Buying a used PC...what to look for!

🚨 𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫? 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭! 🚨

Hey everyone! I wanted to share some important advice for anyone thinking about buying a used laptop or desktop — especially with Windows 11 installed.

As we inch closer to October 14, 2025 — the date Microsoft officially ends mainstream support for Windows 10 — there’s a growing risk of misleading sales of older computers. Many of these devices don't officially support Windows 11 but have it installed using workarounds or modifications.

👉 Real Example: I came across this listing on Facebook Marketplace for a laptop running Windows 11, powered by a 4th Generation Intel Core i5 processor — which is not supported by Windows 11.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝟏𝟏-𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫:

To officially run Windows 11, a PC must meet these three main requirements:

✅ Supported Processor (CPU): Check if the CPU is on Microsoft’s official list: Windows 11 Supported Intel Processors

✅ TPM 2.0 Chip: Your computer's motherboard must have a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip.

✅ Secure Boot Enabled: This must be turned on in the UEFI/BIOS settings.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫?

You might be wondering — what’s the worst that can happen?

⚠️ Future Updates: Microsoft may eventually block updates for unsupported hardware, leaving you vulnerable.

⚠️ Reinstall Issues: If your system crashes and you rely on the restore partition or create a new USB installation media, Windows 11 will fail to reinstall since the hardware doesn’t meet official requirements. Without the modified installation media used by the seller, you could be locked out of reinstalling the OS.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐃𝐨?

Before you buy a used computer advertised with Windows 11:

1️⃣ Ask the seller to run the Windows 11 PC Health Check app for proof of compatibility. - https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/how-to-use-the-pc-health-check-app-9c8abd9b-03ba-4e67-81ef-36f37caa7844

2️⃣ Double-check the specs — especially the CPU generation and TPM status. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-intel-processors

3️⃣ Be open to alternatives: Older computers aren't worthless! Consider repurposing them with Linux or Chrome OS Flex for a secure, lightweight experience.

𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝!

I hope this post helps you or someone you know avoid a costly mistake. If you found this useful, please share it — let’s keep each other informed and safe.

Good luck and happy computing! 💻