Desperately want to uninstall 24H2; it won't

First post, thanks for the forum. I've gratefully lurked solutions here before now.

The 24H2 absolutely infinitely insane destruction of Alt-tab usage (AltTabSettings=1, CoolSwitch=12 rows, 12 columns) is more devastating than I can handle. The aforementioned Registry settings have been how many have used alt-tab to scroll through icons just like it's continuously been since, I believe, Windows 3.1. Microsoft for NO Godly reason eliminated that. Now all you can do is trudge through preview thumbnails, like with WindowsKey-Tab. FBG. FBG.

I installed 24H2 today. In horror, I quickly uninstalled 24H2 from System/Windows Updates and restarted. Alt-tab still trudges through preview thumbnails, not icons. (I have over 100 windows. I don't have time to trudge.) Failure. The entry to uninstall no longer appears, but 24H2 remains. The only other available uninstall was KB5058411 which I did; restarted; but 24H2 remains.

What can I do? I will pay a store to install Win 10 if I can't remove 24H2. It's THAT BAD. I use alt-tab to navigate more than 100 windows' icons, which for years have easily fit in a 12X12 grid when you press alt-tab; now that takes 11 page downs or scroll clicks to see, with the previews alt-tab makes you view in 24H2; and only 12 fit on the screen. FBG

So I'm asking:
1. How can I uninstall 24H2 since the obvious method does not uninstall it?
2. If I just can't, must I go to a store and purchase Win 10? (It has active licensed Win 11, ever since purchase late 2023).
3. Walk of shame: no backups are available.

Of course if there is a solution to alt-tab showing ICONS and not previews, like it has for 30 years or something, with a sensible Z-order(that's gone too), that's what I want most of all. (I've spent hours searching, and every single person is saying it is hopeless)

If I was sufficiently desperate, I'd download an ISO of 23H2 (One place: uupdump.net) and do a clean install.

I'm not sure that 23H2 gives you what you want. If not, uupdump.net has ISOs as far back as 21H2.

Maybe you'll get better advice from someone else, who likes to keep more than 100 windows open simultaneously. (If someone like that exists.)

Welcome.

Making a system image that you could of restored to would have been the best option. As it would seem obvious that you didn’t, how long ago did you update?


Other than that, I think you’d have to reinstall. I have a couple of 23H2 ISO’s on my server, I could probably upload a Windows 10 ISO if you wanted it.

I have the following on my servers for members that have requested them in the past, direct message me for links, I won't post them in open forum:

US English
Microsoft-ISO-Windows_11_Version_23H2_build_22631.2861.iso

UK English
en-gb_windows_11_consumer_editions_version_23h2_updated_march_2025_x64.iso

Windows 10 (I think international)
Windows10-22H2.iso

To revert from Windows 11 24H2 to 23H2, you can either use the "Go back" feature within Windows settings within 10 days of the upgrade, or you can perform a clean install of Windows 23H2 after backing up your data. The "Go back" feature will restore your system to the previous version using the Windows.Old folder, while a clean install requires reinstalling Windows 23H2 and restoring your data from a backup.

1. Rolling Back with "Go Back" (within 10 days):

• Open Settings > System > Recovery.
• If the "Go back" option is available (meaning you're within the 10-day window), click it and follow the prompts.
• • You'll be guided through a series of steps, including providing feedback and selecting "No, thanks" when prompted.
  • Finally, click "Go back to earlier build" to initiate the rollback process.
    

2. Clean Install (after 10 days or if rollback isn't available):

Great help, direct, nonjudgemental, competent.
I will try the ISO. I will have to lean on a "level 1 user" how-to because I'm novice at ope

Indeed, I idiotically made no Restore Points. I never dreamed that a Microsoft Update would cause such hell, AND be incompetently done so that the uninstall failed. It looks like everything I could ever want is in c:\windows.old... but since Windows Update uninstall fails...

Hmm, I'm just now seeing for the first time, under Settings/System/Recovery "go back" (to an earlier build). Not the same place as uninstall. I'm going to post this then try that. TBC!

Really, thanks for the expert guidance! And the generous offers.

Oh, while I was composing, I see Go Back is now discussed in the thread! And windows.old, which I know is populated! And easy instructions, yeah, glasskuter. I'll proceed now to work from your post.

My upgrade was done today 20250523. The uninstall attempt was today. Now I'll try Go Back. Be still my heart, if it works!

That’s what the tutorial I posted is


Most likely option 2

oh, HELL - image below. Why? Why? I did nothing to earn that. Unless using Uninstall in Windows Update was what crucified me, see below.
f

Try the other options in the tutorial that should work if you FIRST upgraded to Windows 24H2 in the last 10 days, otherwise you can not roll back

Or you broke something

What will you lose if you reinstall?

MS WhippingBoy said:

I idiotically made no Restore Points

Click to expand...

Restore points wouldn’t work. You need to learn how to create a system image onto a secondary drive

Isn't the end of life cycle for 23H2 in November?

RD Mercer said:

Isn't the end of life cycle for 23H2 in November?

Click to expand...

Yes

RD Mercer said:

Isn't the end of life cycle for 23H2 in November?

Click to expand...

I’d probably ask for help with the issues being faced with using 24H2 as supposed to rolling back.
But by November, I am hoping issues are fixed before I upgrade. Or jump straight to 25H2

antspants said:

Try the other options in the tutorial that should work if you FIRST upgraded to Windows 24H2 in the last 10 days,

Click to expand...

Today is the first day. I will go through the tutorial tonight (in U.S.) that you so diligently provided and described.

To your other post, 'What would reinstall lose' is nothing irreplacable.
As to a System Image I will have to learn about it, I'm unfamiliar with even the term. Only one drive in the box and no externals at the moment.
BTW I don't see the option to PM anywhere. Maybe I don't have enough rep.

MS WhippingBoy said:

System Image

Click to expand...

A system image is an exact copy of the operating system and setup (your entire C drive) so as you can restore that image if you face issues that you cannot overcome. It restores your computer to the state the computer was when you created the image.

MS WhippingBoy said:

'What would reinstall lose' is nothing irreplacable.

Click to expand...

IF... there's nothing irreplaceable on the drive, just do a clean install of 23H2.



Get your Windows 11 ISO, here...


Probably this one...


You might need this as well...



The following tutorial, will show you how to keep Windows from updating to 24H2...













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

antspants said:

I’d probably ask for help with the issues being faced with using 24H2 as supposed to rolling back.
But by November, I am hoping issues are fixed before I upgrade. Or jump straight to 25H2

Click to expand...

My novice input is that I kept pausing 23H2 until it told me no more pauses, that then in ~3 days it would insist on upgrading at midnight; but that was well after the first dates. I'm reasoning that if I can get back to 23H2 now, I'm hoping that they won't INSIST on 24H2 immediately in November; maybe they'll have fixed alt-tab or a 3rd party steps up by the time they once again put a gun to my head.

It's just criminal how they force these updates because they know better than I do what I want. I don't recall them ever doing this until W10. It's like telling me that I have to take a shot because they know that I am at supposed risk, regardless of what I want.

MS WhippingBoy said:

I'm reasoning that if I can get back to 23H2 now, I'm hoping that they won't INSIST on 24H2 immediately in November

Click to expand...

But I have a feeling once end of life hits, that tutorial might be redundant. I haven’t currently got time to read it.

I use WAU Manager to take over from Windows Update, it’s why I am on a lower build than some others. I have frozen updates and only install updates related to 23H2. It’s lightweight unobtrusive and simple to use.


After checking the small box at the top to allow WAU Manager to take over, checking the “Normal” option below it, you can click “Update Windows Now” and it will show you the available updates before proceeding. You can chose not to proceed or select updates to install.
It can also uninstall updates.
If you run it first and let it take control, you are in control.

If 24H2 shows itself, I simply don’t install it.