Cant install 21H2 update : wont install

Hi

I have an old PC just for browsing.

Intel 2500K i5 @ 4Ghz - 14GB RAM 1600Mhz DDR3 - Gigabyte PA67 MB (non-UEFI bios, but has AHCI) - 1TB SSD - 4TB HDD - GTX650 - Corsair 650w PSU - 11/12 years old - with just the RAM, SSD and PSU upgraded over time, I'm running Windows 10 21H1, but I can't force the 21H2 update - a website says if it doesn't appear it means your PC isn't supported???

- yet I've just watched a video on a person putting windows 11 on a 10-year-old ancient-looking AMD PC, that had way fewer specs than mine, and he started off with Windows 10 21H2 on it before doing it..??? - so hows that then>?
windows 10 is supported until 2025 and already I'm being denied updates?? I've found out 21H2 is now 5 months old too and the next one will be out very soon! and I don't have the cash to upgrade all the guts to newer stuff

can anyone help?

PA67 gigabyte motherboard
Windows Pro 10x64

Thanks in advance

@snage

An In-Place upgrade should work...

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade



Here is the short version of the In-place upgrade tutorial...

DISABLE non-Microsoft:
a) antivirus software
b) firewall software
c) drive encryption software

Make a full OS backup with a program like Macrium Reflect (free)
Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

Go here and get the Media Creation Tool and save it to your desktop.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

RUN the Media Creation Tool and use it to: Create an ISO image... save IT to your desktop.
This will be the latest version of the ISO image.



Right click the ISO image and choose: MOUNT
Open File Explorer and you will see a new drive letter. It will "look" like a DVD optical drive.
Double click the new drive letter to open it.
Find setup.exe and double click it to start the in-place upgrade.

Choose the Keep personal files and apps option.

After it's all done... to UNmount the ISO image, right click the new drive letter and choose: EJECT.


The ONLY thing you will lose is some of your personalizations. Your programs and data will be intact.

thanks, I actually went to do that, but was afraid of what would end up happening, also means all my telemtry blocking would have to be re-done too yeah?

god i gotta get onto a Linux Distro lol - Ubuntu Studio I think - as im into making music in DAWs but never get round to actually bothering these days to be honest (Age?)- but Linux is limited. i have Oracle VM and im trying distros to see which one i will use but also a one that encrypts the entire OS too... as not all do, Ubuntu Studio does. as Im heavily into Cyber-Security with all the backdoors, spying and fingerprinting going on

thanks for the help

i have an ancient PC ,less than half the specs of OP's , and mine automatically updated to 21H2.
don't know how ,so can't really help.
i just have all updates set to automatically.

well since windows 10 was supposed to be the FINAL WINDOWS (at the time) - they said major updates would come in twice a year as rollouts - I've ALWAYS been getting mine 6-12 months behind the latest.... doesn't matter what settings I use (which is automatic) and forcing it finds nothing new,

they will release the next one, then in 6 months' (or so) time I will probably find 21H2 on it! as that's how its been working for me since 2015 when the newer one is out - I shouldn't have to reinstall over the top to get the update, but there are TWO updating channels, those on normal (like me) and those on 'Preview' builds (or whatever its called) who get them instantly!

You can initiate manually using the iso from the links afer the main text:
How to get Windows 10 21H2 November 2021 Update

also means all my telemtry blocking would have to be re-done too

- might be this - or other possible hacks - could have some effect on W. Update.
Telemetry is so MS can monitor performance, rollout, features, bugs etc etc. But some people consider MS wants to know their personal data. (In which case you're not using MS email or Onedrive of course).

The enablement package is only available via W. Update:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...e-6f6dad2cd384

What does Windows Update do?

a. It communicates with MS servers
b. It checks the state of your build and determines if anything is available.
c. It downloads a specific package tailored for yout build to bring it up to date.

Now consider- if you manually download an iso file, which you can then apply with the internet disconnected, is any one of the above possible?

No, so I think you've answered your own question.

However, given the fact you've tweaked and disabled things, apparently, I strongly advise- and you should be doing this routinely and regularly as is endlessly advised here- that you create a full disk image using e.g. Macrium Reflect or Aomei Backupper (free) to external disk before attempting a major change.

As you say, updates are only offered if applicable. That's to protect you.
This is a minor update- you won't see any significant change. You can read about it in the relevant article in the News section.

It seems you have Pro - an excellent way to control when an update is downloaded and installed is to set Group Policy on Windows Updates to 'Notify'. That way you are - yes - notified, and only if you accept are updates downloaded.

That of course works provided you've not made other changes that stop updates.