Logging on Difficulty After Reinstalling W10

A Gray · 10 Feb 2023

My W10 laptop (HP Pavilion was running W10 20H2 and I attempted to upgrade it to W10 22H2 using the Windows Upgrade Assistant. Eventually I got a message which basically told me that the only way to complete the upgrade would result in all files and apps being deleted. As there was nothing that could not be replaced from other resources I decided to continue. When the upgrade concluded I was presented with the screen shown in the attachment. This required that I enter my Microsoft Account details even though this computer has never required such info as I have always used a local account with it. Never the less I entered my Microsoft Account details that I use with my other computer, but this did not work. In frustration I changed the password on my other computer. The change was verified and I tried again to log into the laptop but was met with the same retort that the password was incorrect. Can anyone suggest what is going on here and how I can circumvent this problem?

dalchina · 10 Feb 2023

Eventually I got a message which basically told me that the only way to complete the upgrade would result in all files and apps being deleted.

Very odd - these are minor, trivial upgrades.. it shouldn't have needed the Update Assistant route to do that, and the fact you had to resort to that suggests there was some underlying issue.

all files and apps being deleted

You can check whether that is what has in fact happened of course (even if you have to boot to a command prompt, say - or use a live boot disk).

Personally, if that's been done, I'd simply opt for
- checking the physical disk one way or another e.g. Crystal Diskinfo (portable version available) - e.g. disk in another PC or when booted from a live boot disk - which may well have the program on it..

- doing a clean install.

A Gray · 10 Feb 2023

Hi Dalchina,
I'm afraid you have lost me with some of these suggestions as my knowledge of computers is not advanced enough. Perhaps a clean install would work I've nothing to lose by trying this, but how do I do it?

Megahertz · 10 Feb 2023

Please edit your profile with ALL your hardware specs using System Two. It will help us to help you
System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums

As you already lost all your data and programs, do a Clean Install

Windows can be installed in two ways: Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT
To install as Legacy-MBR you must boot the installation drive as Legacy
To install as UEFI-GPT you must boot the installation drive as UEFI.

If you have a UEFI BIOS, you should install as UEFI-GPT
Detach any other drives (SATA or Power cable) from the MB.

During POST, press F9(?) to launch the boot menu. You will see two options for the USB drive. USB UEFI (Name) and USB (Name). Select USB UEFI (Name) if you want to install as UEFI-GPT or select USB (name) if you want to install as Legacy-MBR.
Go to install and delete ALL partitions on the main drive till you have one and only one unallocated space and then proceed.
If you don't want to use MS account, don't enable updates or connect to the internet during installation.

dalchina · 10 Feb 2023

Thank you for your reply.

How....? See the huge searchable Tutorials section (bottom left of the screenshot):

Logging on Difficulty After Reinstalling W10-1.jpg

A Gray · 20 Feb 2023

Hi Megahertz,
Thanks for your reply. I've been away for a few days hence the delay in getting back to you. I discovered that I had made a recovery pen drive shortly after purchasing the laptop in 2015 and I've now managed to reinstall Windows 10 from that. The only problem is that it has restored Windows 10 to version 1511 one of the earliest versions. This will not likely be a problem as I only want to do basic tasks with this laptop and hopefully my anti virus will keep me safe any time I do go on line.

Megahertz · 20 Feb 2023

Try to do an in place upgrade.
- Download the Win 10 22h2 iso file using MCT
- Right click on the iso file and select mount.
- Execute setup.exe
It will install Win 10 22h2 keeping your files and programs.

A Gray · 21 Feb 2023

Thanks Megahertz, but what is MCt? I've Googled it and it has come up with an oil or a Microsoft trainer neither of which appears to have anything to do with upgrading the operating system

dalchina · 21 Feb 2023

If you click on MCT in that post it's a link - to the MS media creation tool.

If in doubt, there's a tutorial- in the huge searchable Tutorials section - do have a look- excellent.

A Gray · 21 Feb 2023

Thanks Dalchina, I should have known to do that and what MCT stood for. I tried it before and it resulted in the screenshot I posted earlier which demanded entry of a Username and Password that I had no knowledge of. However I'll look at the tutorials again and give it another go in the hope that I get the update without the blockage. If that does not work I'll resort to my recovery pen drive again and just stick with that.