I still remember the first time I tried to upgrade my old laptop to Windows 11. I was excited, but my PC failed the compatibility check. It said my TPM wasn’t supported and Secure Boot was turned off. I thought, “Great… now I need a new laptop.”

But then I did some digging, and it turns out you can install Windows 11 without a USB drive, and yes — even on unsupported PCs. I tried it myself. It took some patience, but it worked. If your PC is in the same situation, this guide is exactly what I wish I had read back then.

Why I Wanted to Upgrade

I’ve always liked how clean and smooth Windows 11 looks. The centered Start menu, better window snapping, and modern design caught my eye. My laptop was running Windows 10 fine, but I wanted that fresh look and better multitasking.

Buying a new laptop wasn’t an option. So upgrading without a pendrive felt like my best shot.

A Quick Warning Before You Start

  • This method works — but it’s not officially supported by Microsoft if your PC doesn’t meet all the requirements.
  • You might not get future updates on unsupported hardware.
  • Back up your important files before starting.
  • Keep your laptop plugged in during the upgrade.
  • Make sure your internet connection is stable.

What I Used

  • My existing Windows 10 laptop
  • About 64 GB of free space
  • A good internet connection
  • A bit of patience 😄

Step 1: Downloading the Windows 11 ISO

I went to Microsoft’s official site and downloaded the Windows 11 ISO file. It’s a big file, so depending on your internet, it might take a while. I saved it to my Downloads folder.

Tip: Don’t use random websites to download the ISO. Stick to Microsoft’s site. It’s safer.

Step 2: Making a Small Registry Tweak

This part scared me at first — but it’s easier than it sounds. My PC didn’t have TPM 2.0, so the installer would normally block the upgrade. To fix this, I changed one setting in the registry:

  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
  2. Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup
  3. If “MoSetup” doesn’t exist, right-click and create it.
  4. Inside MoSetup, right-click → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  5. Name it: AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU
  6. Double-click it and set the value to 1.
  7. Close Registry Editor.

This tiny tweak lets Windows ignore the TPM and CPU warning.

Step 3: Mounting the ISO (No Pendrive Needed)

Here’s the simple trick:

  • Right-click on the ISO file → click Mount.
  • A new virtual DVD drive appears in File Explorer.
  • Open it and double-click setup.exe.

This launches the Windows 11 installer right inside Windows 10.

Step 4: Installing Windows 11

The installer will check your system and give you options. I chose “Keep personal files and apps” because I didn’t want to lose anything.

Then the installation began. My laptop restarted a few times — that’s normal. I just let it run. It took around an hour for everything to finish.

Step 5: First Boot After Upgrade

When I logged in, it felt so refreshing. The Start menu was in the center, the design looked modern, and my files were still there. But I didn’t stop there:

  • I opened Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates.
  • Installed the available updates and drivers.
  • Restarted once more.

What Didn’t Go Perfectly (And How I Fixed It)

  • Wi-Fi didn’t work at first. I reinstalled the Wi-Fi driver from my laptop’s support page, and it was fine.
  • Warning about unsupported hardware. I ignored it because I already knew what I was doing.
  • A bit of lag. After updating drivers, the performance improved a lot.

A Few Things You Should Know

  • This method works on many older laptops, but not all.
  • Future Windows updates might be limited on unsupported devices.
  • You can roll back to Windows 10 within 10 days if needed.
  • Always keep a backup of your important files.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, I was proud of myself when I saw Windows 11 running on my old laptop. It feels smoother, cleaner, and more modern. This method won’t work for absolutely everyone, but if you follow the steps carefully, it has a good chance.

If you try this, be patient. Don’t panic if the screen restarts several times — that’s normal. And if it doesn’t work the first time, double-check your registry steps.

My Advice (From One User to Another)

  • Don’t rush. Read each step slowly and carefully.
  • Keep a plan to go back to Windows 10 if something goes wrong.
  • Don’t download shortcuts or “cracks” — always use the official ISO.
  • And most importantly: don’t forget your backup.

I hope this helps someone who’s sitting there thinking, “My PC can’t run Windows 11.” Because it just might. 😉