I'm currently working as an IT Systems Technician, and part of my responsibility involves some SysAdmin tasks. I've been assigned the daunting task of upgrading about 180+ machines to Windows 11 version 24H2, coming from a mix of older Windows versions (mainly over 21H2) and some Windows 11 23H2 machines. Given the age of most of these PCs, many don't meet the minimum specs required for a manual Windows 11 installation, which complicates things further. I've been told these upgrades need to be in-place due to tight downtime constraints for each machine.
Another wrinkle is that some of these machines were initially installed with the US ISO, so I need to ensure I use the correct version during upgrades. While I've had some success using Registry Edits to perform upgrades on a few machines, the same script sometimes fails on others without a clear reason. I even wrote a Powershell script to assess the original ISO's version and guide users through choosing between UK or US setups before executing the upgrade process. Though it's designed for silent upgrades with progress bars, it is unreliable. In some cases, the installer fails to launch altogether.
I've tried adjusting various settings, manually applying registry edits, disconnecting from the network, and using different drives, but the results are inconsistent. Can anyone offer some reliable methods to tackle these upgrades?
3 Answers
Honestly, trying to bypass the requirements won't yield long-term success. Eventually, these methods get shut down, and unsupported hardware can lead to more problems down the line. If feasible, I suggest convincing your management to invest in supported hardware. They might be crucial for productivity and can save you from constant headaches.
Definitely raise the issue with management. Are they really sure they want to go through with this unsupported upgrade? Pushing for a proper solution now could prevent a bigger mess later. It might be better to say 'No, we should invest in new machines instead' rather than patching up these failing upgrades.
We've all been there, having to run unsupported systems because management won’t budge. Just make sure to document all your communications, so if things go south, you're protected.
I've had a rough time forcing Windows 11 onto older machines myself, mainly blue screens and black screens happening all too often with those outdated CPUs. If you're looking for budget-friendly options, you can find compatible machines for less than $300 on places like Amazon. It might be best to keep a few around for when failures happen.
I get that it's not always up to the IT team to decide on hardware purchases, but it might help to point out the issues that could arise from these upgrades to non-supported systems.