Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Fresh install windows 10/OS USB drive issue

May 10, 2017 7:38AM PDT

Here is my first post re my problem:

Hello All, Would really appreciate some help.
Windows 10 was installed free on my laptop last year. I never asked for it it just arrived. A few weeks ago I noticed that somehow my pc had reverted back to windows 8??????Anyway, it was working ok so I just left it. Now my laptop has crashed and I would like to do a reinstall of the free windows 10. I have been in safe mode this morning and saved all personal files and folders to a disk. I don't seem to be able to get onto the net even though I selected option of safe mode with internet.
I am not techy at all and have tried to find this answer through youtube etc but so much information out there I am confused.
I believe I can download windows 10 to my USB stick and do it that way?? How and where? Also, as the windows 10 I had orginally installed itself free I have no product code or anything like that.
Please can someone help me?


I've had replies and implemented them. I have had to keep starting a new thread as the laptop I am using to find information to fix my own laptop also has issues and does nothing at all when I click on either 'answer' or 'reply'.

So where I am at now is I have a USB stick which now contains the OS. I have changed boot order on my laptop to pick up the USB first but it does not seem to be doing this.
R PROFFITT asked me if the USB stick was ok on any other PC (sorry I did not see this question first time round - I'm not used to forums where there is a new title for the thread with each response and only read main body of the reply).

I changed the boot sequence on this other person's laptop I am using to pick up the USB stick first to see what happened. It just shows me a black screen with white writing which says BOOTMGR missing...does this mean there is a problem with my USB drive?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Clarification Request
Since this stick does not boot
May 10, 2017 7:54AM PDT

On this or other PCs I have to write it's not a good stick. You must use the tools noted by others or just use the Microsoft Media Creation Kit and answer the question about "This is for use on another PC". I may have that question mangled a bit so roll with it and make it with the Microsoft kit.

I just tried this a few days ago and it did not ask me for a serial number or CDKEY. Some claim it does but here it does not on my Windows 10 laptop.

- Collapse -
Answer
thank you
May 10, 2017 8:04AM PDT

Wow! I just hit reply and it worked!!!! Thanks R Proffitt for this. I will persevere a little longer but starting to suspect I will just have to take it to the 'doctor' to be fixed!