Windows 10 In-Place Upgrade Process via Setupact.log | Enable MigNeo | Windows Update

Let’s have a quick look at the Windows 10 In-Place Upgrade Process via Setupact.log and some notes about MigNeo setup options from the real world.

As per my testing with real-world devices and WVD VMs, I have noticed two things:

1. Took NEO path: The physical machines took the NEO path and hence skipped the Safe OS phase, which resulted in 25 minutes of offline time.
   • Log Entry – SKIPBOOTTRACK(SAFEOS): Skip Boot Validator: Will proceed with SafeOS boot removal.
2. Skipped Neo Path: The setup uses the internet to connect to one setting and finds whether the Neo path can be taken for Azure VMs used for WVD. The Azure VM didn’t take the Neo path and had around ~50 minutes of offline time.
   • MOUPG SetupHost: OneSettings Initialized -> [Yes]
   • MOUPG OneSettings: Found [MIGNEOENABLED] -> [False]

I’m unaware of the Windows update for business(WUfB) policy configuration switches that enable/disable MigNeo. I thought enabling MigNeo (MigNeo /Enable switch) might help speed up Windows 10 in-place upgrade for WVD VMs.

NOTE! – NEO stands for Non-event Objective, a multi-release effort to reduce feature update offline time, including a single reboot for most users. This option is available in Windows 10, version 1803, and later.

Windows 10 In-Place Upgrade Process

I don’t think the below sequence of phases is followed in the Windows Update for Business(WUfB) Windows 10 upgrade process. I have seen only one reboot for WVD VMs.

• Windows 10 1909 Upgrade Using SCCM Task Sequence
• Windows 10 Intune Enrollment Manual Process AAD Registration

Getting Things Ready

The getting Things Ready phase is the first step toward the Windows 10 upgrade.

• Windows 10 devices are configured with Windows Update for Business policies.
• Devices scan against Windows Update cloud services.
• Windows Update cloud services start delivering Windows 10 update configurations and content.

Download

This is the download phase, where users can work on Windows 10 devices. In this phase, the software update agent downloads the Windows 10 2004 content from the Software Update cloud service.

Installing

Once the Windows 10 2004 content is downloaded, the Software Update agent starts installing. During this phase, users can normally work.

NOTE! – I have seen some performance hit during the installation phase.

Windows 10 Update Restart Prompt

This is the phase where users get prompted to restart the device to complete the Windows 10 in-place upgrade process.

Once you restart the device, the rest of the Windows 10 upgrade happens offline.

Setupact.log Process Flow

Now, you need to look into the Panther logs. Two log files, Setupact.log and Setuperr.log, are located at C:$Windows. BTSourcesPanther.

• Setupact.log
• Setuperr.log

========================Setup Host=========================

• 2021-01-25 15:09:24, Error                 CONX   Windows::Compat::Shared::UtcLogger::End (281):   Error starting service: [0x80070422].[gle=0x80070422]
• 2021-01-25 15:09:24, Info                  MOUPG  **************** SetupHost Logging End ****************
• 2021-01-25 15:46:40, Info                  MOUPG  *************** SetupHost Logging Begin ***************
• 2021-01-25 15:46:40, Info                  MOUPG  SetupHost::Initialize

======================ESD File Location=============================

• 2021-01-25 15:46:42, Info                  MOUPG  SetupManager: ActionList InstallFile Path [C:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\professional_en-us.esd]

=======================Action List============================

• 2021-01-25 15:46:42, Info                  MOUPG  SetupManager: Setting latent acquisiton ActionList path: [C:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\ActionList.xml]

=======================Adding Drivers===========================

• 2021-01-25 15:47:15, Info                  MIG    BuildDriverFilesList: adding c:\windows\inf\acpi.inf

==================Loading replacement manifest data=======================

• 2021-01-25 15:47:18, Info                  MIG    Loading replacement manifest data for Microsoft-ActiveDirectory-WebServices

=======================Environment Variables========================

• 2021-01-25 15:50:58, Info       [0x0803a0] MIG    Dumping SYSTEM environment
• 2021-01-25 15:50:58, Info       [0x08024c] MIG        %ALLUSERSAPPDATA% <-> C:\ProgramData
• 2021-01-25 15:50:58, Info       [0x08024c] MIG        %ALLUSERSPROFILE% <-> C:\ProgramData
• 2021-01-25 15:50:58, Info       [0x08024c] MIG        %COMMONPROGRAMFILES% <-> C:\Program Files\Common Files
• 2021-01-25 15:50:58, Info       [0x08024c] MIG        %COMMONPROGRAMFILES(X86)% <-> C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files
• 2021-01-25 15:50:58, Info       [0x08024c] MIG        %COMPUTERNAME% <-> V-UKGOS017-0

========================Setup Logging End========================

• 2021-01-25 15:51:34, Info                  MOUPG  **************** SetupHost Logging End ****************

====================Execution Phase===========================

• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Executing phase [Safe OS]
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                         Initializing diagnostics helper; data file = F:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Diagnostics\diagnostics.dat

========================Different Phases======================

• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Phase: Downlevel
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Phase: Pre-Finalize
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Phase: Finalize
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Phase: Safe OS
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Phase: Pre First Boot
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Phase: Pre SysPrep
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Phase: Post SysPrep
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Phase: Post First Boot
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Phase: Pre OOBE Boot
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Phase: Pre OOBE
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Phase: Post OOBE
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Phase: Post OOBE Boot
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Phase: End

• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     DISKSPACEQUERY: Calculating disk space needed:

• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Boot WinPE
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Prepare SafeOS for rollback
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Set SafeOS boot entry as the default boot entry
• 2021-01-25 15:52:13, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Enable Page File in SafeOS
• 2021-01-25 15:52:14, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Apply WIM file PathForNewOSFile, index 3 to F:\$WINDOWS.~BT\NewOS
• 2021-01-25 16:13:43, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Complete new OS apply
• 2021-01-25 16:13:43, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Apply EAs for F:\$WINDOWS.~BT\NewOS
• 2021-01-25 16:13:43, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Enable telemetry for F:\$WINDOWS.~BT\NewOS
• 2021-01-25 16:13:45, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Add [1] package F:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\Windows10.0-KB4598481-x64.cab
• 2021-01-25 16:14:31, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Apply Optional Component status
• 2021-01-25 16:14:49, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Apply Drivers
• 2021-01-25 16:14:53, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Prepare the recovery image
• 2021-01-25 16:17:00, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Create file F:\$WINDOWS.~BT\NewOS\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\ClipSVC\GenuineTicket\GenuineTicket.xml on the new system
• 2021-01-25 16:17:00, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Create file F:\$WINDOWS.~BT\NewOS\Windows\Setup\LatentAcquisition\ActionList.xml on the new system
• 2021-01-25 16:17:00, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Set boot command %SYSTEMDRIVE%\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\SetupPlatform.exe /postoobe for phase DismPostOobe
• 2021-01-25 16:17:02, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Set boot command %SYSTEMDRIVE%\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\SetupPlatform.exe /presysprep for phase DismPreSysprep

• 2021-01-25 16:17:04, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Set boot command %SYSTEMDRIVE%\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\SetupPlatform.exe /postsysprep for phase DismPostSysprep
• 2021-01-25 16:17:06, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Set boot command %SYSTEMDRIVE%\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\SetupPlatform.exe /preoobe for phase DismPreOobe
• 2021-01-25 16:17:07, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Set boot command %SYSTEMDRIVE%\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\SetupPlatform.exe /on error for phase DismOnError
• 2021-01-25 16:17:09, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Set entropy for F:\$WINDOWS.~BT\NewOS
• 2021-01-25 16:17:09, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Add [1] package F:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\Microsoft-Windows-Client-LanguagePack-Package_en-gb~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~en-gb~.esd
• 2021-01-25 16:19:36, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Add [1] package F:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\amd64_Microsoft-Windows-LanguageFeatures-Basic-en-gb-Package~~amd64~~10.0.19041.1
• 2021-01-25 16:19:42, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Add [3] package F:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell-ISE-FOD-Package~~amd64~en-US~10.0.19041.1
• 2021-01-25 16:19:47, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Add [3] package F:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\Microsoft-Windows-MSPaint-FoD-Package~~amd64~en-US~10.0.19041.1
• 2021-01-25 16:19:51, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Add [3] package F:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\Microsoft-Windows-Notepad-FoD-Package~~amd64~en-US~10.0.19041.1
• 2021-01-25 16:19:56, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Add [1] package F:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\amd64_Microsoft-Windows-LanguageFeatures-OCR-en-gb-Package~~amd64~~10.0.19041.1
• 2021-01-25 16:20:01, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Add [3] package F:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\Microsoft-Windows-StepsRecorder-Package~~amd64~en-US~10.0.19041.1
• 2021-01-25 16:20:06, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Add [1] package F:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\Microsoft-Windows-Printing-WFS-FoD-Package~~amd64~en-US~10.0.19041.1
• 2021-01-25 16:20:10, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Add [3] package F:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\Microsoft-Windows-WordPad-FoD-Package~~amd64~en-US~10.0.19041.1
• 2021-01-25 16:20:15, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Add [1] package F:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\Microsoft-Windows-Printing-PMCPPC-FoD-Package~~amd64~en-US~10.0.19041.1
• 2021-01-25 16:20:19, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Add [1] package F:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\Windows10.0-KB4598242-x64.cab
• 2021-01-25 16:47:03, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Complete servicing operations

NOTE! – The KB article installation took most of the time in this example. But, in a normal scenario, these KBs should already be installed before Windows 10 in-place upgrade. There will be improvements on Windows 10 updates whenever the device can take any NEO path and hence skipped the Safe OS phase.

• 2021-01-25 16:47:04, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Migrate framework (Full)
• 2021-01-25 16:48:17, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Set product key
• 2021-01-25 16:48:22, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Run Sysprep specialization offline on F:\$WINDOWS.~BT\NewOS
• 2021-01-25 16:48:29, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Add Appx package F:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4eea2720b7c97f1951f7f50d8bc94544\LanguageExperiencePack.en-gb.Neutral.appx
• 2021-01-25 16:48:52, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Offline portion of first and be boot apply operations
• 2021-01-25 16:52:12, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Add boot entry for F:\$WINDOWS.~BT\NewOS\WINDOWS. Locale = en-US
• 2021-01-25 16:52:12, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Prepare the new OS for first boot
• 2021-01-25 16:52:13, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Ensure suspended services are stopped
• 2021-01-25 16:56:53, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Create registry key HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\i8042prt\Parameters (value name: PollingIterations) on the new system
• 2021-01-25 16:56:53, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Create registry key HKLM\System\Setup\Upgrade (value name: DownlevelBuildNumber) on the new system
• 2021-01-25 16:56:53, Info                  SP     Executing operation: OOBE boot apply
• 2021-01-25 17:03:42, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Refresh localized strings
• 2021-01-25 17:03:44, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Execute provisioning migration
• 2021-01-25 17:03:48, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Gather end install, scope: EVERYTHING
• 2021-01-25 17:04:06, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Start suspended services
• 2021-01-25 17:04:11, Info                  SP     ExecuteOperations: Successfully processed execution phase Pre OOBE
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     OPERATIONTRACK ExecuteOperations: Start execution phase Post OOBE
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     ExecuteOperations: Successfully processed execution phase Post OOBE
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     OPERATIONTRACK ExecuteOperations: Start execution phase Post OOBE Boot
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     ExecuteOperations: Successfully processed execution phase Post OOBE Boot
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     OPERATIONTRACK ExecuteOperations: Start execution phase End
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     ExecuteOperations: Successfully processed execution phase End
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     Phase: Pre-Finalize
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     Phase: Finalize
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     Phase: Safe OS
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     Phase: Pre-First Boot
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     Phase: Pre SysPrep
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     Phase: Post SysPre
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     Phase: Post First Boot
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     Phase: Pre OOBE Boot
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     Phase: Pre OOBE
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     Phase: Post OOBE
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     Phase: Post OOBE Boot
• 2021-01-25 17:04:35, Info                  SP     Phase: End
• 2021-01-25 17:07:40, Info                  CBS    Trusted Installer is shutting down because SHUTDOWN_REASON_AUTOSTOP

================== Started Applying image=============================

• 2021-01-25 15:52:49, Info                  SP     SPWIMCallback: Image apply. Progress: 0
• 2021-01-25 16:13:42, Info                  SP     SPWIMCallback: Image apply. Progress: 100
• 2021-01-25 16:13:43, Info                  SP     Executing operation: Complete new OS apply

===================Complete New OS Apply================

• 2021-01-25 16:13:43, Info                  SP      41|Complete new OS apply

======================DPX Phase======================

• 2021-01-25 16:20:34, Info                  DPX    Started DPX phase: Resume and Download Job
• 2021-01-25 16:26:13, Info                  DPX    Ended DPX phase: Apply Deltas Provided In File
• 2021-01-25 16:49:16, Warning                      Mig::CUpgradeTransportStreamProxy::CreateFolder: Error while setting short name MICROS~1 for \\?\F:\$WINDOWS.~BT\NewOS\Program Files\Microsoft Update Health Tools. Error: 0xC0000035

Resources

• Upgrade to Windows 10 2004 Using SCCM | ConfigMgr | Servicing
• Difference Between Windows Patch Management Using Intune Vs. ConfigMgr | SCCM | Software Updates

Author

Anoop C Nair has been Microsoft MVP for 10 consecutive years from 2015 onwards. He is a Workplace Solution Architect with more than 22+ years of experience in Workplace technologies. He is a Blogger, Speaker, and Local User Group Community leader. His primary focus is on Device Management technologies like SCCM and Intune. He writes about technologies like Intune, SCCM, Windows, Cloud PC, Windows, Entra, Microsoft Security, Career, etc.