Upgrading to Windows 11

Wolfie138 · Oct 3, 2025

okay, what the Hell...i can't find the rufus tute i used so i tried a FLyby one, and immediately i'm naffed by MS ~ i've gone to the site to get an ISO and get
"Error
We are unable to complete your request at this time. Some users, entities and locations are banned from using this service. For this reason, leveraging anonymous or location hiding technologies when connecting to this service is not generally allowed. If you believe that you encountered this problem in error, please try again. If the problem persists, you may contact Microsoft Support – Contact Us page for assistance. Refer to message code 715-123130 and c7a25bf3-d4bb-4831-becf-061c8d4f8b22. "

spapakons · Oct 3, 2025

If I understand correctly, you tried to download 25H2 using Rufus and failed. No need, Microsoft released 25H2 on their own site. Scroll down to the third option to download the ISO directly without using the Media Creation Tool:

Download Windows 11

Wolfie138 · Oct 3, 2025

no, i didn't.

i used Flyby.
i found a 24H2 iso that i downloaded last time i tried upgrading, the English international/GB one.
when i go through the setup the "keep files" option is greyed out and the guy said this is because i have the wrong language iso. this si starting to ring bells as to what failed last time for me.
went to MS to try and get an iso and got that error message. can't seem to find a 24h2 english/US iso on the web, least not somewhere that looks reputable. dunno why it's failing this test though, i set up as English/GB as that's where i live, shouldn't be wanting me to use a US iso :-/

Rufus gives the same, try to download either US or GB using the Fido thing it has, same error blocking me.

spapakons · Oct 3, 2025

There is a small command to detect the original (first) Windows language. For example, if you have installed US English and then changed the display language to UK English, then you must download the US English ISO to upgrade (first language), not any additional language. After the upgrade, if necessary, you can add the other languages again, but last time I checked Windows does that automatically. I remind you that in Microsoft's site "English" refers to US English language (they have now fixed the description) and "International English" refers to UK English. You must use the SAME language ISO to upgrade from an earlier version, you cannot mix them, even if they are essentially the same.

Open a Command Prompt as Administrator and run this command:

%systemroot%\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -noexit [CultureInfo]::InstalledUICulture

pseymour · Oct 3, 2025

Instead of running cmd prompt just to run PowerShell, just run PowerShell. No admin rights required to get culture information.

[CultureInfo]::InstalledUICulture

spapakons · Oct 3, 2025

You are right! I didn't realize that, I had just copy-pasted it and saved as a shortcut. I then copy-pasted the target of the shortcut without paying attention to the actual command.

Try3 · Oct 3, 2025

Ian,

Others have referred to checking that the CPU "instruction set" includes SSE4.2.
Here's my step by step guide to using the utility CPU-Z to find out if the CPU instruction set includes SSE4.2.
Downloading & running CPU-Z - my post #8 - ElevenForum
- If it does not then you'll be stuck at Version 23H2, no further than that. Support for 23H2 expires on the 11th of November 2025 so you'd be better off enrolling that Windows 10 computer in the Windows 10 ESU programme [for free***] in order to keep it supported until November 2026.

*** My guide to enrolling in the Windows 10 ESU programme - post #4 - TenForums

- If it does then you'll be able to update to Version 25H2. Do make a system image beforehand & check your file backups.

Get ready for Windows 11 version 25H2 - ISO downloads available - ElevenForumNews

Upgrade to Windows 11 - ElevenForumTutorials [This includes the steps necessary for upgrading a non-compliant computer]

Of course, there's no telling if MS will introduce further system requirements in the future just as they did with Windows 10 [along with several other members, I found that one old computer could not update to Version 1803 or any later Versions].

Even though your computer does not fulfil all the Windows 11 system requirements, you'll still get all updates for the Version you are on, such as 25H2.
But you will have to update to future Versions, such as 26H2, manually using the same Repair install [aka In-place upgrade procedure that you might have used in Windows 10].

All the best,
Denis

spapakons · Oct 3, 2025

Microsoft released the Windows 11 25H2 ISO, so if your CPU has SSE4.2 instructions, you can use it to upgrade directly from Windows 10 or Windows 11 23H2 without having to register in the Insiders program. Just make sure you download the same language ISO, otherwise it won't let you keep both your apps and data (full upgrade).

Download Windows 11

FreeBooter · Oct 3, 2025

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

spapakons · Oct 3, 2025

That's a known trick. Assuming you have mounted the ISO (opened with File Explorer) as virtual DVD with drive letter D:, all you need is to open a Command Prompt as Administrator and run this command:

D:\setup /product server

Replace D with the appropriate drive letter. Also to avoid a hidden online compatibility check that will make the upgrade fail, make sure you stay disconnected from the internet until the upgrade is complete.

Sigurd · Oct 3, 2025

Thank you all for your help and range of comments. I think I got lost along the way so I am leaving it to my local hardware guru.

Wolfie138 · Oct 3, 2025

spapakons said:
There is a small command to detect the original (first) Windows language. For example, if you have installed US English and then changed the display language to UK English, then you must download the US English ISO to upgrade (first language), not any additional language. After the upgrade, if necessary, you can add the other languages again, but last time I checked Windows does that automatically. I remind you that in Microsoft's site "English" refers to US English language (they have now fixed the description) and "International English" refers to UK English. You must use the SAME language ISO to upgrade from an earlier version, you cannot mix them, even if they are essentially the same.

Open a Command Prompt as Administrator and run this command:

%systemroot%\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -noexit [CultureInfo]::InstalledUICulture

well that's showing en-US, no idea how - i started w/ a legit Win7 i bought in a shop here, got the free upgrade to Win10 a ways back. did the same w/ my other machine upstairs and that shows as the english version.

so the problem now, as mentioned above, is i can not get to the iso as MS are blocking me w/ that error. a bit searching hasn't helped, one place said it was because i was tryng to download a language version i don't have, but i get that error when selecting either the UK or the US version.

edit - FFS, can't even get the media creation to work, it just closes immediately, no error message

Wolfie138 · Oct 3, 2025

well the main panic is over, just found out the UK can now get another free year of upgrades;

Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program

Microsoft Support: The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 provides customers with a more secure option to continue using their Windows 10 PCs without updating to Windows 11, mitigating the risk of malware and cybersecurity attack

www.tenforums.com

just tried it, one click and it said i'm enrolled for free.

Bree · Oct 3, 2025

Wolfie138 said:
well that's showing en-US, no idea how - i started w/ a legit Win7 i bought in a shop here, got the free upgrade to Win10 a ways back. did the same w/ my other machine upstairs and that shows as the english version.

That does happen, UK machines have been supplied by the OEM with the en-us version of Windows 7. I have an old Toshiba laptop, a Satellite L750-16L PSK1WE-0D5009EN, that was made for the UK market. Its OEM Win7 got the free upgrade to Windows 10. It wasn't until later when I tried upgrading it with a W10 1511 ISO that I discovered that it was in fact en-us.

You cannot upgrade an en-us device with an en-gb ISO and keep you installed apps. What you can do is an in-place repair upgrade with an en-gb ISO of the same version. So after upgrading to W10 1511 en-us I downloaded the W10 1511 en-gb ISO and did another in-place upgrade. This switched it from an en-us install to an en-gb one.

Try3 · Oct 3, 2025

Bree said:
You cannot upgrade an en-us device with an en-gb ISO and keep you installed apps. What you can do is an in-place repair upgrade with an en-gb ISO of the same version. So after upgrading to W10 1511 en-us I downloaded the W10 1511 en-gb ISO and did another in-place upgrade. This switched it from an en-us install to an en-gb one.

@Brink - I think this invaluable advice could usefully be incorporated into the Repair install tutorials [Win10 & Win11].

All the best,
Denis

Wolfie138 · Oct 3, 2025

Bree said:
That does happen, UK machines have been supplied by the OEM with the en-us version of Windows 7. I have an old Toshiba laptop, a Satellite L750-16L PSK1WE-0D5009EN, that was made for the UK market. Its OEM Win7 got the free upgrade to Windows 10. It wasn't until later when I tried upgrading it with a W10 1511 ISO that I discovered that it was in fact en-us.

You cannot upgrade an en-us device with an en-gb ISO and keep you installed apps. What you can do is an in-place repair upgrade with an en-gb ISO of the same version. So after upgrading to W10 1511 en-us I downloaded the W10 1511 en-gb ISO and did another in-place upgrade. This switched it from an en-us install to an en-gb one.

what a carry-on this is becoming :-(
thanks for the info Bree, as mentioned above though it's moot at the mo as i can not get the bloody site to let me download any kind of ISO.

Brink · Oct 3, 2025

Try3 said:
@Brink - I think this invaluable advice could usefully be incorporated into the Repair install tutorials [Win10 & Win11].

All the best,
Denis

It is.

Step 3 in option two below:

The Windows 11 installation media (ISO or USB) must be the same edition, same version, and same or higher build as the currently installed Windows 11.

The Windows 11 installation media (ISO or USB) must be for the same language as your currently installed Windows 11.

Try3 · Oct 3, 2025

Brink said:
It is

Sorry, what I meant was Bree's discovery that en-US could be converted to en-GB by a Repair install of the same Version ISO.

Denis

Brink · Oct 3, 2025

Try3 said:
Sorry, what I meant was Bree's discovery that en-US could be converted to en-GB by a Repair install of the same Version ISO.

Denis

I'm not sure if that is by design or by mistake, but they are both English based so who knows.

spapakons · Oct 3, 2025

Bree said:
That does happen, UK machines have been supplied by the OEM with the en-us version of Windows 7. I have an old Toshiba laptop, a Satellite L750-16L PSK1WE-0D5009EN, that was made for the UK market. Its OEM Win7 got the free upgrade to Windows 10. It wasn't until later when I tried upgrading it with a W10 1511 ISO that I discovered that it was in fact en-us.

You cannot upgrade an en-us device with an en-gb ISO and keep you installed apps. What you can do is an in-place repair upgrade with an en-gb ISO of the same version. So after upgrading to W10 1511 en-us I downloaded the W10 1511 en-gb ISO and did another in-place upgrade. This switched it from an en-us install to an en-gb one.

I haven't tried it, but I don't think it will work, maybe only with US and UK. As far as I know I cannot do an in-place upgrade/repair of a computer running Windows 10/11 US English using the Greek ISO or vice versa. I have to use the US English ISO, even if it is the same version. You must do it in a virtual machine and confirm it works before updating the Tutorials.

PS: I remember once I downloaded "English International" (aka UK English) ISO to upgrade my US English system and complained about the different languages. I didn't try to install the same version UK English first, I guess it wouldn't work. With today's fast download speeds, it's not big deal, the OP can download the US English ISO directly from Microsoft and upgrade. If he has kept the 24H2 Media Creation Tool he can download the 24H2 ISO, but is not necessary. Just upgrade directly to 25H2.

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