Laptop w/ 1909 installed, no upgrade is offered

NovHak · 17 Sep 2021

Dear forum readers,

It's the first time I encounter this. Yesterday I checked my sister's laptop, and discovered it was far behind, with Windows 10 v1909 still installed. Despite being surprised (the machine was supposed to update automatically), I decided to bring it up to date. However, with no explanation, the Windows Update settings page says the system is not up to date, "Your device is missing important security and quality fixes", but when I click "Check updates" it doesn't propose anything. I don't get any error, only no updates are available. Well, in fact there are updates, but only the occasional Windows Defender updates, and anti-malware updates, that's all.

There's a message below, about v2004 (aka 20H1) being available "soon". Well, it's about time !

I tried a few things :

Remove the softwaredistribution and catroot2 folders
Run the troubleshooter to solve update-related problems
Restart Windows with all non-MS services disabled (w/ msconfig), and all startup programs disabled from the task manager

But even after that, no updates are proposed despite Windows Update saying the system is missing fixes, and 20H1 still available "soon".

I considered the possibility of the laptop not qualifying for 20H1, but I doubt it's that old (bought first-hand in 2017 iirc).

Any advices ?

EDIT : The laptop is running the Home Edition of Windows 10.

Samuria · 17 Sep 2021

We have had lots of problems with old 1909 versions they will not update but if you do a clean install it works just fine as its so old the update is out of date seems to be the problem. You can goto media creation tool hit update see if it fails then do a clean install

NovHak · 17 Sep 2021

Thanks for your reply !

After some more checking, it very much looks like the update has a safeguard hold applied. I've got the same message with that yellow exclamation mark...

Is there any way I can see the reason why such a hold is in place ? Bcos I can't use Update Compliance, since my sister's laptop is running a Family edition of Windows, so things remain very obscure for now, as is too often the case.

Anyway, I'm considering a removal of the hold, since I doubt any safeguard hold would still be in place on 20H1 after such a long time, hence it may be a bug of some sort.

Berton · 17 Sep 2021

I've not heard of a "family" edition of Windows 10, Office 365/Microsoft 365 Yes. If needed I'd use the MCT/Media Creation Tool to download Win10 to do a clean install, just be sure it's for a different computer if not using the problem machine.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/soft...load/windows10

NovHak · 17 Sep 2021

Berton said:

I've not heard of a "family" edition of Windows 10

Ah sorry you're right, in France Home editions of Windows 10 are called Famille, hence my mistake.

In case removing the safeguard hold doesn't enable the upgrade, I will surely end up doing a clean install, or maybe try the manufacturer recovery procedure (it's an HP laptop). If I use the MCT that will necessarily be on the problem machine since it's the only Windows system available... or I could try an official Windows 10 ISO, for which I confess I have a soft spot.

Berton · 17 Sep 2021

One thing about Win10, once installed and activated it can be reinstalled as desired and should remain activated when next connected to the Internet.

Try3 · 17 Sep 2021

I suggest
1 Make a system image so you can get back to square one if it all goes wrong

my ditty - File backup vs imaging, imaging utilities, backing up drivers [post #3] - TenForums

2 Backup all personal files
3 Download the Version 21H1 ISO

Download Windows 10 ISO File - TenForumsTutorials

4 Use the ISO to run a "Repair install" [also called an "In-place upgrade"] - this will not affect installed apps [or personal files].

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade - TenForumsTutorials

Denis

NovHak · 17 Sep 2021

Berton said:

One thing about Win10, once installed and activated it can be reinstalled as desired and should remain activated when next connected to the Internet.

That's comfortable indeed. However, if I use the MCT or even the ISO on an already existing installation, I suppose Windows would take its license information locally.

Not much related, but this recalls me of a problem I had once when trying to install Win10 Pro on a machine whose disks were completely blanked. The installer was always insisting on installing the Home Edition, not even asking me what I wanted... It turns out activation info for a Home Edition license was inside the BIOS as an ACPI table, according to OEM Activation 3.0, and I solved this by removing the ACPI table.

That's very common you might say, but I didn't expect the Windows installer to leave me no choice because of this.

Try3 said:

I suggest

Thanks Denis !

I will surely consider some form of backup in case things reach that point.

dalchina · 17 Sep 2021

Hi, if it's Win 10 Pro, check no group policy is in place related to Windows Updates, in particular that related to deferring feature upgrades.

If you think a Safeguard Hold has been applied and you wish to try removing it, see
How to Disable Safeguard Holds for Feature Updates on Windows 10

having taken due precautions to create an appropriate backup e.g. a disk image.

itsme1 · 17 Sep 2021

NovHak said:

That's comfortable indeed. However, if I use the MCT or even the ISO on an already existing installation, I suppose Windows would take its license information locally.

Not much related, but this recalls me of a problem I had once when trying to install Win10 Pro on a machine whose disks were completely blanked. The installer was always insisting on installing the Home Edition, not even asking me what I wanted... It turns out activation info for a Home Edition license was inside the BIOS as an ACPI table, according to OEM Activation 3.0, and I solved this by removing the ACPI table.

That's very common you might say, but I didn't expect the Windows installer to leave me no choice because of this.

Did you create an ei.cfg file when windows wouldn't let you install the edition of your choice?

Create a text file with these 2 lines below and rename the file text->ei.cfg and paste it in the sources folder which is on the usb key that you created with mediacreationTool or rufus and others.

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