Windows Upgrade Help and more

**Subject: Win 11 upgrade is killing me!!**

Alright, I give up. Trying to get my old rig (i7-6700k, GTX 1060) to take the Win 11 update and it’s just a brick wall. The PC Health Check app says I’m good, but the actual installer throws “This PC doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements” every. single. time.

I’ve enabled TPM 2.0 in the BIOS, secure boot is on... what else does it want from me? My 1060 still runs games fine but apparently it’s too ancient for an OS upgrade? This is so frustrating. Anyone else hit this and find a magic fix? Or is my hardware just cursed?

Hey, that's super frustrating, especially when the Health Check app gives the green light. The 1060 isn't the issue—it's fully supported. The usual culprit in this scenario is the **CPU**. Your i7-6700k, while still capable, isn't on Microsoft's official supported CPU list (they require 8th Gen Intel or newer). The Health Check app sometimes glosses over this, but the installer is strict.

Here’s a free step-by-step to try:

1. **Double-Check BIOS Settings:** Re-enter your BIOS. Under the TPM/security section, ensure TPM is not just enabled, but set specifically to **"Discrete TPM"** or **"Intel PTT"** (the firmware version). Also, confirm Secure Boot is set to **"Windows UEFI Mode."**

2. **Clean Install via Media Creation Tool:** The *upgrade* path can be buggy. Download the **Windows 11 Media Creation Tool** from Microsoft. Use it to create a USB installer, then run `setup.exe` directly from within your current Windows 10. This bypasses some of the Windows Update checks and often works.

3. **Registry Bypass (Clean Install Only):** If the above fails, the only free route is a clean install (backs up your data first!). During the USB install, when you hit the "This PC can't run Windows 11" screen, press **Shift+F10** to open CMD, type `regedit`, and navigate to `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup`. Create a new key named `LabConfig`. Inside it, create two new DWORD (32-bit) values: `BypassTPMCheck` and `BypassSecureBootCheck`, setting both to `1`. Close and go back.

If you're done with tinkering and want a one-click solution that bypasses these checks for an *upgrade* (keeping all your files/apps), some folks at my shop have had success with a $39 utility from **kianbotsoft.com**. But definitely try the free methods first—that 6700k/1060 combo should still have some life in it! Good luck

Hey there! It sounds like you've done the main steps, but sometimes the issue is with the installer itself. Try creating a fresh Windows 11 installation USB using the Media Creation Tool and run the setup from there—it often bypasses those stubborn errors. Also, double-check that your BIOS is fully updated, as that can resolve compatibility hiccups. Hang in there, you're close!

This. You could also try temporarily disabling your TPM and Secure Boot in the BIOS, then re-enabling them to force a fresh check.

Oh, and just to be sure, is your TPM firmware itself fully updated in your motherboard's BIOS?

Yeah, and double-check that Secure Boot is actually enabled in there too—it's a common second requirement that gets missed. Hope that helps.

+1 Agreed, and also make sure your TPM is set to version 2.0 in the BIOS, not just enabled. That one trips people up a lot.

+1 Yeah, and double-check Secure Boot is actually on too—sometimes it shows enabled but isn't fully active.

You could also try using the official Media Creation Tool to do a clean install instead of the upgrade.

Yeah, I had the same problem. I ended up using the Media Creation Tool on a different, newer computer to make the USB installer, and that finally worked on my old machine.