Windows Insider Preview of Win 11

dch1950 · 01 Nov 2023

Hi everyone
I have been thinking of taking the free upgrade route to Win 11 and decided to take the offer pf previewing the latest version of 11 by the windows update procedure. I thought that a roll back would be easily done if I changed my mind.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
I was an early adopter of Win 10 having upgraded initially from a then new win 8 version that I had just purchased and installed on my PC. Legal copy, activated and running. When I upgraded to win 10 I was moved to a digital licence , nothing untoward there. Ran for years and was reasonably happy.
This Insider preview has left me with a very sour taste in my mouth as I was told that they couldn't find my win 10 product key amd would restore my old running win 10 system The problem is that they didn't. What was rolled back was a butchered version of my system. A whole load of my apps had been removed and I'm left with a system that is not activated , so no free upgrade there then.
My only option is to dig out an oldish full system image backup to try amd salvage what I can from this appalling mess.
I write this post as a warning to others who might be thinking of taking up this WI offer. - Don't do it.
best regards
Dave Hickman

dalchina · 02 Nov 2023

From which you learn, of course, that you should ensure you have a current (3rd party) disk image of your installation (at least all Windows' partitions) before attempting any major change.

There also should have been no need to consider the Insider route.

Other safe paths you might have taken to explore Win 11:
a. remove your current Win 10 system disk and replace it with a spare disk and clean install Win 11.
b. clone your current Win 10 system disk to a spare, then try upgrading that.
c. Run Win 11 as a VM under Win 10.

dch1950 · 02 Nov 2023

Hi,
indeed being wise after the event seems to be prevalent here.
However, had they rolled back what they took and replaced virgo intacto, then all would be well. But they didn't , the removed, what I can only think were the non win 11 compliant programs I had installed (some 85 in all). A lot were those programs you try once and forget about, but many were major use items (i.e Sublime text, Code , most of my Coffe Cup software).
I suppose the element of spring cleaning forcibly imposed on me may seem a blessing, but the fact is that they will cost me a lot of unplanned time and effort in going through and re-installing those programs I DO need.
Then there is the matter of "de-activating" my win 10 Pro, which was a perfectly valid upgrade from a legal win 8.1 system (with key) upgrade , but now digitally licenced, how did that come about and do they expect me to pay for another win 10 licence to be able to run/modify my returned ghost of a system.
Frankly , I am appalled at this inconsiderate action by the WI coterie.
yours thoughtfully
Dave Hickman
PS I do have a full system image from late September 23, not current, but my personal health problems meant I was I away from home and machine so my scheduled backups didn't take place
Dx.

dalchina · 02 Nov 2023

I would suggest that the endless recommendation of using disk imaging by members here is an attempt to encourage people to be wise BEFORE the event.

The most painful lessons are sometimes learnt the hard way.

I've not seen reports of rolling back that I can recall, so can't offer any comparisons. Feel free to pass your experience on via e.g. a MS site or the Feedback Hub route.

What is perhaps most concerning is the loss of activation.
Very recently MS made major changes to Win 10 digital rights derived from Win 7/8 licenses/keys.
Thus:
- no more free upgrades
- if you make significant hardware changes- you need a new Win 10 license.

Neither of those apply in your case, but for some unclear reason you adopted the Insider path.

Assuming you've used the activation troubleshooter (have you?) - tutorial available - from the searchable Tutorials section:
Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10

If that doesn't help (better if your digital rights were linked to a MS account) then I suggest you contact your regional activation centre by phone.

dch1950 · 03 Nov 2023

Hi,
It seems I am forced into buying a 10 Pro licence.
I spent a good 40 mins yesterday talking to MS support to work through my upgrade path to establish this, much to my chagrin.
What was not explained was why so many of my installed programs were just removed from my rolled back system.
4 pages of such , conveniently left on the desktop for me. What could be the reasoning behind this action.
I managed to dig out the product key from my registry, but this won't work when I tried reactivation..
My system image is of no use as that too will be using the now de-activated system product key.
One possible return is using a an inactive Win 8 product key , if I can find the cd box.
a sorry exercise to be certain, and the prospect of a £200 outlay along with days of tracking, downloading and re-installing the removed programs has jaded my opinions slightly.
regards
Dave

dalchina · 03 Nov 2023

Sorry to hear it's gone so wrong... I can't add anything on why or how you've lost your digital entitlement... some strange MS rule or issue?

One thing you could try is simply restoring your old image.. or even as an experiment at least a clean install on a spare disk.

The later would prove whether you can retrieve your activation or not.

One possible return is using a an inactive Win 8 product key

Alas, as I said above I think, that upgrade route is now closed. MS has made significant changes here- which might explain how you've lost your activation status, I suppose.

Was your activation status linked to a MS account?
Link Microsoft Account to Windows 10 Digital License
Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10

Recovery is easier if it is- normally...

SIW2 · 03 Nov 2023

I would also suggest first trying a clean install onto another partition to see if it picks up the activation online.

One possible return is using a an inactive Win 8 product key

Might work with a retail or systembuilder win8 key if entered after installation. I dont know anybody that has tried it.

dch1950 · 05 Nov 2023

Hi,
After many hours of thought on this I think that my de-activation may be linked to a quick one time boot message that said my TPM profile had changed.
This must have been noticed by the freshly booted Win 10 and my system was deactivated. Hence when I opted for the win 11 preview and it's subsequent restore of Win 10 when I decided not to adopt it, resulted in the unilateral butchering of my restored
system
Very secure indeed..
A lesson learnt for certain.
Dave.
Ps.
I was happy to see that the MS store sold activation licences for Win 10 at a reduced rate (black Friday deal) so I bought a couple.
Strangely, I did not have to use one of them though, because after finalising that transacrtion, I was going to enter the key, when I saw that my original system was shown as now activate (not with a key that I recognised).
Ah well, it seems somebody at MS support had listened to my complaint. I still have to rebuild my depleted installed task list, but some semblance of order is being restored chez Dave
D..

Windows Insider Preview of Win 11

Windows Insider Preview of Win 11

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