Thinkpads Forum

I bought the used X230T i7 as a result of changing to a used X201T i7 because the three or four X61 which I have collected over the years have fan errors now (except for one). (I will list them for parts only along with their docks on ebay soon.)

I liked the used X201T i7 allot but was disappointed that it did not have a Thinklight. So, I bought the used X230T i7 because it had a backlit keyboard.

But here's the deal, the used X230T I bought has Windows 10 on it. While the used X201T has Windows 11.

The X201T seems to run fine with Windows 11.

(I will list the X201T on ebay soon.)

So, I decided to download the Windows 11 ISO file from the Microsoft website to try to install Windows 11 on the X230T, but it wouldn't install because the X230T "Doesn't meet the Windows 11 Minimum requirements." (I.e., unsupported processor, no TPM, etc.)

So, how did the used X201T come from the ebay seller with Windows 11 on it?

Questions:

1. Is there any downside to running Windows 11 on the X230T?

2. If not, how should one install Windows 11 on it?

One way is to use Rufus 3.18 Extended Windows 11 Installation option, when creating the install media. It tweaks it to bypass those requirements.
https://www.ghacks.net/2022/03/04/rufus ... -bypasses/

Thank you dr_st !!!
I watched a bunch of older, now irrelevant videos on how to install it and some more current rufus based installations and will try the rufus method.

Rufus 3.19 is out. Should I use it? It doesn't mention secure boot or CPU type.

If they introduced a feature in Rufus 3.18, I doubt they removed it in 3.19.

Upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11 Home using Rufus 3.19.
Checked all THREE options in Rufus 3.19, incl bypass Ram reqmt, lbypass TPM, bypass Security Questions (although there is not a separate check box for "no Secure Boot" or bypass "unsupported CPU," and there is no "Extended Windows 11 Installation" option in 3.19, 3.19 installed Windows 11 and bypassed all these issues).

Followed dr_st's instructions for 3.18 to the extent applicable.

Once Rufus creates the USB, then you click on the setup.exe file on the USB and the Windows 11 installation process begins.

Checked the boxes to keep my existing Apps and Personal Data to avoid a clean install and just do an upgrade of Windows 10 to 11.

Then was able to run all the Windows 11 updates with no problem.

I use a local account (I do not use a Microsoft Account and have requested Microsoft to close my Microsoft Account).
My Windows 10 was a local account so I was able to install Windows 11 without a Microsoft Account, but I had to disconnect from the internet at one point to get past a Windows 11 attempt to force me to use a Microsoft Account.

Once Windows 11 was installed and upgraded, I had to turn off Taskbar Widgets because it persisted in asking for a Microsoft Account.
Also Windows 11 re-enabled ThinkPad Bluetooth 4.0 daughter card which I had to disable in Device Manager so that Bluetooth would run unimpeded on the AX210 wifi card.
Update: I subsequently physically removed the BT daughter card to avoid device manager adding it to the system again.

So I will use Windows 11 on the X230T today and see how it works.

IIRC, per RBS's suggestion, I also used Rufus to run Ivyprep and 1vyrain to remove the network card whitelist on the X230T.
I really appreciate Rufus.

And I really appreciate RBS and dr_st !!!

Update: Used the X230T with Windows 11 all day today with no hiccups. It is now my daily driver).
I will update if I have any problems.

Windows 11 22H2 is out.

And Rufus 3.20 is also out:

https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/releases

I am currently using it to download an ISO of Win_11_2H22_English_x61v1.iso to a USB to install on my X230T.

It seems to get easier to use with every version.

E350 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 06, 2022 3:05 pm

It seems to get easier to use with every version.

Is this quote with reference to Windows or Rufus?

Rufus seems to get easier to use with every iteration.

I also like Windows 11 once I disable all the connections to Microsoft account and only use a local account.

BTW it takes hours for Rufus to download Windows iso file on my slow internet connection at our rural home, and I have had it time out and fail many times before successfully downloading the entire file.

Today on my X230 the WiFi suddenly stopped working. I figured I'd just reboot to see if it helps, after logging in I got this fancy screen offering me to upgrade to Windows 11. Previous Windows Update was telling me that my computer does not meet the hardware requirements. For now I declined the update, but it's still being offered as an option in Windows Update. I then woke my W530 up and it had the same situation - WiFi not working, after a reboot an offer of upgrading to Windows 11.
Perhaps Microsoft loosened the hardware requirements?

That is interesting. I have upgraded/hacked Windows 11 to work on my X230T laptops. And it is working well and I like it. I have not done that on my wife's T61p which is running Windows 10 without issue, but when I update it, I don't get an offer from Microsoft to upgrade it to Windows 11, but I will watch for it.