How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Win 10 PC to Win 11 - for free

janusz · 14 Sep 2025, 09:00 PM

I'm posing here the link to an article from zdnet.com, which I consider a reliable and competent source. Use at your own risk.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to...s-11-for-free/

mister · 10 Oct 2025, 11:14 AM

I talked to someone who bought a new PC because Windows 10 was no longer supported, Then he had to buy a new monitor. All in the name of security.Ever heard of Linux?

chrisretusn · 10 Oct 2025, 02:49 PM

I've been using Slackware Linux for years.

I do run Windows 10 in a VirtualBox virtual machine. I only use Windows 10 for one piece of software I use once a year (taxes). I wasn't worried about this Windows 10 loosing updates. That program I use once a year? Well I received an email that the next release will not work on Windows 10. Darn. I can do what I need to do online but I really prefer not to.

Since I can back up this virtual machine I plan to give the Rufus method a shot. If that fails then it's bye-bye Windows and I will have to do what I need to do online.

Bamb0 · 10 Oct 2025, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mister

I talked to someone who bought a new PC because Windows 10 was no longer supported, Then he had to buy a new monitor. All in the name of security.Ever heard of Linux?

A new monitor??

What bloody for??

chrisretusn · 11 Oct 2025, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamb0

A new monitor??

What bloody for??

I can take a wild guess. The new PC did not support a VGA connector or DVI connector. My current PC only supports VGA on the motherboard. My video card supports VGA, DVI and HDMI connection. My new monitor supports HDMI, Display Port and USB-C connections. My old monitor only supported VGA and DVI.

TenFour · 11 Oct 2025, 07:35 PM

I've been in the Linux camp for about 15 years, and in that time I haven't purchased a new computer. I just get free ones from folks who feel their PC can't handle the latest version of Windows. But, Linux is so efficient it runs very well on older hardware with no problems. I'm currently using the LMDE edition of Linux Mint. If you're new to Linux check out Mint. They have a robust online community if you run into problems.

Avion · 12 Oct 2025, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TenFour

I've been in the Linux camp for about 15 years, and in that time I haven't purchased a new computer.

I bought a Beelink Mini PC 2 years ago, and immediately wiped Windows and loaded up Linux Mint Cinnamon. I too have been in the Linux camp for many years.

I did buy a reconditioned laptop with Windows 10 on it 2 years ago, I occasionally get it out its carrying case only to do the usual log-winded Windows Updates.

It'll be a few months now since I last looked at it . . .

mister · 12 Oct 2025, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisretusn

I can take a wild guess. The new PC did not support a VGA connector or DVI connector. My current PC only supports VGA on the motherboard. My video card supports VGA, DVI and HDMI connection. My new monitor supports HDMI, Display Port and USB-C connections. My old monitor only supported VGA and DVI.

Correct at least I think that was it.

mister · 12 Oct 2025, 02:55 AM

I have 3 laptops, on two of them I usually run either Sparky or Lubuntu Linux. My Acer netbook doesn't seem to like Linux but runs Windows 10 fairly well.

JeremyNicoll · 13 Oct 2025, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisretusn

I can take a wild guess. The new PC did not support a VGA connector or DVI connector...

There are adapters though. My current laptop's primary display is malfunctioning so I'm using instead two old LCD monitors, both with VGA interfaces, one driven from the laptop's VGA port, the other from its HDMI port via an adapter -- which works perfectly - and gives me a bigger desktop (both in pixels & inches) than the primary display

The adapter I have cost 6 uk pounds (approx US $8) from Amazon. It is a:
"BENFEI HDMI to VGA, Gold-Plated Adapter (Male to Female) for Computer, Desktop, Laptop, PC, Monitor, Projector, HDTV, Chromebook, Raspberry Pi, Roku, Xbox and More"

Another reason might be to get greater resolution, or something with an aspect ratio that suits modern films etc (which older, squarer monitors don't do), or one that's larger which older eyes might find easier to use.

chrisretusn · 13 Oct 2025, 02:09 PM

I am looking at another method I found. Since I have a VirtualBox machine I can save a snapshot before trying. Restore it if it breaks. I also have a backed up copy.

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/upgrad...-checks.22310/

mister · 18 Oct 2025, 02:16 AM

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45600338

https://www.scottrlarson.com/publica...-surveillance/

SideshowBob · 18 Oct 2025, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisretusn

My current PC only supports VGA on the motherboard.

How old is it?

chrisretusn · 19 Oct 2025, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SideshowBob

How old is it?

Code:

Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Gigabyte product: M68MT-S2 v: N/A serial: N/A
  Mobo: Gigabyte model: M68MT-S2 serial: N/A BIOS: Award v: F1
    date: 11/15/2010

hadaso · 22 Oct 2025, 07:33 AM

One word in the title of this thread I think is wrong: it's "downgrade" rather than "upgrade".

14 Sep 2025, 09:00 PM	#1
janusz Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: EU Posts: 5,016	How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Win 10 PC to Win 11 - for free I'm posing here the link to an article from zdnet.com, which I consider a reliable and competent source. Use at your own risk. https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to...s-11-for-free/

10 Oct 2025, 11:14 AM	#2
mister Essential Contributor Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 434	I talked to someone who bought a new PC because Windows 10 was no longer supported, Then he had to buy a new monitor. All in the name of security.Ever heard of Linux?

10 Oct 2025, 02:49 PM	#3
chrisretusn Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Philippines Posts: 959	I've been using Slackware Linux for years. I do run Windows 10 in a VirtualBox virtual machine. I only use Windows 10 for one piece of software I use once a year (taxes). I wasn't worried about this Windows 10 loosing updates. That program I use once a year? Well I received an email that the next release will not work on Windows 10. Darn. I can do what I need to do online but I really prefer not to. Since I can back up this virtual machine I plan to give the Rufus method a shot. If that fails then it's bye-bye Windows and I will have to do what I need to do online.

11 Oct 2025, 07:35 PM	#6
TenFour The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: USA Posts: 2,297	I've been in the Linux camp for about 15 years, and in that time I haven't purchased a new computer. I just get free ones from folks who feel their PC can't handle the latest version of Windows. But, Linux is so efficient it runs very well on older hardware with no problems. I'm currently using the LMDE edition of Linux Mint. If you're new to Linux check out Mint. They have a robust online community if you run into problems.

12 Oct 2025, 02:55 AM	#9
mister Essential Contributor Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 434	I have 3 laptops, on two of them I usually run either Sparky or Lubuntu Linux. My Acer netbook doesn't seem to like Linux but runs Windows 10 fairly well.

13 Oct 2025, 02:09 PM	#11
chrisretusn Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Philippines Posts: 959	I am looking at another method I found. Since I have a VirtualBox machine I can save a snapshot before trying. Restore it if it breaks. I also have a backed up copy. https://www.elevenforum.com/t/upgrad...-checks.22310/

18 Oct 2025, 02:16 AM	#12
mister Essential Contributor Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 434	https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45600338 https://www.scottrlarson.com/publica...-surveillance/

22 Oct 2025, 07:33 AM	#15
hadaso Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Holon, Israel. Posts: 5,216	One word in the title of this thread I think is wrong: it's "downgrade" rather than "upgrade".