Dell XPS 9305 laptop will not upgrade from 21H2 to 22H2 Windows 11


JerryF said:
My 1 year old Dell XPS laptop is not being offered the upgrade to 22H2 in Windows Update. In addition, it will not install the iso as the option to keep files and applications is greyed out. The installer wants to do a complete reinstall as it reads a different version of Windows. I would like to avoid a reinstall and keep my applications.

I am suspicious the issue is the XPS machine came originally with Windows 11 home. 5 months ago I upgraded to Windows 11 Pro. I suspect the install is reading the Bios Home license. I cannot find the digital license for the Pro Upgrade on my Microsoft Account, but I belive I can have the Pro license using the elevated CMD "wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey".

Is there a way to force the upgrade using Rufus or other? Any suggestions appreciated

Thanks
Click to expand...
Just double click on the attached registry file to merge it into your registry and you'll get the update through Windows update within a day or two
 

Attachments

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware m16 R1
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX
    Motherboard
    Alienware
    Memory
    G.SKILL Ripjaws F5-5600S4040A32GX2-RS 5200 MHz DDR5 64GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4090 16 GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AUO B160QAN02.Z 16" QHD+ 240Hz Screen + ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM UHD 240hz Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    UHD (3840 x 2160)
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 990 PRO 4TB SSDs (RAID 0) + WD_BLACK SN770M 2TB SSD
    PSU
    330W AC Power Adapter
    Cooling
    Noctua NT-H2 + Fujipoly Extreme Thermal Pads + IETS GT300 Cooling Pad
    Keyboard
    Alienware CherryMX mechanical keyboard (Laptop) + SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL - Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (external)
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Rival 5
    Internet Speed
    1 GBPS Down / 350 MBPS Up
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    McAfee AntiVirus
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 9500
    CPU
    Intel i7-10875H
    Memory
    Kingston FURY Impact 64 GB 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q w/ 4 GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6 UHD+ Touch, InfinityEdge, 500-nits, Anti-Reflecitve
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2400
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 990 PRO 2TB + 4TB SSDs
    PSU
    Dell 130W Laptop Charger USB C Type C AC Adapter
    Cooling
    Noctua NT-H2 Thermal Paste on CPU + GPU
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Anywhere 3
    Internet Speed
    1 GBPS Down / 350 MBPS Up
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast Free Antivirus
Yes others suggested that but the language was not the issue. US English was the initial Windows 11 installed on the XPS and that is what the ISO selected as the language for 22H2 install. In fact, after I ran and completed the ISO on the Virtual machine I tried installing the ISO on the XPS from which the HyperV virtual machine was made. It failed (again only offering a complete reinstall). The backup of the virtual machine (now 22H2) restored to the XPS with no trouble. Since the software on the Virtual machine is exactly the same as on the XPS machine it suggests a device issue or a bios block put on the XPS by Dell.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 9305
    CPU
    I7 1165G7
    Memory
    16 GB
    Antivirus
    Norton 360
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    I7 12700K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z690 Extreme WiFi 6e
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI RTX 3060
    Antivirus
    Norton 360
I tried the registy change but after 2 weeks no 22H2 was offered. Security updates yes but not 22H2
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 9305
    CPU
    I7 1165G7
    Memory
    16 GB
    Antivirus
    Norton 360
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    I7 12700K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z690 Extreme WiFi 6e
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI RTX 3060
    Antivirus
    Norton 360
If anything I have added my folder which has a ISO and explorer patch and a Taskbar monitor in my about me on the account
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    WiN11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom 775 System
    CPU
    Xeon E5450 3.0GHZ (OC 3.6GHZ)
    Motherboard
    ASUS PQ5-EM
    Memory
    8GB (2GBX4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Quadro K2200 4GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    1TB|750GB USB, 3 SSDs 2 240GB 1 128GB, 750GB HDD
    PSU
    650WATT Rosewill
    Case
    Rosewill with side Window
    Cooling
    5 Fans and a big HSK for cpu
    Keyboard
    Rosewill RGB
    Mouse
    Rosewill RGB
    Internet Speed
    AT&T 150MB DL\UP
    Browser
    FireFox
    Antivirus
    None
    Other Info
    I'm lucky to even be here after 6yrs from my car accident
  • Operating System
    WiN10 LTSC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Hp 8460p
    CPU
    i7 2670QM 2.20GHZ
    Motherboard
    Hp 161C
    Memory
    8GB (2X4GB) DUAL Channel
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 3000
    Sound Card
    Intel high Def (basically onboard)
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    OS 128GB l Storage (caddy) 320GB
    PSU
    AC (IDK the watts)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    A USB 3.0 in the Express Card Slot
Forget about compliance/registry/system issues etc at al.

Create an image of the existing system with Macrium and/or AOEMI Backupper (for insurance) as well as the Macrium/AOMEI Backupper recovery boot USBs.

Then ....
Download the ISO (which it appears you've already done)
Download and run Rufus
Create a boot USB using Rufus, and tick all the options to bypass all the Windows ersatz security requirements
Insert the USB (DON'T BOOT FROM IT, RUN IT FROM WITHIN WINDOWS)
Run the setup.exe, check that it works OK, then ....
Go and watch the latest episode of your favourite series
Come back, all done.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 2xH2 (latest update ... forever anal)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Slim S01
    CPU
    Intel i5-12400
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT730
    Sound Card
    OOBE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 32"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    512GB KIOXIA NVMe
    1TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    OOBE
    Case
    OOBE
    Cooling
    OOBE
    Keyboard
    BT
    Mouse
    BT
    Browser
    Brave FFox Chrome Opera
    Antivirus
    KIS
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 2xH2 (latest update ... 4ever anal)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 15
    CPU
    i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Samsung NVMe 512GB
    + numerous/multiple SSD Type C USB enclosures
    Internet Speed
    NBN FTTN 50
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS
  • Like
Reactions: WAI
If you are not offered the upgrade through Windows Update, then most probably is a compatibility issue. Just download the ISO and bypass compatibility check. Don't wait forever.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (build 22631.4249) test laptop, Windows 11 Pro v24H2 (build 26100.2894) main PC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, no SSE4.2, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v24H2 (build 26100.2894)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    Gainward NE5105T018G1-1070F (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue SA510 2.5 1000GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Deepcool Gamma Archer CPU cooler, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
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