Net's Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC (21H2) - In-Place Upgrade Guide

This procedure upgrades your current Windows installation to LTSC without performing a clean USB flash install. If you're doing an in-place upgrade, please follow the steps carefully and do not let the installer download updates during setup.

Download LTSC ISO

0. Preperation

  1. Make sure your windows version is at least Enterprise IoT! For that run the massgrave script (Open Terminal as Admin) and paste this:
    2. irm https://get.activated.win | iex
  2. Press "Change Version" and Select Windows 10 IoT Enterprise (Extremely important!)
  3. Press 7 and then select Windows IoTEnterPrise

    4. Warning This screenshot doesnt show the right version, but your terminal should
  4. Now press 1 for HWID (Windows Activation)
  5. Once that's done, restart your computer.

1. Required Registry Patch (before launching installer)

Before you start the upgrade (while still in your existing Windows), open an Terminal as Admin and run:

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v EditionID /t REG_SZ /d EnterpriseS /f & reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v ProductName /t REG_SZ /d "Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC" /f & reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v ReleaseID /t REG_SZ /d 21H2 /f & reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v DisplayVersion /t REG_SZ /d 21H2 /f & reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v CurrentBuild /t REG_SZ /d 19044 /f & reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v CurrentBuildNumber /t REG_SZ /d 19044 /f

This is needed to spoof windows to think it's an older version, so it tricks the installer.

2. Mount & Launch the ISO

  1. After downloading the ISO file, right-click it in File Explorer and choose Mount (or double-click) so it appears as a virtual drive.
  2. Within the mounted drive, run setup.exe to begin the upgrade - do not reboot to USB or format anything.
  3. When the installer asks about updates or how to install, select the option to skip checking for updates right now. This is key to prevent update interference.
  4. Click "Change how Windows Setup downloads updates
  5. Make sure to tell it not right now!
  6. If not done correctly, this will fail and revert to your previous windows installation and you have to do Everythinga all over again
  7. Also make sure it keeps your files and applications
  8. If that's all good, you're good to go! Just sit back and watch it install (It will reboot many times)

3. After Upgrade - Update & Verify

  1. Once the upgrade finishes and you're logged into LTSC, go to Settings -> Update & Security and install the latest cumulative updates.
  2. Verify your edition under Settings -> System -> About shows "Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC".
  3. Reactivate any software or drivers if needed and check that everything (apps, data) is working.

© Netcat - Use at your own risk.