How to install Windows 11 on i5-6500 Intel CPU?

For Intel i5 series CPU, the oldest supported model is i5-8200Y. This means you should have at least a 8th Gen Intel i5 processor. You can't install Windows 11 on i5-6500 as it is 6th Gen. You can follow this bypass guide to help you install Windows 11 on this unsupported CPU processor: https://www.readdwrite.com/install-windows-11-on-unsupported-cpu

Look, officially, Microsoft says "no way" to install Windows 11 on i5 6500 CPU. They want you to buy new hardware, naturally. But the i5-6500 is still a pretty decent chip for everyday tasks. It's not like you're trying to run it on a potato! So, bypassing the check is often worth a shot if you understand the risks.

I've tried both the Registry Editor method and using a modified ISO. Honestly, the registry edit is usually the easier and safer bet. The ISO route feels a bit sketchier to me, because you're trusting whoever made that ISO not to have slipped in something nasty.

Important Notes:

BIOS Settings: Make sure virtualization is enabled in your BIOS (usually called "Intel Virtualization Technology" or something similar). Sometimes, this can affect compatibility.
Drivers: After install, be prepared to hunt down drivers. Windows Update might not find everything. Check the HP website for drivers for your specific laptop model. Even if they're for older versions of Windows, they might work.
Updates Might Be Tricky: Sometimes, Windows Update will complain after you've bypassed the checks. There are usually workarounds (Google is your friend!), but it can be a bit of a hassle.
Consider Windows 10: Seriously, Windows 10 is still supported for a while. If you have major problems with Windows 11, don't be afraid to go back to Windows 10. It's a perfectly good OS!

So you wanna put Windows 11 on an i5-6500? Honestly, the biggest hurdle is gonna be that your i5-6500 isn't officially supported by Microsoft for Windows 11. Microsoft has a list of approved CPUs, and yours didn't make the cut for compatibility reasons(it mostly has to do with marketing strategy since your CPU will be able to handle Win 11). This means you might see some warning messages and Microsoft won't guarantee everything will work perfectly.

I've seen tons of people run Windows 11 on older CPU like yours. Most of the time, it works just fine for everyday tasks like browsing, office work, and even some gaming. You're most likely not gonna experience catastrophic problems.

Before installing Windows 11 on i5 6500 CPU. You can delay feature updates for a while (using Windows Update settings). This gives you time to see if others with similar hardware are experiencing problems before you install the update. However, don't delay security updates, as they're important for protecting your system. And create a system image backup of your Windows 11 installation after you get it working. This allows you to easily revert to a working state if a future update causes problems.

Microsoft's hardware requirements for Windows 11 are a bit stricter than for Windows 10. The i5-6500, while a perfectly capable chip, isn't on their approved list (mainly due to their desire for newer security features).
You might run into a message during the installation saying "This PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements." Annoying, right?

How to install Windows 11 on i5 6500 CPU (Modifying the Registry During Installation):

This method involves editing the Windows Registry during the setup process.

Create a Bootable USB: You'll need a standard Windows 11 installation media.
Boot from the USB: Boot your computer from the created USB drive. You might need to change the boot order in your BIOS settings.
2. Get to the Error Message: When you start the installation, go through the initial steps until you get the dreaded "This PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements" message. Don't panic!
3. Open Command Prompt: Press Shift + F10. This opens the Command Prompt.
Edit the Registry:
Type regedit and press Enter. This opens the Registry Editor.
4. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup
Create a new key called LabConfig under Setup. (Right-click on Setup, select "New" -> "Key", and name it LabConfig.)
Inside LabConfig, create two new DWORD (32-bit) values:
BypassTPMCheck (set the value to 1)
BypassSecureBootCheck (set the value to 1)
BypassRAMCheck (set the value to 1) (if you have less than 4 GB RAM)
Close the Registry Editor and Command Prompt.
5. Continue Installation: Go back to the setup screen and click the "Back" button. Then try the installation again. The check should now be bypassed.

How this works: This method manually tells Windows to ignore the TPM, Secure Boot, and RAM checks during the installation process.