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Command prompt and PowerShell don't open after in-place upgrade of Windows 10 S

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This article provides a solution to an issue where Command prompt and PowerShell don't open after in-place upgrade of Windows 10 S.

Applies to:   Windows 10, version 1809
Original KB number:   4019568

Symptom

Windows 10 S can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, or Windows 10 Education by using various methods. For example:

  • Manually entering a product key
  • Using Microsoft Store for Business
  • Purchasing a license from the Microsoft Store
  • Using installation media (in-place upgrade)

For more information, see Windows 10 edition upgrade Windows 10 edition upgrade.
After you do an in-place upgrade of Windows 10 S by using Setup.exe from Windows 10 installation media, when you open a command prompt, PowerShell, or any Win32 application, you may receive the following error message:
Your organization used Device Guard to block this app C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe

Contact your support person for more info.

Screenshot of the Your organization used Device Guard to block this app error.

Cause

This issue occurs because the policy that allows Windows 10 S to control Win32 applications has not cleared.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, restart the computer. You may have to restart two or three times to clear this policy.

Reference

For more information about what is blocked in Windows 10 S, see Planning a Windows 10 in S mode deployment.

Data collection

If you need assistance from Microsoft support, we recommend you collect the information by following the steps mentioned in Gather information by using TSS for User Experience issues.