SOLVED Windows 10 Update Failure

[RecumbentTim]

My Windows 7 pc gets repeated update failure notices for a Windows 10 update. I assume that is the one which is attempting to load Windows 10 without my permission. My pc can not load Windows !0 for reasons which are unknown to me at this time. I want to load it because I have used it and love it but the download continues to fail after numerous attempts. A lot of people would be happy to have this problem. It seems this pc is immune to Windows 10 as it can not get it even after being exposed repeatedly.

 

[davidhk129]

Have you been suggested to use the Media Creation Download Tool to install Windows 10 instead of using Windows Update ?

This is how to download the Tool. Make sure you pick the correct bit version.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10

This is to show you 2 ways to use the Media Creation Download Tool when you run it.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install

NOTE : The fact that you kept getting failure using Windows Update could mean there is certain incompatibility between you pc and Windows 10.
I would suggest that you check to make sure your pc is ready to accept Windows 10.
How to do that ? I don't have the complete answer. All that I can show you is the system requirements...........
https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/windows-10-specifications#sysreqs

 

[RecumbentTim]

Have you been suggested to use the Media Creation Download Tool to install Windows 10 instead of using Windows Update ?

This is how to download the Tool. Make sure you pick the correct bit version.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10

This is to show you 2 ways to use the Media Creation Download Tool when you run it.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install

That is the method I have been using although I have not tried to download to a USB stick. I am still waiting for validation to download from the icon on the task bar. I guess that is what you are referring to when you say "using Windows Update".

 

[davidhk129]

I guess that is what you are referring to when you say "using Windows Update".

Yes, that is what I was referring to.
Well, I am not sure how to help you since you failed to use the Media Creation Tool to install Windows 10.
Sorry.

 

[davidhk129]

One last suggestion.

Run the Tool again. This time select Create installation media for another PC.
That will start downloading the ISO to your computer.
Burn it to a bootable DVD or USB ( I always use DVD, but that's just me ).
Then do a Clean Install.
You will be asked for a product key. Select the SKIP option and continue.
After installation is completed, see if it is activated.
If it is not, go to Start > Settings > Update and Security > left side, click Activation > click Change product key > then enter your Win 7 product key.
If everything goes well, it should be activated.

 

[RecumbentTim]

Will do, but not tonight.

 

[RecumbentTim]

One last suggestion.

Run the Tool again. This time select Create installation media for another PC.
That will start downloading the ISO to your computer.
Burn it to a bootable DVD or USB ( I always use DVD, but that's just me ).
Then do a Clean Install.
You will be asked for a product key. Select the SKIP option and continue.
After installation is completed, see if it is activated.
If it is not, go to Start > Settings > Update and Security > left side, click Activation > click Change product key > then enter your Win 7 product key.
If everything goes well, it should be activated.

I tried it today but there was no skip option for the product key and my Windows 7 key did not work.

 

[Trouble]

I tried it today but there was no skip option for the product key and my Windows 7 key did not work.

Interesting.
You didn't see a link anywhere in the product key prompt that indicated something similar, like "Do this later"?
No your Windows 7 key will not work.
I don't believe that any "product key" will work during this process.
However if the machine has had an install of Windows 10 "activated" then no product key should be necessary.
At least that has always been my experience.

 

[RecumbentTim]

I am certain that there was no link of any kind to skip, "do this later" or such. It has never had Windows 10 on it either. Just Windows 7, 32 bit. I tried clicking "Next" without a key and could not.

 

[Trouble]

It has never had Windows 10 on it either

If it has never had Windows 10 installed then you will not be able to install it without a Product Key.
You will have to burn the ISO to other media DVD or USB ThumbDrive and while in Windows 7, insert that media and run setup.exe from it, in order to launch the Upgrade process.

I believe that you are already familiar with this but just in case.....
The installation media can be obtain through either of these two resources.

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

Once you have the ISO, you can use ImgBurn to burn it to a DVD or Rufus to burn it to a USB ThumbDrive, either of which you can use to boot your computer.

 

[RecumbentTim]

That is what I did.

 

[Trouble]

That is what I did.

You attempted to perform an upgrade to a Windows 7 machine from within Windows 7, by double clicking the setup.exe program on the Windows 10 installation media and you were asked for Product Key?
Are you certain that you were upgrading and not attempting a clean install or attempting to install a different bit version than that of the version of Windows 7 you have installed?

 

[davidhk129]

I am certain that there was no link of any kind to skip, "do this later" or such. It has never had Windows 10 on it either. Just Windows 7, 32 bit. I tried clicking "Next" without a key and could not.

Any chance there is a " I don't have a product key " option right next to Next button ?
I had that one when I installed build 10565 into a new partition with no OS in it.

 

[RecumbentTim]

You attempted to perform an upgrade to a Windows 7 machine from within Windows 7, by double clicking the setup.exe program on the Windows 10 installation media and you were asked for Product Key?
Are you certain that you were upgrading and not attempting a clean install or attempting to install a different bit version than that of the version of Windows 7 you have installed?

I burned the installation media (ISO) to a usb stick and installed it in my pc. It was 32 bit just like the Windows 7, 32 bit which was fresly loaded on a new motherboard. I used the link supplied by David above.

 

[RecumbentTim]

Any chance there is a " I don't have a product key " option right next to Next button ?
I had that one when I installed build 10565 into a new partition with no OS in it.

Like I told Trouble, no chance.

 

[RecumbentTim]

OK, I see the problem. I just did a full install from my cd and Windows was not activated yet. It is now and I am downloading to the USB stick again and will let you know how it goes. I am marking this thread as solved

 

[davidhk129]

Which Windows ? Windows 10 ?
If it is Windows 10, then why bother to downloading to the USB since you have it installed and now activated ?
What am I missing ?

 

[RecumbentTim]

Windows 7 is what I want to upgrade.

 

[davidhk129]

Windows 7 is what I want to upgrade.

Do I understand correctly that you just have Win 7 activated ?
If that is correct...............................
you don't even have to burn Windows 10 ISO to an USB.
Just go to the Windows 10 ISO file saved in your computer > right click at it > click Mount > click Setup.exe.
Installation will begin.
It will allow you to keep your settings, files and apps.
You shouldn't be asked for a product key, but if you do, click SKIP and continue.
Activation should be automatic after installation completed.

 

[Trouble]

Windows 7 does not have a built in feature or function to mount ISOs natively.
Microsoft has provided a option http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=38780