Windows 10: W10 Won't Install Because of Domain

Hi, Trying to upgrade a friends Windows 8.1 laptop, but the installer won't allow it because computer ''is part of a domain''.......how do I get around this ?..........it is just a home computer.........how do I leave a domain ?........any help appreciated..........Del.........I should add that the friend does not know why it is part of a domain.......and nothing shows up in System.......it just shows Workgroup.

:)

 

Windows 10 update failing

I have two PC's failing Windows 10 automatic update. One updates, but loses the internet device driver which turns it into an expensive doorstop. The other is locked in some kind of update problem. W10 won't install because W7 won't install some update.

Is it possible to download a file(s) to perform a manual install? I'll even live with losing all my data. I just want to install W10.

 

Domain Joined Windows 7/8.1 Pro Upgrades to Windows 10?

I also have the problem that a Domain joined W7 OEM PC can be updated to W10 using MediaBuilder.exe, but not activated. Exact the same PC can be activated under W10 if I join it to workgroup before updateing to W10.

What prevents a domain joined Computer from beeing activated? It looks to me that the activation process is not able to find MS activation server.

And it does not help to leave Domain *after* upgrade. You Need to go back to W7, leave Domain, upgrade, activate, join Domain again.

 

Here's some information I found.. it might be of some help.

What is a Windows Domain and How Does It Affect My PC?

Jeff

 

The page linked by BunnyJ is good and I've read most of it at one time or another but to condense it down I'd find out if the computer in question has the Enterprise version of Windows on it. That version doesn't allow the free Upgrade to Win10, has to be done a different way, usually through the company and its IT department.

 

Thanks for that Jeff........it's a strange one this, the owner bought laptop brand new about 4/5 years ago, and has no idea why it is part of a domain........the way I read it, someone else has control over the machine.......most annoying as it is preventing the W10 install........trying to find a way around this is proving quite difficult..........Del.

 

Berton, Thanks for that......System info. just says that it is Windows 8.1.......no version showing......is this normal ?.........Del.

 

Was this new or used? If it's the latter it could have been set up in a domain and that would account for the issue. One solution would be to get a cheap copy of 7 and upgrade from that.

 

It was brand new, from a shop.......the only thing I can think of, is that owner has somehow joined a domain, without knowing......I do have a W7 installation disc from when I did mine.........Del.

 

Check in the System properties to see if it lists a domain. I've blocked out my domain and computer name, but this screen will tell you if it is a workgroup or a domain.

The problem is, you don't just accidentally join a domain. Someone isn't giving you all the information. In order to join a domain, you need an authorized account on that domain, a computer account created on that domain, and a domain controller to answer an authenticate the computer. That doesn't happen automatically.

You should also look in to how the user is logging in. If it is with a local, non-domain account, you may be able to remove the computer from the domain and put it back on a workgroup. Assuming this is an activated computer, I would probably back up the data, wipe it clean, install Windows 10, and then activate with the Windows 8.1 key.

 

The only suspect thing that the owner has installed on this machine is a thing called'' Stay Protect''........some sort of virus protection site........I wonder........

 

One thing of note, I've come across a few computers in my repairing of individual's computers that were bought from local shops that appeared to have a version of Windows that were bought by the shop/s under the Enterprise [Volume Licensing] program, not quite legal but wouldn't have been a problem if the computer/s were taken back to the same shop for repair, no one else would have found out. Only had one that couldn't be dealt with and cost the client a new license.

 

Here's another strange thing........if I click on the GWX icon, it says that the machine IS compatible.......then goes straight to the control panel checking for updates page, and just stays there....it has been checking now for nearly an hour.......is this normal ?.........it is when I click on the ''Get W10 now'' page on google that it says about this domain thing.

 

Press windows key + R to open run dialog box. Run winver. Post results here. Then open an administrator command prompt (hopefully, you have administrator access). In the administrator command prompt windows run slmgr /dlv and post that result here. That will tell us more about what version of Windows is installed and how it is activated and if the product key can be used to activate a clean install of Windows 10.

You can run showkey plus from this forum to find out the installed product key and/or product key stored in bios if any:
Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

 

Done the winver bit..........all it says is Windows 8.1......version 6.3........build 9600.