Cannot update to Windows 21H1

[billrjz]

For weeks now I've had an update and restart button that does not update. I've tried to update to Windows 10 21H1. After each attempt the system reverts back to version 1909. I cannot find any information on the HP support site about my model being tested by HP with the newest version of Windows. I have performed all of the recommendations from Microsoft.

How in the world can I update? Or, is this model not available for an update?

[WAWood]

@billrjz 

We've been seeing posts from others stuck on 1909 and those who have FORCED updates have ended up with trashed PCs.  Seems to be an issue with newer Win10 drivers not available from HP for these older PCs stuck on 1909.

What I recommend, for a PC this old, is to upgrade to an older version of Win10 and not force the latest version onto it.

I have written this tutorial about obtaining an ISO from MS of older Win10 version. The version you want is build 19042.985: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebooks-Knowledge-Base/Getting-older-builds-of-Windows-10-from-Micro...

Once you have the ISO file, use the RUFUS utility to create install media. You can get it from here: https://rufus.ie/en_US/

But BEFORE you do the Windows Update, read the instructions below to make an image backup using Macrium Reflect. That way, if the upgrade fails, you have something to restore FROM:

--------------- Doing Image Backup ---------------
I personally prefer to use third-party Backup solutions as they tend to be both more flexible and more reliable than any built-in solutions.

Macrium Reflect (MR) provides a FREE version that can be used to image and restore partitions or entire drives.

What I recommend is the following:
1) Download and install Macrium Reflect (MR) from here: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
2) Run MR and choose the option: "Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows" to write a full backup to an external drive or USB stick
3) Use the option to create a boot USB stick or CD

My experience is that MR, when using the High Compression option, typically can compress the saved image file to about 50% of the USED space in the OS partition. This means if you have an 80GB OS partition, and 40GB is used, MR only needs about 20GB to store the image file.

I use this all the time and it typically takes less than 15 minutes to do the image backup and about the same time or less to do a restore.

NOW, you have the means to restore a full working system from the external drive or USB stick in only a few minutes.
---------------------------------

When done, insert the install media into your PC (do NOT boot from it), find the folder containing the media, select the setup.exe file, right-click that and select Run as Administrator.  This will start an in-place Upgrade which could then take a couple of hours to complete.

If you are presented with a window asking for a product key, down near the bottom is a entry you can click to skip that. Do NOT enter a product key, as it will reuse your existing key and when you finish and get back online, Windows will automatically activate.

[billrjz]

The PC manufacture date is 2017. Is this considered too old?

Thanks

[WAWood]

@billrjz 

There is no hard and fast date.  I provided you an alternate method to do an upgrade.  You need to consider following those instructions if you want to update your PC.