What is a Lockstep Upgrade?

In our last article, we shared the importance of planning your Windows 11 upgrade. Today, we thought we’d share one particularly challenging scenario we occasionally encounter when upgrading business software —the lockstep upgrade.

What is a lockstep upgrade?

A lockstep upgrade happens when multiple components—such as software, hardware, firmware, or drivers—must be upgraded simultaneously. If one component is upgraded without upgrading its dependencies, the system may experience performance issues or not work at all. 

When lockstep upgrades are needed, it feels like a Catch-22 with no easy place to start. There’s no chicken or the egg, it’s chicken and egg, both, at the same time.

Software developers rely on assumptions to create a secure and stable system. These assumptions are listed as requirements for the operating system, firmware and drivers needed to run the software.

In theory, if you keep your technology infrastructure up to date, you shouldn’t run into a problem. However, we occasionally encounter clients who can’t update certain computers for various reasons. For example, they may have a mission critical legacy software program that they’re reticent to replace. At some point, this will likely trigger a lockstep upgrade where the computers and software must be replaced at the same time.

Example lockstep upgrade scenarios

1. Windows OS & drivers
Upgrading to Windows 11 without updating GPU drivers may lead to crashes or poor performance. Here’s where you can check your readiness for Windows 11. 

2. Business software & backend systems
A business upgrading a CRM system may also need to update the database, middleware software, or API connections to maintain data compatibility. 

3. Cloud & on-prem systems
Cloud applications may require specific API versions, forcing simultaneous upgrades in on-prem infrastructure. 

Windows 11 potential lockstep upgrade scenarios

In Windows 11, we foresee lockstep upgrade issues to occur in instances like the ones below. Of course, we can’t anticipate or prepare for every client scenario, which is why we are encouraging clients to plan their Windows 11 upgrade as soon as possible.

If you have a complicated technology infrastructure or a limited budget, it is especially important for you to plan ahead to ensure business continuity once Windows 10 is deprecated in October 2025. Please reach out to schedule a time to talk!  

1. Hardware compatibility issues
Windows 11 has strict system requirements, including TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. Older hardware that doesn’t support these features may require BIOS/firmware upgrades in lockstep with the OS upgrade.

Example: A user upgrades to Windows 11 but finds their PC unusable because the motherboard firmware wasn’t updated to support TPM 2.0.

2. Driver incompatibility
Some device drivers may not be updated to support Windows 11, leading to malfunctions or crashes.

Example: A GPU driver for an older NVIDIA card isn’t updated at the same time as Windows 11, leading to display flickering or crashes until the driver is updated.

3. Business software dependencies
Some line of business applications may not be fully compatible with Windows 11 without simultaneous upgrades to newer versions.

Example: A company upgrades its PCs to Windows 11, but legacy accounting software requires an older .NET Framework version that isn’t available by default.

4. Virtualization issues
Windows 11 has built-in security features like VBS (Virtualization-Based Security), which may require hypervisor updates or BIOS changes.

Example: A user upgrades to Windows 11 but cannot run virtual machines because the required firmware settings were not changed in lockstep.

5. Software dependencies on older components
Some software relies on outdated components like Internet Explorer (removed in Windows 11) or older versions of PowerShell.

Example: A custom business app that depends on Internet Explorer stops working after the Windows 11 upgrade, requiring an app rewrite.

6. Group Policy / Active Directory issues
Organizations using Group Policy settings from Windows 10 may need updates to maintain compatibility with Windows 11’s security and feature changes.

Example: A company upgrades to Windows 11 but experiences login failures because old Active Directory policies don’t support the new security model.

7. Peripheral device issues
Printers, scanners, and other peripherals may need new firmware or drivers to work with Windows 11.

Example: A user upgrades to Windows 11 and finds their business-critical label printer doesn’t work because the manufacturer hasn’t released updated drivers.

Book a Windows 11 Readiness Assessment

Eclipse Consulting can help you to prepare for the retirement of Windows 10 by running a Windows 11 Readiness Assessment for your organization. This assessment will help you understand:

• What hardware needs to be replaced
• Whether your software applications are compatible
• Security risks within your tech stack
• Your data migration requirements
• The total cost of a Windows 11 deployment 

The key to a smooth transition is to start your Windows 11 planning early – especially if you suspect you may have compatibility issues.