Windows 10: Update is corrupt-I want to reinstall WIndows 10 and not lose programs

Windows Update states: "There were problems installing some updates...
The problem update is "Update for Microsoft Project Server 2010 (KB 2881024) farm-deployment - error 0X8007045b"
I have tried six or more suggestions (i.e., DISM, etc.) but have not been able to fix it.
(WIndows Update Stand Alone Initiation > "Only one instance of WUSA.exe is allowed to run", etc.
DISM said "Potential Windows Update Database error detected > Not Fixed")

At this point I am thinking I need to try reinstalling Windows 10, but I have programs for which I no longer have the disks. I do have a disc labelled "Windows 10 64-bit" which I got from Media Creation Center (??).

1. Right now Windows 10 is 32-bit. Can I install the 64-bit version instead?

2. When I went from Windows 7 to 10 all my programs were preserved. Is that possible when reinstalling 10?

3. Will there be problems with/proving the original product activation?

:)

 

Will the upgrade to Windows 10 delete my personal files and uninstall the programs and games like PES 2015, Photoshop, Word and Excel?

I want to upgrade to Windows 10 for my laptop. However, I do not want to lose the programs I installed and the data on my computer. Although it is possible to reinstall them, I do not want to lose progress or spend a lot of time reinstalling all the programs.
I do not know exactly if the upgrade will delete my files or not.

 

I want to see my programs. I do not want to try and remember them

I am unable to find my installed programs. Clicking on "all apps" is not solving the problem.

I want to see my apps, i want to see the installed programs, I do not want to try and remember everything that is on my computer.

 

1. You could but it means a clean install which usually removes everything so have a backup/second copy stored elsewhere.

2. Check Reset this PC [or words to that effect], should be something there in Settings, Recovery.

3. It's always worked for me to do the Reset while connected to the 'net and the Digital Entitlement thing got it activated without having to put any numbers in.

 

Hello Jambe, *Smile

If you like, you could do a repair install to hopefully fix the issue usually without worrying about losing anything. However, you will only be able to do so with 32-bit since that's what you currently have installed.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

To be extra safe, I would always recommend to back up anything you do not want to lose first.

 

1) Changing "bitness" requires a clean install. (All programs would have to be re-installed.)

2) If you repair Windows 10 by an upgrade-in-place (installing Win 10 as an upgrade over itself), programs may be preserved. (Sometimes they don't run properly, and have to be re-installed.)

3) It should activate automatically online. Search the Web about "digital entitlement".

If you don't have an image (backup) of your present installation, I strongly suggest that you make one now. The Windows backup utility may suffice, but I have never used it. Macrium Reflect Free (freeware) is popular. I use Acronis True Image (commercial).

Too bad about the software install disks. That makes things much more risky.

Most of my software is from downloads. I prepared an .ISO from the Microsoft Office (2010) DVD, so I don't need to use the physical disk anymore. (On Windows 8 and 10, an ISO can be mounted as a virtual disk, without needing any third-party utilities.)

 

After working with personal computers for 37 years I have to admit I have never done a backup. (I do save data to DVDs.)
To follow the above advice I am going to do a backup. Windows 10 Backup doesn't seem to do what I want. I don't want to backup Windows 10 system files, I just want to backup programs, i.e., programs downloaded from the web or from DVDs, such as Photoshop and Office.

1. Is there a program which will let me choose what gets backed up?

Then I will do a clean reinstall of Windows 10 using my 64-bit disk and restore the programs that were backed up.

2. Will this plan work?

3. If I have to do a full system backup wouldn't the restore mess up the newly installed 64-bit system files?

 

You cannot backup programs installed on 32-bit Windows 10 and restore to 64-bit Windows 10. As stated before, going from 32-bit to 64-bit is a start over and reinstall everything process.

 

Thank you, NavyLCDR. I will try Brink's "repair install" suggestion now.

Still, I would like to know the answer to today's question #1.

 

Yeah - it's called file explorer.

 

Programs, not data files.

 

I finally got around to following Mr Brink's suggestion (Post #3). The update was completely successful.
Thank you, Sean.

 

Great news Jambe. I'm glad it could help. *Smile