Windows 11 Upgrade Checklist for Upgrade without An Error

Windows 11 is the latest and the most advanced version available today. If you are still working on Windows 10, it is time to upgrade to Windows 11. In this post, I am sharing my Windows 11 Upgrade Checklist, i.e., what you should do before and after an upgrade, which will help you in many ways.

What Errors To Expect While Upgrading Windows?

While the process of upgrading to Windows 11 has been simplified, there are still some errors that you can face while upgrading to the latest version of Windows; let’s learn what these errors are and what the possible reasons behind them:

1. 0xC1900101 errors: These are driver-related errors, indicating an issue with one or more of your drivers. In this case, you must update, reinstall, or remove some of your drivers.
2. 0x80070002 error: This is a system file-related error that indicates a file is missing or corrupted. You can fix this error using the disk check or an installation media.
3. 0x800F0922 error: This is a space-related error. Windows 11 requires a minimum of 64Gbs for the upgrade, but it is required to keep more space than just the required update. In this case, you must uninstall some apps or delete files to make space for the upgrade.
4. 0x8007042B error: This is a software-related error indicating that an installed application is interfering with the update. You must uninstall, update, or reinstall the application in this case.

Windows 11 Upgrade Checklist for an upgrade without an error

In this section of the article, we will present a complete checklist of all that needs to be taken care of before, during, and after a Windows upgrade. Here’s all that’s covered:

1. Before Upgrading
2. During the Windows 11 Upgrade
3. Things to do after Windows 11 Upgrade

Let’s proceed!

1] Before Upgrading

Backup Important Files: Unknowingly, we keep essential files on the desktop, So make sure to copy whatever you have on your desktop. The best would be to copy it to an external drive.

Check For Specifications: Windows 11 tries has specific requirements when it comes to specifications. These include:

• A compatible 64-bit processor with a clock speed of 1 Ghz or more and more than 2 cores.
• At least 4GB of RAM
• At least 64 GB Of Storage
• A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
• A graphics card that supports DirectX 12 or later
• A display with at least 720p resolution and 9-inch diagonal
• An internet connection and a Microsoft account

To check if your PC meets all these requirements, you can install the Windows 11 PC Health Check to confirm if your PC meets the requirements for the Windows 11 upgrade.

List down Apps you use: List apps and software you use on a Windows 10 PC, and if you have keys for them, list them along with it. It will make sure you know what you would want to install after the upgrade is complete.

Uninstall Useless Apps: Any upgrade will ask you for space to be available in the same drive where you have Windows installed. Windows 11 will need at least 64GB of space, and I am sure many of us will not have that space.

Find even more space.

If uninstalling apps does not help you much with cleaning up your computer for space, use programs like WINDIRSTAT, which will give you a graphical view of the folder and its size. It will help you delete folders that are not required or find space occupied by programs that are not listed in the uninstall section of Windows.

Follow the Windows 11 Upgrade Assistant Advice:

Run the Windows 11 Upgrade Assistant. It will check if your PC is ready for an upgrade and which apps are not compatible. The advisor will give you two options :

• Update: Microsoft will notify if the app has a Windows 11 compatible update.
• Reinstall: Some apps have no issues with Windows 11 but may need reinstallation because Windows 11 has changed how it works. Add it to the list.
• Uninstall: If apps are incompatible, it will ask you to uninstall them. Even some of the drivers may be listed here. In my case, it was my network driver, which was later updated by Windows 11 installation.
• Enable TPM: If your device has TPM but it is not enabled, Windows upgrade assistant will guide you to enable it.

You can also check for your app on the official compatibility page.

2] During Windows 11 Upgrade

You can choose to Clean Install, Backup only Personal Files, or Backup Personal Files and Apps. Make sure you choose wisely. In case you have compatible apps, select the last option.

Before upgrading, the Windows 11 setup is downloaded and saved on your PC. You can create a bootable media by keeping it as ISO on your computer or bootable USB. Use this option if you ever switch PCs; that will help.

You can restart the Windows 11 upgrade from the shortcut available on the desktop if it fails in between.

3] Things to do after Windows 11 Upgrade

Cross-Check for Files: Cross-check personal files with the backup you have made. If everything is ok, feel free to delete the backup. However, I will suggest you keep it for a while in case you need it.

Cross-Check on Apps: Check the list you made to know if all your apps are working.

Reclaim Hard Drive Space: The Windows 11 upgrade process backups your entire C drive data into a traditional Windows.OLD folder. It is used to keep a backup but occupies a lot of space. The good thing is it will automatically get deleted after a couple of weeks, but you can use Disk Clean-up > System Files to remove any files.

Update Apps / Install Apps: Reinstall or update the apps that were marked as incompatible.

Conclusion: 

In this article, we shared everything necessary to do and know before and after a Windows 11 upgrade. Having a clear plan and understanding of what is required for a Windows version update ensures that no files are lost and the update is completed smoothly. We hope that you found the article to be helpful.