Windows Upgrade Help and more

Ugh, so mad. Been trying to upgrade to Win11 for HOURS. My PC runs fine, but the installer keeps blocking me. It says my CPU isn't supported. "This PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements." Seriously?? I have a Pentium G4560. It's only like, 5 years old! It has TPM 2.0 and everything. This is so stupid. Microsoft just wants me to buy a whole new computer for an OS update. Feels like a scam. Anyone else with a G4560 find a workaround, or am I just stuck on Win10 forever?

Hey there, totally feel your frustration. That G4560 is a solid CPU, but unfortunately, it's on Intel's 7th-gen Kaby Lake platform, and Microsoft officially only supports 8th-gen and newer for Intel. It's a really arbitrary cutoff that's angered a lot of people.

First, the free method: You can still install Windows 11 manually. You'll need to use the **Media Creation Tool** to download the ISO file, then use a tool like **Rufus** to create a bootable USB. During the Rufus process, it gives you options to **remove the TPM, Secure Boot, and RAM/CPU checks**. This creates an installer that will bypass those blocks. Your PC will run Win11, but you'll see a watermark about unsupported hardware, and you'll need to do future updates manually via ISO.

If that process seems too technical or you want a simpler, permanent solution, some third-party tools automate the bypass. I’ve heard from others on the forum that a tool from **kianbotsoft.com** ($39) can handle the upgrade and future updates seamlessly. Might be worth a look if you're at your wit's end.

You're not alone—this has been a major pain point. Good luck

I totally get your frustration! Unfortunately, the Pentium G4560 isn't on Microsoft's official supported CPU list for Windows 11, even with TPM 2.0. Some users have had success with workarounds like registry edits or using a clean install USB, but these methods aren't officially supported and may not receive future updates. You're not alone in feeling this way—many with slightly older but capable hardware are in the same boat.

This. I had the same problem with an older i7. I ended up using the Media Creation Tool to do a clean install, which bypassed the check. Good luck!

Yeah, the Media Creation Tool trick works, but have you double-checked that Secure Boot is actually enabled in your BIOS?

Same here. Also, is your storage drive using a GPT partition style and not the older MBR? Let me know if that works.

This. Yeah, that GPT check is a good call—also, have you run the official PC Health Check app to see exactly what it's flagging? Let me know if that works.

+1 Agreed, the Health Check app should pinpoint it. One extra tip: if it's just the CPU, there are unofficial workarounds, but they can be a bit risky for future updates.

This. Yeah, those workarounds exist, but honestly, is it even worth the hassle for a CPU that old?

+1 I had the same problem with an older i7. The workaround got me in, but the performance was honestly pretty janky. Let me know if that works.