Stuck on the Dev channel

barman58 · Sep 12, 2021

For once I've followed my own advice - my working systems are still running Windows 10 and any familiarisation work with Windows 11 I've done has been with an external Windows To Go Install, which, unlike a Virtual Machine, proves it works with my hardware, and without messing about with dual boots.

Once I have my Photo Editor new version installers, that are due soon, I can add those onto The Current WtG install, (Hopefully it will coincide with the RTM Release), and trial them with the other essential software, (To Me), and do it safely off line.

I do not envision any major issues with software that works fine on Windows 10, as Windows 11 is so closely based on Windows 10

When everything is completed and acceptable, I will do a full system backup and perform an Upgrade install of Windows 11 on one of my systems, and if that works will continue for the other.

Haydon · Sep 12, 2021

barman58 said:
For once I've followed my own advice - my working systems are still running Windows 10 and any familiarisation work with Windows 11 I've done has been with an external Windows To Go Install, which, unlike a Virtual Machine, proves it works with my hardware, and without messing about with dual boots.

Once I have my Photo Editor new version installers, that are due soon, I can add those onto The Current WtG install, (Hopefully it will coincide with the RTM Release), and trial them with the other essential software, (To Me), and do it safely off line.

I do not envision any major issues with software that works fine on Windows 10, as Windows 11 is so closely based on Windows 10

When everything is completed and acceptable, I will do a full system backup and perform an Upgrade install of Windows 11 on one of my systems, and if that works will continue for the other.

That's great, 90% of the work is in the planning, and the execution is 100 x better.

FWIW, that's what I have been doing here too, maybe 89% of the work is done :)

Zardoc · Sep 12, 2021

I'm eventually going to try it out, but for now, I'm taking a testing break.

It seems as if every time a new build comes out you find bugs and keep reading and polishing Windows, install updates fix shortcuts, folder layouts look for good software Git-hub toys and then, finally a machine that works like a charm!! And then you dump it for a new version of Windows and start the same game all over. I think I like torture :boom:

Zardoc · Sep 13, 2021

NavyLCDR said:
So it looks like it's possibly going to be 22000 that is released on October 5th and now we have no option to get off the beta for six months, because we are already on 22454? That sucks...

Oh well, I should have paid more attention....

I opted in and out of DEV channel with a batch file offlineinsiderenroll. Even with an MS active account. It worked for me but use at your own risk.

james126 · Sep 13, 2021

Can uninstalling Windows 11 updates from the settings or recovery environment be helpful in this situation?

Zardoc · Sep 13, 2021

Hi James, welcome to the forum. I don't know. I haven't tried it. I work with image backups before playing around with builds, especially DEV builds. I still got bitten and lost links on my One drive. So if you play, you pay.

james126 · Sep 13, 2021

Yes, images backup WAS also good option

hsehestedt · Sep 13, 2021

For weeks Microsoft was warning people that the Dev channel would soon branch to a different fork and that you might consider moving from Dev to Beta. The build indicated is now past that point of no return

.

I got several such e-mails from Microsoft and did heed them, so I was able to move from Dev to Beta without any difficulties.

tinmar49 · Sep 13, 2021

I wasn't aware that there was a time limit for dropping out of the dev channel. I was lucky to have just got my W10 beta pc into a compatible state and changed to the dev channel for Microsoft to offer W11 and then only a short time changing back to the beta as soon as it was offered. Because I dropped back to the beta as soon as I could would explain why I didn't get any warnings that the channels were going to diverge. I notice that the option to change up or down exists for me at present.

Dru2 · Sep 15, 2021

For clarity (or my confusion) - if I've no updated to the RS versions can I still switch to the beta channel? Currently in the Dev channel.

I'm running Windows 11 on my backup desktop that I rarely use and finally turned it on today to see the release update waiting for me. If I've not installed it, can I switch from the Dev to beta channel?

Thanks.

PerpetualCycle · Sep 16, 2021

Dru2 said:
For clarity (or my confusion) - if I've no updated to the RS versions can I still switch to the beta channel? Currently in the Dev channel.

I'm running Windows 11 on my backup desktop that I rarely use and finally turned it on today to see the release update waiting for me. If I've not installed it, can I switch from the Dev to beta channel?

Thanks.

No. The dev channel code branch has diverged from the beta so you now cannot go from dev -> beta. beta -> release channel -> release is possible, but not dev -> anything now. The only way is from a backup or fresh install as far as I know.

Microsoft and people on this forum have been warning about this. In general there is no path from dev to beta, it just so happened that for a while they were the same.

PerpetualCycle · Sep 16, 2021

james126 said:
Can uninstalling Windows 11 updates from the settings or recovery environment be helpful in this situation?

Since the divergence of the dev from beta was basically an upgrade not an update, no on uninstalling updates. Maybe a reversion to windows.old - I am unsure how long that back-out was good for. Not sure about the recovery environment, but I highly doubt it (the dev probably updated the recovery environment).

Bottom line is you should not be on insider/dev unless you have a backout plan ( e.g. an image backup of beta). I have a recent beta and dev backups so I can ping back and forth, and I have a Windows 10 backup made immediately prior to the first 11 insider release.

Dru2 · Sep 16, 2021

geneo said:
No. The dev channel code branch has diverged from the beta so you now cannot go from dev -> beta. beta -> release channel -> release is possible, but not dev -> anything now. The only way is from a backup or fresh install as far as I know.

Microsoft and people on this forum have been warning about this. In general there is no path from dev to beta, it just so happened that for a while they were the same.

Thanks. That's what I was afraid of. No biggie anyway since I still have my Win 10 cloned drive I did before the 11 update. All I have to do is BIOS switch to that drive and I'll be back on the 10 OS.

Anyway I'm also running 11 on my 2017 laptop which I use far more than my backup system. Unfortunately the laptop too will have to be reverted back to 10 when 11 releases since it fails the CPU (i7-7600U). The laptop will need a clean install since I didn't back it up.

Thanks

cereberus · Sep 16, 2021

Kari said:
Please notice, I have no actual facts to support this, below being just my personal (but well educated!) opinion.

I do not believe, that there will be a W10 version 21H2. I believe, that the next release channel upgrade will be the W11 October release build.

Kari

MS have stated that 21H2 will be released to PCs that do not meet the hardware requirements for W11.

As a thought, will MS use same naming comvention for release version of W11 as W10, as it could get confusing.

PerpetualCycle · Sep 16, 2021

Wait and see I reckon.

barman58 · Sep 17, 2021

The 21H2 is a designation of when the update was issued, not necessarily what product line it applies to, there should also be the actual KB number and the build number to fully ID the update. Think of as Microsoft's equivalent of quarter 3 used in business.

When the two OS's are live at the same time both could show the same release date code as part of their description as technicaĺy so could office.
It just means you need the whole release designation to id the specific OS

Edit

One other thing that will assist in ID is that Windows 11 is stated to be on a different update schedule to Windows 10 so it could be that over time with Windows 10 development winding down that they could issue Windows 10 updates in the spring [xxH1] and Windows 11 in the Fall [xxH2]

tinmar49 · Sep 28, 2021

barman58 said:
The 21H2 is a designation of when the update was issued, not necessarily what product line it applies to, there should also be the actual KB number and the build number to fully ID the update. Think of as Microsoft's equivalent of quarter 3 used in business.

When the two OS's are live at the same time both could show the same release date code as part of their description as technicaĺy so could office.
It just means you need the whole release designation to id the specific OS

Edit

One other thing that will assist in ID is that Windows 11 is stated to be on a different update schedule to Windows 10 so it could be that over time with Windows 10 development winding down that they could issue Windows 10 updates in the spring [xxH1] and Windows 11 in the Fall [xxH2]

I thought that, I'm on beta and it is at 21H2 for at least the last week.

Would it be possible to leave the insider program for a couple of months and then rejoin it in the beta channel?

barman58 · Sep 28, 2021

Beta on windows 11 is now winding down, looks like 22000.194 is the release candidate, may be renumbered on 5th october, but have been offered the official upgrade to windows 11 twice now on this windows 10 system

Last time about an hour ago

Quandary · Sep 28, 2021

tinmar49 said:
I thought that, I'm on beta and it is at 21H2 for at least the last week.

Would it be possible to leave the insider program for a couple of months and then rejoin it in the beta channel?

I was on the BETA and selected to stop receiving updates so have left the Insider Program but still have Win 11 installed. After the official release you can join whatever Insider Program is offered, but it may only be DEV for a while.

Dru2 · Sep 28, 2021

barman58 said:
but have been offered the official upgrade to windows 11 twice now on this windows 10 system

Last time about an hour ago

View attachment 8641

Is this offer on your Windows 10 insider machine, or non-insider machine?