Why can't I upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Ultimate
       #1

    Why can't I upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10


    Thank you very much in the first.

    I tried to upgrade my systems of PC from Win7 to Win10, and there is the error tips:
    "Windows 10 installation has failed."

    And then, I get another tips when I tried run /sources/setup.exe. (see screenshot below)
    Why can't I upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10-installfromsetup.exeinsources.jpg

    In factly, there are a few questions.

    1st, How much space need to upgrade Win7 to Win10? My system's free space is 7GB now, is this reason?(see screenshot below)
    Why can't I upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10-freesystemsspace.jpg

    2nd, I had change my personal folder from C:\Users to D:\Users using ROBOCOPY and MKLINK when I install Win7 at last year. This settings will let me upgrade failed? How to change my personal folder or keep this settings when I upgrade success?

    Thank you, god bless you.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #2

    How did you do the upgrade? If you ran setup.exe from your installation media, make sure its 10 Pro and not 10 Home. Do you have service pack 1 installed?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3,505
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #3

    Well, in order to upgrade Windows 7 to 10 you must first install Service Pack 1 for Windows 7. Then you must move all folders back to their original location. No need to also copy the data, just create the relevant folders (if you have deleted them) and change the default location back to the original. Then if 7GB free space is not enough, Windows Setup will ask you to connect a USB Flash drive or other disk with at least 9GB free to continue. Do that and you shouldn't have any problem.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #4

    I've moved my user folders like documents, Pictures etc to my D drive, and did the free upgrade with no issues. If you moved your actual user folder though, that may be an issue like spapakons mentioned.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3,505
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #5

    Yes it is. I once tried to repair install Windows 8.1 on a computer that had a small SSD and we had moved the user folders and Program Files to D. It wouldn't let me unless I moved the folders back to their original location. Thankfully only the folders were required, not the data as the SSD didn't have enough space for them.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #6

    spapakons said:
    Well, in order to upgrade Windows 7 to 10 you must first install Service Pack 1 for Windows 7.
    Not required if you are using an ISO file for the upgrade. SP1 is only required if you are attempting to use Windows Update for the upgrade.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 3,367
    W10 Pro x64/W7 Ultimate x64 dual boot main - W11 Triple Boot Pending
       #7

    What I am looking at here is why is the drive so limited on space? Having only 7gb free wouldn't be enough to begin with as well as the 40gb total suggesting a small drive of what type IDE or SSD? I knew the first SSDs were small. Or did you split a larger drive up and plan to upgrade 7 to 10 with 7 running on a small partition?

    As for the need to upgrade first that would be optional not a mandate! Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First - Windows 10 Forums

    Often upgrade installs will come up buggy where you end up needing to start all over fresh anyways. Why not back everything up first and call it a day with a wipe and clean install of 10?! A look at the Disk Management tool would be a help for sure! And only seeing 7gb is also a good reason why the attempt to upgrade would fail. If you have any other storage drive plugged in that will need to be unplugged during either the upgrade or clean install since the 10 installer doesn't know enough to put the boot files and temporary installation folders on the OS drive when non OS drives are mixed in.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 3,505
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #8

    I wish it was always as fast as a day, but depending on the applications one wants to install and tweak and on the amount of data easily you need 2-3 days and a couple after to sort out any issues. So a format (clean-install) is not desirable when one has too many applications and data. An office PC might have only Windows, MS Office, Acrobat and it is OK. A home PC will have tons of other applications one wants to install, let alone two tons of data to backup. So I leave the clean-install as a last resort.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 3,367
    W10 Pro x64/W7 Ultimate x64 dual boot main - W11 Triple Boot Pending
       #9

    And that is why whenever trying out any newer version you would expect to see multiple clean installs at times and simply expect the single upgrade install to run perfect. The initial upgrade here back in July saw an immediate Repair Install before planning the fresh clean install when that came out buggy. Likewise the upgrade on a laptop saw no Start button, Setting screen totally blank, and no access to the AllApps(previously All Programs) section until the clean install already expected was seen to!

    When planning to be running a newer version you first start off "light weight" from the get go anyways sampling one app or software at a time to see what will go on and run correctly or if the need to see a newer version of such is a mandate. AV programs known for that as well as other softwares!

    Once you have everything checked out and the Windows install upgrade or clean install is running in primo condition you then see the full system image back up made in case you have a meltdown of some type later. But always expect a few problems whenever moving into a newer version that first need to be resolved! Been there too many times not to know that one! At times I've even seen a few clean installs come out buggy not with 10 however but looking back on 9x and XP in particular there!
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 3,505
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #10

    If you take some precautions, there is a high possibility for an upgrade to succeed and save you all the trouble of backup and reinstall everything.

    Rule No 1: Always disable, or even better uninstall, the Antivirus! You never know when it will try to interfere and screw the process.
    Rule No 2: Download any drivers beforehand since you might not have access to the internet after the upgrade (I had such experiences). If the driver is not exclusive to the new version, but also can be installed in your current version, it is a good idea to do it. Install any new drivers common to both versions before the upgrade to minimize incompatibilities.
    Rule No 3: Uninstall any applications not sure they will work in new Windows. If any of them has a new version, uninstall it before the upgrade and install the new version after. Remove any customizations, overclocking and other settings that might cause problems.
    Rule No 4: Disable any power saving feature during the upgrade! You don't want the computer to sleep or hibernate and interrupt the process!

    Rule No 5: Uncheck the box "Search for updates during setup". No! Don't let Windows Update replace any working drivers with generic Microsoft ones. Better upgrade first and run Windows Update later!

    Also have a look at this post.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:49.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums