Reinstall Windows 11 using Windows Update”

Stupsi · Apr 30, 2024

Window 11 has that new feature “Reinstall Windows 11 without losing your data (apps /files) using Windows Update”. Having installed Windows 11 with Rufus as I have an unsupported system, is it possible to utilize this new feature with the installation method described and if so, do any system changes need to be made prior to attempting it? Need direction on what, and how to implement them prior to executing this feature. I’ve researched for a tutorial on this but could not find one. I’d rather ask before using this new feature and messing everything up again...

NormanF · Apr 30, 2024

No. You'll need an iso. to do an in place upgrade.

Not the same as reset your PC which wipes everything and reinstalls the last known version of Windows that worked.

Bree · Apr 30, 2024

Stupsi said:
Window 11 has that new feature “Reinstall Windows 11 without losing your data (apps /files) using Windows Update”. Having installed Windows 11 with Rufus as I have an unsupported system, is it possible to utilize this new feature with the installation method described and if so, do any system changes need to be made prior to attempting it?

This feature has been available for a while now in the Insider builds and has just made its way into the release build. I have used it successfully on an Insider build on an unsupported system.

Like an in-place upgrade with an iso, you will need a workaround to bypass the system checks. The one I have used is to run this Skip_TPM_Check_on_Dynamic_Update.cmd script (need to be run as an administrator) before reinstalling Windows through Windows Update.

MediaCreationTool.bat/bypass11/Skip_TPM_Check_on_Dynamic_Update.cmd at main · AveYo/MediaCreationTool.bat

Universal MCT wrapper script for all Windows 10/11 versions from 1507 to 21H2! - AveYo/MediaCreationTool.bat

github.com

Brink · Apr 30, 2024

Hello @Stupsi,

The new "Fix problems using Windows Update" feature is basically just doing a repair install (in-place upgrade) like below without losing anything.

Microsoft added it to the Settings UI to make it easier than manually doing a repair install with an ISO or USB.

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

www.elevenforum.com

Bree · Apr 30, 2024

NormanF said:
No. You'll need an iso. to do an in place upgrade.

The current release build 22631 now has the option to do an in-place repair upgrade without an iso, rather you can use Windows Update instead.

See Option One in this tutorial.

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

www.elevenforum.com

NormanF · Apr 30, 2024

I would look forward to it when Windows 24H2 comes out later this year.

I'm keeping the 26100.268 build for now, which doesn't have the new repair feature.

garlin · Apr 30, 2024

The difference is a normal (traditional) repair install requires first downloading a reference ISO to compare files against. The new WU option allows Windows to download reference files in the background (taking a while) and temporarily staging them on your PC, before starting repairs. It's designed to make life easier for folks who don't understand how to download ISO's.

The end result is the same, except you're asking Windows to find everything for you. But you have to wait a while before it starts repairs.

NormanF · Apr 30, 2024

garlin said:
The difference is a normal (traditional) repair install requires first downloading a reference ISO to compare files against. The new WU option allows Windows to download reference files in the background (taking a while) and temporarily staging them on your PC, before starting repairs. It's designed to make life easier for folks who don't understand how to download ISO's.

The end result is the same, except you're asking Windows to find everything for you. But you have to wait a while before it starts repairs.

Yup. I've found reset your PC trashes Windows so you still have to perform an in place upgrade to fix/restore missing Windows components/apps.

Bree · Apr 30, 2024

NormanF said:
I would look forward to it when Windows 22H2 comes out later this year....

Typo? It's going to be 24H2...

NormanF said:
I'm keeping the 26100.268 build for now, which doesn't have the new repair feature.

Are you looking in the right place? Mine has it.

NormanF · Apr 30, 2024

Bree said:
Typo? It's going to be 24H2...

Are you looking in the right place? Mine has it.

View attachment 94820

Fixed the typo! I saw it. Its long overdue. Before, you either had to wipe Windows or do the in place upgrade via iso. or USB.

Stupsi · Apr 30, 2024

Bree said:
This feature has been available for a while now in the Insider builds and has just made its way into the release build. I have used it successfully on an Insider build on an unsupported system.

Like an in-place upgrade with an iso, you will need a workaround to bypass the system checks. The one I have used is to run this Skip_TPM_Check_on_Dynamic_Update.cmd script (need to be run as an administrator) before reinstalling Windows through Windows Update.

MediaCreationTool.bat/bypass11/Skip_TPM_Check_on_Dynamic_Update.cmd at main · AveYo/MediaCreationTool.bat

Universal MCT wrapper script for all Windows 10/11 versions from 1507 to 21H2! - AveYo/MediaCreationTool.bat

github.com

I see where it bypasses TPM requirements but what of the the other requirements that need bypassing, plus I see it was for "insider builds"

Brink said:
Hello @Stupsi,

The new "Fix problems using Windows Update" feature is basically just doing a repair install (in-place upgrade) like below without losing anything.

Microsoft added it to the Settings UI to make it easier than manually doing a repair install with an ISO or USB.

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

www.elevenforum.com

I've tried that Brinks, but then I get that unsupported message and I can't continue from that point

NormanF said:
No. You'll need an iso. to do an in place upgrade.

Not the same as reset your PC which wipes everything and reinstalls the last known version of Windows that worked.

Again I've tried that and gotten that unsupported message--if it's possible thru the iso on Rufus, maybe I did something wrong

Bree · Apr 30, 2024

Stupsi said:
I see where it bypasses TPM requirements but what of the the other requirements that need bypassing, plus I see it was for "insider builds"

It should bypass all requirements, it does for me: Legacy bios, MBR install, unsupported CPU, no TPM, etc...

Stupsi said:
You'll need an iso. to do an in place upgrade.

Click to expand...

I've tried that and gotten that unsupported message--if it's possible thru the iso on Rufus, maybe I did something wrong

No need to modify the iso, I use this workaround for an in-place upgrade on an unsupported device.

Disconnect from the internet before starting. Mount the ISO and run the Setup.exe you'll find there. On the first screen click 'Change how Setup downloads updates' and select 'Not right now'. Next replace C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\appraiserres.dll with an empty dummy file, make one by making a new text document on your desktop and renaming it as appraiserres.dll. You can now continue the install and it will skip all the compatibility checks.

andrew129260 · Apr 30, 2024

Brink said:
Hello @Stupsi,

The new "Fix problems using Windows Update" feature is basically just doing a repair install (in-place upgrade) like below without losing anything.

Microsoft added it to the Settings UI to make it easier than manually doing a repair install with an ISO or USB.

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

www.elevenforum.com

A note on this:

I imagine if you have windows update issues to begin with though, it would be better to use the repair install tutorial option 2 instead of the repair through windows update.

Brink · Apr 30, 2024

andrew129260 said:
A note on this:

I imagine if you have windows update issues to begin with though, it would be better to use the repair install tutorial option 2 instead of the repair through windows update.

Agreed.

Dirtyflash · Apr 30, 2024

Bree said:
It should bypass all requirements, it does for me: Legacy bios, MBR install, unsupported CPU, no TPM, etc...

No need to modify the iso, I use this workaround for an in-place upgrade on an unsupported device.

Disconnect from the internet before starting. Mount the ISO and run the Setup.exe you'll find there. On the first screen click 'Change how Setup downloads updates' and select 'Not right now'. Next replace C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\appraiserres.dll with an empty dummy file, make one by making a new text document on your desktop and renaming it as appraiserres.dll. You can now continue the install and it will skip all the compatibility checks.

Will this method work to upgrade from 23H2 to 24H2 on an unsupported device once it's publicly released later this year?

Bree · Apr 30, 2024

Dirtyflash said:
Will this method work to upgrade from 23H2 to 24H2 on an unsupported device once it's publicly released later this year?

We only have the Insider builds of 24H2 to judge from so far, but no, it appears this loophole has been closed. There are a few other possible workarounds though, so one way or another I'm sure we'll be able upgrade an unsupported device from 23H2 to the release build of 24H2.

Stupsi · Apr 30, 2024

Bree said:
Disconnect from the internet before starting. Mount the ISO and run the Setup.exe you'll find there. On the first screen click 'Change how Setup downloads updates' and select 'Not right now'. Next replace C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\appraiserres.dll with an empty dummy file, make one by making a new text document on your desktop and renaming it as appraiserres.dll. You can now continue the install and it will skip all the compatibility checks.

Thanks Bree (will try that) and everyone else's input--appreciate the expertise

mecanicogolf · Apr 30, 2024

I tried this once on a Beta build I think it was and it downloaded just fine, but when it started to install, it stuck at 61% for such a long time. I gave up after a hour and a half and seeing no activity in the task manager, I gave up.
Has anyone ever had this happen to them? I have ended up reseting the normal way because the wait was very long and not sure it works.

callisto · May 2, 2024

I had a problem with a Windows Update not long ago (a very rare occurrence in my experience), it kept coming up with an error and suggested to retry. At the third attempt wit an error it advised to re-install Windows through Windows Update, my files would not be affected. I thought weird I've never heard of such a thing through Windows Update, but as I'm very well protected by Macrium Reflect, I let it go ahead with the re-install.

It was reasonably fast and flawless, and things were perfect in the end. As I said I felt safe because my system can be recovered within minutes, but it really worked very well for me..

cereberus · May 2, 2024

NormanF said:
No. You'll need an iso. to do an in place upgrade.

Not the same as reset your PC which wipes everything and reinstalls the last known version of Windows that worked.

Nope - see post by @Bree