Installing 20H2 on a laptop from 2012: Safe?

Melflormelissa · 12 Mar 2021

I'm now using my mom's laptop after what happened to mine with 20H2. But hers is on 1909 as well (nearing end of support) but I'm worried because while my laptop may have been able to install it just fine (It's from 2019), her laptop is from 2012 and originally came with Windows 8.

I wonder if something like a desktop screwup will happen like what happened to mine. I paused updates for 35 days just in case but I wonder if it would be as stable as it was on a laptop from 2019.

There was just a notification and nothing wanted me to install it, but still!

Microsoft should've had given 2004 and not 20H2 for these devices. 20H2 is still new and has some problems, while 2004 seems to be okay (My brother's gaming PC has 2004 and it's awesome)

SPECS:
Core i5-3337U 1.80GHz
4 GB of RAM
A touchscreen panel cool
Intel internal graphics
and I think that's it I guess

Try3 · 12 Mar 2021

It will be safe as long as you have made a system image first, have tested your imaging utility's boot disk and have backed up your third-party hardware drivers.

There is no knowing if the new version will work adequately on any computer until it is done. Even people with the same [old] model & hardware have had different experiences. That's why the image is essential.
- Both me and another TenForums user of a particular 2005 Dell laptop model were able to run Windows 10 satisfactorily until Version 1803. Neither of us were able to break through that barrier.
- Some other users of the same model had never been able to get any Version of Windows 10 running on theirs.

Macrium Reflect is often recommended in this forum for making system images. Other utilities are available but this one is so commonplace that you can get plenty of help for it.
A recent system image can turn a catastrophe into a mere inconvenience.

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect - TenForumsTutorials
Macrium Software Macrium Reflect Free
Macrium USB - TenForums
Macrium Reflect KnowledgeBase - user guide [version-independent link]

It can also make bootable system images. This facility is called viBoot and it requires Win10 Pro.
Macrium viBoot - Macrium KB
Macrium viBoot - Create Virtual Machine using Macrium Image - TenForumsTutorials

Whenever you're thinking about backups, consider Backup and Restore Device Drivers - TenForumsTutorials as well. Having a full set of your current hardware drivers can save a lot of time & confusion.

Denis

Bree · 12 Mar 2021

Melflormelissa said:

I'm now using my mom's laptop after what happened to mine with 20H2. ... her laptop is from 2012 and originally came with Windows 8.

System One in 'My computers' bellow is from 2011, originally came with Windows 7, and has a much lower spec than your mom's. It's running 20H2 just fine. Your mom's should too.

As Try3 wisely says, make a system image before you try upgrading. Then you'll be able to go back in the unlikely event that you run into problems.

Microsoft should've had given 2004 and not 20H2 for these devices. 20H2 is still new and has some problems, while 2004 seems to be okay (My brother's gaming PC has 2004 and it's awesome)

There's no significant difference between 20H2 and 2004. They use exactly the same system files and get the same cumulative updates. The 20H2 features are already in the 2004 system, but are dormant until turned on by a small enablement package.

Installing 20H2 on a laptop from 2012: Safe?-20h2-unistall-enablement-package.png

Melflormelissa · 12 Mar 2021

Way back in 2017 when the Fall Creators Update was new, I was prompted to install it on the laptop (back then there wasn't the "Force update only when it's nearing end of support" thing) and it failed. I was 12 and didn't know what to do. Some months later I stopped using it and disabled Windows Update on it lol.

But now here we are at 1909.

I guess it needed some time.

Try3 · 12 Mar 2021

Deliberately updating Versions by using their ISO files is commonly regarded as less prone to errors than allowing Windows update to do it.

In brief, you download the ISO [or use an MS utility to both download it and create an installation USB from it] then just run the ISO or InstallUSB from within Windows [not by booting to the USB].

Get an ISO and, if you wish, make your own installation USB or let an MS utility make it for you
Download Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft ["Media creation tool"] - TenForumsTutorials
Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10 - TenForumsTutorials

To use the ISO or InstallUSB to do the Version update use the procedure known as RepairInstall [also known as InPlace upgrade]
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade - TenForumsTutorials

Notes
- You only ever boot from the InstallUSB if you want to do a Clean install or if you need to run certain specific repair procedures [but not RepairInstall].
- Using the InstallUSB [or the ISO] without booting runs it within your existing Windows and allows it to update Versions or repair the existing installation.
- Always get your system image up to date first and re-test your imaging utility's boot disk.

Best of luck,
Denis

zbook · 12 Mar 2021

Please update the specs in the "My Computer" section for the second computer:

Please follow this tutorial and download the tool.
System Info - See Your System Specs - Windows 7 Help Forums
The tool will give you detailed information about your system specs, please fill in your system specs more completely including PSU, cooling and other used stuff like mouse, keyboard, monitor, case, etc.
The PSU, cooling and other stuff are NOT mentioned in the tool.

In the left corner below in your post you find 'My System Specs'.
After clicking it you can find a link a little below that says 'Update your System Spec', click on this link to get to the page where you can fill in your system specs.

Make a backup image with Macrium:
Macrium Software | It's our Business to protect your data
Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

In case there is a failure to upgrade run:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...rade/setupdiag