You Begin: System Requirements
To follow the upgrade instructions effectively, ensure your PC meets a few basic criteria. You need an x64 CPU (not ARM or 32-bit), a retail or OEM edition of Windows 10 (Home or Pro), and you must be signed in as an administrator. Sufficient free space on your system drive is also crucial – while 64GB is officially recommended, a minimum of 25GB to 30GB should suffice for an upgrade.
Before proceeding, open the System Information utility (Msinfo32.exe) and check the “System Summary” page. Pay close attention to the BIOS Mode value. If it says “Legacy,” you’ll need to reconfigure your system to UEFI mode and convert your system disk from MBR to GPT partitioning before a normal Windows 11 upgrade can proceed.
To verify your TPM status, run the Trusted Platform Module Management tool (Tpm.msc). This will confirm if your computer has a TPM, if it’s enabled, and its specification version (ideally 2.0). If it indicates “Compatible TPM cannot be found,” then you’ll need a specific workaround for the upgrade.
Option 1: The Registry Tweak (Requires TPM, any version)
This option is ideal if your computer meets most Windows 11 requirements but is blocked by CPU compatibility or an older TPM version (1.2). It allows you to bypass CPU checks and accept any TPM version through a simple registry edit. Important: This method requires running the Setup program from within your current Windows installation, not booting from a USB drive.
Start by making a complete backup of your PC before modifying the registry, as errors can cause system instability. Open Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) and navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup. If the “MoSetup” key doesn’t exist, create it by right-clicking “Setup,” choosing “New > Key,” and naming it MoSetup.
With “MoSetup” selected, right-click in the empty right pane and choose “New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.” Name this new value AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU, then double-click it and change its “Value data” to 1. Click OK, then restart your PC. This tweak tells the Windows 11 Setup program to skip specific compatibility checks.
Downloading and Running the Windows 11 ISO
Next, head to the official Windows 11 Download page (aka.ms/DownloadWindows11) and select “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices.” Save the large ISO file to your Downloads folder. If you’re using a non-US language, be mindful of the language selection during the download, as choosing the wrong one can prevent keeping your apps and data.
Once downloaded, double-click the ISO file in File Explorer to mount it as a virtual DVD drive. If you encounter an “Autorun.dll” error due to an alternative file compression app, right-click the ISO and choose “Open With > Windows Explorer.” Locate and double-click the Setup.exe file within this virtual drive to begin the upgrade.
You’ll see a compatibility warning; don’t be alarmed. This message generally refers to future updates, not security patches. Click Accept to continue. Your upgrade should then proceed smoothly, allowing you to keep your apps, settings, and files, assuming you’re upgrading to the same edition (Home to Home, Pro to Pro).
Source: ZDNet – AI
