I have just bought an HP laptop running Windows 8.1 There were many updates which I have installed but do not have a Windows 10 App. I looked at the online Windows 10 files relating to this and I don't appear to be making much progress. I am attaching 3 screenshots and hope someone will be able to help resolve this problem.
You can start the process manually if you do not wish to wait. This tutorial will show you how to upgrade.
NOTE: Do not upgrade from USB/Disk, you must select "upgrade this PC now" from the media creation tool or the OS will not be activated.
Windows 10 - Upgrade Installation - Windows 10 Forums
That advice shouldn't be taken too literally.
In order to activate, the first installation must be an upgrade. (I believe that you have to "keep everything" in the upgrade, but I have read reports to the contrary.)
You aren't permitted to install as an upgrade when you boot from the installation medium (USB thumb drive, DVD, etc.) The PC has to be booted from the old OS, and the upgrade launched from within that.
My preference would be to have the Media Creation Tool create an .iso. 8,1 can natively mount the .iso, so do that, and run the upgrade from that mounted image.
If you have the tool create a bootable USB drive, just don't boot from it. Boot in 8.1, plug in the USB drive, go to setup.exe on the USB drive, and start from there. No problem.
Once you have successfully activated 10 one time, you can use bootable media to do a clean install any time in the future on the same hardware.
I hope that the extra detail isn't confusing.
Quote