As of mid-January 2016, there were 200 million computers running Windows 10. Although it’s been optimized as much as possible for a smooth upgrade experience, users are still experiencing difficulties with Microsoft’s newest operating system. Here are the most common Windows 10 upgrade issues and how you can fix/avoid them. Requirements & Compatibility Your computer […]
As of mid-January 2016, there were 200 million computers running Windows 10. Although it’s been optimized as much as possible for a smooth upgrade experience, users are still experiencing difficulties with Microsoft’s newest operating system. Here are the most common Windows 10 upgrade issues and how you can fix/avoid them.
Your computer must meet a few basic requirements before you can install Windows 10. If you’ve purchased your computer within the last few years, you shouldn’t have a problem meeting minimum requirements.
If you don’t meet minimum requirements, you could run into a few different problems:
If you receive one of these codes, your computer can’t install Windows 10 because your current operating system or hardware is out of date. You can use the Windows Compatibility Center to check your hardware, and the Windows Update tool can help you update your current OS.
To check for updates, click the Start button > All Programs > Windows Update. On the left, click “check for updates,” then wait. Install any updates it finds.
For Windows 7: Make sure you have Service Pack 1 update installed, then try again.
For Windows 8: Make sure you have Windows 8.1 Update installed, then try again.
This code means you have a program or app installed on your machine that is blocking the upgrade process. The easiest fix is to uninstall any incompatible applications from your computer, retry the upgrade, and then reinstall the programs once you have Windows 10.
You can use the Check your PC tool to identify incompatible drivers and software. You can either upgrade your drivers through the manufacturer’s site, or uninstall the programs to complete the update. After you finish updating, you can reinstall all of your drivers and software.
Either you’re working with a pirated version of Windows 7 or 8, or Windows thinks that’s what you’re doing. Free Windows 10 upgrades are only being offered to those who purchased legitimate copies of Windows 7 or 8. If you received your copy legally, contact both Microsoft and your computer manufacturer to see if they can help.
If you pirated your OS, you’ll have to buy Windows 7, 8, or 10 to get the upgrade. Tough cookies.
Sometimes things go wonky during the upgrade, even if your computer meets compatibility requirements. Here are some issues that can crop up during the upgrade process:
This is a general error message, and you’ll have to do some digging to find the specific problem.
Go to Control Panel > Windows Update > View Update History. Double click on the update with the “failed” status and view the error details. Once you have information on the error, check the Microsoft website for troubleshooting instructions.
This is another generic error message, and you can try a few things to sort it out:
Once you’ve tried these things, try installing the upgrade again.
This error means your computer accidentally rebooted or you got signed out of your account during the upgrade. No worries – make sure your computer is plugged in and try again.
This means a necessary file is corrupt, or the system can’t find it. The easiest fix is to run the System File Checker with the “sfc/scannow” command. Once the file is repaired, try upgrading again.
Unplug all unnecessary hardware. The only tools you need for the upgrade are your monitor, keyboard, mouse, and an internet connection. Unplug all hard drives other than the C: drive. Remove all external hard drives, extra monitors, extra video cards, etc. If possible, connect to the Internet through a cord rather than wirelessly.
Make sure you’re installing the right upgrade (32-bit for 32-bit machines, 64-bit for 64-bit machines) and that your Windows 10 version matches your current version (home, pro, or enterprise).
Once you’ve completed all of these checks, retry the upgrade.
This code means one of two things: either your system can’t connect to the Windows Update Servers, or there’s not enough space in your System Reserved Partition. A VPN network connection can blog access to the servers, as can malicious software and viruses.
First, try disconnecting your VPN network connection, and turn off your VPN software. Then, scan your system for malware and viruses and try the upgrade again.
If you upgrade through the Get Windows 10 app, you shouldn’t have any issues with activation. However, if you run into these error codes, make sure that your OS is updated and you’re connected to the Internet during installation.
0xC004C003: Your computer is having issues connecting to the activation servers. Wait a bit and then retry activation.
0xC004F061: You did not have the qualified OS version prior to attempting the upgrade. If you upgrade by formatting or replacing the hard drive, you won’t be able to activate. You’ll have to reinstall the previous Windows version, make sure it’s updated, and try again.
You’ll have to do some house cleaning to make room for Windows 10. Start off using the Disk Cleanup Tool to clear unnecessary files. On your keyboard, hit the Windows logo + R to access the run command. Type in cleanmgr and hit enter. Click “Clean Up System Files.” Make sure you DO NOT delete Windows Setup temporary files – Windows 10 needs those to perform the upgrade.
If you need more space after running the Disk Cleanup, you can delete unnecessary large programs and files from your hard drive, or move them to external storage. Games, movies, music, and images are very large and easy to sort through to make space.
You can also put the Windows 10 install files on a USB or CD using the Windows Media Creation tool. If you’re on a tablet, you will need a USB to microUSB adapter to install the upgrade from a USB drive.
Windows 10 will store your old OS data for 30 days after the upgrade, just in case you decide to revert. If you’re sure you won’t be reverting, you can delete the old files by going to Settings > System > Storage > Temporary Files > Delete Previous Versions.
If your start menu is refusing to cooperate, try creating a new user. This is the easiest solution (and it’s what worked for us), but if you’re still stuck, try some of these fixes.
There are two options to fix your sound on Windows 10:
Change Bit Rate
Update Drivers
There are a few things you can do before you install the Windows 10 Upgrade to minimize the risk of errors.
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