Cannot reinstall Windows 10

janey6 · 22 Oct 2015

I upgraded a laptop from Windows 7 Home 64 bit to Windows 10 Home 64 bit. It has been running for several weeks.
Since the last updates, it has failed to start. After several attempts, I decided to use the installation USB I had made to install on other computers.
When i started up with the USB drive, I had the option to repair or install. I chose Install but it then asked for the identity code from the original installation.
I thought that this was not required when an upgrade had already been done.
Can anyone help, please?

Kari · 22 Oct 2015

You can skip the code. Just click the Skip link:

Cannot reinstall Windows 10-2015_10_22_14_06_441.png

If and when the Windows 10 has already been activated on that machine, it will be automatically activated even if you do not give the product key.

Kari

janey6 · 22 Oct 2015

Thank you.

janey6 · 22 Oct 2015

I tried that but I got the message that Windows 10 is installed on Volume 2 (two identical messages). It said I should remove the thumb drive and let Windows start normally. But that's just the point - it won't load. I can boot it from another (emergency) thumb drive but it won't go any further. Back to the blue window and the circle of dots!

DustSailor · 22 Oct 2015

Try following through with this tutorial: Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums - it might help. You might even try recreating the media creation tool to make sure it is working properly.

janey6 · 22 Oct 2015

Yes, I have that on my thumb drive but it just tells me to start Windows 10 and then insert the thumb drive. But I can't get Windows to open!

DustSailor · 22 Oct 2015

As I said, RECREATE the tool, and specifically follow the tutorial on how to do so. It will show you how to create a BOOTABLE one that you can use, so you won't need to use Windows 10 on your system at all. If you're 100% sure you have the tool ready to go, then just skip ahead to booting from it during bootup:

Only thing you'll need to do is know how to boot to the USB, which often is just striking the F8 key repeatedly during boot up, which should show a menu with different devices to boot to. Choose the name of your USB device, at it will initiate the install. Choose install, not repair. And you're set for the clean install by following the rest of the tutorial.

PS if you can't access that computer, you may need to find another computer to install the media creation tool from.

janey6 · 23 Oct 2015

I have the media creation tool on a USB thumb drive.
When i go into the laptop BIOS to select the boot order, I get:

USB CD/ROM drive
Notebook hard drive
Internal CD/DVD ROM drive
USB Diskette on Key/USB hard disk
! USB Floppy
! Network adapter

It tells me that devices marked with an exclamation mark will be disabled. As I have neither a USB diskette nor hard disk, I can't see which I should boot from.

NavyLCDR · 23 Oct 2015

I would try the USB Diskette on Key/USB hard disk

Although on my desktop computer, I have never been able to get it to boot from a USB memory stick, even though that memory stick will boot every other computer in the house, and I have to use a DVD on it.

Do you know if the bios on the laptop is the latest bios for it?

janey6 · 23 Oct 2015

As far as I know, I have the latest BIOS but it's hard to know with the state the laptop's in now.
I have now enabled the USB floppy to try that. I don't think it helps. I've even downloaded a new media creation tool onto a USB drive and tried to start up with that. I'm still only getting the blue window and the circle of dots.
Can't think what to try now. I've run the HP troubleshooter but it just says start up normally. Some hope!