Dumb Windows 10 Installation

[Freezanator]

My friend recently tried to upgrade his laptop to Windows 10 from Windows 8 which was pretty stupid since the free offer ended around the beginning of August. So, what happened was, he downloaded the Windows Media Creation Tool and chose 'Upgrade this PC now' and it downloaded Windows 10. After a few hours, the download completed and he ran the setup. His laptop rebooted several times and suddenly froze. He waited for a couple of hours but in vain. So, he force shut down his laptop and left it like that (This was exactly 1 week ago). I will be receiving his laptop from him this Wednesday to see if I could help him with assistance from the great community here. His laptop is an ASUS A550C. Reply if you could help or give any suggestions. Thanks!

[Enderman]

This is why you do a clean install, not the broken upgrade.

http://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-to-clean-install-windows-10/

[Freezanator]

1 minute ago, Enderman said:

This is why you do a clean install, not the broken upgrade.

http://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-to-clean-install-windows-10/

But the laptop will freeze when it turns on and the free upgrade to Windows 10 expired. Did you even read the whole passage?

[rhyseyness]

5 minutes ago, Freezanator said:

But the laptop will freeze when it turns on and the free upgrade to Windows 10 expired. Did you even read the whole passage?

It freezing has nothing to do with the free upgrade offer expiring.

It is freezing because he used the "upgrade" option rather than a completely clean install.

 

EDIT: I should probably clarify, I'm not saying the upgrade option makes it freeze up every time.

It's just using the "upgrade" option is more likely to cause issues than a clean install.

[Freezanator]

Just now, rhyseyness said:

It freezing has nothing to do with the free upgrade offer expiring.

It is freezing because he used the "upgrade" option rather than a completely clean install.

But I did the same upgrade from an older build of Windows 10 to the Anniversary Edition using the same method without any problems. Anyways, is there a workaround to this? I'll have more detail when I receive his laptop.

[rhyseyness]

Just now, Freezanator said:

But I did the same upgrade from an older build of Windows 10 to the Anniversary Edition using the same method without any problems. Anyways, is there a workaround to this? I'll have more detail when I receive his laptop.

Yea, sorry, I added an edit.

Upgrade won't always cause problems, it's just more likely to than a clean install.

 

The workaround: save all your data somewhere safe, clean install then transfer all your data.

[Freezanator]

I could perform a clean install of Windows 10 from Windows 8 even though the free offer expired?

[Freezanator]

2 minutes ago, rhyseyness said:

Yea, sorry, I added an edit.

Upgrade won't always cause problems, it's just more likely to than a clean install.

 

The workaround: save all your data somewhere safe, clean install then transfer all your data.

I could perform a clean install of Windows 10 from Windows 8 even though the free offer expired? (sry for double posting)

[rhyseyness]

1 minute ago, Freezanator said:

I could perform a clean install of Windows 10 from Windows 8 even though the free offer expired? (sry for double posting)

Yes... but you'll need a windows 10 license key which you'll either have to buy, or have laying around.

[Freezanator]

40 minutes ago, rhyseyness said:

Yes... but you'll need a windows 10 license key which you'll either have to buy, or have laying around.

Ok, my friend got back to me with this error (image below). I've read on Microsoft's forum and other sites but the guides they provide are for those who are performing a first-time Setup of Windows on their PC instead of upgrading Windows after free offer ended. My friend has went through all the steps but it just brings him back to the Elevated Command Prompt and he doesn't have a cursor on his screen. He can just use his keyboard.

[Enderman]

51 minutes ago, Freezanator said:

But the laptop will freeze when it turns on and the free upgrade to Windows 10 expired. Did you even read the whole passage?

All you need to do is plug in the bootable USB and set it as the first priority in the BIOS.

They it will boot from the USB and you can reinstall.

It's only freezing because it's trying to boot to the internal drive.

 

And even though the free upgrade expired you can still get the "free upgrade" by using this:

https://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-windows-10-free-upgrade-offer-assistive-features/

[Freezanator]

1 minute ago, Enderman said:

All you need to do is plug in the bootable USB and set it as the first priority in the BIOS.

They it will boot from the USB and you can reinstall.

It's only freezing because it's trying to boot to the internal drive.

 

And even though the free upgrade expired you can still get the "free upgrade" by using this:

https://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-windows-10-free-upgrade-offer-assistive-features/

He's stuck on Elevated Command Prompt without a cursor and just a keyboard. How does he escape?

[Enderman]

Just now, Freezanator said:

He's stuck on Elevated Command Prompt without a cursor and just a keyboard. How does he escape?

Hold the power button to force shut down.

[rhyseyness]

4 minutes ago, Freezanator said:

Ok, my friend got back to me with this error (image below). I've read on Microsoft's forum and other sites but the guides they provide are for those who are performing a first-time Setup of Windows on their PC instead of upgrading Windows after free offer ended. My friend has went through all the steps but it just brings him back to the Elevated Command Prompt and he doesn't have a cursor on his screen. He can just use his keyboard.

1. Plug his HDD/SSD into another PC
2. Copy all his important files to somewhere safe on another drive
3. Plug his HDD/SSD back into his PC
4. Plug bootable media (windows 10 install) into his PC
5. Follow the steps on screen to format his PC, and reinstall windows 10 from scratch
6. Once all booted in, transfer his important files back onto his PC

This isn't your only option, but it's what I'd do.

It's the quickest and easiest method to resolve errors like this.

[Freezanator]

23 minutes ago, rhyseyness said:

1. Plug his HDD/SSD into another PC
2. Copy all his important files to somewhere safe on another drive
3. Plug his HDD/SSD back into his PC
4. Plug bootable media (windows 10 install) into his PC
5. Follow the steps on screen to format his PC, and reinstall windows 10 from scratch
6. Once all booted in, transfer his important files back onto his PC

This isn't your only option, but it's what I'd do.

It's the quickest and easiest method to resolve errors like this.

How do I create a bootable USB drive when the free upgrade of Windows 10 is only available for the computer itself by using Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant?

[Freezanator]

30 minutes ago, Enderman said:

All you need to do is plug in the bootable USB and set it as the first priority in the BIOS.

They it will boot from the USB and you can reinstall.

It's only freezing because it's trying to boot to the internal drive.

 

And even though the free upgrade expired you can still get the "free upgrade" by using this:

https://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-windows-10-free-upgrade-offer-assistive-features/

How does he download Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant when he can't even get into the login screen?

[rhyseyness]

3 minutes ago, Freezanator said:

How does he download Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant when he can't even get into the login screen?

 

4 minutes ago, Freezanator said:

How do I create a bootable USB drive when the free upgrade of Windows 10 is only available for the computer itself by using Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant?

 

Use another PC to create the bootable USB.

You can use the media creation tool without the free upgrade.

[Freezanator]

Just now, rhyseyness said:

 

 

Use another PC to create the bootable USB.

You can use the media creation tool without the free upgrade.

For real? Could you give me the link please?

[rhyseyness]

Just now, Freezanator said:

For real?

Legit.

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

[Freezanator]

Just now, rhyseyness said:

Legit.

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

Completely free upgrade to Windows 10?

[rhyseyness]

Just now, Freezanator said:

Completely free upgrade to Windows 10?

Like I said, you'll need a license, which is not free.

You can however install windows 10 onto the PC without this.

[Freezanator]

1 minute ago, rhyseyness said:

Like I said, you'll need a license, which is not free.

You can however install windows 10 onto the PC without this.

So, I can't create a bootable USB drive for my friend but he can get Windows 10 for free by getting Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant?

[rhyseyness]

Just now, Freezanator said:

So, I can't create a bootable USB drive for my friend but he can get Windows 10 for free by getting Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant?

There is no way he can get it for free, legally, at this point.

The free upgrade is over so he'd have to pay for a license.

[Freezanator]

4 minutes ago, rhyseyness said:

There is no way he can get it for free, legally, at this point.

The free upgrade is over so he'd have to pay for a license.

@Enderman said there is, by getting the Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant, for those who need 'assistive features' which is still free.

[rhyseyness]

Just now, Freezanator said:

@Enderman said there is, by getting the Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant, for those who need 'assistive features' which is still free.

Correct.

You'll still need to get the license key.

I believe you'll have to get this off the PC you're upgrading... not 100% though.

Since the PC you're upgrading is bricked, this might be an issue.

There may be some way of getting the license key after you've installed windows 10, I'm not sure though.

A solution would be to clean install windows 8 again, then get the key, then clean install 10.