Windows 10: Windows 10 upgrade problem

As requested
This is a Disk Management capture Not sure what other page you need for HDDs set up

Thanks again

 

It doesn't look like you have any RAID drives, just two hard drives running separately. The easiest solution for you is just to clean install a Windows 7 or 8 or 8.1 that you have a product key for, it should go onto the disk where your Windows 10 is (and will erase it). Once that is activated, do the Windows 10 upgrade again.

The product key info that you show is only for the Windows 10 generic installation which will not activate until it has been installed as an upgrade from a running Windows 7/8/8.1 that was activated previously. If you run showkey:
Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

it will tell you if you have a Windows 7 or 8 product key stored in BIOS and what version of Windows it is for.

 

Really important.

Edit your post and delete your uploaded product key. You have published your license to the world and someone could potentially sell it to multiple users causing you to be locked out of office updates (worst case scenario).

 

I'm thinking the disks have be to be reconfigured too (just for the upgrade to be successful). I *think* that the Win7 disk (drive 1 drive d: needs to become disk 0 drive c: ), and then the other disk needs to be temporarily disabled. I thought having more than one disk visible during the upgrade can cause the upgrade to fail. What do you reckon?

@Goodgenie4u
I can't remember any more. Did you say you had backed up all your treasured documents, photos, videos, music etc etc

 

Here's what I think happened. The computer started out with Drive 0 with Windows Vista. The boot files were on Drive 0 and the OS files were on Drive 0. At some time, Drive 1 was added and Windows 7 was installed to Drive 1. But the boot drive was never changed. So that meant the boot files were on Drive 0 but the OS files were on Drive 1.

Then Windows 10 comes along. It gets pointed to the Windows Vista (either by user choice or by default). Windows 10 says, "I can't upgrade Vista so I'm going to do a clean install." Now we have the boot drive still Drive 0, the boot files still on Drive 0, and the OS files on Drive 0. Drive 1 (the Windows 7 drive) is just hanging out as a storage drive at this point.

So, the simplest thing for the OP to do is just to install Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 where Windows 10 is, that leaves Drive 0 as still the boot drive, where the boot files are, and where the OS will be. He can disconnect Drive 1 and it probably won't affect anything and provide an extra level of protection that Windows 10 won't mess with it.

If he tries to change the boot drive to the Windows 7 drive, either by disconnecting Drive 0 or changing the bios, I would bet that there won't be any boot files on Drive 1 (the Windows 7 drive) and he is going to get an error and no booting.

 

To your query; my unboot-able Win 7 Pro drive files I need are backed up. Nothing on the Win 10 Pro HDD needs to be.
The win 7 HDD the bootable drive does not boot ( with disabled bootable Win 10 HDD) That is what ticks me off is why did this happen? Specially if the Win 10 install was on the blank HDD.
I am concluding that the upgrade from Win 7 pro to Win 10 Pro was booked and targeted the Win 7drive and not any other elements of the PC. Or any OEM Vista code that was embedded.

 

Thanks...done

 

If you don't have your product key have a read through here and see if you can extract it from your windows 7 drive.

How to Find Your Lost Windows or Office Product Keys

 

I owe you an explanation for your help! The PC came with two HDD. One was boot HDD only with Vista and it's Product code is embedded in firmware. MY MOB died. I took a photo ofthe MOB wiring and replaced it with an identical MOB. But it would not boot Vista. In comes my daughter in laws brother (computer engineer) He asked me if preferred Win 7 Pro. When I picked it up, I realized he went all the way to create a dual boot for Vista or Win 7 (he was not sure anything was backed up!) I never returned to Vista. Recently I backed up the files and formatted the disk and left it blank in case i needed it for file storage or a RAID set up (both HDD are 250 GB).
Then came the MS free upgrade to Win10. Knowing I hated Vista and so Windows 8.1 (Another story for another time!) I decided to use the blank former Vista drive for Win 10 and keep Win 7 as long as I could, while learning to love Win 10!

I guess when I used the reformatted previous Vista drive, it was treated as a fresh install. Why then can I not boot my Win 7 HDD (with the Win 10 HDD disabled)? It begs for an explanation, as they are not RAID cohorts? I wanted to preserve the dual boot Win 7 and Win 10. I think Win 10 is set up to seek and destroy it's ancestors! A Tojan horse of another kind. *Wink

 

Wow!! That is some pretty neat detective work!! Going to have to ask the mods if they can change your name to Sherlock. I would never have got that in million years

Agreed. We both wanted drive 0 as Win7 and this way is by far the simplest!

Basically, in the same way I was confused...well...so was the pc. So much had happened to it over the years. So much information to absorb. All of the data is there...it's just not being held in the rights places....Brings the whole thing grinding to a halt as it doesn't know what instruction applies to what program.

But dual boot is definitely possible by initially carrying out the simple install of Win7, 8 or 8.1 on to drive 0 (as described by Sherlock) and making sure it is activated correctly. Then you can move forward with making a dual-boot system.

 

@Goodgenie4u,

I've got another TenForums tutorial for you to read! It'll prepare you for the stage after. *Biggrin

How to Dual Boot Windows 10 with Windows 7 or Windows 8

 

As long as Drive 1 retains a full version of Windows 7 stored on it, you can restore booting from it. You can try installing Macrium Reflect Free. It has an option under tools to find non-booting OS and fix booting to them. That's about the easiest way I've found.

But be careful, messing with booting like that will change what gets upgraded or installed over. That's why I think try to install Win 7, 8 or 8.1 over existing Win 10 now is the easiest and safest.

 

I do not have a Product code to activate Win 7 or Win 8.1. That becomes a financial decision. unless I'm missing something. Also no experience with Macrium Reflect Free and how it would affect the unboot-able Win 7 HDD set up I had. Not sure what you meant by "will change what gets upgraded or installed over". Is Macrium Reflect a USB boot drive that will bring my Win 7 drive to life? or does it have to be installed as an app on my boot-able Win 10 HDD?
Sorry I have limited OS skills and it is holding me back from moving forward. I do not know how long I can go on with a non activated Win 10, which allows me to do 90% of the day to day needs. As "Why Me" said right off the bat, it is my top priority to get it activated.
My needs are to get win 7 pro and Media Center working to get OTA TV. going again. If I understood the Macrium Reflect repair routine, it may better than risking the Win 10 that works for now and having my PC dead!
I will look into Macrium Reflect Free.
Thanks

 

Read this carefully and I believe this your best option, the new install should also see the previous version of windows and allow you to boot into your into your old system. So you need to find install media for windows 7 or 8 and install on your 10 drive.

 

Now to figure how to install Win 7 Pro over Win 10 Pro and get it activated for free! I want the Win 7 Pro for it's Win Media Center to get my OTA Tv going!

I will always install OS with just one drive working. The other will have it's cables pulled. Once bitten twice shy! Whatever the outcome I need one Win 7 with Media Center and One with Win 10 Pro dual boot.
Thanks