Going back a build (22H2 to 21H2)


ICIT2LOL

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Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (OS Build 22631.4169) Desktop (OS Build 22621.4317)
I have the option to install build 22H2 and I am wondering if there is some way to set the go-back option to more than 10 days say to 60 days to give me a little more time to assess what 22H2 is like. I have seen some YouTube videos on doing this but I cannot set this using the DISM command - is this because I have to install 22H2 before I can use that command?
Any help really appreciated
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (OS Build 22631.4169) Des...i7 -10510U / Intel i5 3750KSamsung 16GB DDR4 2666 MHz & G-Skill 16GB DDR...On board Intel CPU graphics & Nvidia GeForce ...
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (OS Build 22631.4169) Desktop (OS Build 22621.4317)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Vivo notebook X712FA or Desktop Ivy Bridge build
    CPU
    i7 -10510U / Intel i5 3750K
    Motherboard
    Asus generic & Asus P8Z77-V
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    Samsung 16GB DDR4 2666 MHz & G-Skill 16GB DDR3 2134MHz
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    On board Intel CPU graphics & Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti
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    Asus in built
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    Internet Speed
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    ESET Ultimate Security on both
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    Desktop running Windows11 Pro with unsupported hardware fix
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro OS build 22000.376i53750K16GB DDR3 @ 2133MHzAsus GTX 650TI
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro OS build 22000.376
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home build
    CPU
    i53750K
    Motherboard
    Asus P8Z77-V
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 @ 2133MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Asus GTX 650TI
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar DSX
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    Samsung 4K
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Samsung EVO 970
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    Corsair HX1100
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    Liquid
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    Microsoft Sidewinder 6
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    Only Windows at the moment
I have the option to install build 22H2 and I am wondering if there is some way to set the go-back option to more than 10 days say to 60 days to give me a little more time to assess what 22H2 is like. I have seen some YouTube videos on doing this but I cannot set this using the DISM command - is this because I have to install 22H2 before I can use that command?
Any help really appreciated


If you happen to have a full backup of 21H2, you can use that as your go-back option.
Then you can play with 22H2 as long as you want, and if you don't like it... just restore from the 21H2 backup.

When you restore from a full backup... it completely overwrites (replaces), the current install.
This assumes that you don't use Macrium's "Rapid Delta Restore" when you do the restore.



I believe you still have to have the Windows.old folder to be able to extend the length of the go-back option.
So I think this means that you have to upgrade first... then set the number of days.




But, if you haven't upgraded yet... the easiest way is to make a full backup of 21H2, like I mentioned above.
 
Last edited:

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    OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦26200.8655 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
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    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 5302)
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    2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
    WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
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    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Operating System
    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
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    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
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    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
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    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
    Graphics card(s)
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    Hard Drives
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    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
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    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
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    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
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    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
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    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
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    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 15 years?
If you happen to have a full backup of 21H2, you can use that as your go-back option.
(y) The best way to go. If users have any important programs and/or data, a backup is even more important.
 
Last edited:

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2Intel Core i7-10700K16GB (8GB PC4-19200 DDR4 SDRAM x2)NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 TI
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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
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    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec B746
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-10700K
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    ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ax
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    Windows 11 Canary ChannelIntel Core i5-8400 CPU @ 2.80GHz16 MB DDR 4-2666
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Canary Channel
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec G156
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8400 CPU @ 2.80GHz
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    AsusTeK Prime B360M-A
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    16 MB DDR 4-2666
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    Samsung 970 EVO 500GB NVMe
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    Logitek K270
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    Logitek M185
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    Firefox, Edge and Edge Canary
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Thanks to you both and yes I have a recent drive and system backups on an external drive using the AOMEI software and I will probably have to use that if I cannot extend that go-back time period of 10 days which I think is rather a short time for anyone to assess how the build is working on the machine. I think that Microsoft has been rater stingy on the amount of time for a go-back option.
 

My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (OS Build 22631.4169) Des...i7 -10510U / Intel i5 3750KSamsung 16GB DDR4 2666 MHz & G-Skill 16GB DDR...On board Intel CPU graphics & Nvidia GeForce ...
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (OS Build 22631.4169) Desktop (OS Build 22621.4317)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Vivo notebook X712FA or Desktop Ivy Bridge build
    CPU
    i7 -10510U / Intel i5 3750K
    Motherboard
    Asus generic & Asus P8Z77-V
    Memory
    Samsung 16GB DDR4 2666 MHz & G-Skill 16GB DDR3 2134MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    On board Intel CPU graphics & Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti
    Sound Card
    Laptop onboard & Xonar DSX Card
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic & Samsung 27" SAM0C4C
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 Pro NMe & Samsung 870 EVO 500GB
    PSU
    N/A
    Case
    N/A
    Cooling
    Asus in built
    Keyboard
    Generic
    Mouse
    Logitec Wireless
    Internet Speed
    50Mbs max allowance - occasionally up to 75Mbs
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    ESET Ultimate Security on both
    Other Info
    Desktop running Windows11 Pro with unsupported hardware fix
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro OS build 22000.376i53750K16GB DDR3 @ 2133MHzAsus GTX 650TI
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro OS build 22000.376
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home build
    CPU
    i53750K
    Motherboard
    Asus P8Z77-V
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 @ 2133MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Asus GTX 650TI
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar DSX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 4K
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Samsung EVO 970
    PSU
    Corsair HX1100
    Case
    Coolermaster HAF -M
    Cooling
    Liquid
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Sidewinder 6
    Mouse
    Logitec
    Internet Speed
    50Mbs
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Only Windows at the moment
I think that Microsoft has been rather stingy on the amount of time for a go-back option.
MS changed it from the original 30 days to 10 days a long time ago back in Windows 10, their justification was that their telemetry had shown if anyone was going to go back they'd almost invariably do so in the first week. As such it seemed a waste of disk space to keep windows.old for the full 30 days. Then in W10 1803 they added the DISM commands to set a custom 'uninstall window' for those few who still wanted a longer time to make up their mind.

 

My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeAMD Athlon Silver 3050U8GBRadeon Graphics
    OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23-R9VY
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD (from April 2026: 250GB EVO 850)
    Internet Speed
    150 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2, and 25H2 on 30th September 2025 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 25H2.

    UPDATE - 11 April 2026: due to mechanical deterioration this PC has been retired from active duty. The OS with all software and files has been migrated to my System Seven in 'Other systems' to carry on as my general purpose 'main machine'.
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProIntel® Core™ i5-520M8GB(integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround.

    In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround.
    Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.
    In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media.
    Upgraded to 25H2 by Enablement Package.

    Also running Insider Dev, and Canary builds and Windows 10 as native boot .vhdx.
  • My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 1TB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Hyper-V host machine. Updated to 25H2 on 30th September 2025.

    My SYSTEM SEVEN is a Lenovo Thinkpad T580, Intel Core i7-8650U, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD + 2nd 512GB NVMe SSD, a supported device for Windows 11. This is my current general purpose 'main machine'. The installed Windows 11 Home from my System One has been migrated to this machine.
Thanks Bree I personally cannot see the reasoning behind their decision to only allow ten days because many who do more things with their machines would have to rush through all aspects of the use of their computer and could miss something that goes south, especially if a new update in the new version breaks the system or causes a headache.
I do wish they would listen to the general consensus of their customers.
Oh and thanks for that link it makes for making that setting a copy - paste action instead of my slowish one finger keyboarding;-)
 

My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (OS Build 22631.4169) Des...i7 -10510U / Intel i5 3750KSamsung 16GB DDR4 2666 MHz & G-Skill 16GB DDR...On board Intel CPU graphics & Nvidia GeForce ...
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (OS Build 22631.4169) Desktop (OS Build 22621.4317)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Vivo notebook X712FA or Desktop Ivy Bridge build
    CPU
    i7 -10510U / Intel i5 3750K
    Motherboard
    Asus generic & Asus P8Z77-V
    Memory
    Samsung 16GB DDR4 2666 MHz & G-Skill 16GB DDR3 2134MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    On board Intel CPU graphics & Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti
    Sound Card
    Laptop onboard & Xonar DSX Card
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic & Samsung 27" SAM0C4C
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 Pro NMe & Samsung 870 EVO 500GB
    PSU
    N/A
    Case
    N/A
    Cooling
    Asus in built
    Keyboard
    Generic
    Mouse
    Logitec Wireless
    Internet Speed
    50Mbs max allowance - occasionally up to 75Mbs
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    ESET Ultimate Security on both
    Other Info
    Desktop running Windows11 Pro with unsupported hardware fix
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro OS build 22000.376i53750K16GB DDR3 @ 2133MHzAsus GTX 650TI
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro OS build 22000.376
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home build
    CPU
    i53750K
    Motherboard
    Asus P8Z77-V
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 @ 2133MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Asus GTX 650TI
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar DSX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 4K
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Samsung EVO 970
    PSU
    Corsair HX1100
    Case
    Coolermaster HAF -M
    Cooling
    Liquid
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Sidewinder 6
    Mouse
    Logitec
    Internet Speed
    50Mbs
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Only Windows at the moment
Thanks Bree I personally cannot see the reasoning behind their decision to only allow ten days because many who do more things with their machines would have to rush through all aspects of the use of their computer and could miss something that goes south, especially if a new update in the new version breaks the system or causes a headache.
Personally I always delete Windows.old using Disk Clean up immediately after any upgrade. But then I always make a Macrium Reflect system image before the upgrade, so I can go back any time I want without any help from Microsoft :wink:
 

My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeAMD Athlon Silver 3050U8GBRadeon Graphics
    OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23-R9VY
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD (from April 2026: 250GB EVO 850)
    Internet Speed
    150 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2, and 25H2 on 30th September 2025 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 25H2.

    UPDATE - 11 April 2026: due to mechanical deterioration this PC has been retired from active duty. The OS with all software and files has been migrated to my System Seven in 'Other systems' to carry on as my general purpose 'main machine'.
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProIntel® Core™ i5-520M8GB(integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround.

    In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround.
    Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.
    In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media.
    Upgraded to 25H2 by Enablement Package.

    Also running Insider Dev, and Canary builds and Windows 10 as native boot .vhdx.
  • My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 1TB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Hyper-V host machine. Updated to 25H2 on 30th September 2025.

    My SYSTEM SEVEN is a Lenovo Thinkpad T580, Intel Core i7-8650U, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD + 2nd 512GB NVMe SSD, a supported device for Windows 11. This is my current general purpose 'main machine'. The installed Windows 11 Home from my System One has been migrated to this machine.
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