Windows 10: Windows 10 1909 VM on ESXi not ready for upgrade to 2004?

I'm trying to upgrade a virtual Windows 10, version 1909, machine running on VMWare ESXi 6.0 to version 2004. However, the upgrade fails repeatedly with a message saying that "this computer is not supported by this 2004 Windows 10 version". Is there a workaround?

:)

 

Windows 2012 Licensing on ESXi

In a Windows 2012 standard license we can have only 2 VMs; so in one ESXi server(of any sockets) we can host a maximum of 2 VMs; so in my environment we have 3 esxi hosts in a cluster with each running 2 VMs.



so please let me know how much Windows standard/Datacenter license should I procure.



As per my understanding; i will require 3 datacenter licenses.



We cannot have 3 standard windows license because we can have only 2 VMs per host (3 servers); this is OK in ideal case scenario.



But if we need to move one VM from one ESXi host to another i.e

ESXi 1 having 1 VMs

ESXi 2 having 3 VMs ---> violation of licensing

ESXi 3 having 2 VMs

then it will be a violation of the licensing policies.



Please correct if my understanding is wrong.

 

Your Device Is not Ready Vs 2004

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...upgrade-errors

No known way of finding out how to make it ready, alas. You can review the main points here:
Known and Resolved issues for Windows 10 May 2020 Update version 2004

- but could be something else.

Given it

- it's unlikely to magically become ready e.g. by later drivers becoming available. You are running in unspecified territory at your own risk.

Even if an out of spec. older machine runs one build of Win 10, there's no guarantee whatsoever it won't have problems with the next. If that old PC runs 1909 successfully, I suggest you save time and effort and sleepless nights, and stay with 1909.

2004 probably doesn't add too much of interest, unless you want PIN sign in to Safe Mode and to chat to Cortana, say...
What is new in the Windows 10 May 2020 Update version 2004

 

ESXi 4.0 and Ubuntu LTS VM Raw Drive Mapping/Software Raid

I don't really think of one as more powerful or not, they're just aimed at different situations.

Server: computer -> host OS -> Server -> VMs.

ESXi: computer -> ESXi -> VMs.

If you, for example, wanted to use ICHxR or any other RAID controller not supported under ESXi, you could set up the array, install the host OS, then install VMware Server and create VMs.

But if this way is working for you, then by all means go ESXi. It's "closer" to the hardware, so performance is a little better and there's no issues when rebooting a host OS for updates and whatnot.