Upgrading an HP 15-ba051wm Laptop to Windows 11: A Guide

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Are you wondering if you can upgrade your Windows 10 PC to Windows 11, even if it doesn’t meet the minimum hardware requirements? Good news! You can still make the upgrade work with a few simple steps. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you through the process.

If your friend is content with her current PC and wants to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 (24H2), the easiest option is an in-place upgrade. I recommend checking out this helpful video that walks you through the process: How to Install Windows 11 on Unsupported PC in 2025 (New Easiest Method, No CMD). Having tried various methods over the past three years, I found this one to be the simplest.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Download the Windows 11 ISO File: You’ll need the Windows 24H2 ISO file for the upgrade. You can get it through this link: Download Windows 11.
Get a File Compression Utility: Download 7-Zip, a free file utility that helps with extracting files. Make sure to choose the 64-bit version if your PC supports it: 7-Zip.
Perform the Upgrade: Follow the instructions in the video to upgrade your PC to Windows 11 using the downloaded ISO file. This method is designed for systems that don’t officially support Windows 11 yet.
Prepare for Future Updates: Keep in mind that if Microsoft releases new builds for Windows 11, you will need to repeat this process, as unsupported PCs won’t automatically receive these updates. Historically, new builds are released every October.
Regular Updates: Even without the latest builds, your PC will continue to receive monthly cumulative updates, so you won’t miss out on important security fixes.
Revert if Needed: If you encounter any issues after the upgrade, you have a ten-day period to roll back to Windows 10 easily. Just ensure that you don’t delete the upgrade files or the Windows.old folder. Check out this video for guidance on going back: How to Go Back to Windows 10 from Windows 11 (Tutorial).

By following these steps, your friend can successfully upgrade to Windows 11 and continue enjoying a supported operating system beyond October 2025. Happy upgrading!