So I tried to format my HDD on Windows 10

[TGCHD]

Last night I tried to format my hard drive to have a fresh copy of Windows 10, the first time my computer got 66 percent through formatting the drive and then stopped and rebooted and did the same thing, got up to 66 percent and then failed. Then it started to get really bad, My PC got stuck in a boot loop, it did this about 20 times before I decided to hold ESC as it started up and get into the start up options. I clicked Exit and boot into Windows 10, it tried to boot into Windows 10 and got stuck in another boot loop. I then got into the boot options again and tried to do an auto repair which didn't work. I rebooted and my PC booted in an HP setup where it was downloading things and this was taking a long time. So(Probably against my better judgement) rebooted again, I this twice before somehow my PC booted into Windows 8. Great! I thought and then I go to settings to make everything like it was before and was told to activate Windows I click the activate button and it gave me error 0xC004C003, to be clear I am using a legitimate version of Windows. So I decided to Google the error and most other people how have had this error are calling Microsoft support and getting worked through with a representative. Does anybody have any idea what's causing this error and an easier way to fix it than having to buy a new key?
Thanks in advance

 

[basroil]

Looks like you didn't follow the instructions properly.

What you need to do is install Windows 8.1 again (you can use the media creation tool from the microsoft website), and then upgrade to Windows 10. AFTER upgrading you can use the windows 10 media creation tool to do a clean install. It will work after that.

 

[TGCHD]

Looks like you didn't follow the instructions properly.

What you need to do is install Windows 8.1 again (you can use the media creation tool from the microsoft website), and then upgrade to Windows 10. AFTER upgrading you can use the windows 10 media creation tool to do a clean install. It will work after that.

So put the Windows 8.1 file on a and boot from that? And then install Windows 10?
Thanks

 

[basroil]

Yes, first you need to reinstall Windows 8.1, install the proper updates so that Windows 10 upgrade can work, then upgrade. Only after upgrading can you reinstall Windows 10 (and reformat the disk in the process)

 

[TGCHD]

Yes, first you need to reinstall Windows 8.1, install the proper updates so that Windows 10 upgrade can work, then upgrade. Only after upgrading can you reinstall Windows 10 (and reformat the disk in the process)

I'll give it try and tell you my results. thanks again!

 

[TGCHD]

Yes, first you need to reinstall Windows 8.1, install the proper updates so that Windows 10 upgrade can work, then upgrade. Only after upgrading can you reinstall Windows 10 (and reformat the disk in the process)

Does it matter if download the 8.1 update from the store or do I have to boot off a USB/External HDD?

 

[basroil]

Follow the instructions at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media to install Windows 8.1 (includes update) from a USB stick. Once everything works, upgrade to Windows 10.

After that, you can reuse the USB stick to install Windows 10 using http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install.

 

[TGCHD]

Follow the instructions at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media to install Windows 8.1 (includes update) from a USB stick. Once everything works, upgrade to Windows 10.

After that, you can reuse the USB stick to install Windows 10 using http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install.

Okay, thanks. Just out of curiosity what would happen if you were to update through the store?

 

[basroil]

Windows 8.1 update? Nothing really, it'll just take a hell of a lot longer than if you use the link I sent you.

 

[TGCHD]

Windows 8.1 update? Nothing really, it'll just take a hell of a lot longer than if you use the link I sent you.

Okay, I'll for sure do it off my USB
Thanks, again

 

[TGCHD]

Windows 8.1 update? Nothing really, it'll just take a hell of a lot longer than if you use the link I sent you.

Update: So I'm trying to install the updates to get to 8.1 and it tells me to restart to finalize the updates, but my PC gets stuck at 12 percent and then I have to do system restore and all the updates are uninstalled, have any idea of what I could do?
Thanks

 

[basroil]

Windows 8.1 update? Nothing really, it'll just take a hell of a lot longer than if you use the link I sent you.

Update: So I'm trying to install the updates to get to 8.1 and it tells me to restart to finalize the updates, but my PC gets stuck at 12 percent and then I have to do system restore and all the updates are uninstalled, have any idea of what I could do?
Thanks

How long does it get stuck there? If it's less than two hours, you really shouldn't be turning it off.

When doing updates, only select 20-30 of them at a time to minimize issues.

 

[TGCHD]

Windows 8.1 update? Nothing really, it'll just take a hell of a lot longer than if you use the link I sent you.

Update: So I'm trying to install the updates to get to 8.1 and it tells me to restart to finalize the updates, but my PC gets stuck at 12 percent and then I have to do system restore and all the updates are uninstalled, have any idea of what I could do?
Thanks

How long does it get stuck there? If it's less than two hours, you really shouldn't be turning it off.

When doing updates, only select 20-30 of them at a time to minimize issues.

I don't have an exact time frame of how long it takes but it usually will just stay a 12 and then say failure configuring your updates and then gets stuck there. I have Windows tablet, is there any chance I could transfer Windows from that to my PC, I would only think of doing that as a last resort kind of thing.

 

[TGCHD]

Windows 8.1 update? Nothing really, it'll just take a hell of a lot longer than if you use the link I sent you.

Update: So I'm trying to install the updates to get to 8.1 and it tells me to restart to finalize the updates, but my PC gets stuck at 12 percent and then I have to do system restore and all the updates are uninstalled, have any idea of what I could do?
Thanks

How long does it get stuck there? If it's less than two hours, you really shouldn't be turning it off.

When doing updates, only select 20-30 of them at a time to minimize issues.

Update: So in Windows update it said restart to finish installing updates, I click restart and then I see my screen say Installing 1 of 174 updates, I leave my PC alone and let it do that. That finishes and it say configuring updates and gets stuck at 12 percent, it does this twice before it restarts and then says Failure configuring updates, I wait an hour and nothing, so I restart my PC and then it just says the same thing as it did last time, I wait another this and still nothing. So I ended just doing a system restore through the boot options. Should I keep trying with the updates?
Thanks