Windows 10: How to "upgrade" when using the media creation tool on USB?

Hi,
So I ran the media creation tool and instead of choosing to upgrade this PC, I chose to write it to a USB stick so that I could do the upgrade at my leisure.

So, I spent the time to download the 3 or 4 GB (we have super slow internet here) and put let it write to the USB stick. I then rebooted to the USB stick but there is no "upgrade" option and it asks me for a W10 product key.

Do I really need to run the media creation tool all over again and re-download that 4GB this time choosing Upgrade this PC or is there a way to run the W10 installer from the bootable USB flash drive that I've already got and do an upgrade instead of what it seems it's going to do a fresh install only from the USB drive.

Thanks, I hope that was reasonably understanable.

:)

 

Prevent wannacry

How can i upgrade without internet connection?

 

Windows 10 Upgrade Error 8024201C

Is the upgrade to Windows 10 still free through Media Creation Tool? I got the same error, 8024201C when trying to upgrade using the " Get Windows 10" icon on the taskbar. So I tried to upgrade using the Media Creation Tool, but it said I have to have a product
key. I'm trying to upgrade on my HP desktop which runs Windows 7. I had no problem upgrading my Dell Venue 8 Pro which ran Windows 8.1.

 

Just access the files in it and run setup.exe.

 

I tried that and it tells me something about "Use the other installation disc that says 64-bit. When you insert it, Windows Setup will restart automatically."

I'm quite positive that I've downloaded the 64bit media creation tool as in my download directory is the file named MediaCreationToolx64.exe

 

You should be able to insert the flash drive while booted to Windows 7. Then run setup.exe from the flash drive. That should start the upgrade process.

MediaCreationToolx64.exe is the 64 bit version, but what version of Windows 10 did you download? There are 3 things you have to select when you run it and the last one is 32 bit or 64 bit. If you left it on 32 bit then that is what you downloaded. DEfault is 32 bit.

 

I'm 99.9% positive that I chose the 64-bit (x64) option as well as changed it to English United States. But perhaps that 0.01% doubt and the setup telling me that I need to run the 64bit option is saying otherwise.

I guess since I do have that 0.01% doubt that I chose the 64bit option I'll have to download it all over again and ensure that I do choose it and see if it still gives me the same error message that I posted in the OP.

Proof positive in the image below just in case it happens again, then I won't be even have 0.01% doubt at what I chose.

 

What language? Win 10 or Win 10 Pro?

My Win 10 Pro X64 EN-US size is 3,255,232KB

 

English, Win 10 Home
The space used on the USB flash drive shows me in the window properties panel as space used only 2,605,285,376KB
So I'm guessing that maybe I screwed up and did indeed download the 32bit version. Well, downloading again, this time for sure the 64bit, should be done in about 8 hours or so. *Sad

 

When you download, create the ISO then use Rufus to crate the flash drive. Choose MBR partition for BIOS or UEFI.

 

Thanks Ztruker, that must have been it, I got home tonight and the size of the iso file is what you wrote above so I must have only downloaded the 32bit the first time around.

Much appreciated.

 

Good luck, let us know how you make out.