I'm experiencing a frustrating issue while trying to upgrade from Windows 10 Pro 22H2 to Windows 11 Pro. The upgrade fails every time after I changed the way a third-party service is configured. Initially, the service was set to use a user account for authentication, but I've switched it back to LocalSystem. Despite this change and fully uninstalling the service, the upgrade still fails during the compatibility assessment. I've tried a ton of troubleshooting steps, from running SFC and DISM to resetting Windows Update services, and even conducting memory tests. I'm not a complete novice; I've been at it for weeks and still can't figure out what's blocking the upgrade. Can anyone shed some light on what lingering authentication artifacts could be causing this issue?
2 Answers
This situation can get tricky with Windows upgrades. I strongly suggest reviewing the permissions and account settings for that third-party service closely. Even if it's uninstalled, some settings could still impact the upgrade process. The solution might not be straightforward, but it’s often these small remnants hanging around that cause the bigger problems. Just to note, have you also looked into Group Policies that might be affecting the upgrade? They can sometimes block changes even if the service isn't running anymore.
It sounds like there's something left in the system after switching the service back to LocalSystem. Windows might still have references to the previous user account in its authentication contexts. Have you checked the event logs for any specific error messages that might hint at the leftover artifacts? It could be useful to trace through the authentication settings more meticulously. Sometimes even registry entries can persist unnoticed that could block the upgrade. Good luck!
I appreciate the insight! I haven't delved deep into Group Policies yet, but that's a great suggestion. I'll take a look at those settings and see if anything stands out.