windows 11 22H2 fails to install due to being unable to check compatibility

Question

I'm trying to get my PC up to date with the windows 11 22H2 update - I'm currently running 21H2 / OS Build 22000.978. I've tried updating all 3 ways - windows updater, using the set up tool and the ISO mounted directly and I seem to be having it fail by telling me windows is unable to check if my hardware is compatible.

Amusingly the windows 11 setup tool says I'm compatible

as does the health check tool

I'm running a 9th generation intel processor (a core i9 9900k), and a modern GPU (a 3000 series nvidia) and was able to upgrade to windows 11 with no issues. I meet or exceed all the requirements for running the OS. Normally setupdiags lets me know what's the issue but it I can't find this specific error.

Just to be safe, I've checked my system with sfc /scannow, DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth and the system seems fine.

I've tried clearing out the C:$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\ (via the cleanup tool) and software sources

0x80888002 is the specific error code I get, but you can find the setupdiags output below

Matching Profile found: FindAbruptDownlevelFailure - 55882B1A-DA3E-408A-9076-23B22A0472BD
SetupDiag version: 1.6.2107.27002
System Information:
    Machine Name = AURORA
    Manufacturer = System manufacturer
    Model = System Product Name
    HostOSArchitecture = 2057
    FirmwareType = UEFI
    BiosReleaseDate = 20190129000000.000000+000
    BiosVendor = 0805
    BiosVersion = 0805
    HostOSVersion = 
    HostOSBuildString = 22000.1.amd64fre.co_release.210604-1628
    TargetOSBuildString = 10.0.22621.1 (ni_release.220506-1250)
    HostOSLanguageId = 
    HostOSEdition = Professional
    RegisteredAV = Windows Defender
    FilterDrivers = 
    UpgradeStartTime = 30/9/2022 11:33:44 pm
    UpgradeEndTime = 30/9/2022 11:35:11 pm
    UpgradeElapsedTime = 00:01:27
    CV = lkuw80lu+E+qknub
    ReportId = ace42ba7-4208-4be3-a401-036ec5e62dd1


Error: SetupDiag reports abrupt down-level failure.
Last Operation: Finalize
Error: 0x80888002 - 0x40008
LogEntry: 2022-09-30 23:34:59, Error                 CONX   Windows::Compat::Appraiser::SetupAppraiser::InitializeData (1640):   Failed to extract data file resource: [0x80888002].[gle=0x80888002]

Refer to "https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/Debug/system-error-codes" for error information.

From the comments I looked at C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\diagerr and

 <z:row Cls="D" Sev="33554432" Maj="Def" Min="Def" LN="675" Fil="" Fun="Windows::Compat::Appraiser::Utilities::ExtractResourceToFile" Uid="34226176" Msg="Windows::Compat::Appraiser::Utilities::ExtractResourceToFile (675): Could not LoadLibrary to resource: [2]." PID="3840" TID="22452" Con="" Exe="C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\SetupHost.exe" Mod="" Err="-2147024894" MD="" DT="2022-10-01T20:51:02"/>
<z:row Cls="D" Sev="33554432" Maj="Def" Min="Def" LN="4721" Fil="" Fun="Windows::Compat::Appraiser::SetupAppraiser::GetAlternateData" Uid="34226176" Msg="Windows::Compat::Appraiser::SetupAppraiser::GetAlternateData (4721): Failed to extract data file resource: [0x80070002]." PID="3840" TID="22452" Con="" Exe="C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\SetupHost.exe" Mod="" Err="-2147024894" MD="" DT="2022-10-01T20:51:02"/>
<z:row Cls="D" Sev="33554432" Maj="Def" Min="Def" LN="2115" Fil="" Fun="Windows::Compat::Appraiser::SetupAppraiser::InitializeRunOptions" Uid="34226176" Msg="Windows::Compat::Appraiser::SetupAppraiser::InitializeRunOptions (2115): Error checking for latest SDB, swallowing: [0x80070002]." PID="3840" TID="22452" Con="" Exe="C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\SetupHost.exe" Mod="" Err="-2147024894" MD="" DT="2022-10-01T20:51:02"/>
<z:row Cls="D" Sev="33554432" Maj="Def" Min="Def" LN="1017" Fil="" Fun="" Uid="34226176" Msg="Appraiser: ERROR,SdbpGetManifestedMergeStubAlloc,1017,SdbpGetMergeSdbsDisabled failed [c0000034]
" PID="3840" TID="22452" Con="" Exe="C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\SetupHost.exe" Mod="" Err="0" MD="" DT="2022-10-01T20:51:02"/>

looks relevant

Since the hardware is entirely windows 11 compatible as per the PC health check, I'm not sure why the installer can't seem to check. Is there any way to fix this short of a full reinstall?

Neowin suggested the GPU driver might be the cause, and updating the nvidia driver to 518.48 would help. Updated and rebooted and still having the same issues

maybe related: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/all/unable-to-install-windows-11-22h2-error-0x80888002/73ac19ab-e450-41f5-9a8e-39408a9b5c18 — bertieb, Oct 01 '22 at 11:11
That appears to be a Windows Insider error https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/all/unable-to-install-windows-11-22h2-error-0x80888002/73ac19ab-e450-41f5-9a8e-39408a9b5c18 .... No issues here with Windows 11 Production. — John, Oct 01 '22 at 11:12
Have you run the [Windows Update Troubleshooter](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-update-troubleshooter-19bc41ca-ad72-ae67-af3c-89ce169755dd)? — DavidPostill, Oct 01 '22 at 11:25
[How do I Solve Error Code 0x80888002 in Windows 11](https://www.howtoedge.com/solve-error-code-0x80888002/) — DavidPostill, Oct 01 '22 at 11:29
Microsoft might have hardened the hardware requirements. But perhaps you could try installing first 21H2. See [How to download Windows 11 21H2 ISO after 22H2 releases](https://pureinfotech.com/download-windows-11-21h2-iso-after-22h2/). — harrymc, Oct 01 '22 at 12:02
@harrymc this system is up to date *and* the hardware requirements are met in every way — Journeyman Geek, Oct 01 '22 at 12:04
@JourneymanGeek: Not sure : 20H2 is Windows 10 and not Windows 11. — harrymc, Oct 01 '22 at 12:05
.... that's on me. Body says 22H2 as does the supporting information - I definately am running windows 11 and ought to have added the specific version — Journeyman Geek, Oct 01 '22 at 12:06
@DavidPostill https://i.stack.imgur.com/YZO5T.png this is what the troubleshooter found. I'll try rebooting shortly and trying to update again - no luck after that — Journeyman Geek, Oct 01 '22 at 12:06
There is a known compatibility blocker that will prevent the upgrade to Windows 11 22H2. Do you have a printer installed? While unlikely given the issues the troubleshooter is pointing out might be worth investigating if your printer installation is applicable to the blocker — Ramhound, Oct 01 '22 at 12:15
@JourneymanGeek - Your inability to upgrade most definitely is linked to the Microsoft IPP Class Driver compatibility blocker. — Ramhound, Oct 01 '22 at 12:19
... I shall be quite cross if its that. I *do* have an older printer (an epson l365) - any pointers on what to look at? — Journeyman Geek, Oct 01 '22 at 12:21
@JourneymanGeek - [You](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-22H2#2913msgdesc) can uninstall it, perform the upgrade, then reinstall it once the issue has been fixed — Ramhound, Oct 01 '22 at 12:23
Maybe try a Windows 11 Repair Install from the Media Creation link. Does all Windows updates and most driver updates. Worth considering. — John, Oct 01 '22 at 12:30
“The upgrade blocker is set by the Microsoft IPP Class Driver printer driver. This must have been set in the night of September 23, 2022. Before that the user had error 0x80070002 in the Safe OS phase.” - My source continues to indicate that a XML file contained within *C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther* within one of the Property nodes will specify the upgrade to be blocked. *Stupid Google showed my results for an entirely different error code* the XML file might still hold some answers though — Ramhound, Oct 01 '22 at 12:31
this is a fairly 'clean' system so nothing particularly exotic here. Monitors, mouse, keyboard, and have all the 'interesting' hardware removed. I've run (and documented) running sfc /scannow and dism commands. Updates are mostly up to date except this one — Journeyman Geek, Oct 01 '22 at 14:03
Okay, I just didn't see restore health parameter, maybe the answer on the registry hack will work though. Good luck with it! — Vomit IT - Chunky Mess Style, Oct 01 '22 at 14:04
Have you tried to [Reset Windows Update](https://www.elevenforum.com/t/reset-windows-update-in-windows-11.3808/)? If all else fails, you might try a clean install of 22H2. — harrymc, Oct 01 '22 at 14:20
The reset didn't help. A clean install isn't a fix :D, and needs me to do some prep work, like backups — Journeyman Geek, Oct 02 '22 at 00:19
Just so I can find it later, and to 'better' future posts - https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-11-22h2-apparently-causing-problems-on-nvidia-graphics-cards/ it *might* be the video card. Updated it and am trying again — Journeyman Geek, Oct 04 '22 at 00:14
Not yet I am afraid. Pondering a reinstall. It might be worth going through some of my failed fixes and see if they work for you. — Journeyman Geek, Oct 17 '22 at 02:56

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 01 '22 at 11:16

0

This is a shot in the dark, but you can try the Windows 10 registry hack to upgrade to 11. This disables the compatibilty check. It might work in your situation.

answered Oct 01 '22 at 11:16

Keltari

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Maybe worth a shot, although someone having [a similar issue did not have it resolved by changing the reg key](https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/all/unable-to-install-windows-11-22h2-error-0x80888002/73ac19ab-e450-41f5-9a8e-39408a9b5c18?page=2) (latest reply at time of writing) – bertieb Oct 01 '22 at 11:20
I tried it and... it was already set to 1, which has me confused, since this is a machine that's *always* been compatible, has TPM 2.0 and never used a modified installer – Journeyman Geek Oct 04 '22 at 00:28
@JourneymanGeek well, it was worth a shot. Ive never seen this happen before, so not sure what else it could be – Keltari Oct 04 '22 at 12:52

windows 11 22H2 fails to install due to being unable to check compatibility

1 Answers1