Preparing for next major Windows 11 upgrade, but I have some questions?

fleurdemer · Monday at 7:37 AM

I am preparing myself to install the next major Windows 11 upgrade. Since pretty much I started to use my laptop, I was suggested by someone else that, if I wanted to "control" major Windows 11 Upgrades (the annual newer versions), they directed me to use inControl. It's a nifty cool tool, me not being savvy at all, and frankly, no issue whatsoever in the past two years.

As I have been postponing to get 25H2 (I do admit I have been procrastinating in doing this, I was planning to do this so much earlier, but I didn't count to have a very stressful year and I frankly didn't want to add up more stress to my mind in relation to system updates, and such), I decided to give a look into inControl again, and I guess I don't remember what I saw last time after I upgraded to 24H2 (in fact, I thought I "took control" back, just after that major system upgrade? but like I said, too much has happened, and this is just a vague memory I have right now), but now it is telling me that I'm "partially" having control of it, because I'm missing 1 registry key out of the 6 for this, but, because my lack of savviness I don't specifically know what does this mean, and I need some guidance because the GRC page doesn't tells me too much about it.

That being said, though, I honestly haven't received updates "notifications" about 25H2, so I GUESS, maybe that's because the program has still me "locked in" 24H2? But, it still doesn't sound right to me?

Hopefully someone can try to explain this better, because, that would mean an entire different thing, perhaps? And I wanted to consult someone that may know better about the registries or the program tool because I'm confused in what I should do about this (and the time before the EoS for 24H2 is ticking).

andrew129260 · Monday at 8:30 AM

fleurdemer said:
directed me to use inControl. It's a nifty cool tool, me not being savvy at all

Friendly advice, Don't use tools like this when you don't know what your doing.

Keeping your install of windows 11 up to date is more important.

Just download windows 11 upgrade tool here and run it:

Download Windows 11

The installation assistant with upgrade your windows 11 to the latest version.

If you want to pause updates or something for a little bit to wait for them to be stable you can do that within windows update itself. But I wouldnt do more than a week or so.

fleurdemer · Monday at 9:03 AM

Friendly advice, Don't use tools like this when you don't know what your doing.

Likewise, that was a friendly advice I got at the time, and it worked pretty well to let me have a year and something of not worrying over massive system upgrades. The program does what others also often say to "keep your current version of the OS" w/o Microsoft forcing you to do that, w/o me editing the registry part on my own and letting the program do the thing for me, as I didn't want to mess up anything with it. It is a safe tool, the basics in their website also convinced me, and I was recommended to use it, so I kept using it. And since it's a program that I could be using once or twice (per year), I feel it's natural that from time to time, it does make me think about stuff that the website doesn't answer me properly about that. Especially since I thought "I had absolutely control about these major upgrades" when I last used it.

I have had bad experiences with sudden major OS updates in the past, and inControl feels like a safe pillow just made for me to not worry much about other stuff. Perhaps I was foolish, but, it worked quite well.

And while I appreciate your tip, as well, the Windows 11 installation assistant also kinda intimidates me in not wanting to mess up once I run it, even though I do have to consider it if it turns out I cannot receive the "automatic" 25H2 update after all of this. I needed the link for easy access later, and I thank you about it.

Sir_George · Monday at 9:56 AM

fleurdemer said:
Likewise, that was a friendly advice I got at the time, and it worked pretty well to let me have a year and something of not worrying over massive system upgrades. The program does what others also often say to "keep your current version of the OS" w/o Microsoft forcing you to do that, w/o me editing the registry part on my own and letting the program do the thing for me, as I didn't want to mess up anything with it. It is a safe tool, the basics in their website also convinced me, and I was recommended to use it, so I kept using it. And since it's a program that I could be using once or twice (per year), I feel it's natural that from time to time, it does make me think about stuff that the website doesn't answer me properly about that. Especially since I thought "I had absolutely control about these major upgrades" when I last used it.

I have had bad experiences with sudden major OS updates in the past, and inControl feels like a safe pillow just made for me to not worry much about other stuff. Perhaps I was foolish, but, it worked quite well.

And while I appreciate your tip, as well, the Windows 11 installation assistant also kinda intimidates me in not wanting to mess up once I run it, even though I do have to consider it if it turns out I cannot receive the "automatic" 25H2 update after all of this. I needed the link for easy access later, and I thank you about it.

InControl is an application from Gibson Research a well known and highly respected organization. I used the SpinRite application back in the 90's when I worked with IBM on my computers. You can review how InControl handles Windows major version and feature update releases at;

GRC | InControl

InControl - Disable Windows automatic updates and upgrades

www.grc.com

Just an FYI if you are interested.

fleurdemer · Monday at 10:11 AM

Sir_George said:
InControl is an application from Gibson Research a well known and highly respected organization. I used the SpinRite application back in the 90's when I worked for IBM on my computers. You can review how InControl handles Windows major version and feature update releases at;

GRC | InControl

InControl - Disable Windows automatic updates and upgrades

www.grc.com

Just an FYI if your interested.

As I already mention in the original post, I have been using this program for the past two years, almost since I started using my current laptop because Windows 24H2 was just around the corner when I was just getting adapted to Windows 11 23H2, and a major upgrade a month AFTER I was just getting used to it was a little unfair to me, haha.

My issue (that the website doesn't fully address?, hence my intention in making this thread) is that I just found out earlier that (and since I haven't used the program in almost an entire year) it is now telling me that "I have partially control" over these upgrades, because of a missing or incorrect registry -yet I don't know what does this mean in terms of the Upgrades. The program is targeted in my current OS version (Windows 11 24H2), and Microsoft hasn't sent upgrade notifications about my laptop being eligible for 25H2, automatic download and/or installation, either, since I thought that, supposedly, MS would be sending already the 25H2 upgrade as I technically only have partial control about all of this.

pseymour · Monday at 10:32 AM

fleurdemer said:
My issue (that the website doesn't really address?, hence my intention in making this thread) is that I just found out earlier that (and since I haven't used the program in almost an entire year) it is now telling me that "I have partially control" over these upgrades, because of a missing or incorrect registry -yet I don't know what does this mean

If the edition and version of Windows qualifies it then looks for the presence and value of all six of the Registry keys that it manages. If all six of them are present and properly set to instruct Windows Update to target a single specified Windows version and feature update it will display the “YOU are in control” message.

If some of those six Registry keys are missing or not correctly set it will inform its user that upgrades are only partially controlled on this system and indicate how many of the 6 key values are missing.

GRC | InControl Technical Details

InControl - Technical Details

www.grc.com

fleurdemer · Monday at 10:53 AM

If some of those six Registry keys are missing or not correctly set it will inform its user that upgrades are only partially controlled on this system and indicate how many of the 6 key values are missing.

Okay, sure, I checked this section pretty well - but what I'm getting into is "what does this message mean to me, the user, in relation to the Upgrades?" I have partial control, understood. But, the conclusion I am arriving is more of "wait, does this mean Microsoft could have been sending me notifications about 25H2 being available because my laptop is eligible (and I'm thinking it is, because it's a recent-ish model), or...?" And since I didn't check this before (it being a long while since last time), wouldn't have that been happening for a while, as well?

But I also suppose, on the other hand? I can fix the registries thing by just clicking in "taking control" in the program's window, because from my understanding, that might reset them, I guess? And I would have been having fully "control" of the upgrades thing, again.

pseymour · Monday at 11:03 AM

We have no idea which registry entries you’re missing, so we can’t tell you what it means.

In control of updates: You won’t get updated beyond what you specify.

Not in control of updates: You will get updated.

Partial control: It depends.

garlin · Monday at 11:49 AM

I'm actually confused by InControl. It's been known for years that basically 3 reg values manage the TargetRelease behavior.

Are the other settings really relevant? Or does Gibson have to make a big show to make you think you need his tool. It's kinda like how IMO he over promotes InSpectre and IsBootSecure. Because the TargetRelease behavior is enshrined in a GPO, it's highly doubtful you really need the other methods unless you want to hide the upgrade "nags".

pseymour · Monday at 11:54 AM

Yeah I think it’s a belt-and-suspenders kind of utility, setting all possible registry values that someone found on the Interwebs.

garlin said:
Or does Gibson have to make a big show to make you think you need his tool.

Also yes.

spapakons · Monday at 12:22 PM

fleurdemer said:
I am preparing myself to install the next major Windows 11 upgrade. Since pretty much I started to use my laptop, I was suggested by someone else that, if I wanted to "control" major Windows 11 Upgrades (the annual newer versions), they directed me to use inControl. It's a nifty cool tool, me not being savvy at all, and frankly, no issue whatsoever in the past two years.

As I have been postponing to get 25H2 (I do admit I have been procrastinating in doing this, I was planning to do this so much earlier, but I didn't count to have a very stressful year and I frankly didn't want to add up more stress to my mind in relation to system updates, and such), I decided to give a look into inControl again, and I guess I don't remember what I saw last time after I upgraded to 24H2 (in fact, I thought I "took control" back, just after that major system upgrade? but like I said, too much has happened, and this is just a vague memory I have right now), but now it is telling me that I'm "partially" having control of it, because I'm missing 1 registry key out of the 6 for this, but, because my lack of savviness I don't specifically know what does this mean, and I need some guidance because the GRC page doesn't tells me too much about it.

That being said, though, I honestly haven't received updates "notifications" about 25H2, so I GUESS, maybe that's because the program has still me "locked in" 24H2? But, it still doesn't sound right to me?

Hopefully someone can try to explain this better, because, that would mean an entire different thing, perhaps? And I wanted to consult someone that may know better about the registries or the program tool because I'm confused in what I should do about this (and the time before the EoS for 24H2 is ticking).

I would uninstall inControl, restart the computer and check for Windows updates. If you run 24H2 (build 26100.xxxx) you don't need the ISO to upgrade to 26H2. You can install 25H2 Enablement Package to switch from 24H2 to 25H2 (build 25200.xxxx). One restart later you will be in 25H2 without affecting your data and apps. Then install the 26H2 Enablement Package to switch 25H2 to 26H2 (build 26300.xxxx). One more restart later and you have 26H2. Then search for updates and install everything else to get latest build 26300.9445

spapakons · Monday at 1:53 PM

I installed Windows 11 25H2 in a virtual machine, updated to build 26200.9445 and then out of curiosity installed the 26H2 Enablement Package to switch to 26H2 build 26300.9445. On first look I saw some settings in Settings -> System -> Display, but did not have the time to thoroughly examine them. So there are some new settings which I don't remember in older versions. I will investigate when I have more time. I want to familiarize and make sure there are no issues before switching my main PC to 26H2.

andrew129260 · Monday at 2:29 PM

Gibson does good work dont get me wrong, but.........I dont think the average user should use his stuff.

I stand by what I initially said.

Banjoman301 · Monday at 2:38 PM

I think the idea of InControl was to keep forced upgrades at bay...primarily Windows 10 to Windows 11.

I personally never used it.

24H2 reaches EOL on October 13th...so the clock is ticking on support (security updates)

More friendly advice...

Make sure to do a drive image backup before upgrading.

garlin · Monday at 2:46 PM

Banjoman301 said:
I think the idea of InControl was to keep forced upgrades at bay...primarily Windows 10 to Windows 11.

InControl can block Feature Updates, including from W10 to 11. But since the Windows servicing model has changed, it's not as truly useful as it once was in the early Windows 10 days.

For example, if you've kept up-to-date on the Monthly Updates, jumping from 24H2 or 25h2 upwards is simply a matter of installing the EP (even on unsupported PC's). That's it. You're not really "saving" Windows from installing a ton of updates because all 25H2/26H2 features are hidden inside your normal CU. All you're blocking is the personality switch to 25H2 or 26H2.

To undo 25H2 or 26h2 only requires uninstalling the EP. You don't uninstall the current CU. So the TargetRelease doesn't do what many casual users think it does, which is block downloads of the "Windows X update". It's been there the whole time.

Once we're off the EP schedule for 24H2, and move to 27H2, then TargetRelease becomes meaningful again.

spapakons · Monday at 2:58 PM

andrew129260 said:
Gibson does good work dont get me wrong, but.........I dont think the average user should use his stuff.

I stand by what I initially said.

The inexperienced user is encouraged to ask more advanced users about advanced stuff, including us in this Forum and not blindly test stuff. At least he should test them in a virtual machine or a secondary computer which he doesn't mind if anything goes wrong and has to format and reinstall Windows. Not directly on his main PC because if anything goes wrong there is more painful.

Just a question: Isn't enough to just disable the Windows Update service (wuauserv)? Why you need any other tool?

garlin · Monday at 3:36 PM

If a Windows is still receiving Monthly Updates and you use Defender, why would you want to stop the WU service?

The point is a Feature Update is clearly marked as that, and Windows handles them differently. Unsupported PC's get no automatic Feature Updates. Feature Updates can be blocked by the existing method of a TargetRelease GPO or the equivalent reg keys. Unlike a WUMT, you don't need to know the KB number of the upcoming Feature Update in advance.

spapakons · Monday at 5:26 PM

Well the OP said he wanted to suspend Windows Update. Disabling the service is one way to do it. Of course he should then manually download the relevant file and update the Windows Defender definitions or use a third-party antivirus.

Latest security intelligence updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus and other Microsoft antimalware - Microsoft Security Intelligence

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