I'm having a tough time getting Windows 11 upgraded on about 150 Dell Optiplex devices at my last location. All of these machines are the same model as others that upgraded just fine, and I've already verified that they meet the health check for the upgrade. I tried upgrading them using RMM, Group Policy, USB, and the Update Assistant, but none of these methods worked. The machines were previously set up by someone who's no longer here, so I don't have any clarity on their past imaging or configuration.
When I check for errors, I consistently see:
- `0x8007007f`: This suggests there's a problem with loading migration plugins.
- `0x8007001F`: This one points to drive mapping and migration framework issues.
- `0x80040154`: Indicates some COM errors.
Trying to upgrade from ISO gives me a "failed in the SAFE_OS phase during MIGRATE_DATA" error. I suspect there may be some security policies or leftover configurations causing the failure, but I've combed through Active Directory and tested with different setups without finding any issues. I've conducted SFC/DISM repairs, tried updating drivers, cleared software distribution folders, and more. I'm almost at the point of just re-imaging, but many machines have specialized software without documentation, making me prefer to troubleshoot these upgrades first.
6 Answers
It sounds like there may be some residual RMM/MDM software messing things up. I’ve had issues before with leftover registry keys from previous management tools that interfered with upgrades. You might need to clean up those rogue keys. I even had to write a custom script once to reset everything after switching RMMs. It's a pain, but it could be your solution.
If you have specialty software with no documentation, I highly recommend creating Ansible scripts for installation tasks in the future. It’s a lifesaver, and you can automate setups even for smaller devices. Just food for thought!
Have you tried using the Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe directly on the machines? I had a similar issue where the ISO upgrade didn’t work but running the assistant got the job done without a hitch, though it took a while to download everything. Might be worth a shot!
Honestly, you might just want to consider reimaging them all. It could save you more trouble in the long run rather than fighting with workarounds that may not even work. Plus, you'll need to document how to install that specialized software for future reference anyway to avoid this headache again!
Have you checked for old user profiles on these machines? That "failed in the SAFE_OS phase during MIGRATE_DATA" error can sometimes occur if there are leftover profiles in the C:Users folder. Removing them could clear up the issue during the upgrade process.
You should definitely check out "setupdiag". It can give you a detailed rundown of the install logs and help identify why the upgrades are failing. It sounds like you might have a problematic driver issue since all machines were imaged at the same time. The official Microsoft page explains how to use it, and there's a great guide for troubleshooting after that. It can really save you some headaches!
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