Tried to perform an in-place upgrade - then....

Hello forum members.

It has been a while since I last posted here although I am an avid reader of this forum.

I need some help please.

My pc was running Windows 10 Version 1703 for the last few years and everything was going well. I decided that I should update this pc to match the others in my house to run Windows 10 Version 1909 to make all the machines consistent vis-a-vis the operating system. After the update, I would make a long overdue image of the drive using Macrium Reflect ( the one I have is long outdated from 2017).

So, my strategy was to use the in-place upgrade method that I had been reading so much about on this forum. I downloaded a copy of version1909 from Heidoc and saved it to a USB flash drive with no issues. I followed the steps outlined in this forum and everthing appeared to go just great. Windows version 1909 was in place and the pc started OK and ran fine (or so it seemed). I committed a second bone headed move in this step. I did not make an image of the existing C drive and ran the in-place-upgrade anyway. DUH!!!!

Kaspersky AV data files needed updating (not the program) so, as per usual, I let it happen and again, all seemed well.

The next day, upon starting the pc, Kaspersky gave a message saying a file was infected and deleted it. Somehow, the Kaspersky update changed the settings to automatically delete "offending files" and it was gone!

The next thing, Windows gives me an error message telling me that a file in the start folder - DirectX.vbs was not able to be found. Not ... just ... great.

So, out of curiosity, I ran winver to check the Windows 10 version on the pc. Sure enough, the machine reports Windows 10 Version 1909. However, the activation has changed from a digital activation to something else. The message says that the activation is consistent with that of my organization..... ??? What organization is this? Where did this come from? This pc is not a member of any organization.

So, I tried to update using windows update. I get a message telling me that update will not work consistent with the settings of my organization.... Again the mysterious organization.

I have a sinking feeling in my gut at this point...

Now, I do have an image of the initial install. It is old (about 4 years - from the initial setup v 1607) and a more recent image made just after the update to v 1909. I know, I know, clearly my fault and lesson learned. The earliest image is from the first installation of Windows 10 and practically useless in a real world sense today.

So, I tried to restore the old image, thinking that it would at least get me back to the initial setup and correct activation, et al.

I installed a new ssd - a Samsung 860 EVO drive. It is an upgrade from the existing ssd (Samsung 850 EVO). I still have the previous drive with v 1909 and all current programs on it - mysterious organization and all.

Using Macrium, I restored the image to the new ssd and installed it in the computer. The old system was installed and is practically useless for today's computing use. If I keep this base installation and upgrade it I am essentially rebuilding my pc from scratch, At least the activation is back to its original "Digital Activation" status.

At this point am I relegated to using a somewhat working windows 10 system using v 1909 attached to some "phantom organization? Is this situation repairable?

So... what to do?

Do I keep the restored original installation that is on the new ssd and that is working? Use it as a starting point to rebuild my system by reinstalling all the programs again?

Do I simply bite the bullet and install a newer version of Windows 10 (v 1909 or more current stable version) and reinstall all the programs from scratch again?

Or, is there a way to upgrade my existing old, restored version of Windows 10 (v 1607) to a more current version (eg 1909) and restore my programs etcetera from my most current Macrium image (v 1909) without the "mysterious organization" that somehow got into it?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be extremely helpful.

Oh, By the way.... lessons learned through this experience - 1) Make use of my imaging software. I paid for it, so use it! Practice what I preach. 2) If it ain't broke - don't fix it!

Thanks for listening and for any assistance.

C.

I'm not quite following you from about the midpoint of your post.

I assume you were IN FACT able to restore your original 2017 image to the new Samsung 860 and that you can boot OK with that drive and that image restoration. And that the "phantom organization" is NOT in play at that point.

Correct or not?

Are you then UNABLE to simply go to Windows Update and use it to move to the most recent Windows version?

Hello Ghot. Thank you for your response and your clear instructions on how to properly use the in-place-update process. Clearly I missed some steps in the process.

So, at this point in time, I have two ssd hard drives. The original ssd - let's call it 850 and a newly installed ssd I will call 860.

850 has been updated to v1909 by my attempt to use the in-place-upgrade method and is the drive that is plagued by the missing DirectX.vbs file and the changed activation method to the "mysterious organization". Windows update will not work on this drive. This drive is not currently connected in the pc - it is on the shelf at this time.

860 is the current ssd in the pc at this time. I have successfully restored a Macrium image from 2017 and v 1607 is now installed and running well. The activation is showing as Digital Activation as it should. The programs and files on this drive are so old as to be pretty much useless. However there are no issues re: booting and running well as it is.

I would prefer to use the 850 drive because is has everything that is current. I do have a Macrium image of this drive. So, it is my preference to use the in-place-upgrade to v.1909 following the instructions you have provided. However, both the 850 drive and its image have the incorrect activation and restrictive update message and missing .vbs file.

The 850 drive and image also has the Windows.old folder as well. So, if I choose the 850 drive to try to upgrade again, should I roll back to the earlier installation of v 1909? Will a new, successful in-place-upgrade on the 850 drive correct the activation back to digital as it should be? I would expect that the missing .vbs file missing in the start up folder will also be repaired.

In my pc Drive C has my operating system and programs installed. Drive D has my user files and data files on it. When I use the in-place-upgrade method should I disconnect Drive D?

Thank you again for your message and I look forward to your reply for my next steps forward.
C.

Ghot said:

@nitram

Try it this... this time.


Here is the short version of the In-place upgrade tutorial...

DISABLE non-Microsoft:
a) antivirus software
b) firewall software
c) drive encryption software

Make a full OS backup with a program like Macrium Reflect (free)
Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

Go here and get the Media Creation Tool and save it to your desktop.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

RUN the Media Creation Tool and use it to: Create an ISO image... save IT to your desktop.
This will be the latest version of the ISO image.

For older ISO image versions, go here instead...
Download Windows 10 ISO File





Right click the ISO image and choose: MOUNT
Open File Explorer and you will see a new drive letter. It will look like a DVD optical drive.
Double click the new drive letter to open it.
Find setup.exe and double click it to start the in-place upgrade.

Choose the Keep personal files and apps option.

After it's all done... to UNmount the ISO image, right click the new drive letter and choose: EJECT.


The ONLY thing you will lose is some of your personalizations. Your programs and data will be intact.

How come the Windows 10 Version 1703 wasn't self updated?
Did you install any kind of Update manager to block auto updates?

For what I can see, it seems that you have a Update manager and is seen by 1909 as a update restriction and explain "the update will not work consistent with the settings of my organization".

If the 850 drive has Windows.old folder you can go back to the point before you did the in place upgrade.
I would try first to go back. Once you have the computer running as before, then you can think about an upgrade.

Hello ignatzatsonic... thank you for your reply to my earlier post. I apologise for my rambling message earler.

Yes, you are correct. I was able to restore my original 2017 image to the new 860 drive and I can boot and run the pc with that drive OK. The "phantom organization" is not showing on the activation and there are no startup messages.

I have not tried to use windows update on this drive yet. It would be my preference to use the 850 drive as it has the most current versions of programs and information on it. If that is not possible in my situation, I will be forced to rebuild the pc from a new clean install.

Thank you again for your thoughts and reply.

C.


I'm not quite following you from about the midpoint of your post.

I assume you were IN FACT able to restore your original 2017 image to the new Samsung 860 and that you can boot OK with that drive and that image restoration. And that the "phantom organization" is NOT in play at that point.

Correct or not?

Are you then UNABLE to simply go to Windows Update and use it to move to the most recent Windows version?

Ghot said:

I think the problem is that the User file is on the D drive rather than the C drive.
I would move the User file back to the C drive and THEN do the in-place upgrade.

.

I have moved C:\Users to D:\Users and I have been able to in place upgrade without any problem.

Read my post# 7

How to Restore Files from Windows.old Folder in Windows 10