Use bootable USB to upgrade to 1511

@OldMike65 - your thoughts on this:

If it is indeed a problem with the EFI partition/BCD, and we really don't want to have to do a clean install - and now I am thinking out loud - wonder if we image just the "C" partition of the HDD, clean install the current build onto the existing HDD, and then image the C partition back. The boot issues would be resolved, and the upgrade should then work, right? OMG what a lot of work!

OldMike65 said:

All this is unbelievable, the trouble these 2 users are having. I upgraded 2 HP desktops that I own, never saw problems like this.
1 of those computers is 9 years old....never even cleaned installed Windows 10 Pro....Run great... just surprised at these problems.

Yeah, I've not run across this either yet. I have a 10-year-old Toshiba laptop running the latest Insider build, using integrated graphics that are supposedly not supported - and it runs fine! I did have to enable .NET Framework 3.5 though.

OldMike65 said:

Just checked in with the 3rd user, he has decided NOT to upgrade to 1511, as his 10240 is running fine, it just refuses to update.
He does not want a clean install......

At this point, I don't blame him!

OldMike65 said:

Only one user has that problem I thought?? Murdabenne .....but if they want to try, I already know Murdabenne uses Macrium Reflect, Retail version for all his images, so he's all set. No idea on the other user... could be worth a shot, should make complete image backup.....and do not USE Windows backup.

Okay so he makes a complete Macrium HDD image with verification. Then, clean installs the latest W10. Then, put the C partition back onto the HDD. Then try mounting and running setup.exe. We've got to get CHKDSKs done first though.

No one is using drive encryption are they? That can be a show stopper. OC can also be a problem.
Another possible solution, is to use Disk Cleanup to clean up system files and choose Device driver packages, Previous Windows installations and Temporary Windows installation files.

OldMike65 said:

Think it would be better to run windows 10 install using Media creation tool, and have it make the windows install unto a usb stick.....not from their hard drive...

But the MCT will make an ISO, which they can just right-click and run. I don't usually use USB sticks - is there an advantage?