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In-place Repair Upgrade

(Keeping files and apps)

In-place repair upgrade using Windows ISO file is a good way to fix system errors. Here's how you can perform it.

  • Download the Windows ISO, preferably from MSDL in the same Windows language, and architecture.
    • To check the installed Windows architecture, open Powershell as admin and enter,
      Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_OperatingSystem | Format-List OSArchitecture
      x64 means 64 Bit, x86 means 32 Bit
    • To check the installed Windows Language, open Powershell as admin and enter,
      dism /english /online /get-intl | find /i "Default system UI language"
    • Note: If you are running the Enterprise LTSC edition, you will need to download that edition's ISO file. Don't download Evaluation version, that can't be activated.
  • Right-click on the downloaded ISO file, Open With > Windows Explorer
  • A new DVD drive will appear in Windows Explorer, which means the installation image has been mounted successfully.
Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware
  • If you're using Windows 11 or upgrading from Windows 10, you may encounter errors due to unsupported hardware.
  • To resolve this, open the command prompt as admin and,
    • Enter the below command if you are using normal Windows 11 24H2 ISO
      reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v EditionID /d IoTEnterprise /f
    • Enter the below command if you are using Windows 11 LTSC 2024 ISO
      reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v EditionID /d IoTEnterpriseS /f
  • Now quickly run setup.exe as described below.
  • Go into that DVD drive and run setup.exe, just continue until you reach the final confirmation screen.
  • Make sure it says "Keep personal files and apps" on the final screen. Then you can continue the process and wait until it is done.
tip
  • If you are not getting the option to keep files and apps, or the setup is showing any error, you can connect with us for help.