Anniversary Upgrade won't install because "it can't go on a USB".

Toller said:

I tried to install the W10 anniversary update. It downloads, verifies and all that, but then stops because "it can't be installed on a USB". I don't have a USB, external drive, or anything on the computer.
I called Microsoft. They spent an hour and assured me all would be fine. No change.
I called them again. They tried another method (with an ISO?) but the results are the same.

My wife's computer and my laptop upgraded without incident and they are much old than my desktop.

What the heck is going on here? Any advice would be appreciated.
(I am making a disk image before I call again; first two times were harmless, but my luck might not hold.)

100% fix


Windows 10 is improperly identified as a Windows To Go installation

To resolve this problem, change the PortableOperatingSystem registry by editing the Windows registry.

To change the PortableOperatingSystem registry, follow these steps:

1. Open Registry editor (regedit.exe)
2. Locate and then select the following registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control
   
3. From the right-side pane double-click on PortableOperatingSystem Dword value
4. Change the value data to 0 (The default value is 1)
5. Close the registry editor
6. Restart the computer.

You can also you the command line option to make the change. Run the below command from an elevated command prompt:

reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control /v PortableOperatingSystem /t REG_DWORD /d 0


After a restart your PC will be ready to make the update.

boombastik said:

100% fix


[the PortableOperatingSystem registry, follow these steps:

1. Open Registry editor (regedit.exe)
2. Locate and then select the following registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control
   
3. From the right-side pane double-click on PortableOperatingSystem Dword value
4. Change the value data to 0 (The default value is 1)
5. Close the registry editor
6. Restart the computer.

You can also you the command line option to make the change. Run the below command from an elevated command prompt:
h=1]Windows 10 is improperly identified as a Windows To Go installation[/h]
To resolve this problem, change the PortableOperatingSystem registry by editing the Windows registry.

To change
reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control /v PortableOperatingSystem /t REG_DWORD /d 0


After a restart your PC will be ready to make the update.

Being a skeptic, I chatted Microsoft again and showed them your solution. He said he might try that, but instead messed around for 45 minutes. Finally he tried your solution. He couldn't figure the first one out, but the second one worked fine.

I apologize for doubting you. Thanks.

I wonder what he would have done (bear in mind it was my third call) if you hadn't come with the answer.

The fix is from Microsoft themshelves. It is not mine. They have an article about it.
Ussually this bug triggered when u update from 8 to 8.1 and then to 10 without a clean install.

Please change your theme to solved.
Thnx
Boombastik

I had this problem with 19H2 with an in-place upgrade
I do not know why PortableOperatingSystem was set 1 in the registry
so tips still working on windows 19H2

thanks