End-to-End Windows 10 → Windows 11 Migration (Lab Walkthrough)
Project Type: Hands-on Lab & Portfolio Project
Role Simulated: IT Support / Systems Administrator
Scenario: Prepare a Windows 10 system that meets Windows 11 requirements and perform a supported in-place upgrade, following enterprise-style migration practices.
1. Project Objective
The objective of this lab is to:
Build a Windows 10 virtual machine that is eligible for Windows 11
Validate hardware and firmware requirements
Plan backup and rollback options
Perform a supported in-place upgrade to Windows 11
Verify system stability and user impact post-migration
This walkthrough mirrors how real IT teams handle Windows feature upgrades in pilot or pre-production environments.
2. Tools & Requirements
2.1 Host System
Windows 11
Minimum 16 GB RAM recommended (8 GB minimum)
At least 80 GB free disk space, preferably 100 GB
2.2 Virtualization Platform
VMware Workstation Pro / Player (Download Here)
VMware is recommended because it natively supports UEFI, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0, which are mandatory for Windows 11.
3. Phase 1 – Create a Windows 10 VM That Is Windows 11–Eligible
3.1 Create a New Virtual Machine
Open VMware Workstation Pro
Select Create a New Virtual Machine
Choose Typical (Recommended)
Select Installer disc image file (ISO)
Browse to your Windows 10 64-bit ISO
3.3 Disk & Hardware Settings
Configure the VM with Windows 11 requirements in mind:
Disk Size: 100 GB (Need to set it above the recommended 60GB to avoid any kind of upgrade failures)
Select Split virtual disk into multiple files
Memory: 8 GB RAM (4 GB minimum)
Number of processors: 1
Number of cores per processor: 2
Do not power on the VM yet. Click Finish.
3.3 Enable UEFI Firmware
Select the VM → Edit virtual machine settings
Go to Options → Advanced
Set Firmware type to UEFI
This is mandatory for Secure Boot and Windows 11.
3.4 Enable Secure Boot
Still under Options → Advanced
Enable Secure Boot
3.5 Encrypt the Virtual Machine
Still under Options → Access Control
Click Encrypt
Under What to encrypt, enable All the files for this vm
Set an encryption Password
Store this password safely. You need it to modify VM hardware settings in the future.
3.6 Add TPM
TPM is important for security and because Windows 11 is designed to use hardware backed security. It protects the system in ways software alone cannot.
In VM Settings, under Hardware, select Add
Choose Trusted Platform Module
TPM 2.0 is now enabled.
4. Phase 2 – Install Windows 10
4.1 Power On and Install
Start the VM
Once taken to Boot Manager, select EFI VMware Virtual SATA CDROM Drive (this is the Windows 10 iso)
Follow Windows 10 installation steps:
Language & region selection
Install Windows 10
Select I don’t have a product key
Select Windows 10 Pro (Used in real business environments)
Choose Custom installation
Choose Set up for personal use
Select Offline account
Select Limited experience
The rest of the installation set up is pretty self explanatory.
4.2 Post-Install Preparation
After reaching the Windows 10 desktop:
Install VMware Tools
Right click machine tab at the top and select Install VM Tools
Run Windows Update until fully patched
Restart as needed
This ensures a stable baseline before migration.
5. Phase 3 – Pre-Migration Readiness Assessment
5.1 Verify TPM 2.0
Press Win + R → type tpm.msc
Confirm:
Status: TPM is ready for use
Specification Version: 2.0
5.2 Verify UEFI & Secure Boot
Press Win + R → type msinfo32
Confirm:
BIOS Mode: UEFI
Secure Boot State: On
5.3 Windows 11 Compatibility Check
Install PC Health Check
Run eligibility assessment
Confirm the system is Windows 11 compatible
If this fails, stop and correct the configuration (mirrors real IT procedure).
6. Phase 4 – Backup & Rollback Planning
6.1 Backup Strategy (Lab-Appropriate)
Create a VM snapshot
Verify user folders exist:
Desktop
Documents
Downloads
Create a test file, to ensure it is brought along during the migration
Snapshots simulate enterprise backup and recovery points.
6.2 Rollback Awareness
Windows supports rollback to Windows 10 for approximately 10 days after upgrade:
Path: Settings → System → Recovery → System Restore
Rollback availability was confirmed before proceeding.
7. Phase 5 – Windows 10 → Windows 11 In-Place Upgrade
7.1 Upgrade Method Selection
Upgrade Method Used: Windows Update (In-Place Upgrade)
The upgrade can be initiated through Windows Update after the system passes all Windows 11 compatibility checks. This method reflects how pilot users are commonly upgraded in enterprise environments when devices are fully eligible.
7.2 Execute the Upgrade
Launch Windows Update
Under Windows 11, version 25H2, select Download and install
Allow the system to download and install Windows 11
System will reboot multiple times
Do not interrupt the process. It may take a few hours.
8. Phase 6 – Post-Migration Validation
8.1 OS Verification
After login:
Confirm OS: Windows 11
Check activation status (Windows 11 should have the same activation status as Windows 10 after migration. We did not activate Windows 10 so Windows 11 should not be activated either.
Verify user profile integrity (Seeing if the user lost anything, making sure all files, folders, etc. are still present.)
Check if the test file is still there and check if the user’s folders are in their directory
Press Win + R, and type sysdm.cpl to check user profile health (check if it’s listed and not marked as temporary)
Go to Event Viewer (Check for User Profile Service errors and profile load failures)
It looks like the only real error is in regards to our Windows License Activation, which is okay because for a VM activation is not necessary.
8.2 Application & System Testing
Validated:
Internet connectivity
Windows Update
Microsoft Defender
General system performance
No critical issues observed.
9. Phase 7 – User Experience & Support Review
9.1 UI Changes Identified
Centered Start Menu and taskbar (The taskbar on Windows 10 Pro and other earlier versions is on the left by default. Enterprises value consistency, so change the setting to left instead of center of consistency.)
Updated Settings interface (Look through Settings to see how it’s changed, and anticipate updated features that might confuse users.)
Modified right-click context menu (Verify the Windows 10 options are available and know how to find it. It’s a common complaint among Windows 11 users.)
9.2 Anticipated Support Tickets
“Where are my settings?”
Users may be disoriented by the Windows 11 Settings interface and the reduced reliance on the Control Panel
Taskbar customization requests
Users may want to customize their taskbar in a more familiar or comfortable way
Printer or peripheral issues
Due to driver changes, users may face some printer and peripheral device compatibility issues
These are typical post-migration help desk issues.
10. Change Documentation
Change Type: Operating System Feature Upgrade
Risk Level: Moderate
Downtime: Minimal
Upgrade Method: In-place upgrade via Windows Update
Rollback Plan: Enabled (VM snapshot and System Restore configured)
11. Lessons Learned
Proper VM configuration is critical for Windows 11 eligibility
Pre-migration checks prevent upgrade failures
In-place upgrades are effective for stable systems
Documentation and user readiness are as important as the technical steps
