sync: auto-sync from HOWARD-HOME at 2026-06-29 16:02:09

Author: Howard Enos
Machine: HOWARD-HOME
Timestamp: 2026-06-29 16:02:09

clients/rednour/session-logs/2026-06/2026-06-29-howard-carrie-win11-upgrade-applyimage.md

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+## User
+- **User:** Howard Enos (howard)
+- **Machine:** Howard-Home
+- **Role:** tech
+
+## Session Summary
+
+Diagnosed a Windows 10 -> 11 in-place upgrade failure on Carrie's machine at Rednour. Setup
+rolled back with error `0x8007000D - 0x2000C`: "The installation failed in the SAFE_OS phase
+with an error during APPLY_IMAGE operation."
+
+Decoded the failure: `0x8007000D` = `ERROR_INVALID_DATA`; `0x2000C` = the failure occurred in
+the SAFE_OS (offline WinPE) phase during the APPLY_IMAGE step, i.e. Setup choked while laying
+down the new Windows image. This class of failure points at corrupt/incomplete setup media or
+download, a storage/disk issue, or interference from drivers, AV, or attached external devices —
+not a TPM/hardware compatibility block (which fails earlier with a different message).
+
+Provided a prioritized remediation path: (1) unplug all non-essential externals (USB drives,
+docks, dongles, SD cards) and temporarily disable third-party AV; (2) build fresh install media
+via the Media Creation Tool and run setup.exe from a mounted ISO rather than the in-place
+download/Update Assistant; (3) clear the old upgrade cache (`$WINDOWS.~BT`, `$WINDOWS.~WS`,
+SoftwareDistribution\Download) after stopping wuauserv/bits; (4) repair the running OS with DISM
+RestoreHealth + SFC + chkdsk and confirm 20+ GB free; (5) update storage/chipset drivers
+(Intel RST / AMD RAID being a classic APPLY_IMAGE culprit).
+
+Howard reported he has already updated drivers and run all the repairs. He will attempt the
+upgrade on Carrie's machine tonight and will loop me back in if it fails. No remote action was
+taken this session — GuruRMM does not work for Rednour (see Pending), so any remote assist is
+currently blocked; this would be a hands-on / by-hand effort.
+
+## Key Decisions
+
+- Classified the error as media/storage/interference rather than a hardware-compatibility block,
+  based on the SAFE_OS + APPLY_IMAGE failure signature.
+- Recommended a fresh ISO mounted in-Windows (setup.exe) over the in-place download, since the
+  download cache is a frequent source of the invalid-data corruption.
+- Held off on any remote remediation this session: upgrade is scheduled by Howard for tonight,
+  and RMM coverage for Rednour is non-functional.
+
+## Problems Encountered
+
+- Windows 11 in-place upgrade fails at SAFE_OS / APPLY_IMAGE with `0x8007000D - 0x2000C`.
+  Not yet resolved — driver updates and OS repairs already done by Howard; next attempt is a
+  manual upgrade tonight. If it recurs, the actionable next step is to pull the first error from
+  `C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setuperr.log` around the APPLY_IMAGE step.
+- GuruRMM is not working for Rednour, so the machine cannot be assisted/repaired remotely.
+
+## Configuration Changes
+
+None this session (advisory/diagnostic only).
+
+## Credentials & Secrets
+
+None discovered or created.
+
+## Infrastructure & Servers
+
+- Client: Rednour
+- Affected machine: Carrie's workstation (Windows 10, attempting upgrade to Windows 11)
+- GuruRMM: NOT functional for Rednour client (remote management unavailable)
+
+## Commands & Outputs
+
+Error shown on Carrie's machine:
+```
+0x8007000D - 0x2000C
+The installation failed in the SAFE_OS phase with an error during APPLY_IMAGE operation
+```
+
+Recommended OS-repair sequence (already run by Howard):
+```
+dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
+sfc /scannow
+chkdsk C: /scan
+```
+
+Upgrade-cache reset (elevated):
+```
+net stop wuauserv
+net stop bits
+# delete C:\$WINDOWS.~BT, C:\$WINDOWS.~WS (hidden), C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\*
+net start wuauserv
+net start bits
+```
+
+Diagnostic logs to pull if the next attempt fails:
+```
+C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setupact.log
+C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setuperr.log
+```
+
+## Pending / Incomplete Tasks
+
+- Howard to manually attempt the Win10 -> Win11 upgrade on Carrie's machine TONIGHT
+  (2026-06-29), using a fresh ISO / setup.exe with externals unplugged and AV disabled.
+- If it fails again: capture `setuperr.log` from `C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\` and bring
+  it back for analysis of the specific failing file/volume/driver.
+- BLOCKER: GuruRMM does not work for Rednour — no remote remediation available; assist must be
+  hands-on.
+
+## Reference Information
+
+- Error: `0x8007000D` (ERROR_INVALID_DATA) / `0x2000C` (SAFE_OS phase, APPLY_IMAGE operation)
+- Panther logs: `C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setupact.log` and `setuperr.log`