Let's install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware

Celery · 2026-10-04T17:51:38-0400

SlicEnDicE said:
I agree, Ventoy, after initial setup is as easy as copy/paste when you need a new install image. But as far as I'm aware, it does not support a way to do automatic Win11 requirement bypasses.

Ventoy's "Bypass CPU/TPM/SecureBoot check when install Windows 11" feature works as intended with its default setting enabled. I successfully performed a clean installation of Windows 11 26H2 in VMware Workstation Pro even though TPM was not enabled for the virtual machine.

Image below: Without using a Ventoy USB, I booted from installation media created with the Media Creation Tool. In VMware, I had configured the VM with Windows 10 x64 as the guest operating system, which allowed me to leave TPM disabled.

Image below: Ventoy's current documentation says that the default value is "1", meaning that the Windows 11 system requirement bypass is enabled by default. When enabled, Ventoy creates registry values during Windows 11 Setup, including:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig\BypassTPMCheck

Image below: In VMware, I booted from the Ventoy USB and then selected Windows 11 26H2.iso, which I had created using the Media Creation Tool.

Image below: Windows Setup has now bypassed the Windows 11 system requirement check, and the "Select location to install Windows 11" screen has appeared.

Ventoy's "Bypass online account requirement when install Windows 11" option is also enabled by default, but it no longer works with current Windows installation media. It worked previously, but in my testing it does not work with the latest Windows 11 25H2 installation media or with 26H2.

However, the start ms-cxh:localonly command still works as before, including in 26H2, regardless of whether the computer is connected to the internet.

gaffar · 2026-10-04T21:17:43-0400

Yes you are right.

VegetaTarble · 2026-10-05T02:39:04-0400

Windows 11 runs great on my older hardware!

spapakons · 2026-10-05T03:25:38-0400

Celery said:
Ventoy's "Bypass CPU/TPM/SecureBoot check when install Windows 11" feature works as intended with its default setting enabled. I successfully performed a clean installation of Windows 11 26H2 in VMware Workstation Pro even though TPM was not enabled for the virtual machine.

Image below: Without using a Ventoy USB, I booted from installation media created with the Media Creation Tool. In VMware, I had configured the VM with Windows 10 x64 as the guest operating system, which allowed me to leave TPM disabled.

View attachment 185367

Image below: Ventoy's current documentation says that the default value is "1", meaning that the Windows 11 system requirement bypass is enabled by default. When enabled, Ventoy creates registry values during Windows 11 Setup, including:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig\BypassTPMCheck

View attachment 185369

Image below: In VMware, I booted from the Ventoy USB and then selected Windows 11 26H2.iso, which I had created using the Media Creation Tool.

View attachment 185370

Image below: Windows Setup has now bypassed the Windows 11 system requirement check, and the "Select location to install Windows 11" screen has appeared.

View attachment 185371

Ventoy's "Bypass online account requirement when install Windows 11" option is also enabled by default, but it no longer works with current Windows installation media. It worked previously, but in my testing it does not work with the latest Windows 11 25H2 installation media or with 26H2.

However, the start ms-cxh:localonly command still works as before, including in 26H2, regardless of whether the computer is connected to the internet.

I haven't tested with recent 25H2 ISO, but back in October 2025 with the first Windows 11 25H2 general release ISO the bypass\oobe wouldn't work to create a local account because the respective file was not present and we used the new command start ms-cxh:localonly. I recently used the current Windows 11 26H2 ISO downloaded from Microsoft to install Windows 11 26H2 on a virtual machine and typed the oobe\bypass command out of curiosity which WORKED! So it seems Microsoft didn't remove the respective file from 26H2 ISO.

Bree · 2026-10-05T05:01:59-0400

spapakons said:
I haven't tested with recent 25H2 ISO, but back in October 2025 with the first Windows 11 25H2 general release the bypass\oobe wouldn't work to create a local account because the respective file was not present....

That will be an interesting test. The BypassNRO.cmd file is still present in all ISOs, whether direct download or made by the MCT, including the current 26H2 ones. If it's not being copied over at install then that's more likely to be the manifest that changed at 25H2. You can see it in the Install.esd or .wim with 7-Zip File Manager.

The commands still work, even if BypassNRO.cmd isn't installed. I have saved it and copy it over to my install USB. I then use Shift+F10 and run it from the USB. Make our own, if you like. The commands it contains are below. Copy them to Notepad and save as BypassNRO.cmd.

Code:

@echo off
reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
shutdown /r /t 0

spapakons · 2026-10-05T05:24:31-0400

Bree said:
That will be an interesting test. The BypassNRO.cmd file is still present in all ISOs, whether direct download or made by the MCT, including the current 26H2 ones. If it's not being copied over at install then that's more likely to be the manifest that changed at 25H2. You can see it in the Install.esd or .wim with 7-Zip File Manager.

View attachment 185407

The commands still work, even if BypassNRO.cmd isn't installed. I have saved it and copy it over to my install USB. I then use Shift+F10 and run it from the USB. Make our own, if you like. The commands it contains are below. Copy them to Notepad and save as BypassNRO.cmd.

Code:

@echo off reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f shutdown /r /t 0

That's exactly what I did back in October 2025. I created the USB flash drive with Rufus and then manually copied the bypassnro.cmd file from my 24H2 system into the USB. So every time I wanted to clean install Windows 11 25H2 on a PC, I would just run the file from the USB and then be able to create a local Administrator account. Out of curiosity, I run the oobe\bypassnro command after clean installing Windows 11 26H2 on a virtual machine using the current ISO and I was surprised to find out that it worked!

Reminder: When installing Windows 11 on a virtual machine, Setup can detect it and bypasses CPU compatibility check by default. All you need is to create a virtual machine with UEFI firmware, and make sure you also emulate TMP 2.0 and Secure Boot. Encrypting the disk is optional, you don't have to do it. VMWare Workstation creates a virtual machine with UEFI firmware and also emulates TMP 2.0 and Secure Boot automatically once it detects a Windows 11 ISO or you manually set the guest OS as Windows 11. So you don't have to use Rufus, just mount the ISO directly in the virtual DVD drive. In a real unsupported computer you must manually bypass compatibility check or use Rufus. Also as an experiment I tried to install Windows 11 on a virtual machine with a single CPU and single core. I got an error that a CPU with at least two cores required, even when I tried to bypass compatibility check using the Registry hack. Once I modified the virtual machine to one CPU and two cores, I could proceed to install Windows 11 26H2. Of course real unsupported computers with SSE4.2 instructions are at least dual core.

gaffar · 2026-10-05T06:48:27-0400

another update is available in windows update home page In settings app.quality update
Windows 11 26H2 insiders preview 26340.9596.
It takes a lot of time.
Three times I tried to install it. But after talking 2 hours, at the last moment, it says retry,
Giving this message
0xc020007 Error message.
On the same pc/laptop Background intelligent transfer service has two and the same processes in the services window.
One has normal fonts and the fonts of other service is dimmed.
If one tries to manually starts it, it starts but when come to check it again, it has stopped.
Thanks

.

gaffar · 2026-10-05T07:23:54-0400

Celery said:
Ventoy's "Bypass CPU/TPM/SecureBoot check when install Windows 11" feature works as intended with its default setting enabled. I successfully performed a clean installation of Windows 11 26H2 in VMware Workstation Pro even though TPM was not enabled for the virtual machine.

Image below: Without using a Ventoy USB, I booted from installation media created with the Media Creation Tool. In VMware, I had configured the VM with Windows 10 x64 as the guest operating system, which allowed me to leave TPM disabled.

View attachment 185367

Image below: Ventoy's current documentation says that the default value is "1", meaning that the Windows 11 system requirement bypass is enabled by default. When enabled, Ventoy creates registry values during Windows 11 Setup, including:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig\BypassTPMCheck

View attachment 185369

Image below: In VMware, I booted from the Ventoy USB and then selected Windows 11 26H2.iso, which I had created using the Media Creation Tool.

View attachment 185370

Image below: Windows Setup has now bypassed the Windows 11 system requirement check, and the "Select location to install Windows 11" screen has appeared.

View attachment 185371

Ventoy's "Bypass online account requirement when install Windows 11" option is also enabled by default, but it no longer works with current Windows installation media. It worked previously, but in my testing it does not work with the latest Windows 11 25H2 installation media or with 26H2.

However, the start ms-cxh:localonly command still works as before, including in 26H2, regardless of whether the computer is connected to the internet.

If yes, How often do you check the hash code of your downloaded ISOs?

gaffar · 2026-10-05T07:58:17-0400

Microsoft should make its windows and office installer divided in 5 stages, So that ,if,during installation, the continuous electricity to power the computer, becomes disrupted, for example John Doe accidentally hits the power line to pc with his feet

, then,if a user restarts windows installation from stage 4, not having to start installing it from stage 1.
A great time saver.

spapakons · 2026-10-05T08:07:58-0400

gaffar said:
Microsoft should make its windows and office installer divided in 5 stages, So that ,if,during installation, the continuous electricity to power the computer, becomes disrupted, for example John Doe accidentally hits the power line to pc with his feet , then,if a user restarts windows installation from stage 4, not having to start installing it from stage 1.
A great time saver.

In 2026 we take it for granted that the power will be always stable and never fail. However, occasionally it does fail, and according to Murphy's Law at the most inconvenient time, while upgrading the BIOS, for example...

Celery · 2026-10-05T08:09:13-0400

The oobe\bypassnro command works in Windows 11 version 26H2, but in my opinion, the start ms-cxh:localonly command is a better way to set up a local account because it does not restart the computer.

Run the command on the "Want to add a second keyboard layout?" screen or on either of the screens shown below, depending on whether or not there is an active internet connection.

Celery said:
"You can click/tap on the small Learn more link below to go to step 21 to set up a local account instead."

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 is a client operating system and includes features that users and organizations should know...

www.elevenforum.com

However, the "Learn more" link does not appear if there is no internet connection.

The easiest way to set up a local account does not work with the 26H2 (build 26300.9457) installation media. I tested this in a virtual machine.

gaffar said:
If yes, How often do you check the hash code of your downloaded ISOs?

Never, if I download the ISO file from Microsoft's download page. I have a fast and reliable fiber-optic connection. I don't even recall ever encountering errors in an ISO file I download.

gaffar · 2026-10-05T08:21:21-0400

I have also fiber optic connection.

Celery · 2026-10-05T09:49:11-0400

gaffar said:
I have also fiber optic connection.

But is it always reliable?

My connection goes down for a few minutes once or twice a year; otherwise, it works reliably at the maximum speed included in my plan.

gaffar · 2026-10-05T09:59:57-0400

insider preview updates should work flawlessly for me. But, unfortunately it does not.
I tried (a) sfc /scannow...(b) DISM....../restorehealth
(a) successfully completed.
(b)have following error message.
I AM ONLY POSTING THESE FILES FOR INFO, m not trying to make people solve my pc problems. Thanks

DISM-ERROR-Screenshot 2026-10-05 174143.webp

2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM PID=4944 TID=4768 Scratch directory set to 'C:\Users\fahad\AppData\Local\Temp\'. - CDISMManager:

ut_ScratchDir
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM PID=4944 TID=4768 DismCore.dll version: 10.0.26100.9502 - CDISMManager::FinalConstruct
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM PID=4944 TID=4768 Successfully loaded the ImageSession at "C:\Windows\System32\Dism" - CDISMManager::LoadLocalImageSession
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM Provider Store: PID=4944 TID=4768 Found and Initialized the DISM Logger. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_InitializeLogger
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 Successfully created the local image session and provider store. - CDISMManager::CreateLocalImageSession
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM.EXE:
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM.EXE: <----- Starting Dism.exe session ----->
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM.EXE:
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Host machine information: OS Version=10.0.26340, Running architecture=amd64, Number of processors=4
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Instance information: Parent process=C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe, Parent process PID=8968
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Dism.exe version: 10.0.26100.9233
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Executing command line: dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
2026-10-05 15:26:54, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 physical location path: C:\ - CDISMManager::CreateImageSession
2026-10-05 15:26:54, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 Event name for current DISM session is Global\{67AC0355-2053-46B4-AC21-7D676D7F906A} - CDISMManager::CheckSessionAndLock
2026-10-05 15:26:54, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 Create session event 0x274 for current DISM session and event name is Global\{67AC0355-2053-46B4-AC21-7D676D7F906A} - CDISMManager::CheckSessionAndLock
2026-10-05 15:26:54, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 Copying DISM from "C:\WINDOWS\System32\Dism" - CDISMManager::CreateImageSessionFromLocation
2026-10-05 15:26:54, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 No Sandbox was created, DISM running in-place. - CDISMManager::CreateImageSessionFromLocation
2026-10-05 15:26:54, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 Successfully loaded the ImageSession at "C:\WINDOWS\System32\Dism" - CDISMManager::LoadRemoteImageSession
2026-10-05 15:26:54, Info DISM DISM Image Session: PID=9336 TID=7948 Instantiating the Provider Store. - CDISMImageSession::get_ProviderStore
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM OS Provider: PID=9336 TID=7948 Defaulting SystemPath to C:\ - CDISMOSServiceManager::Final_OnConnect
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM OS Provider: PID=9336 TID=7948 Defaulting Windows folder to C:\Windows - CDISMOSServiceManager::Final_OnConnect
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Provider Store: PID=9336 TID=7948 Attempting to initialize the logger from the Image Session. - CDISMProviderStore::Final_OnConnect
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Provider Store: PID=9336 TID=7948 Found and Initialized the DISM Logger. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_InitializeLogger
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 Image session successfully loaded from location: C:\WINDOWS\System32\Dism - CDISMManager::CreateImageSession
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Target image information: OS Version=10.0.26340.9577, Image architecture=amd64
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Image session version: 10.0.26100.9502
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=9336 TID=7400 Current image session is [ONLINE] - CTransmogManager::GetMode
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=9336 TID=7400 Audit Mode: [No] - CTransmogManager::Initialize
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=9336 TID=7400 GetProductType: ProductType = [WinNT] - CTransmogManager::GetProductType
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=9336 TID=7400 Product Type: [WinNT] - CTransmogManager::Initialize
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=9336 TID=7400 Product Type ServerNT : [No] - CTransmogManager::Initialize
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM OS Provider: PID=9336 TID=7400 Determined System directory to be C:\Windows\System32 - CDISMOSServiceManager::get_SystemDirectory
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info CSI 00000001 Shim considered [l:123]'\??\C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-servicingstack_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.26100.9577_none_a51ce25b7753a1f8\wcp.dll' : got STATUS_SUCCESS
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Driver Manager: PID=9336 TID=7400 Further logs for driver related operations can be found in the target operating system at %WINDIR%\inf\setupapi.offline.log - CDriverManager::Initialize
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7400 Finished initializing the CbsConUI Handler. - CCbsConUIHandler::Initialize
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7400 CBS is being initialized for online use. More information about CBS actions can be located at: %windir%\logs\CBS\CBS.log - CDISMPackageManager::Initialize
2026-10-05 15:26:56, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7400 Loaded servicing stack for online use. - CDISMPackageManager::CreateCbsSession
2026-10-05 15:26:56, Info CSI 00000001 Shim considered [l:123]'\??\C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-servicingstack_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.26100.9577_none_a51ce25b7753a1f8\wcp.dll' : got STATUS_SUCCESS
2026-10-05 15:26:56, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Processing the top level command token(cleanup-image). - CPackageManagerCLIHandler:

rivate_ValidateCmdLine
2026-10-05 15:26:56, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Attempting to route to appropriate command handler. - CPackageManagerCLIHandler::ExecuteCmdLine
2026-10-05 15:26:56, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Routing the command... - CPackageManagerCLIHandler::ExecuteCmdLine
2026-10-05 15:26:56, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 CBS session options=0x40100! - CDISMPackageManager::Internal_Finalize
2026-10-05 17:37:54, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=5964 Error in operation: The repair content could not be found anywhere. (CBS HRESULT=0x800f0915) - CCbsConUIHandler::Error
2026-10-05 17:37:55, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Failed finalizing changes. - CDISMPackageManager::Internal_Finalize(hr:0x800f0915)
2026-10-05 17:37:56, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 The repair content could not be found anywhere. The image may be corrupted. Check the internet connection or try to restore the image using the /source option. - GetCbsErrorMsg
2026-10-05 17:37:56, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Failed processing package changes with session options - CDISMPackageManager::Internal_ProcessChangesWithOptions(hr:0x800f0915)
2026-10-05 17:37:56, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Failed processing package changes with session option CbsSessionOptionRepairStoreCorruption - CDISMPackageManager::RestoreHealth(hr:0x800f0915)
2026-10-05 17:38:00, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 The repair content could not be found anywhere. The image may be corrupted. Check the internet connection or try to restore the image using the /source option. - GetCbsErrorMsg
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Failed to restore the image health. - CPackageManagerCLIHandler:

rocessCmdLine_CleanupImage(hr:0x800f0915)
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Failed while processing command cleanup-image. - CPackageManagerCLIHandler::ExecuteCmdLine(hr:0x800f0915)
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Further logs for online package and feature related operations can be found at %WINDIR%\logs\CBS\cbs.log - CPackageManagerCLIHandler::ExecuteCmdLine
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=5964 Finalizing CBS core. - CDISMPackageManager::Finalize
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 Closing session event handle 0x274 - CDISMManager::CleanupImageSessionEntry
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Image session has been closed. Reboot required=no.
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Info DISM DISM.EXE:
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Info DISM DISM.EXE: <----- Ending Dism.exe session ----->
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Info DISM DISM.EXE:

Alex_S_MrBison · 2026-10-05T10:25:11-0400

try use unattend for bypass
or for user local
Shift +F10 on choose region and keyboard and tape on cmd =
start ms-cxh:localonly
enter

$OEM$\$$\Panther\unattend.xml

XML:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
  <settings pass="disabled">
    <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" language="neutral" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" versionScope="nonSxS">
      <UserData>
        <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
        <ProductKey>
          <Key />
        </ProductKey>
      </UserData>
      <RunSynchronous>
        <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
          <Order>1</Order>
          <Path>reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassTPMCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f</Path>
        </RunSynchronousCommand>
        <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
          <Order>2</Order>
          <Path>reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassSecureBootCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f</Path>
        </RunSynchronousCommand>
        <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
          <Order>3</Order>
          <Path>reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig /v BypassRAMCheck /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f</Path>
        </RunSynchronousCommand>
      </RunSynchronous>
    </component>
  </settings>
  <settings pass="oobeSystem">
    <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" language="neutral" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" versionScope="nonSxS">
      <ComputerName>YoucPCName</ComputerName>
      <UserAccounts>
        <LocalAccounts>
          <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
            <Name>YourName</Name>
            <DisplayName>YourName</DisplayName>
            <Group>Administrators;Power Users</Group>
            <Password>
              <Value>UABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAA==</Value>
              <PlainText>false</PlainText>
            </Password>
          </LocalAccount>
        </LocalAccounts>
      </UserAccounts>
      <FirstLogonCommands>
        <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
          <Order>1</Order>
          <CommandLine>net user "YourName" /logonpasswordchg:yes</CommandLine>
        </SynchronousCommand>
        <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
          <Order>2</Order>
          <CommandLine>net accounts /maxpwage:unlimited</CommandLine>
        </SynchronousCommand>
      </FirstLogonCommands>
    </component>
  </settings>
</unattend>

spapakons · 2026-10-05T12:31:10-0400

gaffar said:
insider preview updates should work flawlessly for me. But, unfortunately it does not.
I tried (a) sfc /scannow...(b) DISM....../restorehealth
(a) successfully completed.
(b)have following error message.
I AM ONLY POSTING THESE FILES FOR INFO, m not trying to make people solve my pc problems. Thanks
View attachment 185436
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM PID=4944 TID=4768 Scratch directory set to 'C:\Users\fahad\AppData\Local\Temp\'. - CDISMManager:ut_ScratchDir
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM PID=4944 TID=4768 DismCore.dll version: 10.0.26100.9502 - CDISMManager::FinalConstruct
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM PID=4944 TID=4768 Successfully loaded the ImageSession at "C:\Windows\System32\Dism" - CDISMManager::LoadLocalImageSession
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM Provider Store: PID=4944 TID=4768 Found and Initialized the DISM Logger. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_InitializeLogger
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 Successfully created the local image session and provider store. - CDISMManager::CreateLocalImageSession
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM.EXE:
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM.EXE: <----- Starting Dism.exe session ----->
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM.EXE:
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Host machine information: OS Version=10.0.26340, Running architecture=amd64, Number of processors=4
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Instance information: Parent process=C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe, Parent process PID=8968
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Dism.exe version: 10.0.26100.9233
2026-10-05 15:26:53, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Executing command line: dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
2026-10-05 15:26:54, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 physical location path: C:\ - CDISMManager::CreateImageSession
2026-10-05 15:26:54, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 Event name for current DISM session is Global\{67AC0355-2053-46B4-AC21-7D676D7F906A} - CDISMManager::CheckSessionAndLock
2026-10-05 15:26:54, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 Create session event 0x274 for current DISM session and event name is Global\{67AC0355-2053-46B4-AC21-7D676D7F906A} - CDISMManager::CheckSessionAndLock
2026-10-05 15:26:54, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 Copying DISM from "C:\WINDOWS\System32\Dism" - CDISMManager::CreateImageSessionFromLocation
2026-10-05 15:26:54, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 No Sandbox was created, DISM running in-place. - CDISMManager::CreateImageSessionFromLocation
2026-10-05 15:26:54, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 Successfully loaded the ImageSession at "C:\WINDOWS\System32\Dism" - CDISMManager::LoadRemoteImageSession
2026-10-05 15:26:54, Info DISM DISM Image Session: PID=9336 TID=7948 Instantiating the Provider Store. - CDISMImageSession::get_ProviderStore
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM OS Provider: PID=9336 TID=7948 Defaulting SystemPath to C:\ - CDISMOSServiceManager::Final_OnConnect
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM OS Provider: PID=9336 TID=7948 Defaulting Windows folder to C:\Windows - CDISMOSServiceManager::Final_OnConnect
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Provider Store: PID=9336 TID=7948 Attempting to initialize the logger from the Image Session. - CDISMProviderStore::Final_OnConnect
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Provider Store: PID=9336 TID=7948 Found and Initialized the DISM Logger. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_InitializeLogger
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 Image session successfully loaded from location: C:\WINDOWS\System32\Dism - CDISMManager::CreateImageSession
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Target image information: OS Version=10.0.26340.9577, Image architecture=amd64
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Image session version: 10.0.26100.9502
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=9336 TID=7400 Current image session is [ONLINE] - CTransmogManager::GetMode
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=9336 TID=7400 Audit Mode: [No] - CTransmogManager::Initialize
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=9336 TID=7400 GetProductType: ProductType = [WinNT] - CTransmogManager::GetProductType
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=9336 TID=7400 Product Type: [WinNT] - CTransmogManager::Initialize
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Transmog Provider: PID=9336 TID=7400 Product Type ServerNT : [No] - CTransmogManager::Initialize
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM OS Provider: PID=9336 TID=7400 Determined System directory to be C:\Windows\System32 - CDISMOSServiceManager::get_SystemDirectory
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info CSI 00000001 Shim considered [l:123]'\??\C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-servicingstack_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.26100.9577_none_a51ce25b7753a1f8\wcp.dll' : got STATUS_SUCCESS
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Driver Manager: PID=9336 TID=7400 Further logs for driver related operations can be found in the target operating system at %WINDIR%\inf\setupapi.offline.log - CDriverManager::Initialize
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7400 Finished initializing the CbsConUI Handler. - CCbsConUIHandler::Initialize
2026-10-05 15:26:55, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7400 CBS is being initialized for online use. More information about CBS actions can be located at: %windir%\logs\CBS\CBS.log - CDISMPackageManager::Initialize
2026-10-05 15:26:56, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7400 Loaded servicing stack for online use. - CDISMPackageManager::CreateCbsSession
2026-10-05 15:26:56, Info CSI 00000001 Shim considered [l:123]'\??\C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-servicingstack_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.26100.9577_none_a51ce25b7753a1f8\wcp.dll' : got STATUS_SUCCESS
2026-10-05 15:26:56, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Processing the top level command token(cleanup-image). - CPackageManagerCLIHandler:rivate_ValidateCmdLine
2026-10-05 15:26:56, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Attempting to route to appropriate command handler. - CPackageManagerCLIHandler::ExecuteCmdLine
2026-10-05 15:26:56, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Routing the command... - CPackageManagerCLIHandler::ExecuteCmdLine
2026-10-05 15:26:56, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 CBS session options=0x40100! - CDISMPackageManager::Internal_Finalize
2026-10-05 17:37:54, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=5964 Error in operation: The repair content could not be found anywhere. (CBS HRESULT=0x800f0915) - CCbsConUIHandler::Error
2026-10-05 17:37:55, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Failed finalizing changes. - CDISMPackageManager::Internal_Finalize(hr:0x800f0915)
2026-10-05 17:37:56, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 The repair content could not be found anywhere. The image may be corrupted. Check the internet connection or try to restore the image using the /source option. - GetCbsErrorMsg
2026-10-05 17:37:56, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Failed processing package changes with session options - CDISMPackageManager::Internal_ProcessChangesWithOptions(hr:0x800f0915)
2026-10-05 17:37:56, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Failed processing package changes with session option CbsSessionOptionRepairStoreCorruption - CDISMPackageManager::RestoreHealth(hr:0x800f0915)
2026-10-05 17:38:00, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 The repair content could not be found anywhere. The image may be corrupted. Check the internet connection or try to restore the image using the /source option. - GetCbsErrorMsg
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Failed to restore the image health. - CPackageManagerCLIHandler:rocessCmdLine_CleanupImage(hr:0x800f0915)
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Failed while processing command cleanup-image. - CPackageManagerCLIHandler::ExecuteCmdLine(hr:0x800f0915)
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=7948 Further logs for online package and feature related operations can be found at %WINDIR%\logs\CBS\cbs.log - CPackageManagerCLIHandler::ExecuteCmdLine
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=9336 TID=5964 Finalizing CBS core. - CDISMPackageManager::Finalize
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=4944 TID=4768 Closing session event handle 0x274 - CDISMManager::CleanupImageSessionEntry
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Info DISM DISM.EXE: Image session has been closed. Reboot required=no.
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Info DISM DISM.EXE:
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Info DISM DISM.EXE: <----- Ending Dism.exe session ----->
2026-10-05 17:38:01, Info DISM DISM.EXE:

Have you tried yet to do an in-place upgrade/repair with the Insider's 26H2 ISO (build 26340.xxxx)? It won't work with the general release 26H2 version (26300.xxxx) because of version mismatch.

gaffar · 2026-10-05T15:50:47-0400

spapakons · 2026-10-05T16:14:17-0400

It looks like the update installed successfully. Restart your computer and check your build number.

Caledon Ken · 2026-10-05T17:11:12-0400

Have a client running an older Lenovo I5, either 5th or 6th gen, bottom line incompatible gear. He is getting the monthly Patch Tuesday updates for 24H2 but they end October 13th. Shifty store sold him a computer with Win 11 on it but failed to mention it was incompatible device that would need attention to stay supported.

I'd like to get him on 26H2 without reinstalling everything. Is it possible, using some tool or not, to do an inplace repair / upgrade install to achieve this?

Would an "Enablement" package do the job?

Banjoman301 · 2026-10-05T17:26:27-0400

The 26H2 enablement package would work for 24H2 and 25H2.

I just upgraded one of our unsupported machines from 25H2 to 26H2 using the EP.

No issues.

Let's install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware

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