Windows 11 has been all the rage since Microsoft announced it in 2021. With a better user interface and an overall boost in performance, Windows 11 is a must have. Unlike previous Windows operating systems, Microsoft has tightened the bar, with strict and rather unnecessary requirements. In this article, we are going to go through two effective and risk-free methods on how to install Windows 11. Here are the requirements for installing Windows 11.
Requirements for installing Windows 11
- 1GHz processor or faster.
- Processor with two or more cores.
- 4GB RAM or greater.
- 64GB Storage or greater.
- Graphics card which is compatible with Direct 12 or greater, with a WDDM 2.0 driver.
- System Firmware must be UEFI, Secure boot capable.
- TPM (Trusted Platform Module) version 2.0.
- 720P display, 9” or greater monitor, 8 bits per color channel.
- An internet connection to download the software and complete the setup.
Method 1: Direct installation.
If you are still not sure if your PC supports Windows 11, Microsoft has a tool which will do all the hard work for you. Click this link to download the PC health check app. Once you have it installed in your PC, run the test. If your PC passes all the tests, then proceed with this method. If not go to the third method below.
1.Download Windows 11 Assistant directly from Microsoft.
2. Once downloaded run the software. (This may take some time so be patient)
3. Once it is complete, the software will prompt you to restart your PC.
4. Restart and the installation will proceed. (Do not interrupt the process until it is done)
5. After possibly some few hours, Windows 11 will be fully installed.
Method 2: Creating a bootable drive.
Creating a bootable drive has been the oldest and most trusted ways of installing Windows OS. Windows 11 is no different. This method is effective as once it is created, you can do unlimited Windows 11 installations without the need of an internet connection. This method is also effective if you want to perform a clean installation from scratch. Here are the simple steps to creating a bootable drive.
Caution: The drive must have at least 8GB Storage.
1. Go to the Windows 11 download page.
2. Head to the Create Windows 11 Installation Media section and click download.
3. Once downloaded, you can clear Use the recommended options for this PC
4. Select the preferred language and edition of Windows 11.
5. Plug in the USB drive to be used and then click the USB flash drive option in the installation software.
6. Click next and if there are multiple drive connected, click on the one you want to install in. (If you do not see your USB drive, click the ‘Refresh drive list option’)
7. Click the next button then click finish.
Once you are through with the above process, the tool will download Windows 11 to the USB drive and make it bootable.
Method 3: Enabling TPM and Secure boot before installing Windows 11.
This method is for those whose systems did not pass the PC health check test. Two of the most common issues is that either the TPM is off or the Secure Boot is disabled. Both of these options must be enabled in the BIOS.
Enabling TPM.
Before we proceed any further, ensure that your PC has TPM version 2.0. Any PC made after 2015 should have this feature already. If you are still not sure whether your PC has TPM 2.0, follow the steps below.
1. Press WIN + R to open RUN.
2. Type in the command tpm.msc and press enter.
3. This will bring up the Trusted Module Platform management windows.
4. If your hardware does not have a TPM chip here’s how the interface will look.
5. If your hardware has a TPM chip here’s how the interface will look. (You can find the version at the bottom right of the last category)
Once you have confirmed that your device has TPM 2.0, let’s enable it now.
We are currently using a HP laptop with the following specs. Although the UEFI interface may differ from one PC to another, the steps are essentially the same.
- Device name HP Pro Book 440 G5
- Processor Intel(R) Core (TM) i7-8550U CPU @ 1.80GHz 1.99 GHz
- Installed RAM 8.00 GB (7.42 GB usable)
- System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
- Storage 1TB HDD
Let’s enable TPM 2.0.
1. Head to your device BIOS. (In most HP laptops, press esc immediately after pressing the power button when booting up your PC.)
2.Select the BIOS setup option.
3.Go to the security option.
4.Select TPM Embedded Security option.
5.Check the TPM state option to switch it on.
6.Save and exit then reboot.
Let’s enable secure Boot.
Enabling secure boot has prevented most people from installing Windows 11 due to its complicated nature. But in this article, I will show you by far three of the easiest method. To determine which method to use follow this mini guide:
- Press Windows key and X.
- Select the Disk Management option.
- Right click on Disk 0 and select properties.
- Head to the volumes and check the Partition style.
- If it is GPT use the First method.
- If it is MBR use the second method. (If the second method fails you can use the third one)
Method 1.
1.Head to your device BIOS. (In most PCs hold down ESC immediately after pressing the power button.)
2.Go to your BIOS setup.
3.Go to the Advanced tab.
4.Select the Secure Boot configuration.
5.Select the Configure Legacy support and Secure Boot option.
6.Disable Legacy support and Enable Secure Boot.
7.Save and Exit BIOS then reboot.
8.Proceed with the methods above to install Windows 11.
Note: If your PC fails to reboot then use the second method. But first head back to your BIOS and enable Legacy support and disable secure boot.
Method 2.
1.Boot your PC normally.
2.Hold down Shift and press the Restart button.
3.This will take you to the Boot Options Menu.
4.Select the Troubleshoot option.
5.Select Advanced Options.
6.Finally select the Command Prompt option.
7.Once CMD has launched, type in the following command. “ mbr2gpt /convert “
8.Let it run.
9.The final message should be “conversion completed successfully” (If the conversion is unsuccessful go to method three)
10. Now head on to the BIOS and enable Secure Boot. (You can use the steps in method 1)
11. Now reboot your PC and it should boot successfully.
Method 3.
Note: If the “mbr2gpt /convert” command fails, this could mean one thing. It means that you created a partition after the original OS had already been installed. In order to convert from MBR to GPT, you have to transfer the data in that partition either to an external drive or the partition that contains the OS then delete the partition. To do so follow the steps below;
1.Backup the Files to an external drive or to New Volume C.
2.Press the Windows key and X together.
3.Select the Disk Management option.
4.Right Click on the Partition and select Delete Volume.
5.Hold down Shift and press the Restart button.
6.This will take you to the Boot Options Menu.
7.Select the Troubleshoot option.
8.Select Advanced Options.
9.Finally select the Command Prompt option.
10.Once CMD has launched, type in the following command. “ mbr2gpt /convert “
11.Let it run.
12.The final message should be “conversion completed successfully”
13.Head to BIOS and Enable Secure Boot. (You can use the steps in method 1)
14. Now reboot your PC and it should boot successfully.
Once you have enabled TPM and Secure Boot, you can now use the methods at the top to install Windows 11. I hope this guide has been of benefit to you. Feel free to leave a comment below.
Well explained. Thanks for sharing.