When Insider build upgrade fails - A Workaround

Kari said:

No, the files are there even when upgrade fails.

That being said, I naturally assume that any Insider makes an ISO even before restarting to upgrade, when upgrade files have been downloaded. If upgrade then fails the ISO is already there.

How does this happen when the upgrade fails to install and reverts your OS back to what it was before the flawed upgrade?

Josey Wales said:

How does this happen when the upgrade fails to install and reverts your OS back to what it was before the flawed upgrade?

I simply do not understand your question? Not a faintest clue what you mean.

When you have downloaded the upgrade files but not started upgrade yet by clicking Restart now, you nor your PC do not know yet if the upgrade will fail later or not. As any clever user would do you create the ISO as told in UUPtoISO tutorial before you start the upgrade.

Extract from beginning of the tutorial:

   Warning

Notice please: When Windows Update has finished downloading the UUP upgrade, the files needed to make the ISO are stored in subfolders of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download.

These files will in some cases be removed when upgrade is done. If you want to make an ISO for future needs, you have to do it before starting the upgrade process itself, after downloading the upgrade files but before clicking Restart now button!

If upgrade then fails and reverts back to old build, the files required for upgrade are still there and will be used when you click Retry. Worst case scenario is that the upgrade files disappear when reverting but that's not a big deal; in that case Windows Update re-downloads them.

Kari

Kari, I know that you are a wise man and know many things about anything in the Technological world but it is my honest belief that it is not the end users job to make sure the upgrade installs. This is the job of Microsoft and not someone in the Insiders Program to fix. We all signed up to test builds, it is MS's job to see that they install. I tried to install this build 3 times using an ISO and got the same error about a non boot able device or whatever. I tested vista build, Win 7 builds and Win 10 builds since 2.2015. I never had a Vista or Win 7 build fail to install. Build 16215 is flawed, I know it, you know it and MS knows it. Even those that got it to install are have many many issues. I will wait for the next build or maybe the one after that to try again. Spending 10+ hours over 3 days trying to install an update that should take 20 minutes is nuts. I have had some issues in the past but nothing of this magnitude.

I have a feeling that Wynona has given a clue - her successful install and reinstall of 16215 from 16199 under WiFi as the only network available, then her subsequent failure on the same hardware connected by ethernet cable.

At some time during the successful upgrade installations, the WiFi failed, and thus further connections to Microsoft during installation were not possible.

During the failed upgrade installation, the ethernet connection remained during the process, and something happened during the connection that initiated the failure to complete the upgrade.

I guess it would be possible to restart the upgrade installation without any connectivity, wired or otherwise, and see if it was successful .

Josey Wales said:

Kari, I know that you are a wise man and know many things about anything in the Technological world but it is my honest belief that it is not the end users job to make sure the upgrade installs. This is the job of Microsoft and not someone in the Insiders Program to fix. We all signed up to test builds, it is MS's job to see that they install. I tried to install this build 3 times using an ISO and got the same error about a non boot able device or whatever. I tested vista build, Win 7 builds and Win 10 builds since 2.2015. I never had a Vista or Win 7 build fail to install. Build 16215 is flawed, I know it, you know it and MS knows it. Even those that got it to install are have many many issues. I will wait for the next build or maybe the one after that to try again. Spending 10+ hours over 3 days trying to install an update that should take 20 minutes is nuts. I have had some issues in the past but nothing of this magnitude.

I could not disagree more! Following your logics when my PC crashes and wont start, I should just use it as paperweight and buy a new one, not even trying to troubleshoot and see if I can fix it because it's not my job.

Why did you make 16215 ISO? It's not your job to do install media, with your logics. You should switch to Slow or Release Preview rings and only use ISO images released by Microsoft.

Your logics, if applied to us all would make sites like Ten Forums without a purpose. Replies to any issue would be something like "Don't ask us, wait Microsoft to fix it! It's not your nor our job to troubleshoot issues".

Kari

Fafhrd said:

I guess it would be possible to restart the upgrade installation without any connectivity, wired or otherwise, and see if it was successful .

I disconnect Ethernet cable every time I start an upgrade, also now with my failed 16215 upgrade. WiFi is usually always disabled, only used on laptop when away from home where no wired connection is possible.

Kari said:

I could not disagree more! Following your logics when my PC crashes and wont start, I should just use it as paperweight and buy a new one, not even trying to troubleshoot and see if I can fix it because it's not my job.

Why did you make 16215 ISO? It's not your job to do install media, with your logics. You should switch to Slow or Release Preview rings and only use ISO images released by Microsoft.

Your logics, if applied to us all would make sites like Ten Forums without a purpose. Replies to any issue would be something like "Don't ask us, wait Microsoft to fix it! It's not your nor our job to troubleshoot issues".

Kari

All I am saying is that MS should release a build that will install.

Josey Wales said:

All I am saying is that MS should release a build that will install.

They have done it, several times. Build 16215 seems to have quite a many issues but that, too belongs to this being Insider. Microsoft is testing and fine tuning the feature upgrade delivery system as much as we are testing how those builds they deliver work. I for sure miss ESD upgrades but things evolve, Microsoft has decided it's UUP now.

Insider Preview ISO images are available for those wanting a slower pace. Build 16193 is at the moment most recent ISO made available at Download Windows 10 Insider Preview Advanced.

Kari