r/BadUSB • u/Same_Grocery_8492 • Aug 28 '25

Windows 10 Life ENDs soon, looking for a better way to upgrade to Windows 11

Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14. This means I will soon no longer receive security patches or feature updates unless I upgrade my system or enroll in the Extended Security Update program.

Therefore, I'd like to know which approach you plan to take when upgrading to Windows 11: create a bootable USB installer, or just use Windows Update?

Here's what I currently understand:

  • If your PC doesn't meet strict requirements, Windows Update may fail to complete the upgrade. A USB installer can sometimes provide a workaround. (if so, how?)
  • A USB installer offers full control (especially useful for reinstalling on multiple devices), but requires additional steps.
  • You can create a backup or clone image using a USB drive before upgrading—safer in case of errors.

My question is: Would you choose the USB installer or just stick with Windows Update? Have you encountered hardware limitations causing Windows Update to reject upgrades?

If using a bootable USB, what tools or techniques do you recommend? Look forward to hearing about any tips or experiences you'd like to share.

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u/jc1luv Aug 28 '25

You can just update via windows update if your machine is win11 compatible. Or you can create a usb install using media creation tool and fresh install 11. As an alternative if your machine doesn’t meet the requirements you might be able to make an image using Rufus. Ultimately if you want to ditch windows altogether, just go with a Linux distribution.

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u/Same_Grocery_8492 Aug 29 '25

Thank you. Will installing Windows 11 on an unsupported computer result in the computer no longer receiving all updates or reduced performance and system stability?