5Mar
Manage in-place upgrades – Deploy and upgrade operating systems
Manage in-place upgrades

In previous versions of Windows, you could use several tools to help you assess, perform, and manage the task of upgrading to a new operating system. This process includes tools, such as the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) toolkit and the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT), which are included in the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK). These tools assist in discovering applications and device drivers and then testing them for potential compatibility issues with the new OS. All these tools and processes require specialist knowledge and often add significant time and cost to the rollout project.

Many large enterprises use Configuration Manager, which is a powerful, yet complex, tool to manage devices, apps, and upgrades within an organization. Configuration Manager (Current Branch) continues to be supported by Microsoft and can be used to upgrade a Windows 7 or later operating system to Windows 10.

Plan app compatibility

Generally speaking, applications designed to work with Windows 7 will work well with Windows 10. However, applications designed to work with Windows XP might well manifest installation or runtime problems. This is primarily because the operating system architecture and the security model for Windows XP differs from that used by all subsequent versions of Windows. If you’re still using older applications, you’ll need to create an inventory of those apps, and test their compatibility with Windows 10.

If you encounter problems when running older apps with Windows 10, use the following high-level procedures to attempt to resolve most common issues:

  • Run as administrator Most Windows XP-designed apps expect that all local users are administrators. This is no longer the case. But by running as administrator, you can provide a familiar context for your legacy apps.
  • Make sure all application dependencies are installed An older application might require a Windows component that is not installed.
  • Use the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) to resolve runtime issues This toolkit is part of the Windows ADK. It provides the Standard User Analyzer tool and the Compatibility Administrator. If your application doesn’t work properly, load the Compatibility Administrator and run the application within it. Then apply mitigations until the app runs successfully.

Exam Tip

You can use the Compatibility Administrator to create an application fix, sometimes referred to as a shim. This is a file with an SDB extension. You apply the fix to other instances of the installed app by using the sdbinst.exe command-line tool.

  • Correct restrictive AppLocker policy settings in Group Policy If you find a policy that prohibits the application from running, either remove the policy, or else disable the specific blocking rule.

If your app doesn’t work, and you’ve tried adding dependencies, and repairing or reinstalling the app, you might need to consider one of the following approaches:

  • Update the app Download application updates from the software vendor, and apply those.
  • Upgrade the app If updates don’t work, or aren’t available, consider upgrading to a more recent version of the app.
  • Consider virtualizing the app If the app works on Windows XP, consider creating a Windows XP virtual machine, and running the app on that VM.
  • Use RemoteApp apps In an on-premises environment, consider deploying Remote Desktop Services (RDS) and then installing and publishing the app in an RBS site collection. Users launch RemoteApp apps by selecting them from Start like any other app. But the apps actually run on the configured RDS server.
  • Implement Windows Virtual Desktop Providing a similar functionality to RDS, you can use Azure to host your virtualized apps.
  • Replace the app If all else fails, you might need to consider finding a replacement app. Make sure you consult with your users about the required functionality. What we in IT consider to be a better app might not provide the specific function the users require.

Note In-Place Upgrades and Legacy Apps

When you perform in-place upgrades, applications and their related data and settings are retained. Sometimes, by performing in-place upgrades rather than migrations to Windows 10, you can avoid legacy application installation issues.