Stuck in Limbo between 8.1 and 10!

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  1. Posts : 18
    win 10
       #1

    Stuck in Limbo between 8.1 and 10!


    I had something go wrong with my 10 (probably my error), so after many attempts, I thought going back to 8.1 would at least get me running.
    I am stuck in Limbo. My 8.1 files are not starting either......freezes up either on sign in or while starting up
    I have 8.1 on Disc, tried repair, with no luck, cannot get into safe mode (just freezes)
    I am thinking my next move is the more advanced reset with the disc (essentially a clean install), but then I lose all my junk......
    I cannot see going and getting a 10 disc, when the download is free...is it possible to download the 10 files on disc from 1 PC, then use it to restore mine? my wife's pc is doing well......
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 441
    Windows 10
       #3

    olblindman said:
    I had something go wrong with my 10 (probably my error), so after many attempts, I thought going back to 8.1 would at least get me running.
    I am stuck in Limbo. My 8.1 files are not starting either......freezes up either on sign in or while starting up
    I have 8.1 on Disc, tried repair, with no luck, cannot get into safe mode (just freezes)
    I am thinking my next move is the more advanced reset with the disc (essentially a clean install), but then I lose all my junk......
    I cannot see going and getting a 10 disc, when the download is free...is it possible to download the 10 files on disc from 1 PC, then use it to restore mine? my wife's pc is doing well......
    You can boot from a linux live cd to remove your files, before going down the clean install rout.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #4

    Bazz said:
    You can boot from a linux live cd to remove your files, before going down the clean install rout.
    He can also make a Macrium Reflect Rescue disk from the operating computer - boot with that on the broken computer and make an image of his current hard drive which will give him access to his data files after a clean install.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 550
    10 pro 64
       #5

    olblindman said:
    I cannot see going and getting a 10 disc, when the download is free...is it possible to download the 10 files on disc from 1 PC, then use it to restore mine? my wife's pc is doing well......
    Before doing a clean installation you must have done an upgrade first from either 7 or 8 to 10 . You can NOT do a clean installation until you upgrade the computer first . Afterwards you can do what ever you like . In your case you say there 2 computer your and the wife, each needs to be upgrade to 10 and if they are the same windows versions , like windows 10 pro 64 bit on both then you can create a single windows 10 pro 64 disk and use it on both computers ... But don't forget the upgrade must first be done on both .
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  6. Posts : 413
    windows 10 2004
       #6

    My question still remains, is it possible to get Windows 10 on floppy disks?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 18
    win 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    What is this macrium thingy, and how do I get it, and use it to retrieve the files on the bad drive?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4,453
    Win 11 Pro 22000.708
       #8

    Maggidon said:
    My question still remains, is it possible to get Windows 10 on floppy disks?
    Humor?

    I'll play it straight:

    The installer is over 3GB in size. That'd be more than 2000 1.44 MB 3.5 inch floppies.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 505
    Windows 10 Pro (Mix of Builds) / Linux Mint
       #9

    Depending on your skill level ...

    I'd say you should try:

    Getting your files if possible.
    Fresh 8.1 install/reset
    Then run the update from the media creation tool, choosing to upgrade the PC.

    But besides all that, you really haven't gone into what occurred on your attempts to upgrade, perhaps there is something connected that is causing the issue, etc.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 4,453
    Win 11 Pro 22000.708
       #10

    olblindman said:
    What is this macrium thingy, and how do I get it, and use it to retrieve the files on the bad drive?
    Macrium Reflect Free


    The plan would be: create a bootable Macrium Reflect drive. (CD, DVD or USB thumb drive. I'd recommend the thumb drive, but the others would work.)

    You'd also need an external drive (or a separate internal hard disk) large enough to save the image of the messed-up C: drive to.

    You boot from the Macrium rescue disk, and image the C: drive, errors and all.

    I use Acronis True Image (not free) myself, so I'm not familar with Macrium. True Image allows a drive image to be mounted as a virtual drive, which would allow you to copy off all of your files at your leisure. I suppose that Macrium does the same; it's a pretty basic function. (You won't be able to copy out any programs that needed installation. Not all programs require installation, but most do, and make a lot of entries in the Windows Registry that would be difficult to move to a new copy of Windows by hand.)

    I know that's not a detailed explanation, but I hope that it's an adequate start. The main point is to secure a copy of your files before you do anything that would delete them (like clean installing an operating system on you hard drive). To do that, you need to run the PC from something other than your broken operating system.

    Once you have a backup drive, you can use it in the future to keep backups of your critical files, like Microsoft should have clearly suggested that you do before proceeding with anything as major as an operating system upgrade. (That criticism is directed at MS, not you.)
      My Computers


 

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