You should treat an ISO file like you would a strange, random USB key that you’ve picked up off the street, though - if you didn’t download it from Microsoft, be wary. You’ll be able to kick off the installation process in one easy step. ISO file, select “Mount,” and Windows will simply treat the file like a virtual DVD in a disc drive. With Windows 10 or Windows 11, though, you don’t need to. If you’d like, you can burn it to a DVD or save it on a USB key, too. ISO file allows you to simply tuck it away like any other document on an external hard drive. This is my preferred way of installing a new OS, if I’ve committed to upgrading the operating system.
How to download Windows 11 with a ISO disk image You’ll want to set your PC to either boot from a USB/DVD, or else simply check to see if it can boot from either drive before booting normally. Typically, it requires you to press a key (such as the Esc or Delete key) immediately after tapping your PC’s power button. Consult your PC’s documentation in how to do this. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to follow the instructions for entering your PC’s BIOS or UEFI settings in its preboot environment. Double-click it, then change the registry value to 1. Name the new registry entry AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU.Within the MoSetup folder, right-click and select New >DWORD (32-bit) Value.If the folder isn’t there, right-click the Setup folder and create the MoSetup subfolder. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup.In Windows 10, open the Registry Editor by tapping the Windows key and then entering “Registry Editor” or regedit in the search box.(If you’re uncertain about what to do or don’t want to risk your PC, don’t do this!)
To proceed using the Registry Editor and install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, follow these steps.
Microsoft would like you to know that there are serious risks to doing so, and recommends upgrading to Windows 11 on supported hardware via Windows Update (our first option, below) instead. You’ll need to open the Registry Editor, though, which is the foundation of your PC. If you own a PC with a TPM 1.2 but not a TPM 2.0 installed, there is an “official” way around the restrictions. The easiest and safest way to qualify for Windows 11 is simply to have a PC that meets Microsoft’s restrictions. You’ll need a PC with a least a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 1.2 to qualify.
We would also very much encourage you to read our earlier story on the Windows 11 minimum hardware specifications, download Microsoft’s Health Check app, and check to see if your PC is eligible to upgrade to Windows 11. You’ll need a PC that meets the minimum hardware specifications of Windows 11. Simply run Windows Update on your computer before installing Windows 11 to make sure it’s properly patched. Plan on having at least 9 GB of free space available to download Windows 11, and make sure your PC is up to date, with Windows 10 Version 2004 or above installed. We’d say that allocating 30 minutes to an hour sounds about right, but it may be very variable. The time that downloading and installation of Windows 11 will require will vary, due to your PC’s speed and your available broadband bandwidth. There’s no need to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro unless you love Windows Sandbox or local accounts.