Windows 10 install problems

[Ethan Gibson]

So my problem is whenever I try to install windows 10 either using the tool they provide or through windows update it fails. If I do it though windows update it will download and it will say "preparing to install" and once that finishes it just says it failed with the error code 80070003 and gives no useful troubleshooting info, if I use the media creation tool and install it directly to my computer through there it will go through everything and then it will open the install screen and it will install up to 22-24% and then it will kick me back to my desktop and give this "error" (I use quotation marks because it's the most useless thing ever)

And if I go to the Get Windows 10 app it has been saying it's downloading in the background for about 4 days now, and I've got the $WINDOWS.~BT and $Windows.~WS folders and I've tried deleting them between attempts and still hasn't worked.

I've also tried wiping my update history, deleting everything in the SoftwareDistribution folder and nothing has worked.

Any ideas on how I can get it to update and work?


(And yes before anyone asks, I am running a genuine copy of Windows 8.1 and yes I'm installing the correct (64 bit) version)

 

[Darkbreeze]

Are you choosing the option WITH or WITHOUT updates? We've seen little success choosing the option WITH updates. Try installing and selecting the option that does NOT include also doing updates and using the installation media rather than via windows update. Updates can be done after installation.

 

[Ethan Gibson]

Are you choosing the option WITH or WITHOUT updates? We've seen little success choosing the option WITH updates. Try installing and selecting the option that does NOT include also doing updates and using the installation media rather than via windows update. Updates can be done after installation.

I've tried both already, doesn't work.

 

[Darkbreeze]

The only thing I can recommend, since that error is DEFINITELY directly related to updates, is doing a clean install of your Windows 8.1 OS and then download new installation media from the following link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10


And burn it to DVD (Not USB) using the following tool:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool


Run 'setup.exe' from the drive, and follow the prompts. Don't tick auto download updates.


If there was an existing Windows update issue at any time in the past, prior to attempting to upgrade, it could have been related to the issue.

 

[Ethan Gibson]

The only thing I can recommend, since that error is DEFINITELY directly related to updates, is doing a clean install of your Windows 8.1 OS and then download new installation media from the following link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10


And burn it to DVD (Not USB) using the following tool:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool


Run 'setup.exe' from the drive, and follow the prompts. Don't tick auto download updates.


If there was an existing Windows update issue at any time in the past, prior to attempting to upgrade, it could have been related to the issue.

Never had problems with updating in the past, would doing the refresh thing work? I've got alot of stuff on here that I don't want to lose and don't have enough space to back all of it up.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Most likely not as whatever is present in the registry that's causing issues is unlikely to be removed or corrected with a refresh unless it's directly involved with the core OS. I'd guess you'll need to buy or find additional storage, or connect your drive to another system that you can use to manually back up the important data from that drive. This is no different than hard drive failure, viruses or other tragedies and is why we always say you should ALWAYS have a secondary location to be used for periodically (Like every two weeks or less) backing up anything that would be life changing to lose.

 

[Ethan Gibson]

Most likely not as whatever is present in the registry that's causing issues is unlikely to be removed or corrected with a refresh unless it's directly involved with the core OS. I'd guess you'll need to buy or find additional storage, or connect your drive to another system that you can use to manually back up the important data from that drive. This is no different than hard drive failure, viruses or other tragedies and is why we always say you should ALWAYS have a secondary location to be used for periodically (Like every two weeks or less) backing up anything that would be life changing to lose.

Problem here is, it's a laptop and I don't have a copy of windows 8 to do a clean install from so I'm basically screwed then is what I'm getting from this. And I've got no other computer to put my files on.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I think you'll need to purchase a backup drive then. You should have someplace to backup your data anyhow. What would you do if a virus, malware or hard drive failure occurred on any other occasion that didn't involve upgrading the OS? You'd be SOL without your data backed up.

 

[Ethan Gibson]

I think you'll need to purchase a backup drive then. You should have someplace to backup your data anyhow. What would you do if a virus, malware or hard drive failure occurred on any other occasion that didn't involve upgrading the OS? You'd be SOL without your data backed up.

The only thing I'd really care about losing is my photography, and I've got most (if not all) on dropbox. The rest can be sacrificed, but it would be a pain to get back (steam library, special settings, etc.) But again, I have no windows 8 install media, disc or digital. the laptop also doesn't have the CD key on it either.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Unless you've deleted it, it should have a recovery partition with the restore image on it. You can access it by pressing F8 for most models when you power up. Press F8 repeatedly, or whatever key is necessary on your unit to access the advanced boot menu, and choose the reset option. You may also be able to initiate a reset from within Windows by using the following steps.

To reset your PC

1.Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings. ...
2.Tap or click Update and recovery, and then tap or click Recovery.
3.Under Remove everything and reinstall Windows, tap or click Get started.
4.Follow the instructions on the screen.


You might also try "refresh" first, which shouldn't remove your personal files. Either way may get you to the point where windows 10 can be installed from USB or DVD media, which is how I'd recommend upgrading rather than trying to do so through the automatic methods.

 

[Ethan Gibson]

Unless you've deleted it, it should have a recovery partition with the restore image on it. You can access it by pressing F8 for most models when you power up. Press F8 repeatedly, or whatever key is necessary on your unit to access the advanced boot menu, and choose the reset option. You may also be able to initiate a reset from within Windows by using the following steps.

To reset your PC

1.Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings. ...
2.Tap or click Update and recovery, and then tap or click Recovery.
3.Under Remove everything and reinstall Windows, tap or click Get started.
4.Follow the instructions on the screen.


You might also try "refresh" first, which shouldn't remove your personal files. Either way may get you to the point where windows 10 can be installed from USB or DVD media, which is how I'd recommend upgrading rather than trying to do so through the automatic methods.

But didn't you say the refresh wouldn't work? I'll try it anyways and my next reply will be a summary of what happened and if it's resolved.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I said I doubted it would work. A refresh only changes things related to the OS for the most part. Files, libraries and drivers related to other applications will generally remain unchanged and if one of them is causing the issue, it won't be resolved. If that's the case then a reset may be necessary. Without having installation media or trying to track down the exact needle in the haystack causing the issue, it's your best option.

 

[Ethan Gibson]

I said I doubted it would work. A refresh only changes things related to the OS for the most part. Files, libraries and drivers related to other applications will generally remain unchanged and if one of them is causing the issue, it won't be resolved. If that's the case then a reset may be necessary. Without having installation media or trying to track down the exact needle in the haystack causing the issue, it's your best option.

Alright, problem, it's asking for me to insert recovery media and it's not detecting the recovery partition (which I know is there) and I also tried using the USB as a boot device, it goes through the "Gathering Info" part and says something to the effect of "this PC was booted from the installation media, please remove the media, restart the computer and re-insert the media and install from there" (I dont remember exactly what it had said) so i tried installing one more time and got as far as 24% (as usual) and failed. I think my computer is pretty much incapable of installing Windows 10 through any means. It's falling apart really, I've been meaning to get a new one for a couple years...

 

[Ethan Gibson]

Ok, big big problem, I just went and looked at my partitions, all the partitions on the drive except the main one (with windows and all my stuff on it) are 100% empty. That is most likely my problem.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Then if it won't install at all, I guess your only option is to do a clean install of Win10.

 

[Ethan Gibson]

Then if it won't install at all, I guess your only option is to do a clean install of Win10.

in order to do that, I need the CD key, which I don't know where to find it (It's nowhere on the laptop itself.)

 

[Darkbreeze]

You can use magic jellybean to extract the product key from the bios:

https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/


And create new installation media for Windows 8 and 8.1 here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media



The fact is though, that we're seeing tons of people, hundreds if not thousands, who are simply doing a clean install of Windows 10 without entering a key at the time of installation that are showing activated systems upon completion without having entered any key, at any time, or bothering with the upgrade. Microsoft says upgrade first, clean install second, but doing a clean install seems to be providing activated versions for everybody who does it, even those with pirated systems, which I frown upon highly but is a fact nonetheless.

This machine still has a functioning Windows 8 operating system, does it not?

 

[Ethan Gibson]

You can use magic jellybean to extract the product key from the bios:

https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/


And create new installation media for Windows 8 and 8.1 here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media



The fact is though, that we're seeing tons of people, hundreds if not thousands, who are simply doing a clean install of Windows 10 without entering a key at the time of installation that are showing activated systems upon completion without having entered any key, at any time, or bothering with the upgrade. Microsoft says upgrade first, clean install second, but doing a clean install seems to be providing activated versions for everybody who does it, even those with pirated systems, which I frown upon highly but is a fact nonetheless.

This machine still has a functioning Windows 8 operating system, does it not?

yes it does, I'll do a clean install when I have time today, thanks.

 

[Darkbreeze]

No problem. Let me know if it doesn't, or even if it does, work out.