Windows 10: Bitsadmin pops up randomly and immediately disappears.

Oh, wow. Sorry, I didn't read the guide at all, just the info-box at the top of the page.

I think I understand now, instead of booting in the usb and installing we are opening the setup itself from within the computer.
Am I right?

Huh, seems like I couldn't get the computer to open the USB. I'm afraid the File Explorer isn't working. So perhaps we could try the Task Manager way.

In fact, I would really like installing it new and clean. My hard drive was getting full and there's always that nice, fresh feel to it.
So you're saying we could like completely wipe the old version and just install a new one without me having to buy another license key?

Just for the record: I'm running/was running Windows 10 Pro.

 

Exactly! *Smile

Once a system has had Windows 10 installed AND activated on it, you can reinstall/clean install W10 on it as often as you like/need, and it will auto-activate. If you would like to start fresh, then I would suggest performing a RESET. But, can you maneuver around the system enough to get there?

If not, then boot from the USB and just reinstall from scratch.

 

Did you write down the keycode you purchased online?

 

Well I don't know what you meant by we could do something with the Task Manager.
It looks like I could open the File Explorer by just opening the recycle bin and going on from there. So I could maneuver it to get in the USB and start the setup.exe.

Just a question: I only have one USB Stick that I already used for installing Windows 10 in the first time. Can I just delete everything there is on the stick and just download the tool and use the usb again (to make sure it's the latest version)
Or is there a special removal way that I should do to remove the old (maybe not old) setup from the USB?


After that, I'm guessing I just open the setup.exe and go on from there, the instructions should be pretty easy to follow so I keep nothing (Choose what to keep; then tick the "Nothing" box)?

And if it is like you say, after it installed it shouldn't ask me for a license key? (That's the thing I'm most afraid of)

 

Task Manager has a RUN NEW TASK function, which can be used to maneuver around a broke system a little bit.

Yes, you can reuse the same stick. Just delete what's on there now.

At this point, if you are not going to keep anything, you might as well just boot from the stick you have, clean install W10, and just let it update when finished. It should not need a key to activate, as long as the system was activated once already.

Now, please answer my question: Did you write down the key when you purchased it online? Do you have it somewhere? The reason I ask is, if that was a Retail key, you'd want to keep it, because Retail keys can be moved to a new system, when the old one dies. So, if you bought a Retail key, and you don't know what the number is, we'll need to grab it before you do a clean install.

 

Well, I don't know what a Retail key is and what its differences to the other types of keys are.
I bought it from a german website, and I got it through an e-mail. Good thing I still have the e-mail with the key.
But, translated (by Google Translate), the top thing in the product description is:

Important Note: Please note that the activation key is not suitable for upgrades. This version is perfect for a new installation.

Should that be worrying?

 

Just a guess - it's probably an OEM System Builder key (no transfer rights).

So, which have you decided to do: an in-place upgrade, a reset or a clean install?

 

I would really like to do a clean install.
I just remembered, I did buy an OEM key.

If this helps somehow on the system information thing in my computer under Windows edition there's Windows 10 Pro and under windows activation it says Windows is activated, and the Product ID.

 

Okay - make it easy: Just boot the current flash drive you have, do the install, skip entering a key (if it asks for one), and then let Windows Update bring to to the latest.

When booting, in the beginning you'll have an option for a custom install, and you will be able to delete all existing partitions, so that you are installing to a completely unallocated drive. That will be the best. See starting at #10 here:
Clean Install Windows 10









Installing to a completely unallocated drive will ensure nothing from the previous installation will be left.

 

I will do that and I will be back.
One more question though.

If I do, in fact, need another key, do I have to buy another one or is the old one bound to my microsoft account or something so I could get that back?

 

An OEM System Builder Key, (if that is what you got), is bound to the original system on which it is installed. So, your key will only work on that system, and will not activate another one.

If you normally sign-in to that system using your MS account, then that system will show in your MS account online.

As long as you have not changed the Motherboard or CPU, it will activate without inputting a key during installation.

If you do change the MB or chip, and activation fails, you can use the Activation Troubleshooter, which works in conjunction with your MS user account, and the system as it is listed under your account.

You won't have any problems activating. The only way you might have a problem, is if you bought the key from a "shady" outfit, who re-sold it many times, and the key ended up getting blocked by MS. *Smile

 

Yeah, I just started the setup and it asked me for a key, I had no other option than to proceed with "I don't have a key".

I'm guessing I'll have to live with the Activate Windows Watermark until I buy another key?