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General discussion

Help! My laptop will not upgrade to Windows 10

Jun 17, 2016 4:43PM PDT

I have a Lenovo G555 laptop, circa 2010. It has Windows 7 home premium, 4GB RAM, 160GB HDD (not much on it), etc. Received one of those "Upgrade to Windows 10" reminders and went for it. It wouldn't go! Froze at 99% finished. Called MS Answer Desk and a tech helped me redo it. Still did not go. Next day, another MS tech, same thing. The latest tech guy said it was because my BIOS would not allow me to change my operating system...fancy that. He said I'd have to contact Lenovo. So, I did. What a disaster! They wanted me to pay a premium fee to find out how or if my computer would accept Windows 10. I declined their ridiculous offer! Bottom line from them and from research I attempted on the Net, Win10 is "no can do" on this laptop. So, even though MS says if you have Windows 7, you can upgrade to Windows 10, someone is not telling the whole story. By the way, I also used MS tool to check "is your computer capable of running Windows 10" and it said yes. Maybe some of your followers can help me get to Windows 10. As you know, the freebie for W10 expires July 29. If I can't get it for free, I "ain't" getting it. I'm not about to spend $119 for it, ever! Thanks for your time.

--Submitted by Larry A.

Discussion is locked

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(NT) AMD does support Win 10
Jun 26, 2016 7:35AM PDT
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AMD does support Win 10
Jun 26, 2016 7:37AM PDT
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Really?
Jul 25, 2016 2:31AM PDT

Don't you think I already tried this? It didn't work. Win 10 BSODed after installation, restarted, unloaded the drivers, claiming it wasn't compatible.

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is it really worth the upgrade?
Jun 26, 2016 5:03AM PDT

The answer is clearly no. First of all your laptop is a 2010 (6 years old). The average life span as I was told is about 7 to 8 years. Some may argue that point. Next, Microsoft has promised support on win7 till January 2020. That's 3 1/2 years from now. So even if your laptop does last that long, will your original hard drive make it that long? Your laptop maybe dead and gone by that time. Unless you want win10 just because it the newest, I would advise you to forget about it. if you want the features of 10, just buy a new laptop, pre-loaded with 10. And again, I hope you are constantly backing up all your files with a good system in place.

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I don't get it, part 2
Jun 26, 2016 2:17PM PDT

Some people have apparently got it into their heads that the OS is tied to the hard drive. Where did this come from? I have encountered this argument before.

It doesn't matter if your hard drive dies. You can always buy a new one. The same license applies to the machine that it had before. Don't you know how to install an OS? This is pretty basic stuff.

Your argument makes no sense.

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you gotta look
Jun 26, 2016 2:42PM PDT

Some people consider the os being tied to the harddrive because the backup factory version is there.

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I can see consumers might think that.
Jun 26, 2016 2:50PM PDT

Here I have a better view as I can clone drives, make restore media and more.

Average Joe Jane may be in trouble.

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Well, for the benefit of everyone...
Jun 26, 2016 5:39PM PDT

The very first thing you do when you get a computer-- even before installing software or getting on the internet-- is to make factory restore disks from that restore partition. The manuals tell you this. You store those disks in a safe place. If you have a computer that does not have the ability to burn disks then you can use a flash drive or an external burner.

I do not approve of people who will not even learn how to operate a computer. This is so basic that you should consider it on the level of learning how to turn it on and off. I'm not being mean here. Do you know how many people bring their computers to me wanting me to get data off of it that they have lost or expecting me to reinstall the OS when they never bothered to make disks or take any precautions at all? I hate to say it, but those people genuinely deserve to lose their data and be unable to ever use the computer again. It will teach them to learn at least the basics of how to operate a computer at a Kindergarten level. If I wasn't a softie, I would offer to buy it from them for $20 and then restore it and use it myself.

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Aggree... sort of.
Jun 26, 2016 5:50PM PDT

Dafydd.

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Consider this...
Jun 26, 2016 8:40PM PDT

It is possible to drive a car without ever putting gas in it or checking the fluid levels. The problem is, how long do you think that will last? Won't people call you an idiot if you say your car is broken because it ran out of gas or if you really do break it because you let it run too low on oil?

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another way
Jun 26, 2016 3:14PM PDT

another way a person can perceived the os is tied to the harddrive is when techs try to explain why you cannot install a os on a second (d) drive then replace it as c drive later. Sometimes they just say it is "tied to the drive" instead of telling about the bootloader and all the other technical stuff thus going over the persons head.

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Maybe it wasn't meant to be
Jun 26, 2016 5:20AM PDT

Well after reading through many of the comments and following a frantic call last night from my brother who swears he is switching to Mac now I say shame on Microsoft.
Look, some have had positive experiences but others have not. Some systems went through the transition just fine, some did not. Just look through the comments, come now, the consumer reads they were eligible, their system was compatible and check out all the problems. Bottom line is the average person can't navigate these issues and apparently neither can MS tech support. Even my brother, not a stupid person, thought the bombardment of update messages meant he had to upgrade or risk having to buy a new computer. The bottom line is his computer was running fine, he had years left on it as he purchased a better system planning for that and he now has hair pulling issues. That and I who rarely got a call, no longer spent holidays fixing his computer am now once again on constant call. As time winds down to the 29th keep this in mind, as happened to him the manufacturer may not support the system once it is upgraded. Sure, through navigation and tweaks one may still be able to address certain issues but the average user gets frustrated.
I myself don't want the upgrade, I have no issues with my machine and after working on systems all day have no desire to come home and make it work. I have been through each system since windows 3.1 and still of the mindset that MS should have supported those who purchased ME, 2001 and Vista better. I get it, things change and dealing with security issues will always mean support for them but do just that Microsoft, support your product.

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Closing Commentary
Jun 26, 2016 12:07PM PDT

This is not an answer to the post. I’ve already submitted my contribution. My purpose here is to comment on the quality of the numerous posts that were left regarding Windows 10/Windows 10 Upgrade.

In general, this thread remained on the calm side as contributors espoused their like or dis-like for Windows 10 or their preference for an alternate OS (i.e. MacOS fka OSX or Linux). I say this because I’ve seen these discussions degeneration into all out cat & dog fights which in the end served no one.

Let me say I really don’t care or more bluntly “give a rats A” which OS anyone chooses to use. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and choice. Understand that if you ask me a question regarding Windows or MacOS I will give you my honest unbiased opinion. You may or may not like my answer but as long as it's based in fact or referenced with "IMO" you should respect it, comment in a courteous manner and move on. That coutesy applies to answers/comments left by anyone.

Full disclosure I have systems running MacOS and Windows 10. I do so because I’m a tech junkie and would rather form my own opinion as to the merits of opposing OS’s. However, some leave comments that are so narrowed minded with tunnel vision that only their opinion seems to matter. Frankly, I wish those individuals would crawl back into their holes and let the rest of us have a healthy exchange of information and a genuine learning experience. Don’t misunderstand me; I’m not above accepting advice but I’m not going to be bullied or shamed into accepting someone else’s view point. NOT GONNA HAPPEN!

Some went so far as too leave percentages as to how many people dislike Windows 10. Where on earth are people getting this information they offer as fact and no one else seems to know about it?? To those individuals…DO YOUR RESEARCH before you leave comment based upon the one article you read or the old “he said she said” BS.

Others left comments saying Windows 10 upgrade is a total waste of time based upon their bad experience. OK...could Microsoft have done a better job with the roll out? The answer is yes…there’s always room for improvement. Could Microsoft have done a better job in addressing all the possible anomalies that could prevent a seamless upgrade from happening per every system on the market? The answer is NO.

You may not agree with this next statement but I feel I’m qualified to make it as I use both Windows and Mac. It’s been my experience that on average the MacOS experiences fewer hitches when upgrading than Windows. Is it because Windows is an inferior OS - there are those that would argue that– but the core of the matter IMO comes down to WHO CONTROLS THE HARDWARE. Apple 100% - Microsoft 0% until recently with the release of the Surface Products (i.e. Surface Pro 3 & Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book).

As proof that the Windows 10 upgrade is not a total waste of time consider this…

I took a Dell OptiPlex 380 SFF (mini tower) with Windows 7 Pro - 32 bit OS, 4GB RAM and Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (which prior to any mods was Windows 10 Upgrade approved). I moved the Dell to Windows 10 Pro – 64 bit OS, 8GB RAM and Intel Core 2 Quad Processor. Granted given the mods I made suggest I have skills beyond the average user. Truth be known I had to resize the System Reserve as I commented in my post to this thread as a possible solution. My point here is that the Windows 10 upgrade is not a total waste of time.

Sure overcoming a hiccup in the upgrade may be as simple as disabling the anti-virus or it may require a deeper-dive such as resizing the System Reserve. Bottom-line is that people come to these forums seeking answers to their problems and not a BRAIN WASHING as to which OS is better or some off the wall comment about 95% dislike it or it being a total waste of time.
For the record my next project is too purchase an inexpensive PC and load a Linux version so that I can discuss the pro’s and con’s intelligently.

Let’s keep things in perspective and go about the job at hand in a courteous and conscientious manner…. which is HELPING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS resolve their issues. Remember…

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.

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Don't enough space
Jun 26, 2016 8:00PM PDT

HDD Don't enough space

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USB option you have 3,options for use save to flash
Jun 27, 2016 10:54AM PDT

Use the USB flash drive option, but do word it to the flash drive for the installation, and right click on the. Exe answer run as Administrator "hue'la", done hope it works

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Tried W10
Jun 27, 2016 6:46PM PDT

I recently downloaded and installed the free W10. No problems there -- nothing to write home about. However, I do not really like it. Not because it is junk. I am not particularly crazy about it. There are some bugs associated with it. For example, I had trouble trying to shut-down normally. It just would not go off. I had to push the on-off hardware button. I will say I went out to my laptop's website (ACER) and downloaded and installed 12 drivers. This seemed to help my system response with W10. But, I still do not like it very much. So, I reloaded W8.1 from the DVD (cost: $85) I purchased. Of course, I loaded new drivers from ACER same as W10 for the W8.1. I like the W8.1 START menu and APPLICATION map better than W10. Maybe I might try W10 again after MS smooth's off some of the rough edges.

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Encrypted hard drive may cause Windows 10 install to fail.
Jun 27, 2016 7:42PM PDT

Is the hard drive encrypted? That can cause the Windows 10 install to fail, and you won't get any error messages warning you about it. You'll have to unencrypt, then reencrypt once Windows 10 installs successfully. After several failures, I also installed from a CD, which seemed less buggy, but I'm not sure it was necessary. The encryption seems to have been the main problem in my case.

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I love Win10! But I tell my friends it isn't a must have
Jun 30, 2016 5:34AM PDT

Hello,

Although my first go around with upgrading my Windows 7 laptop to windows 10 whelmed up being a very quick fiasco once I downgraded by restoring it to factory specs to be Windows 7 and went ahead and updated it with windows 10 I have not had any problems since upgrading it the second time around. I am A computer help desk professional by trade so you can count on me being one of those people that is the go to "geekette" for my friends and family. Those that have Windows 7 I tell it is not a must have because mostly my friends are not tech savvy they are just tech users. I only have one friend that is on windows 10 and that is because her old laptop just up and spontaneously completely died on her so she had no choice but to buy a brand-new laptop. That Friend has told me she is satisfied with windows 10 it took a little getting used to but she was able to pick up on it quickly I love my Smart Friend!

I have a Nother friend that whelmed up having a big fiasco on her hand because her laptop in the middle of the night just went ahead and spontaneously did the upgrade to windows 10 all on its own without her being around to say no or yes to it and she did not even want that to happen as she did not want to go to windows 10. After her laptop upgraded itself did not do it successfully and whelmed up in a perpetual reboot and she had to go ahead and figure out how to roll her machine back on her own because I was not available at the time. Now that she's back on Windows 7 she still wants me to look at it and I will gladly do it for her. As a helpdesk technician I love and live for problems.

Please definitely put me in the group that is enjoying windows 10 once you get used to where everything is reorganize to it really is a nice little operating system. The only thing I don't like is the Internet explorer the new version I still stick with Google Chrome because I love it so much better then any of the previous or current versions of Internet Explorer.

Sincerely,
Wonder Woman

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One Possible Solution for Windows 10 Upgrade
Jul 1, 2016 6:46PM PDT

So my brother failed many times in upgrading to Windows 10. He was using Windows 7 Home Premium.
1. The solution is first - reinstall Windows 7 Home Premium (turned out that there were some corrupted files in the Windows 7 Home Premium). Please select keep files or backup files.
2. Now install Windows 10. It worked flawlessly.

Good luck. Hope this helps you.

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How I Succeeded in Upgrading to Windows 10
Jul 2, 2016 5:03PM PDT

1. Reinstall Windows 7 Home Premium (choose to keep your files in PC)
- the reason for this step is my problems in earlier unsuccessful attempts were caused by corrupted files which had prevented the installation of Windows 10 in my laptop.
2. Now install Windows 10.

It worked for me. Good luck!

Cheers,
Sieng

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Laptop Upgrade
Jul 25, 2016 2:41AM PDT

I had the same problem with a Lenovo T430 and a HP laptop. I let them both do their thing. After 3 days, my upgrade on the Lenovo finished. It took about 24 hours for the HP to complete.

My suggestion, is to start the upgrade if you still want Windows 10 and walk away. Just check it once in awhile. I don't know what the cause is, and you don't have any control over the reserve partition. A 160GB drive has ample room for this upgrade.

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Time to put 2 companies support on the spot for help
Jul 29, 2016 11:06AM PDT

Hello,

I personally did what I am about to recommend you try successfully myself. There came a point where I had an HP printer that stop communicating with my Windows computer completely spontaneously. I with cold one support and they would tell me to call the other support I felt like a ping-pong ball and decided I was fed up with that and not letting it happen anymore. I decided to do a conference call getting both of them on the same call so that they would talk tech to tech to solve the problem and couldn't shuttle me back and forth to dump my call for help. This whelmed up solving my problem which wind up being that because of an update from Microsoft I needed to wind up flashing my bios once I did that my computer started talking to the printer again perfectly and after that I never had another problem.

I recommend that you get both companies support phone lines on the phone in a conference call so that they cannot try to pass you off on the other company this way if they talk tech to tech like-minded they will wind up having no choice but to troubleshoot the situation together to solve it. And if any of the tax at the first level give you a problem just simply demand to talk to their supervisor with the other TechTeam on the conference call still. Hopefully this sale suggestion will help solve your problem permanently. Please advise if this does help you and what the end result was that was preventing you from upgrading successfully.

Sincerely,
Wonder Woman