Windows 11 upgrades Archives

Winsage

April 25, 2025

Time to see Windows 11 as a transformation accelerator – not a drag on resources

Many organizations are hesitant to upgrade to Windows 11, with a global adoption rate of only 38% since its launch in 2021. This reluctance is due to companies wanting to extend the lifespan of existing devices, despite the risks associated with inaction. Microsoft will soon discontinue free security patching for Windows 10, leading to potential costs for continued support. Windows 11 has been shown to reduce security incidents by 58% and decrease firmware attacks by more than threefold. Organizations that delay the transition may hinder their competitiveness and face employee dissatisfaction, particularly in sectors like healthcare. The end of support for Windows 10 presents a crucial opportunity for companies to reassess their IT infrastructure and invest in higher-performing technology.

Winsage

April 21, 2025

Intune flaw pushed Windows 11 upgrades on blocked devices

Microsoft identified a "code issue" within its Intune device management software as the reason for the unintended rollout of Windows 11 to devices not designated for the upgrade. The flaw triggered upgrades despite existing policies meant to prevent them. Microsoft is working on a fix and has advised organizations to pause Windows updates via Intune to avoid further issues. Devices that received the upgrade erroneously will need manual intervention to revert to their previous version. This incident follows a similar occurrence in November 2024, where customers experienced unexpected upgrades from Windows Server 2022 to Windows Server 2025. Microsoft attributed that incident to third-party products used for managing server updates. Additionally, a month prior, Microsoft retracted a preview update for Windows 11 due to severe issues causing crashes.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Windows 11 upgrades sneak past admin blockades

Microsoft has acknowledged that some users are receiving unsolicited invitations to upgrade to Windows 11, despite configurations in Intune meant to prevent this. The issue is attributed to a "recent service change" that has exposed a latent code problem affecting a subset of users. Affected users are prompted to upgrade regardless of IT restrictions, and those who have upgraded can manually roll back to the previous version. Microsoft has advised administrators to pause Windows Feature Updates temporarily and has announced that a targeted code fix is being deployed to resolve the issue. This incident is reminiscent of a previous Windows Server 2025 error in November 2024, which involved a mistaken release as a security update.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Microsoft: Some devices offered Windows 11 upgrades despite Intune blocks

Microsoft is addressing an issue where some Windows devices are prompted to upgrade to Windows 11 despite Intune policies preventing such upgrades, a problem attributed to a "latent code issue" since April 12. A targeted code fix is being deployed, and users are advised to pause Windows feature updates via Intune until the resolution is fully rolled out. Users who upgraded to Windows 11 inadvertently will need to manually revert to their previous version. Additionally, in November 2024, certain Windows Server 2019 and 2022 devices were upgraded to Windows Server 2025 without user consent, and Microsoft acknowledged the problem but did not provide guidance on reverting these upgrades. Microsoft has also resolved an issue with prompts for upgrading to Windows Server 2025, clarifying that notifications were intended only for those seeking in-place upgrades.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Microsoft warns of blue screen crashes caused by April updates

Microsoft has warned customers about potential system failures due to a blue screen error (secure kernel fatal error) following the installation of Windows updates since March, specifically the KB5055523 April cumulative update and the KB5053656 March preview update, affecting Windows 11, version 24H2. Users may experience crashes and a blue screen exception with the code 0x18B. Microsoft is working on a solution and has implemented a Known Issue Rollback (KIR) to reverse the problematic updates, which will automatically reach affected devices within 24 hours. Affected users are advised to restart their devices. For enterprise-managed devices, administrators must install the KIR Group Policy specific to their Windows version to resolve the issue, requiring a device restart. Further assistance is available on the Microsoft support website. Additionally, Microsoft has released emergency updates for local audit logon policies in Active Directory Group Policy and alerted administrators about potential inaccessibility of Windows Server 2025 domain controllers post-restart.

Winsage

February 5, 2025

Microsoft’s Free Offer Deadline—Millions Of Windows Users Must Now Decide

Microsoft is intensifying its initiative to transition Windows 10 users to Windows 11, with around 400 million users still on Windows 10. There has been a rise in Windows 11 upgrades, influenced by speculation about a deadline for free upgrades, although Microsoft has not formally announced a cutoff. The end-of-life for Windows 10 is set for October, which adds pressure for users to upgrade. Many users may be unable to upgrade due to hardware limitations, and Microsoft offers a 12-month extended support plan for those unable to transition. Workarounds for hardware restrictions are declining, as Microsoft has removed guidance on modifying the Windows Registry and blocked the Flyby11 tool, which was designed to assist users with unsupported hardware. As the October deadline approaches, users are advised to upgrade before then to avoid support fees and potential interruptions in free upgrades. Users without compatible hardware may need to consider purchasing a new Windows 11 PC by 2025 to ensure continued support.

Winsage

February 3, 2025

Microsoft Warns 400 Million Users—Do Not Update Windows

More than 800 million Microsoft users are facing significant changes as the company ends critical security updates this October. The user base is divided into two groups: those unwilling to update and those unable due to older PCs that do not meet Windows 11's security requirements. Microsoft recommends that users with incompatible PCs invest in new ones. While all users can opt for extended support, many may resist paying extra fees, risking loss of support. Microsoft has removed the official workaround that allowed unsupported PCs to bypass CPU and TPM requirements for upgrading to Windows 11. This change follows the release of Windows 11 24H2, indicating a discouragement of upgrades on unsupported devices. Previously, users could modify the registry to bypass these checks, but this required technical knowledge and was not endorsed for all users. Microsoft warns against installing Windows 11 on devices that do not meet minimum requirements, highlighting potential risks such as loss of support and diminished functionality.

Winsage

December 20, 2024

Microsoft says Auto HDR causes game freezes on Windows 11 24H2

Microsoft has implemented a block on Windows 11 24H2 upgrades for systems with Auto HDR enabled due to reports of game freezes and graphical anomalies. Auto HDR enhances gaming visuals but has caused concerns among users regarding high-contrast and oversaturated visuals. Microsoft warned that enabling Auto HDR could lead to incorrect color representation and unresponsive games. Users experiencing issues are advised to disable Auto HDR through the 'Settings' app. A compatibility hold has been placed on devices with Auto HDR enabled, tagged with safeguard ID 55382406. Additionally, Microsoft has lifted a previous compatibility hold related to Ubisoft game bugs and blocked upgrades on systems with outdated Google Workspace Sync installations and incompatible Intel Smart Sound Technology audio drivers.

Winsage

December 3, 2024

Microsoft’s Bad News—15 Million Windows Users Now At Risk

Microsoft is trying to persuade its 800 million Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11 before the end-of-support deadline in October 2024. Recent statistics show a stall in Windows 11 upgrades, with about 10 to 15 million users (roughly 1%) not transitioning. Global market share for Windows 10 has increased from 61% to 62%, while Windows 11 has decreased from over 35.5% to below 35%. In the US, Windows 10 rose from 58% to 61%, and Windows 11 fell from nearly 40% to below 37%. This shift follows Microsoft's announcement of a 12-month extended support option for Windows 10 users. Approximately 400 million users lack the necessary hardware to upgrade, and many are delaying upgrades due to the limited availability of AI features and the belief that better hardware options will emerge. The uptake of the extended support option will influence future trends, and the shift indicates that 10 to 15 million users may be exposed to security risks.

Winsage

November 18, 2024

How to upgrade an ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11: Two ways

As of October 1, 2024, Microsoft has implemented stricter compatibility checks for Windows 11 upgrades, affecting users with older PCs, particularly those with older AMD processors. Microsoft will stop delivering security updates for Windows 10 after October 14, 2025, unless users enroll in the Extended Security Updates program. Users attempting to upgrade to Windows 11 may receive messages indicating their CPU is not compatible, and the lack of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0 complicates the upgrade process. To upgrade to Windows 11, users must ensure their PC is configured to start using UEFI, supports Secure Boot, and has TPM enabled (version 1.2 is acceptable). Users can verify these settings using the System Information utility and the Trusted Platform Module Management tool. Two workarounds are available for upgrading: 1. Registry Edit: Users can bypass CPU checks by editing the registry. This involves creating a new key in Registry Editor, setting a DWORD value to allow upgrades with unsupported TPM or CPU, and then downloading the Windows 11 ISO to initiate the upgrade. 2. Rufus Utility: For PCs without TPM or Secure Boot support, the free Rufus utility can be used to bypass compatibility checks. Users need to download the Windows 11 ISO, prepare a USB flash drive, and use Rufus to create an installer that removes hardware requirements. Both methods will present a compatibility warning during the installation process, which users can dismiss to proceed with the upgrade.