Solved Leaving the Insider Program After Activating Win 11 Pro

DSAND1 · Jul 6, 2022

I am a Beta user that recently activated Win 11 Pro for $199.00 USD via an Amazon USB/KEY purchase. I want to unenroll my device when the next major release of Windows launches because I do not want to unenroll immediately, necessitating a clean install. The slide button is grayed-out under the “Stop getting preview builds” and is set to OFF.

Does anyone know when the next major release is tentatively scheduled and if I should be able to leave the Insider Program then (with the slide button becoming active again/not grayed-out to be able to reset to ON)?

NavyLCDR · Jul 6, 2022

The build series 22621, 22H2 is scheduled to be released to the public sometime in September/October.

cereberus · Jul 7, 2022

DSAND1 said:
I am a Beta user that recently activated Win 11 Pro for $199.00 USD via an Amazon USB/KEY purchase. I want to unenroll my device when the next major release of Windows launches because I do not want to unenroll immediately, necessitating a clean install. The slide button is grayed-out under the “Stop getting preview builds” and is set to OFF.

Does anyone know when the next major release is tentatively scheduled and if I should be able to leave the Insider Program then (with the slide button becoming active again/not grayed-out to be able to reset to ON)?

For some reason, it sometimes forgets which MS account you are linked to and then button is greyed out. No idea why - it just seems to happen after any upgrade.

I just checked and it had done that to me.

If that has happened, you just relink to MS account and then button is active again. I just checked that as well.

Bree · Jul 7, 2022

DSAND1 said:
I am a Beta user that recently activated Win 11 Pro for $199.00 USD via an Amazon USB/KEY purchase. I want to unenroll my device when the next major release of Windows launches because I do not want to unenroll immediately, necessitating a clean install.

Then you may be better off switching to the Release Preview Channel.

DSAND1 · Jul 7, 2022

I thank you all for promptly and completely answering my questions and for the suggestion regarding the Release Channel change.

I will attempt to relink to my MS account and then mark this thread as Solved (even if my relinking is unsuccessful).

DSAND1 · Jul 8, 2022

I had to re-register my Insider account and upon opening Win 11 “Choose your Insider settings” the DEV Channel was – unexpectantly -- the default button selected although BETA was active before re-registration. I immediately changed to the Release Preview button, then a green check mark displayed along with “You’re on the latest build (22621.290 ni_release) for your device.

However, in the background, the DEV Channel’s “Quality Update Stack Package - (Version 1022.621.2011.0)” had already been automatically installed and I stopped (until 7/14/22) update KB5016322 Windows 11 Insider Dev Build 25151.1010 (rs_prerelease) from fully downloading at approximately 67%.

I understand that some updates cannot be uninstalled. Is there a method to delete the DEV build 25151.1010 before it is fully downloaded/installed and what about the Stack Package that is already installed? Will both DEV updates install over the Release build?

cereberus · Jul 8, 2022

DSAND1 said:
I had to re-register my Insider account and upon opening Win 11 “Choose your Insider settings” the DEV Channel was – unexpectantly -- the default button selected although BETA was active before re-registration. I immediately changed to the Release Preview button, then a green check mark displayed along with “You’re on the latest build (22621.290 ni_release) for your device.

However, in the background, the DEV Channel’s “Quality Update Stack Package - (Version 1022.621.2011.0)” had already been automatically installed and I stopped (until 7/14/22) update KB5016322 Windows 11 Insider Dev Build 25151.1010 (rs_prerelease) from fully downloading at approximately 67%.

I understand that some updates cannot be uninstalled. Is there a method to delete the DEV build 25151.1010 before it is fully downloaded/installed and what about the Stack Package that is already installed? Will both DEV updates install over the Release build?

Delete all files in c:\windows\softwaredistribution folder (some files will not delete - just ignore them).

Re. stack package - I doubt that will be an issue.

DSAND1 · Jul 8, 2022

cereberus

I will likely do that tomorrow after I understand a bit more about that option. I appreciate your promptness and your initial comments were spot on regarding relinking my account.

cereberus · Jul 8, 2022

DSAND1 said:
cereberus

I will likely do that tomorrow after I understand a bit more about that option. I appreciate your promptness and your initial comments were spot on regarding relinking my account.

All deleting does is remove files partially downloaded. Even if you delete partial downloads you wanted, Windows just redownloads them. Now you have changed ring, those partial downloads will not finish but just waste space.

Josey Wales · Jul 8, 2022

Well I got on The BETA Chanel but no tabbed Windows Explorer. :win:

DSAND1 · Jul 8, 2022

Per cereberus’ suggestion, I deleted all the FILES within the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution Folder (did not remove/delete the FOLDER) via SAFE MODE. I then ran Windows Update and the partially downloaded DEV update was successfully removed. I am now within the Release Preview Channel and Queued for Unenrollment of preview builds when the next major release of Windows releases to the public.

Thanks to all who replied, especially to cereberus

An excellent YouTube video by majorgeeks “How to Delete the SoftwareDistribution Folder in Windows 10 & 11” gives a tutorial on using Safe Mode (easy) and a more involved method to remove the Folder FILES (but no need to remove the FOLDER)

One last comment: there have been several times I have paused updates and wondered if there was a way to delete those files before completing the download and halting installation – this is the easy method to do just that.

DSAND1 · Aug 17, 2022

UPDATE: I had to return to the Beta from the Release Channel because I could not resolve the constant 0x800f081f errors of Win Update. Upon changing back to Beta, the new cumulative update installed without errors. I gained good experience from trying numerous workarounds with the update failures over a month's time.

cereberus · Aug 17, 2022

DSAND1 said:
UPDATE: I had to return to the Beta from the Release Channel because I could not resolve the constant 0x800f081f errors of Win Update. Upon changing back to Beta, the new cumulative update installed without errors. I gained good experience from trying numerous workarounds with the update failures over a month's time.

People forget part of learning is coping with mistakes (or errors). An old (now departed) Irish friend of mine always said "The man who never made a mistake, never tried anything".

The important thing is to protect against errors/mistakes e.g. data backup, image backups etc.

Reeeploi0 · Nov 17, 2022

I was in Beta and tried to unenrol. The feild is greyed out. I can't. I had to do a reset.

Berton · Nov 18, 2022

CharmaineK said:
I was in Beta and tried to unenrol. The feild is greyed out. I can't. I had to do a reset.

That was the procedure back when I got in the Technical Preview, later renamed to Insider Preview, could go from RTM to IP but required reinstall to get back to RTM.