Unable to revert to previous version of Windows 11 six days after upgrade

Dear STEVEN FLEISCHER,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A.

I understand how frustrating it can be to deal with Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors after upgrading to Windows 11 24H2, especially when you’re trying to revert to 23H2 but hitting a roadblock.

The primary reason for the "can't go back" message, despite the Windows.old folder being visible, is that critical rollback files are missing or corrupted.

Windows typically gives you a 10-day window to revert a feature update. After this period, a cleanup process automatically removes the necessary files to save disk space, even if the main Windows.old folder remains temporarily.

For a successful rollback, Windows needs more than just the Windows.old folder. It also relies on hidden folders like $Windows.~BT and $Windows.~WS. If any of these have been deleted or altered, the automated process will fail. This can happen if you've run Disk Cleanup or if a system process has removed them after the 10-day grace period.

Since it has been only 6 days for you, it's possible some other system action inadvertently removed these crucial supporting files.

However, you could try Performing a Clean Installation of 23H2. Please refer to this article (Part 2 and Part 3): How to Download and Install Windows 11 23H2 Safely (ISO, Update, and More) | WPS Office Blog

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You can download ISO Windows 11 23H2 file here

Note: Please ensure that you backup any important data, including Documents, Pictures, Videos and more.

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Best regards, 

Bryan Vu | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist