Problem upgrading from Win 10 to 11 on unsupported hardware.

Phil Coulson · Jan 11, 2026

Tried to upgrade from 10 Pro 22H2 to 11 pro 25H2 using setup.exe /product server on mounted iso.
The issue is that it gets to 90+% done, says rebooting in a few minutes, then it exits saying upgrade failed.

I successfully ugraded a different machine with same specs several weeks ago, but this one is giving me fits. I verified latest updates installed, correct time and time zone, also have rin SFC with no errors reported.

Computer specs on the machine I'm trying to upgrade (for a friend) are:

Intel i5-6400
8 GB Ram
64 bit OS, 22H2 Windows 10 Pro, 19045-6691
SSD Samsung 870 EVO 500 GB

Any ideas? Thanks for any help you can offer.

FreeBooter · Jan 11, 2026

Here is how to install and upgrade Windows 11 version 25H2 on an unsupported PC.

antspants · Jan 11, 2026

I personally use Rufus.
You can tell the install media to bypass bitlocker and pre enable a local account.

You don’t need to format the USB, RUFUS will do it.

The latest ISO is available via the Media Creation Tool. (Option One in the tutorial below)
- At the time of this post, the latest version available from Microsoft is: > Windows 11 Version 25H2 build 26200.7462 ISO
- Before Media Creation Tool starts downloading Windows 11, when asked, tell Media Creation Tool to create the ISO and not burn to media (USB)

Download Windows 11 ISO

Download RUFUS
- #1 Direct RUFUS to your USB
- #2 Click “Select” and direct RUFUS to the ISO that you downloaded from Microsoft.
- #3 should sort itself out if the OS drive is partitioned properly. But to be sure, make certain it’s GPT. Your Windows OS really should be partitioned to GPT. Make sure #3 says GPT
- If you’re running an older system and have no choice but to use MBR (According to your HDD partition structure) then choose MBR at #3 in the image below. Find what partition table is used, in this Tutorial

Click “Start”

After clicking “Start”, the following options will show — Make your selections.
- Select Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 (to bypass requirements) IF you need to.
- Select Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account
- Pre tell the installation to Create a local account with username and give it a name (if you want to)
- Set regional options to the same values as this user (On the PC you’re creating the media on)
- Disable data collection
- Disable Bitlocker automatic drive encryption
- Use “Windows CA 2023”
Click OK and the USB install media will be created on the USB
Once Rufus has created the USB installer, you can proceed with the Windows installation.

Use the USB install media via File Explorer
Right click .exe and run as admin

This is essentially an in-place upgrade. (Option Two)

Bree · Jan 11, 2026

Phil Coulson said:
The issue is that it gets to 90+% done, says rebooting in a few minutes, then it exits saying upgrade failed.

Welcome to Eleven Forum.

SetupDiag may be able to tell you why the upgrade failed.

Microsoft said:
SetupDiag is a diagnostic tool that can be used to obtain details about why a Windows upgrade was unsuccessful.

SetupDiag works by examining Windows Setup log files. It attempts to parse these log files to determine the root cause of a failure to update or upgrade the computer to Windows. SetupDiag can be run on the computer that failed to update.

SetupDiag

SetupDiag works by examining Windows Setup log files. This article shows how to use the SetupDiag tool to diagnose Windows Setup errors.

learn.microsoft.com

Bree · Jan 11, 2026

Phil Coulson said:
Tried to upgrade from 10 Pro 22H2 to 11 pro 25H2 using setup.exe /product server on mounted iso.

My preferred upgrade method for an unsupported device is to use the registry tweaks in Option Three here:

Bypass Windows 11 System Requirements on Unsupported PC

This tutorial will show you how to bypass the Windows 11 CPU, RAM, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0 system requirements allowing you to clean install or upgrade to Windows 11 on a unsupported PC that doesn't meet these requirements. Installing Windows 11 on a device that does not meet Windows 11...

www.elevenforum.com

However, whatever method you use as a workaround you're likely to see the same upgrade failure on this machine. Common causes are driver incompatibility or there being a 3rd-party AV installed.

Phil Coulson · Jan 11, 2026

Bree said:
My preferred upgrade method for an unsupported device is to use the registry tweaks in Option Three here:

Bypass Windows 11 System Requirements on Unsupported PC

This tutorial will show you how to bypass the Windows 11 CPU, RAM, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0 system requirements allowing you to clean install or upgrade to Windows 11 on a unsupported PC that doesn't meet these requirements. Installing Windows 11 on a device that does not meet Windows 11...

www.elevenforum.com

However, whatever method you use as a workaround you're likely to see the same upgrade failure on this machine. Common causes are driver incompatibility or there being a 3rd-party AV installed.

Many thanks to Freebooter, Antspants and Bree. A bit of further information. The disk is GPT, and only antivirus is Windows Defender. I've tried both methods provided, and the results are the same..when it says rebooting after finishing over 90%, instead of rebooting is just exits and says upgrade failed. Begining think it may be a driver issue.

Bree · Jan 11, 2026

Phil Coulson said:
Begining think it may be a driver issue.

If it is, then SetupDiag should be able to confirm that (post #4).

zbook · Jan 11, 2026

Phil Coulson said:
when it says rebooting after finishing over 90%, instead of rebooting is just exits and says upgrade failed.

1) Please run the V2 log collector > post a share link

BSOD - Posting Instructions

BSOD - Posting Instructions This will show you how to help provide needed information about your system and dump files. It will not contain any personal or sensitive information about you or your data. To get better help with your Windows BSOD issue, please read these instructions and follow...

www.elevenforum.com

2) Run upgrade_failure_info > post a share link

https://www.tenforums.com/attachments/bsod-crashes-debugging/353454d1638278360-batch-files-use-bsod-debugging-upgrade_failure_info.bat

Batch files for use in BSOD debugging - Windows 10 Help Forums

Information This thread is for use by the BSOD team to store batch files that can be used to collect additional data, fix settings or anything else that is useful in debugging BSOD problems in Windows 10. The way I see it working is the first

www.tenforums.com

Batch files for use in BSOD debugging - Windows 10 Help Forums

Information This thread is for use by the BSOD team to store batch files that can be used to collect additional data, fix settings or anything else that is useful in debugging BSOD problems in Windows 10. The way I see it working is the first

www.tenforums.com

FreeBooter · Jan 11, 2026

Any error message?

Phil Coulson · Jan 11, 2026

Thank you, zbook. I have doctor appointments all day tomorrow, so it will probably be Tuesday before I can do this. Again, thanks to all that have given their help! I will update as soon as I can.

Phil Coulson · Jan 11, 2026

Sorry, I was typing my reply when you posted FreeBooter. Not at the computer for now, will advise as soon as I can. Thanks again.

FreeBooter · Jan 11, 2026

I understand.

Steve C · Jan 12, 2026

I've used the setup.exe /product server many times without problems. I do turn off internet access during the upgrade and decline the updates.

Phil Coulson · Jan 12, 2026

@zbook I have downloaded the V2 log collector and the upgrade_failure_info.bat files between Dr. appts. I will try and run them both tonight if I am up to it, otherwise I will do that tomorrow. MANY THANKS for all the help.

Regards,
Phil

Phil Coulson · Jan 13, 2026

@zbook I have uploaded the files to one drive that you requested. Please let me know if I didn't do it right (this is my first time doing this).

Link

MANY THANKS!!

zbook · Jan 13, 2026

The computer has been having BSODs.

The V2 log collector reported: Dell Inspiron 3650

At sometime was there a HP computer: HP Pavilion p6-2016 Desktop PC

Please perform the following steps:

1) Run tuneup_plus > post a share link

https://www.tenforums.com/attachments/bsod-crashes-debugging/360137d1645183388-batch-files-use-bsod-debugging-tuneup_plus_log.bat

Batch files for use in BSOD debugging - Windows 10 Help Forums

Information This thread is for use by the BSOD team to store batch files that can be used to collect additional data, fix settings or anything else that is useful in debugging BSOD problems in Windows 10. The way I see it working is the first

www.tenforums.com

Batch files for use in BSOD debugging - Windows 10 Help Forums

Information This thread is for use by the BSOD team to store batch files that can be used to collect additional data, fix settings or anything else that is useful in debugging BSOD problems in Windows 10. The way I see it working is the first

www.tenforums.com

2) Run diskparinfo > post a share link

https://www.tenforums.com/attachments/bsod-crashes-debugging/355861d1640707960-batch-files-use-bsod-debugging-diskparinfo.bat

Batch files for use in BSOD debugging - Windows 10 Help Forums

Information This thread is for use by the BSOD team to store batch files that can be used to collect additional data, fix settings or anything else that is useful in debugging BSOD problems in Windows 10. The way I see it working is the first

www.tenforums.com

Batch files for use in BSOD debugging - Windows 10 Help Forums

Information This thread is for use by the BSOD team to store batch files that can be used to collect additional data, fix settings or anything else that is useful in debugging BSOD problems in Windows 10. The way I see it working is the first

www.tenforums.com

3) Create a new restore point:

Create System Restore Point in Windows 10

How to Create a System Restore Point in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

4) Enable regback:

Enable Automatic Backup of System Registry when Restart in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable automatic backup of the system registry to the RegBack folder when the computer restarts in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Starting with Windows 10, version 1803, Windows no longer automatically backs up the system registry to the RegBack folder when the...

www.elevenforum.com

5) Open administrative command prompt and copy and paste:

fltmc
reagentc /info
reagentc /enable
reagentc /info
wevtutil epl Application %userprofile%\Desktop\application.evtx
wevtutil epl System %userprofile%\Desktop\system.evtx

Post share links.

6) Run whynotwin11 > post a share link

Download WhyNotWin11 2.7.0.0 - MajorGeeks

WhyNotWin11 lets you know if your machine is Windows 11 compatible by running a small script. WhyNotWin11 is a simple way to find out if your machine is ready for Windows 11. We have a write-up that goes over the various reasons why your Windows 10 machine may not be compatible.

www.majorgeeks.com

7) Read this link on Windows Driver Verifier (WDV):

Enable and Disable Driver Verifier in Windows 10

Enable and Disable Driver Verifier in Windows 10

How to Enable and Disable Driver Verifier in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

8) Learn the methods to recover from BSOD caused by WDV by booting into safe mode and running one or more of these commands:

verifier /reset

verifier /bootmode resetonbootfail

(option six and five)

Boot to Advanced Startup Options in Windows 10

How to Boot to Advanced Startup Options in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

9) Plan to run the tool with various customized test settings.

a) Test all non-Microsoft drivers

b) Test no Microsoft drivers

c) For the first run of WDV select the 3 customized tests displayed in the TF tutorial

10) Whenever the WDV tool is started if there is no immediate BSOD then open administrative command prompt and copy and paste:

verifier /querysettings

Post a share link.

Customized tests will then be posted for the next run of WDV.

WDV can run continuously during the testing.

For any BSOD post a new V2 share link into the newest post.

Code:

Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (10.0, Build 19045) (19041.vb_release.191206-1406)

Code:

Event[577]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: volmgr
  Date: 2026-01-10T09:24:32.1480000Z
  Event ID: 46
  Task: N/A
  Level: Error
  Opcode: N/A
  Keyword: Classic
  User: N/A
  User Name: N/A
  Computer: BlancheRome-HP
  Description:
Crash dump initialization failed!

Code:

Event[1193]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: volmgr
  Date: 2026-01-11T04:27:54.9340000Z
  Event ID: 46
  Task: N/A
  Level: Error
  Opcode: N/A
  Keyword: Classic
  User: N/A
  User Name: N/A
  Computer: BlancheRome-HP
  Description:
Crash dump initialization failed!

Code:

Event[2331]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: volmgr
  Date: 2026-01-12T08:22:40.9280000Z
  Event ID: 46
  Task: N/A
  Level: Error
  Opcode: N/A
  Keyword: Classic
  User: N/A
  User Name: N/A
  Computer: BlancheRome-HP
  Description:
Crash dump initialization failed!

Code:

Event[2956]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-TPM-WMI
  Date: 2026-01-13T07:59:52.5150000Z
  Event ID: 1796
  Task: N/A
  Level: Error
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: BlancheRome-HP
  Description:
The Secure Boot update failed to update SBAT with error Secure Boot is not enabled on this machine.. For more information, please see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2169931

Code:

Event[2954]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-TPM-WMI
  Date: 2026-01-13T07:59:52.5110000Z
  Event ID: 1801
  Task: N/A
  Level: Error
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: BlancheRome-HP
  Description:
Secure Boot certificates have been updated but are not yet applied to the device firmware. Review the published guidance to complete the update and ensure full protection. This device signature information is included here.
DeviceAttributes: FirmwareManufacturer:Dell Inc.;FirmwareVersion:3.12.1;OEMManufacturerName:Dell Inc.;OEMModelSKU:06F7;OSArchitecture:amd64;
BucketId: 7dafea50d21d8b557bc8e9d662215b3958c18976792dce3efd4257b0b38c1dc7
BucketConfidenceLevel:
UpdateType:
For more information, please see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2301018.

Code:

Event[2871]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-TPM-WMI
  Date: 2026-01-13T07:33:33.5330000Z
  Event ID: 1796
  Task: N/A
  Level: Error
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: BlancheRome-HP
  Description:
The Secure Boot update failed to update DBX with error Secure Boot is not enabled on this machine.. For more information, please see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2169931

Phil Coulson · Jan 15, 2026

EURIKA! I found out the issue. With the great advice from @zbook, I began going over the logs he suggested. Then I remembered I had an image of the drive from December. I restored that image, ran setup.exe /product server, and it upgraded without a hitch! I'm now on Windows 11 Pro...fully activated and now up to date!

GREAT support from zbook! And my thanks to everyone who responded. :loveit:

zbook · Jan 15, 2026

That's great news.

Steps 1, 3, and 4 may be useful on the restored / upgraded installation.

Also check the secure boot status (multiple active EF threads:

Frequently asked questions about the Secure Boot update process - Microsoft Support
Secure Boot playbook for certificates expiring in 2026 - Windows IT Pro Blog
Windows Secure Boot Key Creation and Management Guidance
Registry key updates for Secure Boot: Windows devices with IT-managed updates - Microsoft Support
Updating Microsoft Secure Boot keys before expiration in June 2026 | Windows 11 Forum
Secure boot update HowTo | Windows 11 Forum

How to check if your Secure Boot certs are updated. (three methods)

Method One Download cjee21's files, attached to the bottom of this post. 1. Save the file to your desktop. 2. Extract the contents to your desktop. 3. Open: Check-UEFISecureBootVariables-main 4. Right click: Check UEFI PK, KEK, DB and DBX.cmd ...and choose: Run as administrator. Your...

www.elevenforum.com

garlin's PowerShell scripts for updating Secure Boot CA 2023

INTRO For the last two months, I've been working on new PowerShell scripts to automate the Secure Boot CA 2023 update process. A number of contributed scripts or guides presented on various ElevenForum threads (including a few of my earlier scripts) are lacking in clarity. There's simply too...

www.elevenforum.com

Problem upgrading from Win 10 to 11 on unsupported hardware.

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