Troubleshooting Guide
Chapter 1:
Installing, Updating and Activating Windows 10
Microsoft’s Windows 10 was commercially released in June 2015 and it received mix reviews. While their free upgrade offer was revolutionary from the perspective of users, it seems as though Microsoft put their users at a major disadvantage by focusing more on getting Windows 10 to everyone before the back-to-school period. When launched, Windows 10 recorded millions of upgrades which just grew, but with them, so did the bugs and other problems as well.
However, Microsoft responded to all the criticism fairly quickly with updates which resolved the majority of the issues and Threshold 2, something of a service pack, which would hopefully improve Windows 10. Since then, Microsoft has also released the Anniversary update that brought a lot of minor fixes and additions to Windows 10, most notably improved performance.
In this guide, we’ll look at the features that Windows 10 brings and help you decide whether or not it is worth the upgrade. We’ll look at this from the perspective of Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP users respectively.
What’s New in Windows 10?
After the Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, Windows 10 comes as a breath of fresh air. Windows 10 is much more usable than Windows 8 or 8.1, and proudly offers a bundle of new features, including improved security, a new browser, and the voice-activated intelligent assistant Cortana. You might even call Windows 10 the most revolutionary version of Windows ever, mainly because it will be continually upgraded as part of Microsoft’s “Windows as a service” effort. Cortana is starting to become a viable “assistant,” and if you’re willing to let Microsoft look at your activities, the potential for Cortana’s help extends into every interaction you have with Windows.
Edge, Microsoft’s first modern browser and arguably its most advanced Windows Universal app program, looks poised to take on Firefox and Chrome head-to-head. It has a sleek new design, runs fast, and is closing in on its rivals in HTML5 support. Edge is infinitely more secure than Internet Explorer because it doesn’t support any of the offal that Microsoft has been foisting on users for years — no ActiveX, no Silverlight, no custom navigation bars, no Browser Helper Objects, no VBScript.
Windows has had the ability to run multiple desktops since XP days. You just had to install an add-on like the XP Virtual Desktop Manager hidden in Microsoft’s XP Power Toys. With more recent versions of Windows, dozens of virtual/multiple desktop management add-ins hit the scene, including Sysinternals Desktop from Microsoft. In Windows 10, instead of installing a separate program, multiple desktops arrive already built-in.
Windows Hello is one of the most important security enhancements to Windows 10. When activated, Hello uses biometric identification including fingerprints and facial recognition to make sure only authorized users can log into a computer. The Anniversary update enabled this feature for applications and website logins.
Another important security feature of Windows 10, Microsoft Passport, works with or without Hello to eliminate the need to use passwords when accessing resources online and across networks. By making passwords obsolete, through a centralized, single authentication, Microsoft has increased the level of safety for every user.
With Windows 10, Microsoft has returned the Start menu to its rightful place. However, the new menu offers a few surprises with its dual-personality of part Start menu and part Start screen.
On 2 in 1 devices (hybrids and convertibles), Windows 10 will make life easier with a 'Continuum Mode'. This means the OS moves between laptop (keyboard/mouse) and tablet (touch) usage modes automatically. It will do this if it detects the loss or addition of a keyboard.
Cortana is your Windows 10 digital assistant. You can set reminders, send emails, find resources, sync your phone and much more with this helpful addition to Windows 10.
Windows Ink Workspace which arrived with the Anniversary update in August is the name of the pen support that already exists in Windows. It acts as the central hub to access Sticky Notes, Sketchpad and Screen sketch.
If you're still not sure about the upgrade, Microsoft has built in a simple process that only requires a few clicks to have the system roll back to your previous version of Windows, in case you don't like what Windows 10 has to offer. However, keep in mind that you cannot access Windows 10 for free anymore unless you already received digital entitlement while it was free.
Should You Upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10?
Based on all the benchmark results and all the feature lists there’s no reason not to upgrade to Windows 10. Upgrading from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 is very easy. While it does take a bit of time to download the upgrade and install it, the benefits are well-worth the wait.
Essentially, you will get a lot more features, Cortana, Settings instead of Charms, workspaces and better performance. There’s really no reason to delay the upgrade any further, especially when there are 400 million users on Windows 10. And if you change your mind, you have a month to roll back to your old operating system without having to reinstall it. If you have already rolled back from Windows 10, due to digital entitlement you can upgrade for free, unlike users that have not which will have to purchase Windows 10.
Should You Upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10?
Windows 7 used to hold a bit over 50% of the total operating system market share. It is a very good operating system and security support will be around until 2020. While there are a lot of reasons why you should upgrade, the decision is based mostly on your preferences. So far, Windows 10 has amassed a number of 400 million users. Many of those are users that moved from Windows 7 and the number keeps growing every day, which says a lot about its quality. If you upgrade, you’ll be able to enjoy better performance and still have a similar UI to Windows 7, but better.
The main reason not to upgrade is if you are worried about driver or software incompatibility.
As time goes by, this is becoming less of a problem as all major companies have published appropriate drivers. If you’re ready to upgrade, you’ll be happy to know that it is a lot easier thanks to a special upgrade procedure. You can follow the full guide on how to upgrade to Windows 10 once you’re ready to switch. If you have already rolled back from Windows 10, due to digital entitlement you can upgrade for free, unlike users that have not which will have to purchase Windows 10.
Should You Upgrade from Windows Vista to
Windows 10?
Windows Vista is a very old-fashioned and bloated system that suffers from a lot of performance issues. Official support will end in 2017, which means you have a bit of time left before Vista’s security becomes a real nightmare. If you have the money and your PC has adequate support, then there’s no reason not to upgrade to Windows 10 as a soon as possible.
It is likely that your PC already supports Windows 10 or that you can upgrade it cheaply to fix what you’re missing. For a 32-bit installation, you’ll need 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage space and a 1GHz processor, while the requirements are increased to 2GB of RAM and 20GB of storage space for a 64-bit installation. You also need a Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with a WDDM driver and a Microsoft account and Internet access. Since there is no easy auto-installer, you’ll have to perform a clean installation of Windows 10 which you will have to purchase.
Should You Upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 10?
Microsoft has ended their extended support for Windows XP and this makes XP very vulnerable to security threats. Along with this, Windows XP is generally not a system that development companies care about anymore and year after year there is less to look forward to on XP.
The main problem that prevents XP users from upgrading at this point is either old hardware or dependency on legacy software. When it comes to the first one, there is really no workaround without spending money. If your current PC does not meet the minimum system requirements then you won’t be able to upgrade to Windows 10 and you’ll have to buy a new PC first. If you do, however, have a good machine that can handle the upgrade then you will have to buy your Windows 10 product key and perform a clean installation.
As for the problem of legacy software there might be a workaround in some cases. Running a virtual machine with Windows XP on your Windows 10 computer might just do the trick. It is easy to setup and a lot of businesses that use old, legacy software have chosen to use this method. Just make sure that you have all the installation files ready for the VM.
Your Next Steps
Using the provided installation guides you can learn how to upgrade to Windows 10. However, you might encounter some problems along the way. Don’t worry though, as help is only a few clicks away. You can consult our Windows 10 setup troubleshooting guide or refer to our Windows 10 activation troubleshooting if you have trouble with your product key. Once you’ve installed and updated Windows 10, you’ll probably want to learn more about personalization (and how to directly boot to desktop).
Windows 7 and 8.1 users can update to Windows 10 version in a similar way that is used to download service packs for previous versions of Windows. The new version has fixed a lot of issues and brought a lot of new options that previous versions don’t have. If you’re looking for a list of all the new features and fixes that come with Windows 10, then you can read up on what’s new and why you should upgrade to the new version.
This guide will provide step-by-step instructions for Windows 7 and 8.1 users who wish to upgrade to Windows 10. If you are using an older operating system, there is a special Windows 10 update guide for Windows XP and Vista users as well. However, you will have to purchase a new product key as the Windows 10 upgrade was free only for a limited time, from July 29, 2015 to July 29, 2016. If you already upgraded from Windows 7 or 8.1 to Windows 10 and rolled back, due to digital entitlement you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free. There is one exception: assistive technology users can upgrade to Windows 10 for free if they visit Microsoft’s webpage and start the upgrade process from there. Microsoft does not require any actual proof that you use assistive technologies and they have yet not announced an end date for this offer. They will make a public announcement prior to ending the offer.
Preparing for the Upgrade
Before you can download and install the upgrade you should complete all of the necessary preparations. This will allow you to have a smooth installation and help you avoid a lot of bugs and errors that can occur.
The first step is to make sure you have all the Windows updates installed and applied. If you are using automatic updates, then you most likely have all of them. However, if you update your computer manually then you should go to the Control Panel and run the Windows Update application. Make sure all updates are downloaded and installed. Restart the computer afterwards.
The most crucial update is “KB3035583” and you won’t even have the option to use the Windows 10 Upgrade Advisor or upgrade to Windows 10 without it.
The second step is to make sure that you have space on your primary drive. The Upgrade Advisor will also perform this check and indicate if you're missing space.
The third step is to check whether or not your PC supports the minimum system requirements via the Windows 10 Upgrade Advisor. Because you are already using Windows 7 or 8.1 it is likely that your computer can support the new upgrade. However, if you are on a low-end PC there might be some border-line cases and it doesn’t hurt to check.
The fourth (and final) step is to run a full scan of your system either with Windows Defender or a third party tool. This is optional, but highly recommend for security reasons. After a completed, scan disable real-time protection before you run the update as it can interfere with the process.
In terms of data backup, Windows 7 or 8.1 users have no reason to be afraid of losing any of their files. This might mess-up some of the apps you downloaded, but it is a very rare case, especially now that Windows 10 has been around for a while.
Downloading and Installing the Windows 10 Upgrade
Assuming you’ve done all the previous steps, we can finally start talking about the relatively simple upgrade procedure.
First tap or click on the Get Windows 10 app, a small Windows icon in your system tray, and then on the large note that says “Get Windows 10”.
If this is not available to you, there are a few workarounds:
- Make sure that you have all the previous Windows updates.
- If the upgrade app has been installed to your computer, you can try to manually run the app by going to "C:\Windows\System32\GWX" folder and run GWX.exe file.
- If you still don't see the icon in Taskbar, open Command Prompt as Administrator and run the following commands one by one:
C:\Windows\System32\GWX\GWXConfigManager.exe /RefreshConfig
C:\Windows\System32\GWX\GWX.exe /taskLaunch
Once you’ve clicked on the note, you’ll be directed to the Windows 10 Upgrade Advisor.
Here you just need to press the "Upgrade now" or "Start download, upgrade later" button. The first will start the upgrade as soon as it downloads the update and the second one will download the update, but upgrade at a later time when it convenient for you.
Keep in mind that this is a big download, so make sure you have a stable Internet connection. As with any other download, you can still continue working on your computer until it’s finished.
If you choose “Upgrade now”, you will be prompted with a choice to "Upgrade this PC now" and "Create installation media for another PC". Choose Upgrade this PC now.
Setup will start downloading Windows 10.
You will be prompted to choose how you want the installation to go. Three choices will be offered: keep personal files and apps, keep personal files only and nothing.
Depending on your preferences, choose the option you want.
Setup will prompt you one last time to let you see if you've picked the preferences you want.
Setup will start installing Windows 10. During this process, your PC will restart several times. This will take a while.
When the login screen pops up for the first time, remember that you’re not done with everything yet. There are quite a few little tweaks you can perform before booting into Windows 10 for the first time and we recommend you take advantage of them.
As soon as you log in for the first time, you’ll be prompted to accept the “Express Settings” or click the tiny link to “Customize settings”. You should definitely click “Customize settings” to see what Microsoft has set as the defaults and confirm whether you want those options set as they are.
The final screen shows you the four new default Windows apps for photos, web browsing, music, and movies/TV. If you click “Let me choose my own default apps” it doesn’t actually let you choose the apps at this moment, but merely allows you to uncheck one or all of the four default app selections (you’ll be prompted to make your default choices later when you open your preferred web browser for the first time and so on). When you click “Next” this final time you’ll be sent, after a short wait, to the Windows 10 desktop.
You're at your Windows 10 desktop! Now is the time to check on your apps, see if they survived the upgrade process (and update them if necessary), as well as to plug in your peripherals, check that all your hardware works (and update the drivers if necessary), and then get down to enjoying Windows 10.
Next Steps
If you are having trouble with the setup process, you can refer to our Windows 10 setup troubleshooting guide. Otherwise – congratulations on successfully updating your operating system! The look and feel of 10 should be very similar to Windows 7 and 8.1, but you will quickly learn to enjoy some of the new features.
Windows 10 and Beyond
You have now successfully installed Windows 10. Once you’re set, we encourage you to explore the new Windows 10 and learn more about its features and how to use them. If you wish to further customize your experience, then you’ll probably be interested in learning more about the brand new Windows 10 personalization settings.
A clean installation is the best way to install a new operating system as well as to reinstall an existing one. Usually we do this in order to properly set up our new OS, or in order to get rid of bloatware and fix system problems. It used to be a skill that only “tech-savvy geeks” had in 
their arsenal, but nowadays it is surprisingly simple to do. If you’ve done this sort of thing before and just want to get the version-specific information about Windows 10, then feel free to skip ahead; otherwise, you might want to read the introductory steps carefully. You’ll learn about the advantages of performing a clean installation, how to back up your data, how to play around with BIOS, and (finally) how to perform the installation itself.
NOTE: If you’re currently using a Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 computer, you might be eligible for a free Windows 10 upgrade if you previously installed it (became digitally entitled) and rolled back before July 2016, otherwise you will have to purchase a copy of Windows 10. Note that you can perform a clean install over the previously installed version of Windows as your product key and digital entitlement are saved on your motherboard and Windows 10 will automatically use it to activate your clean install upgrade. However, you should have your key ready just in case. If for some reason this doesn’t work, you can also upgrade to Windows 10 first and then do a clean install.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Clean Installation
The main advantage of performing a clean installation of Windows 10 is also its main disadvantage: you’ll be removing your previous operating system from its partition and replacing it with a new one.
If your current Windows installation has a lot of bloatware, malware or system corruption, then this process will perform a full reinstall.
This will erase everything that was on the partition and install Windows 10 instead. It doesn’t matter which operating system was previously installed – it won’t interfere with the process and, in the end, it will be erased.
Aside from being the best way to reinstall your system, this method is also the only way to replace your outdated Windows installation with a brand new version of Windows 10. This is also a good way to upgrade from Windows 7 and 8.1, even though there is a special, automated solution available.
Back Up Important Data
Since we will wipe the partition clean during this process, it is important to inspect the drive carefully and back up important data before the installation. You can back up your documents, music, photos and videos as well as other important program files. However, backing up your programs usually isn’t a possibility, unless you have a portable version of the software. As such, you might want to make sure you have the installation media for these devices ready, so that you can install them again after Windows 10 is up and running.
There are a lot of backup solutions available, with two most popular being to store the data on a physical device such as a USB flash drive or (more ideally) and external hard drive. Cloud storage is also a very popular option today, especially for storing photos and documents.
Prepare for the Installation
Creating a backup of your important files and data isn’t the only step required before you proceed with the installation. Your next move should also be to locate your product key and to prepare your installation media. If you do not own a Windows 7, 8, 8.1 (these must have digital entitlement) or 10 product key or are unable to find it, but have an activated genuine edition of Windows, you can still do a clean install of Windows 10 as it will find your product key and digital entitlement on the motherboard and use it to activate Windows 10. For Windows 7 and 8.1 users - if you have not rolled back from Windows 10, you will have to purchase a copy of Windows 10. Other versions of Windows cannot be upgraded to Windows 10 without a product key.
You can use a DVD that you’ve received when you purchased Windows 10 at a local retailer or you can place a downloaded copy of the Windows image on a bootable USB drive or DVD. You can use Microsoft's Media Creation Tool to make this process as painless as possible.
These two things are obviously key requirements for the clean installation to even take place.
Without the installation media, there is nothing to install and without the product key or digital entitlement, you will not be able to activate Windows 10.
The final step before you proceed is to disconnect unnecessary external hardware as it can interfere with the installation due to some missing drivers. Generally, at this point you should only have your basic input and output devices connected. Once the Windows 10 clean install is successfully completed, you can reinstall the drivers and connect those devices again.
Boot from Your Installation Media
The next few steps are only difficult if you’ve never used or configured BIOS in the past. However, don’t worry about it as the process is very intuitive once you get into it. Your first task is to simply insert your preferred installation media into the computer. This means inserting your DVD into an optical drive or plugging a USB drive into a free port.
Now, pay close attention as this is where it gets a bit tricky. You’ll have to restart your PC and pay close attention to your screen during the boot phase. Your primary boot is probably set to your hard drive, which means that BIOS looks for the boot sector right where your current operating system is located. This is bad for us, because it means that it’s ignoring our installation device and we need to change the boot order to prioritize our DVD drive or the USB port (external devices).
How do you get into BIOS? Well, after you restart your PC you’ll always see this black screen that shows a list of your system’s configuration and checks if your hardware is working. This is known as POST (Power on Self-Test) and during this time you can enter BIOS. You have to be quick though as POST can finish fairly quickly. To enter BIOS you’ll just need to press a key on your keyboard, but the problem is that there is no sure way to figure out which key to press. For this reason, you should try all of the following until one works: F2, F12, Delete or Escape.
Once you’re in BIOS you’ll see a screen that looks something like this:
Or it might perhaps even look a lot more modern, such as this:
There are many versions of BIOS available, but all of them are easy to navigate with the keyboard (instructions are always shown). At the end of the day it is just another piece of software and you should feel comfortable using it.
Regardless of what your version looks like, at this point you are looking for one thing only – the boot settings/order priority. Once you’ve found them, edit them to fit with your preferred installation settings. As such, if you are using a DVD make BIOS priorities the optical disk or make BIOS priorities external/removable devices. Once you are done, exit BIOS and your computer will restart automatically.
Assuming you’ve selected to boot from an optical disk, a message such as this will appear before the POST – “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.”
You should immediately press any key because BIOS will switch to the second priority boot device if user input is not provided.
Once the computer starts booting from your installation media, you’ll see a very familiar Windows logo on your screen.
Installing Windows 10 Step-by-Step
If you’ve made it this far, then you’ve practically done all of the hard work! It’s easy sailing from here as you’ll be greeted with a nice UI and clear instructions on what to do next.
The first window will ask you to select your language, time zone and preferred keyboard layout.
Clicking next will prompt you with a simple “Install now” button. Clicking on it will continue the install process. The next step is to enter your product key (the one we talked about earlier).
After you’ve entered your Windows 10 product key click "Next" to continue. If you received digital entitlement you should not be prompted to enter a product key. On the new screen, you’ll have to review the standard EULA (End-user license agreement) and check the box that says you accept the terms. The screen following that one is important.
You’ll want to select the “Custom (advanced)” installation option so that you can perform a clean installation of Windows 10.
And now you’ve reached the point of no return that we’ve mentioned previously. I sincerely hope you followed our advice and performed a backup of your data because we are about to delete all of our partitions. First select “advanced driver options” and then just select the partitions one by one and click on “Delete” to remove them, until only one icon is left on the screen – Drive 0: Unallocated Space.
DON'T delete "Drive 0: Unallocated Space"
After this, your input is no longer required for the majority of the setup since the Windows Setup utility will take over and perform the whole process automatically for you.
We recommend you get some coffee because you’ll just spend the rest of the installation looking at progress bars and loading screens. When the installation is complete, the Windows Setup utility will restart the computer:
After it restarts the machine Windows 10 will take some time to get all of your installed devices ready and then restart again.
Once it finally boots up again you’ll be greeted with a screen that lets you customize your Windows 10 experience or use express settings.
Follow along with the settings and adjust them as you wish, or just leave everything to its default values and go back to it later. Either way you’re finished – you’ve successfully performed a clean installation of Windows 10!
What’s Next?
If you had any problems or errors during the installation, refer to our Windows 10 setup troubleshooting guide. If not – congratulations on installing Windows 10 the hard (proper) way! However, there’s still some work to be done before you can start using your installation carefree.
We recommend that you update Windows right away as your security and functionality can be compromised. Learn about the next steps, how to update your Windows and how to properly activate Windows.
Troubleshooting problems is a tedious task, but the ones associated with the Windows 10 setup do not require too much work. Microsoft has done a lot of work to make the setup process easy and intuitive, and if you follow our guide on how to upgrade to Windows 10, you’ll find the whole process very simple.
As for the setup errors, their numbers are limited and this Windows 10 setup troubleshooting guide contains step-by-step instructions on how to resolve them. Regardless of whether you are performing a clean installation or upgrading from an earlier installation, we have all the major errors covered. A majority of them are related to problems with the installation media or conflicts with the current software or hardware. As such, some problems are easier to solve than others, but this article will guide you through all the technical procedures that you’ll have to do.
Can’t Find the Get Windows 10 Icon
Obviously, problems can happen even before the installation starts. Over time, a lot of Windows users have reported that they cannot find the Get Windows 10 Icon. This is usually a problem on your end and something that is easy to fix.
First of all, certain versions of Windows cannot be upgraded to Windows 10. These include:
- Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 Enterprise
- Windows RT or 8.1 RT
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP
- Pirated copies of Windows 10
Is yours one of the above? Don’t despair. There is still another way anyone can get a legitimate upgrade to Windows 10 for free. Even if you don’t qualify for a free upgrade to Windows 10 because you do not have digital entitlement, you can still get one on the condition that you agree to become a ‘Windows Insider’. You get Windows 10 for free, but you also have to become a beta tester and receive all the Windows Update patches and upgrades while they are still in the testing stage. Keep doing that and Windows 10 is free for you like for everyone else, but stop accepting the beta upgrades and your copy of Windows 10 will be invalidated.
The first solution is to check if you have all updates installed and applied. Your Windows 10 PC needs to have all previous updates before it is possible to upgrade to the new version.
Specifically, you might be missing the KB3035583 update.
There is a number of different updates that might be missing from your PC. Try running this Windows update troubleshooter to resolve the issue.
Make sure Windows Update is turned on. Then check to see if the necessary updates are installed. To do this, from the Start menu or screen, search for cmd, right-click on Command Prompt in the results and select Run as administrator. Type or paste the command: dism /online /get-packages | findstr 3035583
If the update is installed, you will get a return with Package identity followed by a string of information. If nothing is returned, the update is not installed, and you need to check for updates and install it.
Windows 7: also run the command: dism /online /get-packages | findstr 2952664
If this update is not installed, install it now.
Open Internet Explorer. Press Alt + H, and select About Internet Explorer from the menu that appears. Make sure you have Internet Explorer 11.
Windows 8.1: also run the commands: dism /online /get-packages | findstr 2976978
dism /online /get-packages | findstr 2919355
If these are not installed, from the Start screen search for Check now, and select Check for updates to install those updates.
After you have completed all of these updates, reboot your device.
If, after running the troubleshooter or doing the manual steps, you still don’t see the icon, tech savvy users can use the Media Creation Tool to install Windows 10.
If you're upgrading via Windows Store, then you should make sure that your Windows Store is displaying all the information correctly. It is possible that there is a cache error. As such, you should clear the Windows Store cache by executing wsreset.ext from the Run app (Win + R).
Fixing Windows Update Error 80072ee2
If you are experiencing Windows update error 80072ee2, then you are just unlucky. It’s a very occasional error that you cannot resolve on your own because there is a problem with the Microsoft Update servers. This specific error code signifies that there is an unusually high number of update requests that the server cannot process.
This is mostly a Windows 7 problem that can be encountered while trying to update to Windows 8 via the Windows Update Assistant app. You should close the app, wait for 10 minutes and then re-run the app to see if the servers are available. If the error persists, then there might be a problem with your Firewall settings. Add the following websites to your firewall exceptions list:
- http://*.update.microsoft.com
- https://*.update.microsoft.com
- http://download.windowsupdate.com
If you aren’t sure how to do this, consult our Windows Firewall configuration guide.
This error may arise due to ERROR_INTERNET_TIMEOUT.
Download the Windows 10 update again with the stable Internet connection. It is recommended that you disable antivirus software on your Windows (if you have installed any) before installing the Windows 10 update.
“We Couldn’t Install Windows 10” 0xC1900101 – 0x30018
Incompatible hardware and software are the leading cause of Windows 10 upgrade problems. Microsoft’s tools are supposed to tell you when you have a piece of software or hardware that won’t work in Windows 10, which they do. Unfortunately, it appears the tools don’t do a great job of predicting what apps will cause problems with the upgrade itself. One of these problems is Error Code 0xC1900101 – 0x30018, and it’s usually accompanied by the message, “We Couldn’t Install Windows 10.”
Microsoft says this is caused by an incompatible driver or security software. To fix the issue, you first have to wait until your PC has returned to its previous version of Windows, which it’ll do automatically. Next, the company recommends turning off your antivirus software, wireless internet, and any unnecessary extra devices.
Then, you need to open the Command Prompt (Admin) app and type sfc /scannow to insure there aren’t any damaged hardware drivers on your device.
Windows Update Installation Failure 80240020
Microsoft representatives have slowly begun to address some of the baffling error codes that users get when performing the Windows 10 upgrade. 80240020 is an error a growing number of people seem to get without explanation. Microsoft’s own support employees are recommending that people edit what’s called their registry to get Windows Update Installation Failure 80240020 fixed. Anyone who isn’t familiar with a registry already should definitely stay away from this.
Please note that there is no problem with your reservation or upgrade download. The upgrade download is not corrupt and you will be notified in the coming days or weeks when your device is ready to upgrade.
Warning: Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Before you modify it, back up the registry for restoration in case problems occur.
If you are very eager to upgrade, tech savvy users can modify a registry key to install immediately. Here’s how:
Locate the registry key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade]
It should already exist, but if not, create it.
Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value with Name = "AllowOSUpgrade” (without the quotes), and set the Value = 0x00000001.
Once the registry key is modified, close and reopen the desktop Control Panel, go to Windows Update and check for updates. You should now be able to click the Get Started button to upgrade to Windows 10. Note: Windows 8.1 users must go to the desktop Control Panel and not the modern Windows Update UI.
Modern Setup Host Has Stopped Working
One of the more difficult problems to troubleshoot with the Windows 10 setup is when it seems like the setup wizard has stopped responding. Modern Setup Host or SetupHost.exe is a self-extracting archive and installer, located in C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\ folder, which runs as a scheduled task every time a user logs in, in order to execute a process with the local user’s privileges within the context of its parent windowsstoresetupbox.exe.
Modern Setup Host is required when you are running the setup to upgrade your PC to Windows 10. If it fails for some reason, you see this error and the upgrade process aborts. Since you are unable to do any debugging at this point, you will have to follow a checklist of solutions until you get to the right one.
Here are the major causes and the solutions:
The setup is actually still running in the background. It is possible that the interface has “bugged out” due to a problem that the setup has encountered, but the actual setup may still be running in the background. If the installation is not completed within two hours, restart your PC to see if it shows the Windows welcome screen (indicating that the setup was actually successful).
There’s software that is blocking your upgrade. Usually this is a problem with the Windows Defender or a third-party anti-virus software. Uninstall these programs or at least disable them before the update.
You are having trouble with incompatible hardware or drivers. As mentioned in our previous guides, you should always disconnect unnecessary external hardware during the installation process. Additionally, you can troubleshoot this problem in the Windows Compatibility Centre app to see if there is any known hardware or driver issue.
You’re using faulty installation media. If you’re using an official Microsoft DVD or running the Windows 10 installation program, then this is obviously not the problem. However, if you’ve made your own installation DVD or USB, then consider that it might have problems or that it could be corrupted. In case of a USB, you can always re-format the device, add the new installation files and try again. As for the DVD, we recommend you get a new one and write the installation files at a slower write speed. It will take more time to prepare the DVD, but the slower write speed improves the chances that the burning process will succeed without any mistakes.
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Windows product keys are 
an essential part of Microsoft’s product activation protocol. This is a digital right management (DRM) technology that is used to enforce the end-user license agreement (EULA) for products such as the Windows operating system and their Office productivity suite. In this article, you will learn more about what product keys are, how you can locate them and use them to activate Windows. Initially, this was a very simple process, but due to the many types of product keys out there, you need to understand which one is the best for your needs.
If you have a product key, but are having trouble activating it, you should refer to our guide on how to troubleshoot common activation errors in Windows.
Product Keys for Personal and Company Use
A regular product key is a 25-character code that you can use to activate Windows. This allows you to verify that your software is authentic and that the license key is valid. Without activating Windows, your use of the product will be inhibited and your machine will become a major security risk.
Based on the origin and the usage of the product key, we can distinguish three main types:
Retail product key – 
this is a product key that was bought at a local retailer or digitally on Microsoft’s website. If you buy it at a local retailer, the box comes with an installation DVD and a card that contains the product key. In the case of a digital purchase, the product key will be in the email your receive that confirms your purchase.
Original Equipment Manufacturer key – 
simply referred to as an OEM key, is what you get when you purchase a machine that already has Windows pre-installed on it. However, this isn’t a personal key. Instead, the information is stored on the BIOS chip and it is only applicable to the machine you’ve bought.
Volume license key – 
this is a key used by organizations and companies. It allows you to install Windows on multiple machines that your company uses. This guide is tailored to personal users, so if you need more information on volume licensing, you should head over to Microsoft’s official licensing guide for enterprises.
Digital entitlement – Windows 10 came with a limited free upgrade offer that lasted until July 29th, 2016 and users that upgraded during that time received a digital entitlement that embedded into their motherboards. Even if the user rolled back to their previous operating system, they still had digital entitlement and could upgrade for free after the offer ended.
Commonly Asked Questions about Windows Product Keys
While everything does seem pretty straight-forward, there are thousands of questions every year posted on Microsoft’s support forum regarding product keys and their usage. The confusion mostly starts when a new update or version of Windows is available. For example, it is free to update from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1, yet a lot of people were still unsure whether or not they had to make a purchase to update to this new version.
Can I use the same product key to install Windows on more than once PC?
Technically, you can use the same product key on as many PCs as you’d like. However, this is not legal and you won’t be able to activate Windows on more than one computer at a time. This instantly raises another question – can you use your product key on a new PC and somehow delete it from the old one? On older versions of Windows, if you were using a regular retail key the answer was yes because you could always remove your product key from the old PC before using it to install and activate Windows on a new one. This is just one of the many reasons why you should always keep your product key safe somewhere where you can easily find it – there are many situations where you might need it.
Obviously, you cannot do this if you have an OEM license as that is a hard-coded key that comes with the PC you’ve bought. You can still reinstall or update Windows on that machine of course.
Windows 10 also introduced the new digital entitlement system which made users unable to retrieve a viable product key after upgrading to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8.1 unless they rolled back. If you used a Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 product key for a clean install, it still became a digital entitlement. You will have to contact Microsoft support to move your Windows 10 to another device.
How can I uninstall my Windows product key?
This process is for 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 versions of Windows if you want to use the key to do a clean install on another PC. The process is very easy and it only requires two commands in the command prompt. Here’s the process:
Open the command prompt and enter “slmgr /dlv” (without the quotes). A window called “Windows Script Host” will appear.
The window contains a lot of useful information, but you are only interested in the line that says “Activation ID”. Locate it and copy the code next to it.
Now, let’s say that you activation ID is, for example, “123451ff-3da4-1dg2-11f1b111123bb11a”. Open the command prompt again and type in “slmrg /upk 123451ff-3da4-1dg2-11f1b111123bb11a”. This will uninstall your current product key and you’ll get a pop-up window informing you of this.
Can I use my friend’s DVD to install Windows and then activate it with my product key?
Sure, you can use any installation media to install Windows and then activate the OS with your own product key. This won’t be harmful to you nor your friend. However, there is one important condition here – your product key and the version of Windows that you’re installing need to match. You cannot use your friends DVD to install Windows 7 Home Premium and then activate Windows 7 Professional with your product key.
The Next Steps
Now that you’ve learned more about product keys and digital entitlement, how they work and why it’s important to keep them safe, you might be interested in learning more about Windows 10 as an operating system. If you still haven’t started using it, then we recommend you read why you should upgrade to Windows 10. That should help you clear the air and decide whether or not you want to upgrade.
If you’re satisfied with what version 10 has to offer, then you can proceed with a clean installation of Windows 10 or just upgrade to Windows 10.
Activation errors are some of the least common problems that Windows users can experience, but they are extremely annoying as they prevent you from using a product that you’ve paid for. Fortunately, Microsoft has done a good job when it comes to documenting them and providing solutions. Along with that, the error messages are usually very informative and make troubleshooting a lot easier. In this guide, we’ll look at some of the most common (and most troublesome) Windows activation errors.
If you’re looking for general information about the activation process and how Windows licensing works, check our guide to product keys.
If you are interested in troubleshooting errors related to the installation process of Windows 10, then refer to our Windows 10 setup troubleshooting guide.
How to Fix Activation Error 0xC004FC03
This error message indicates a networking problem and is usually experienced if you try to activate Windows 10 or the Microsoft Office productivity suite. The solution in both cases is fairly simple. First, check if you have a working Internet connection. If everything is fine, then there is a program that’s blocking your connection with the Microsoft servers. Disable software such as Windows Defender or third-party anti-virus software.
If the problem still persists, then it is likely that Windows Firewall is the program that’s preventing the communication with the servers. Follow our guide on configuring Windows Firewall to see how you can enable communication with the Windows servers or disable the Firewall in general.
How to Fix Activation Error 0xC004C008
It is very likely that you are trying to enter a product key that’s already being used by another PC. Remember that with a retail license you can have the same product key only on one machine at a time. If you are switching to a new machine and don’t plan on using your PC anymore, you can just remove the product key from the old machine.
This error might also happen if you are using a valid product key that is tied to a different version of Windows. For example, you cannot use a regular Windows 8 product key to activate an installation of Windows 8 Pro.
If you are sure that neither of these apply to you, then troubleshooting the problem will be hard. It is best to ask on Microsoft’s support forums or call their support center and attempt to activate your product via phone.
How to Fix Activation Error 0x8007007B
The solution is pretty straightforward and requires some input from the command line. You need to be logged in as the administrator and open the command console with administrator privileges. The easiest way to do this is to right-click on the shortcut icon and then select “Run as administrator”. Within the console you should write:
slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
where the X’s represent your product key and the first five characters your new Windows product key. After this command is executed, you should run “slmgr.vbs /ato” to finish the activation process.
You can also go to Start, then select Settings > Update & security > Activation. Select Change product key, and then enter your 25-character product key.
How to Fix Activation Errors 0xC004C4AE and 0xC004E003
If you’ve used a third-party application that adds a display language not currently supported by Windows, you might be in a bit of trouble. If you’ve done this, then it’s most likely the reason why you are seeing error 0xC004C4AE. The software has tampered with Windows binaries and it is not possible to confirm the validity of the product anymore.
Unfortunately, there’s no easy solution and it is recommended that you restore your PC to an earlier point in time in order to undo the changes. You can learn how to do this with our guide on how to restore Windows 10.
In the case of error 0xC004E003, the solution is the same – you’ll have to restore Windows to a previous version. The cause is a bit different, but the general issue is the same - some third-party application has changed important system files and Windows activation cannot verify your system’s authenticity.
How to Fix Activation Error 0xC004F061
You might see this error if a previous version of Windows wasn't installed on your PC before you tried using a product key to upgrade to Windows 10. In order to upgrade, you need to have Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 already on your PC. Without that, it is simply not possible to use an upgrade key and you’ll have to purchase a regular key instead.
How to Fix Activation Error 0x80072F8F
This is a security issue that can happen due to a very silly reason – your date and time are incorrect. The solution is simple, go to Settings >Time & language > Date and time, and verify if your time is set correctly. If not, adjust it accordingly and try to activate Windows again.
The second reason why you might be experiencing this error is due to your network. Windows is having trouble connecting to the online activation service and can't verify your product key. Just to be sure, you should run the network troubleshooter to see if Windows can detect any issues. If the network troubleshooter didn't find any problems with your network connection, try restarting your PC to see if that fixes the problem.
How to Fix Activation Error 0xC004C003
The activation error code 0xC004C003 is probably the worst activation error you could deal with. Microsoft’s error prompt only provides the following line of information to the end-user: “This product key didn't work.” This is probably one of the most useless error messages that you could encounter in Windows (or any operating system).
The simplest explanation available is that you are using an incorrect product key and as such, you should double-check what you are typing in. Another cause is that you performed a clean installation of Windows 10 instead of first upgrading from your previous version of Windows. When this happens, Microsoft isn't able to register your entitlement with the activation servers because you aren't upgrading to Windows 10. To fix this, you'll need to go back to your previous version of Windows, make sure the previous version is activated, and then upgrade to Windows 10. For more information on how to go back to a previous version of Windows, see the section on how to restore Windows 10.
It's possible that you upgraded to Windows 10, but the activation servers were busy. If you previously upgraded from an activated copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 using the limited free upgrade offer, your copy of Windows 10 will be automatically activated, or you can wait a while and then select Activate. If you continue having problems with activation, contact customer support.
Also, there's a possibility that you upgraded to Windows 10 using the limited free upgrade offer, but Windows 10 isn't activated after a reinstall. Your copy of Windows 10 should automatically activate as long as you didn't make any significant hardware changes to your device (such as replacing the hard drive or motherboard). If you continue having problems with the activation, contact customer support.
How to Fix Activation Error 0xC004E016
You might see this error if you entered a product key for a different version or edition of Windows. For example, a product key for the Enterprise edition of Windows 10 can't be used to activate Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Core editions.
How to Fix Activation Error 0xC004C020
This error occurs when a Volume License (a license that has been bought from Microsoft by a business to install Windows on multiple PCs) has been used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. To fix the problem, you might need to use a different product key to activate your PC. Contact your organization's support person for more info.
The Next Steps
If our solutions worked for you, then congratulations on activating Windows! Now that you’re done setting-up, you might also be interested in learning how to personalize Windows. This way you can adjust the GUI to your liking and customize your Windows experience.
