Upgrade to Windows 11: frequently asked questions

[dragonpoo]

Hi Admin,

I believe mine is the v25. My system shows a Core Version of 5.13, Compliancy of UEFI 2.7; PI 1.6, and Project Version of GK1V25 0.01 x64.

I hope this can also get a BIOS update for Secure Boot. I purchased it in June 2021, after Microsoft announced its system requirements for Windows 11.

Hello dragonpoo,
This is the upgrade file you need: ....

The upgrade method is already in the compressed package, just unzip it like other compressed packages. Hope this helps you.
This upgrade file is only suitable for BIOS whose BIOS version is V25.

Hi admin, thanks! The update succeeded, and the details from the BIOS screen are the same Core Version of 5.13, Compliancy of UEFI 2.7; PI 1.6, and Project version of GK1V25 0.01 x64. However, the Build Date and Time is updated, 10/21/2021 11:35:33, and I see a Secure Boot option on the Security menu now.

A few comments about the upgrade experience, in case anyone else encounters this: I followed the steps in the docx file of the RAR, copying the files to a FAT32 drive (32GB, in my case). I hit F7 to select the boot option during reboot, chose the drive, and waited. The whole process was about 3 minutes, then it returned a UEFI command prompt when done. I waited, and after a few minutes, did a control-alt-delete to reboot. It took about 20 seconds before anything happened, and then the screen went black and the CPU fan went on.

I actually freaked out, wondering if something broke. I waited a minute, and after nothing happened, I tried control-alt-delete again, hitting the power button, and even physically unplugged the system. The fan went off, and when I plugged it back in, it showed a black screen with the fan running.

About five minutes later, as I was reviewing the instructions to see if I missed something, the BIOS screen flashed, and started loading Windows again. I did a graceful reboot and went back into the BIOS screen to verify it worked, which is where I got the details posted before.

So, be patient! This isn't a user-friendly upgrade that happens in Windows like other brands do, but it did work for me!

[Gabe]

So, be patient! This isn't a user-friendly upgrade that happens in Windows like other brands do, but it did work for me!

That's good news. I'm glad these W11 enabling BIOS flashes are working for people. I hope that, going forward, and as newer stock replaces the older, the models that support W11 come with the updated BIOS already installed.

Both my GK1 and AK3 had older, less locked down BIOSes that support W11. I think my AM02, which is a more recent model, was released with W11 in mind, so it too was W11 ready. As for my T6 Pro, it's not. It's missing the Secure Boot setting. I did install W11 with the workaround though, and so far it's been working as expected and still receiving Windows Updates, so I'm not really going to worry about trying to get the updated BIOS. However, if it was my main Windows PC I would likely do so. And though I might be able to install W11 on my W8 Pro with the workaround, it would just be WAY too slow to even bother doing so. As it stands, however, my W8 Pro isn't recognized by my newer monitor, so that unit's been sitting on a closet shelf collecting dust for the last year. The W8 Pro was the first mini PC I ever bought.

[dragonpoo]

So, be patient! This isn't a user-friendly upgrade that happens in Windows like other brands do, but it did work for me!

That's good news. I'm glad these W11 enabling BIOS flashes are working for people. I hope that, going forward, and as newer stock replaces the older, the models that support W11 come with the updated BIOS already installed.

Both my GK1 and AK3 had older, less locked down BIOSes that support W11. I think my AM02, which is a more recent model, was released with W11 in mind, so it too was W11 ready. As for my T6 Pro, it's not. It's missing the Secure Boot setting. I did install W11 with the workaround though, and so far it's been working as expected and still receiving Windows Updates, so I'm not really going to worry about trying to get the updated BIOS. However, if it was my main Windows PC I would likely do so. And though I might be able to install W11 on my W8 Pro with the workaround, it would just be WAY too slow to even bother doing so. As it stands, however, my W8 Pro isn't recognized by my newer monitor, so that unit's been sitting on a closet shelf collecting dust for the last year. The W8 Pro was the first mini PC I ever bought.

That's awesome, Gabe. I'm glad you got to try it on so many systems. I've been looking at the selection of models (from the different brands) and wouldn't mind picking up another one to see how things run on it.

An update for my GK1; I upgraded it to Windows 11, no issues. Enrolled it in the Insider program, no issues either. It runs nice and silent, very little fan use.

[dragonpoo]

I have the relevant GK3 and have been given this copy of the bios update for Windows 11 by the manufacturer. I tried this one too but I cannot get either to flash the bios. I have a small usb formatted to FAT32 and have put the relevent files on the root. I have tried more than one USB all to no avail. I might be doing something wrong but I think i have followed the instructions that come with the zip file. Perhaps someone out there might be able to help. I was dissapointed that a recently bought pc was not windows 11 out of the box.

Hi Dawsy, did you ever figure this out? Since I got it to work for my system, I can explain what I did and see if you missed something.

I have a 32GB USB2 drive that I formatted as FAT32. I had to do it through diskpart, as it was previously partitioned for booting ESXi. Once I formatted it, I simply extracted the files from the RAR (using 7zip), and copied them over to the freshly formatted drive. Booting off the drive was pretty simple, now that I know the F7 command to show the boot menu.

[bullyparade]

Hi Admin,

I have an ACEPC GK3V (Intel Celeron J4125, 8GB RAM, 128GB ROM) purchased in December 2020 at AMAZON and want to upgrade to Windows 11.
My current BIOS screen shows the following data:
BIOS Information
BIOS Vendor American Megatrend
Core Version 5.13
Compliancy UEFI 2.7; PI 1.6
Project Version 1AUAJ 0.38 x64
Build Date and Time 09/22/2020 16:45:19

Can you please advise what BIOS update files I should use to enable upgrade to Windows 11.

Thanks

[tutaqq]

My version is V26, used V26 bios, followed the instructions same as dragonpoo described, but my screen never came back on. Now it is just blue light, fan on, unable even to turn off with power button. Any suggestions?

[admin]

Hi Admin,

I have an ACEPC GK3V (Intel Celeron J4125, 8GB RAM, 128GB ROM) purchased in December 2020 at AMAZON and want to upgrade to Windows 11.
My current BIOS screen shows the following data:
BIOS Information
BIOS Vendor American Megatrend
Core Version 5.13
Compliancy UEFI 2.7; PI 1.6
Project Version 1AUAJ 0.38 x64
Build Date and Time 09/22/2020 16:45:19

Can you please advise what BIOS update files I should use to enable upgrade to Windows 11.

Thanks

Hello, due to the BIOS version limitation, you cannot upgrade the Win11 system by enabling secure boot, but you can experience the latest features by directly installing the win11 system.

[admin]

My version is V26, used V26 bios, followed the instructions same as dragonpoo described, but my screen never came back on. Now it is just blue light, fan on, unable even to turn off with power button. Any suggestions?

Sad to say, your machine should have flashed the BIOS by mistake. Please contact our after-sales staff for after-sales processing. Please don't worry, we will solve the problem for you.

[tutaqq]

I've noticed that link for bios V26 says V26B. Mine is V26D. Could this be a reason of the problem I have? If yes, can you post link for version V26D? Thank you.

[dragonpoo]

My version is V26, used V26 bios, followed the instructions same as dragonpoo described, but my screen never came back on. Now it is just blue light, fan on, unable even to turn off with power button. Any suggestions?

Has there been any change since you wrote this? As I said, for my system, it took over five minutes for it to sit there in darkness, and it finally came back on. I'm not sure if there's anything else you can do aside from wait.

...or contact Support directly.