Windows (update not clean install) has failed to initialise the working directory


jimbo45

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Hi folks
Clean install of insider build 22623.1020 from ISO worked perfectly.

However trying to do an update from build 22621.900 I get the following error :

Screenshot_20221202_114217.png


Now I'm getting totally confused as to what builds can be updated, what are current and what are in the various available builds. I can't believe how Ms has made this such a real dogs dinner (and that's being hard on the poor canines).

Incidently build 22621.900 reports "Up to date" from Windows update



What we need is a spreadsheet with current builds which are updateable to the latest available version of each. Otherwise this is becoming an unmanageable project even with a load of VM's.

I don't want to keep re-installing Windows from scratch over and over again. My arch linux system just updates on a daily basis or whenever with just a single command pacman -Syu and even if there's a new kernel it updates in seconds !!!!

I know there are test and alpha builds and so I'm not afraid of getting the odd defect or so - but the current mess is just bonkers.


There seem 3 main streams -- 22000, 226XX, and 25252 with a load of builds within those. But what goes with what ????

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Clean install of insider build 22623.1020 from ISO worked perfectly.

However trying to do an update from build 22621.900 I get the following error...
Wher did you get the ISO? If it was UUP dump then it may not be MS's fault. It's not unknown for an ISO built by UUP dump to have 'oddities' like this.

Now I'm getting totally confused as to what builds can be updated, what are current and what are in the various available builds....

...There seem 3 main streams -- 22000, 226XX, and 25252 with a load of builds within those. But what goes with what ????

Any build should be upgradable to a higher one.

22000 is 21H2 and available in the Release Preview and General Availability channels.
22621 is 22H2 and available in the Beta, Release Preview and General Availability channels.
22623 is 22H2 and available in the Beta channel.
25XXX is only found the Dev channel.
 

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    I've now clean installed 25H2 and used Garlin's scripts to update Secure Boot to CA 2023 and revoke the PCA 2011 certificates. It's new role is to test secure boot issues.

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    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro, Hyper-V host machine. Updated to 25H2 on 30th September 2025.

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    My SYSTEM EIGHT is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (5th gen) type 20LN, Celeron N4120, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, a supported device for Windows 11. Currently running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds as native boot vhdx.
Wher did you get the ISO? If it was UUP dump then it may not be MS's fault. It's not unknown for an ISO built by UUP dump to have 'oddities' like this.



Any build should be upgradable to a higher one.

22000 is 21H2 and available in the Release Preview and General Availability channels.
22621 is 22H2 and available in the Beta, Release Preview and General Availability channels.
22623 is 22H2 and available in the Beta channel.
25XXX is only found the Dev channel.
Thanks --really appreciate your usually helpful answers etc.

So I assume it was my fault in the sense that build 22621if from the general availability channel can't be upgraded to 22623 - but needs a clean install. Ms are still IMO making a bit of a meal of this.

I got my iso from UUPDUMP which is currrently working OK again (relief)!.

Thanks again @Bree

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows XP,11 Linux Fedora Rawhide pre-releas...2 X Intel i7
OS
Windows XP,11 Linux Fedora Rawhide pre-release 46
Computer type
PC/Desktop
CPU
2 X Intel i7
Screen Resolution
4KUHD X 2
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