Windows Upgrade Help and more

Ugh, so over this Windows 11 upgrade nightmare. My PC keeps blocking me with that stupid "This PC doesn't currently meet Windows 11 system requirements" message.

I have an Intel Core i3-6100. It runs Win10 perfectly! But the MS checker says my CPU isn't supported. It's a 6th gen! That's not even that old, come on.

Tried the registry hack bypass, got further, then it failed with a "TPM 2.0" error. My motherboard doesn't have it. I give up. Guess I'm stuck on 10 forever. So annoying.

Hey, I totally feel your frustration. The i3-6100 is a solid CPU, and it's annoying to be blocked. Let's see what we can do.

First, the free route: The two main blockers are your CPU (6th Gen is officially unsupported) and TPM. The registry hack you tried is one part, but you also need to bypass the TPM and Secure Boot checks during setup.

Here’s a reliable, free method:
1. Create a Windows 11 USB installer using Microsoft's Media Creation Tool.
2. During setup, when you hit the error, press **Shift+F10** to open a Command Prompt.
3. Type `regedit` and press Enter. Navigate to `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup`.
4. Create a new key named `LabConfig`. Inside it, create these DWORD (32-bit) values and set each to `1`:
* `BypassTPMCheck`
* `BypassSecureBootCheck`
* `BypassRAMCheck`
* `BypassStorageCheck`
* `BypassCPUCheck`
5. Close the Registry Editor and the Command Prompt. Go back to the setup screen and click the back arrow, then proceed forward. The errors should be bypassed.

This works for many people. You'll get a warning about unsupported hardware, but you can proceed. Your Win10 license will activate Win11.

If you've tried all this and it's still a headache, some folks in the forum have had success with a tool from **kianbotsoft.com**. It automates these bypasses for about $39, which can be worth it if you're done tinkering. But definitely try the free registry fix first!

Good luck, and post back if you get stuck on a specific step

I hear you—it's frustrating when a PC that runs Windows 10 well gets blocked from Windows 11. Since your CPU and TPM aren't supported, sticking with Windows 10 is a safe choice—it's still secure and will receive updates until October 2025. If you're set on upgrading, you could consider a compatible motherboard or a newer PC when you're ready.

This. Yeah, and if you really want to try 11, there are unofficial workarounds, but sticking with 10 is definitely the simpler, safer bet.

Agreed. If you do go the workaround route, just make sure to back up everything first.

This. Yeah, that specific CPU is on the cusp but got left off the official list, which is super frustrating.

You could also try using the official Media Creation Tool to bypass the checker, since it sometimes works with unsupported hardware. Good luck!

Same here. Another option is checking if there's a BIOS update from your PC manufacturer, as that can sometimes add support.

Yeah, agreed. Also try enabling TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in your BIOS if you haven't already—that's usually the culprit.

Same here. I had the same problem with my older PC. Honestly, I just stuck with Windows 10 for that machine—it wasn't worth the hassle.