[SOLVED] Trying to upgrade a Windows 8.1 Toshiba Satellite to Windows 10

[niclav]

Did a clean wipe of the Satellite system drive using Disk Genius, burned a bootable DVD with Windows 10, and now it won't boot at all. No matter what I do I keep getting the message:

An operating system wasn’t found. Try disconnecting any drives that don’t contain an operating system. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart.

Tried everything to access the boot menu, but no luck. I'm afraid I've bricked my friend's laptop...

 

[USAFRet]

How did you create the DVD?
Possibly try a USB flash drive.

 

[britechguy]

You do not say what model, but this video may help:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh-Dx5lPh4E


I believe the F2 key, repeatedly pressed is what works on my partner's Toshiba laptop. But it may be F12, as noted here:

https://www.4winkey.com/computer-help/how-to-access-enter-bios-on-toshiba-laptop.html

Much depends on the age of the hardware and whether you're dealing with actual old-school BIOS or UEFI. If the machine is "young enough" to have shipped originally with Windows 8.1 it almost certainly has UEFI. Most Windows 7 and earlier machines are true, old-school BIOS.

 

[niclav]

How did you create the DVD?
Possibly try a USB flash drive.

I downloaded the official Widows 10 Pro tool from Microsoft, which created an ISO image that I then burned onto a DVD. I also tried putting it onto a USB. I get exactly the same response in either case. I have tried entering the BIOS to change the boot order, but no luck there either.

 

[britechguy]

Unless you get into UEFI/BIOS and change the boot order you will remain stuck.

The default boot device is always the HDD/SSD that comes with the system as the default. Since you've already wiped it you are getting exactly the message one would expect, that there is no OS on the boot device.

You are going to have to figure out how to change the boot order.