Can't get past 23h2

stevhc · Dec 2, 2025

Been trying for a week to get my pc upgraded to W11 - Finally got it to get to W11 23h2 but cannot get it any further. Can even do an In place upgrade to W11 23h2 again, but not to 24h2 or 25h2. Dell PC, i7, 12th gen. Fails with "SECOND BOOT". I'm new here - any advice is appreciated

stevhc · Dec 2, 2025

Attached CPUZ screenshot per advice from other thread

Try3 · Dec 2, 2025

I also suggested, in your TenForums thread, that you include your computer specs [at least make-model] so you can avoid a lot of toing & froing as people ask you in separate posts.

Best of luck,
Denis

stevhc · Dec 2, 2025

Sorry and thank you for the advice

Dell Optiplex 7000 i7 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12700 2.10 GHz - 64GB RAM

Ghot · Dec 2, 2025

stevhc said:
Been trying for a week to get my pc upgraded to W11 - Finally got it to get to W11 23h2 but cannot get it any further. Can even do an In place upgrade to W11 23h2 again, but not to 24h2 or 25h2. Dell PC, i7, 12th gen. Fails with "SECOND BOOT". I'm new here - any advice is appreciated

After you're on 24H2, use the Enablement Package and that will take you to 25H2.
From 24H2 to 25H2 takes 3 seconds and a reboot.

Get ready for Windows 11 version 25H2 - Enablement Package and ISO downloads available

UPDATE 9/30: https://www.elevenforum.com/t/windows-11-version-25h2-now-available.40396/ Windows IT Pro Blog: How easy is it to move to Windows 11, version 25H2? As easy as a quick restart if you're on version 24H2! Today, Windows 11, version 25H2 became available to the Windows Insider...

www.elevenforum.com

You could do an In-Place Upgrade to get from 23H2 to 24H2. Use Option Two (ISO method)
This will take about 45 mins.
You won't lose any programs or files, and it will fix any Windows problems you may have.

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

www.elevenforum.com

Ghot · Dec 2, 2025

Here's some things that you may find useful...

Quickie Eleven Forum Setup Guide for new Members

Quickie Interface tour... Quickie set up... At the top right, click on your name, then choose "Preferences". Then go through everything on the left side. Quickie navigation... Click Forums and choose a subforum, OR... Click Forums, then New Posts or What's New Ranks, Trophies...

www.elevenforum.com

Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper and Hasleo Backup Suite - GUIDES

How to use backup software... 1. When everything is working perfectly... make a full Windows backup. 2. Then, if something breaks... restore from the latest backup. 3. Then... try "whatever you were doing" a different way. If it still breaks Windows, then... go to step #2. 4. Repeat...

www.elevenforum.com

Windows 11 Tweaks - Leader Board.

These are tweaks I've seen asked for... many times. They are collected here for easy access. All of these and more can be found in the Eleven Forum Tutorials Make sure to read the "notes" in the various tutorials. At the bottom of the first post in all the "tutorials", there are links to...

www.elevenforum.com

Megahertz · Dec 2, 2025

stevhc said:
Sorry and thank you for the advice

Dell Optiplex 7000 i7 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12700 2.10 GHz - 64GB RAM

The correct point to fill in your specs is under "My computer" so anyone seeing one of your posts can find out your computer specs

Please edit your profile with ALL your hardware specs. It will help us to help you
Under Elevenforum click on your name (top menu) and select System specs
Use CPUZ to find the hardware specs of your computer

Megahertz · Dec 2, 2025

Please post a whole window Disk Manager image of ALL your drives. Don't forget to expand the columns so we can read them. How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management
If you have a MiniTool or AOMEI Partition use it instead or Windows disk manager.

stevhc · Dec 2, 2025

Got it. I updated it. Attached is screenshot of Disk Management.

Ghot · Dec 2, 2025

Typing winver in the Taskbar search box will give you the exact build number...

For example...

You may want to hide your account name and/or email, if it shows at the bottom.

@stevhc
And here's ten points for filling out your computer specs. I just know you'll add all the peripheral things.

stevhc · Dec 2, 2025

Microsoft Windows
Version 23H2 (OS Build 22631.6199)
@ Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Ghot · Dec 2, 2025

stevhc said:
Microsoft Windows
Version 23H2 (OS Build 22631.6199)
@ Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

I don't know how much other stuff you have on there, but it might be easier to just do a clean install of 25H2.
Use the Media Creation Tool to build the install media on a USB stick.

Create Windows 11 Bootable USB Installation Media

This tutorial will show you how to create a bootable USB flash drive used to install Windows 11 with UEFI support. You can use a Windows 11 installation USB flash drive to clean install, upgrade, reset, or repair Windows 11. The installation USB can also be used as a recovery drive to boot to...

www.elevenforum.com

Clean Install Windows 11

This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account. Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...

www.elevenforum.com

If an In-Place Upgrade doesn't work, then you may have more issues. ^^

Or, the In-Place may not work cause your trying to go from 23H2 to 25H2.
You can get a 24H2 ISO at UUP Dump...

Select language for Windows 11, version 24H2 (26100.7309) amd64 <-----24H2, latest version

And these will be the files in the download... click the one in the RED box to build the ISO...

With the 24H2 ISO, your In-Place Upgrade will probably work properly.

25H2 is just 24H2 with all the goodies "enabled". You must go to 24H2, first. Only then can you go to 25H2.

All the 25H2 stuff is already IN 24H2. 25H2 just enables those things.
That's why you can't just jump from 23H2 to 25H2.

stevhc · Dec 2, 2025

In Place Upgrade works. I can do that again if I want. But it took me a week to get it to 23h2 using AI (which is mostly full of crap!) I sent logs etc.

I would've gladly wiped it and started from scratch, but for reasons outside of my control I can't.

stevhc · Dec 2, 2025

I've IPU to 24h2 and 25h2, both have same error result. I can, however, do it with 23h2.

Ghot · Dec 2, 2025

stevhc said:
I've IPU to 24h2 and 25h2, both have same error result. I can, however, do it with 23h2.

If it were me, and I was having this much trouble... I would just do a clean install.
We can pass you to @zbook who WILL find what the problem is, but it will take a while, and require a lot of work, by you.

He will see that I mentioned him.

Note: Most of the regulars on here, use 3rd party backup software. This gives us a lot more options.

Windows 11 version 23H2 (Home and Pro) reached its end of support on November 11, 2025. After this date, the operating system no longer receives security updates, bug fixes, or new features.

I think THAT is why you're having problems.

Hazel123 · Dec 2, 2025

I was going to suggest a clean install as well. You can just clean install 25H2 directly. I had to do it recently. Installing is quick and easy, but then there is a lot of work - reinstalling all programs, doing all windows settings - making system images along the way (so you have a "factory" image if needed), and then copying back all your files (having backed them up first.

I notice you have two drives and wondering if there is something preventing the upgrade.

Ghot · Dec 2, 2025

But... there's always this, to make Clean Installs easier.

Windows 11 Tweaks - Leader Board.

These are tweaks I've seen asked for... many times. They are collected here for easy access. All of these and more can be found in the Eleven Forum Tutorials Make sure to read the "notes" in the various tutorials. At the bottom of the first post in all the "tutorials", there are links to...

www.elevenforum.com

stevhc · Dec 2, 2025

You guys are right a clean install would be better I just cannot due to apps I cannot reinstall

Any way I can send logs and maybe we could figure out what's preventing it?

stevhc · Dec 2, 2025

And I do wanna say thank you guys for your input

Try3 · Dec 2, 2025

stevhc said:
In Place Upgrade works. I can do that again if I want. But it took me a week to get it to 23h2 using AI (which is mostly full of crap!) I sent logs etc.

Why not just use this proven procedure for all your In-place upgrades?
Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade - ElevenForumTutorials
Follow the guidance in this procedure to get to 25H2 then post again with failure details if necessary.

Denis

Welcome to ElevenForum.

It's really worth making time to browse through the ElevenForum Tutorial index - there's a shortcut to it at the top of every ElevenForum page [within the Tutorials dropdown list].
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Can't get past 23h2

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