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Windows 11, Managed Upgrade Walkthrough

This article will walk you through the necessary steps to prepare your Gies provided device for its upgrade to Windows 11.

Pre-Upgrade Preparation

Confirm your Gies provided laptop, or desktop, is plugged into its charger or docking station (whichever applies).

Connect a power source to your device.

If your device is on campus, confirm you are connected to Illinois Net or that your device, or its related dock, is connected to a wired Ethernet cable.

If your device is off campus, confirm your device or its related dock, is connected to either: your home WiFi or a wired Ethernet cable.

Connect your device to WiFi or an Ethernet cable.

VPN (Off-campus only)

Lastly, if your device is located off-campus when the upgrade will occur for your department, please ensure that it is successfully connected to the VPN.

When connecting to the VPN, please select “Tunnel All.”

Select "Tunnel All" in the VPN drop down.

For reference and assistance with confirming a VPN connection, please refer to the following Knowledge Base articles:

Cisco VPN, How to connect

Cisco VPN, Start Before Logon, How to connect before Windows login

IMPORTANT: Once the upgrade is completed, please re-connect to the Cisco VPN either before you login or once you have signed back into your account.

Sleep Settings

After signing into your Windows account, press the “Windows” key plus the “I” key on your keyboard to open the Settings menu.

Alternatively, select the Windows icon and then select the "Gear" icon to open the Settings menu.

Select the gear icon.

In the new window, select “System”.

Select the option labeled "System".

In the following menu, select “Power & Sleep.”

Select "Power & Sleep" on left of the window.

After the “Power & Sleep” menu is visible, review the “Sleep” options.  Change the option that reads “When plugged in, PC goes to sleep after.”

Change the drop-down menu value for this setting to “Never.”

Change the second "Sleep" option to "Never".

Software Center

Locate the Windows search box at the bottom left of your screen, or select the magnifying lens icon, and type “Software Center.”  Select “Open.”

Search for "Software Center" and select "Open".

Once Software Center loads, select “Options” on the left side of the window.

Select "Options" on the left side of Software Center".

In the “Options” menu, hover your cursor over “Computer Maintenance” and select it.  Several options should appear.  Confirm that the top option, “Automatically install or uninstall required software and…”, is checked.

If it is not, check its box and then select the button that reads “Sync Policy.”

Check the top box under "Computer Maintenance".  Select "Sync Policy".

That’s it!  Your device is now ready to receive the Windows 11 upgrade.

Remember: Please keep your device plugged in, connected to the internet, and turned on to make sure no interruptions occur during this upgrade.

 



Keywords:
Microsoft, Operating System, OS, Eleven, Elelven, Elven, Win, Win11, Win10, Windows 11, Windows10, Update, 24H2 
Doc ID:
151560
Owned by:
Ethan C. in UI Gies College of Business
Created:
2025-06-06
Updated:
2025-06-20
Sites:
UI Gies College of Business