Microsoft is preparing to roll out its Windows 11 23H2 Second Feature Update in Q4 of this year. The update will be available as a cumulative update, which means users do not need to reinstall Windows. However, a reinstall is required if you upgrade from the original Windows 11 or Windows 10.
It is recommended to keep your Windows up-to-date to maintain support. Upgrading Windows also improves security and gives access to new features. While upgrading users may encounter some issues when upgrading to Windows 11 (23H2). Unexpected errors and bugs are nothing new since Microsoft has to run Windows in millions of configurations.
How to Avoid Problems and Errors While Installing Windows 11 23H2 Update
To avoid Windows Update-related issues, Microsoft tends to release updates gradually. For the Windows 11 update, you must have a modern processor, secure boot, TPM 2.0, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of onboard storage.
The company has also recently added an active internet connection requirement for Windows 11 setup and the Microsoft Account. It is always recommended to wait several months before installing Windows Updates on your device.
It is recommended to wait several months before upgrading to avoid issues. Also, only install the update if available is unavailable, as you will most likely run into issues. It is advised to only install the update if it is officially available, as the tools will not install the newest version.
Constantly update your Windows from Windows Update.
It is recommended to use Windows Update to get the latest version. Other methods could cause serious issues or require you to reinstall the update. During the initial stage of a Windows Update release, there may be some incompatibility between hardware and software configurations.
- Open Windows Settings, and then go to Update and Security.
- Click on Check for Updates and wait for it to find any available updates.
- If an update is available, click Download and Install.
- Please wait for it to finish. That is it!
To get the update as soon as Microsoft releases it, toggle to enable “Get the latest update as soon as it is available.”
Note: If you do not find any updates on your device, the update might not be available.
Alternatively, update Windows using the Installation Assistant or USB bootable media.
You can use the Installation Assistant to update your Windows 11 to the latest version. Download the Windows Installation Assistant and run it to update Windows 11 on your device. Alternatively, you can also use USB bootable media.
We initially mentioned the prerequisites for installing Windows 11. However, a workaround exists for unsupported hardware or installing Windows 11 with a local account.
To create a Windows 11 23H2 bootable USB media:
- Download Rufus and run it on your Windows system by double-clicking.
- Launch Rufus and click on the drop-down menu to choose Windows 11 23H2.
- Choose Boot Selection to select the flash drive to create Windows 11 23H2 bootable USB media.
- Click the Select button, then select the Windows 11 23H2 file.
- Next, click the Open button and choose the Standard Windows Partition option in the Image Option settings.
- Now choose the GPT option for partition scheme settings and the UEFI (non-CSM) option in the target system settings.
- Under the Volume Label section, describe the Windows 11 23H2 bootable USB flash drive.
- Use the default File System and Cluster Size Option settings, then check the Quick Format option.
- Check the Create Extended Label and Icon Files checkbox, then click on the Start button.
- After that, check the checkbox for the Remove Requirements for 4GB RAM, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0 option to start installing Windows 23 on unsupported hardware.
- Again, check the checkbox for the “Remove Requirement for an Online Microsoft Account” option to start using a local account and bypass the internet requirement.
- Now, check the “Create a local account with username” option and specify a name for the account (this is optional).
- Click on the OK button. That is it!
Once you finish, you can create bootable USB media that will bypass the requirements to upgrade or install a fresh copy of Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.
Back up your files.
Before upgrading, it is advised to back up your current system and files to quickly recover them in case of problems during or after installation. Backing up always helps with recovery, and here is how you can create a Windows 11 backup on an external USB drive. However, you can still use it to create a temporary backup to upgrade the system drive, protect your previous installation before updating to the new release of Windows, and more.
- Open the Windows Start menu and search for Control Panel to open it.
- Click on System and Security, and then go to File History from the left panel.
- Select the Create System Image option from the left-side panel, then select an external drive to save the Windows 11 backup.
- Click the Next button and then the Start Backup button.
- Click on the no button and then the close button.
- That is it!
Once you are done, your full backup will be created and prompt users to create a repair disc, which can be ignored.
Create backups from the wbAdmin command-line tool.
This backup will be saved to an external drive.
- Open Start and run Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Execute wbAdmin start back up. -backup Target: E: -include: C: -allCritical -quiet. (Use E to select the drive.)
- Next, use this command to create a backup: wbAdmin starts backup -backup Target:E: -include:C: D: F: -allCritical -quiet.
- That is it.
Windows 11 can help you create a full backup to an external USB drive. You can easily create a security copy of the system, including secondary hard drives. This helps you restore your computer in case of critical system problems, malware attacks like ransomware, hardware failure, or upgrading the primary drive.
Note: You should create a file backup to protect your pictures, videos, and other files.
Additionally, this helps users roll back to the previous version of Windows 11. It allows upgrading to new feature updates or entirely new versions, like Windows 10 to Windows 11. Do note that Windows 11 does not include modern tools. However, you can still use the legacy system image backup tool to save backups to an external USB drive, including Windows installation files, device drivers, applications, settings, and your files.
Check for storage problems.
This is one of the most common issues due to limited hardware capacity. Ensure your device has at least 64GB of available space to prevent storage issues. Limited space could cause issues during the downloading and installation process of the feature update. If your computer does not have enough storage, try freeing up drive space and connecting an empty USB flash drive with at least 8GB of storage that the system can use as temporary storage to start upgrading.
Reserved storage is a built-in feature, and you may still encounter issues even after the feature is enabled, such as 0x80070070-00×50011, 0x80070070-00×50012, or 0x80070070-00×60000.
Repair Windows Update
Receiving Windows Update could take weeks before it is made available to your computer, but sometimes there could be problems with Windows Update. If recovery does not work, you can use the Installation Assistant tool.
Remove Block to Download
Sometimes, due to a metered connection, Windows Update prevents downloads. In this case, turn off the metered connection in the Network and Internet settings. To do this, navigate to Windows Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) and then toggle to disable “Set as Metered Connection.”
Remove non-essential apps.
Even removing third-party security software that might cause problems during the upgrade process Third-party antivirus or other security software should be disabled or temporarily uninstalled before upgrading to Windows 11 (23H2). To uninstall non-essential apps, navigate to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps, and then click on the Uninstall button to remove the app by following the on-screen directions.
Prevent Setting Problems After Installing
Sometimes, Windows Settings can conflict with the Windows 11 23H2 update, causing unexpected changes to your settings, default apps, privacy settings, and more. If you have changed your settings, try adjusting them accordingly to prevent any problems.
Disconnect non-essential hardware.
Some non-essential peripherals, such as USB flash drives, external hard drives, cameras, or anything else connected, can cause errors and other issues during Windows Update. Try updating Windows after disconnecting non-essential peripherals to avoid issues. Also, ensure that Bluetooth devices are turned off, as they can cause issues. You can disable Bluetooth by navigating to Windows Settings > Bluetooth & Devices and toggling the Bluetooth toggle switch.
Conclusion on the Windows 11 Update
When upgrading to Windows 11, some users may face the same problems and should research the error online to determine if others have experienced the same issue and what workarounds they are using. Aside from unexpected errors and bugs, you may encounter bugs during the upgrade process. Driver errors and incompatibility with the upgrade are common issues, as more space is needed to complete the update.
The best way to avoid issues with the Windows 11 upgrade is to perform a clean installation, reconfigure settings, reinstall apps, and restore files from a backup. Alternatively, you can upgrade by mounting the official ISO of Windows 11 and launching the setup wizard. If you upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 and encounter issues, you can uninstall the update from Windows Settings > Windows Update > Update History > Uninstall Update, and then uninstall the update marked as Windows 11 23H2.
