[ACER E5-511-C8A8] Win 8.1 to Win 10 failed upgrade in SECOND_BOOT

Good morning!
This is my first post, so I'd like to say hi first :).

I am on a mission to upgrade my partner's Acer E5-511 from Win 8.1 to Win 10.

I have tried to do it approx. 4 times now. I am very close to giving up, but I know there are people out the, who managed to upgrade those bloody acers (not a huge fan, sorry) to Win 10 successfully and I hope to find help on this forum.

The idea was to do a clean Win 8.1 install - which I completed with no issues. Once Win 8.1 was clean-installed (all disks/partitions formatted, all files gone), I attempted to upgrade to Win 10. The whole process was going smoothly; computer downloaded all files an attempted installation of Win 10. On one of the restarts - the screen froze on "acer explore beyond limits".
That was about the time I started using my own laptop and researched possible solutions.

I have tried updating Win 8.1 to the newest version, before upgrading - but two upgrades didn't go through. I never wrote down those numbers (now I know, it would have been helpful today).
I have tried and I believe I updated BIOS to the never version.
I installed older VGA driver, as per one of the forum advisers.
I turned off Fast Startup, to resolve freezing issue, but this changed nothing.

I have run out of ideas at this point.

I have got a USB drive with Win 10 on it - my plan is to upgrade Win 8.1 to Win 10 and then perform a clean install of Win 10.

My Win 10 upgrade goes as far as:
- checking if system & hardware compatible
- downloading and loading installer
- performing 1 reboot during the process of what I think is an install
- and then, when it does actually feel we're nearly there - the computer freezes always on "acer explore beyond limits" screen. No loading the page indicator, nothing. Just black screen with a logo.
- after last attempt I saw 1st error message (this has not displayed before) - We couldn't install Windows 10. 0xc1900101 - 0x40019 The installation failed in the SECOND_BOOT phase with an error during OOBE operation.

When I force-stop the laptop and reboot - pressing F4 allows troubleshooting and it shows option on the very top "Continue to Win 10". If selected, it will bring me back to frozen screen after reboot. When I select advanced options, it won't let me use safe mode either (tried both - with and without network access). The only option that actually works from F4 screen is - restore to Win 8.1.
I am just finishing resetting the computer now. I want to start again, from the beginning, following your instructions.

I will have clean Win 8.1 (all Win 10 upgrade files gone, etc.), connected to the Wi-Fi, no antivirus or any other software installed.
Do I start by updating Win 8.1 to the newest version?
Do I update all/certain drivers first?
How do I check, if I've got the correct BIOS version?
Do I need to provide technical specification of the laptop components?
Please guide me through - the situation feels so hopeless! :)

I am using HP Envy 13 myself, it came with Win 10, all updates go smoothly, no dramas with drivers whatsoever - I have never dealt with Win 8.1 to Win 10 upgrade before, but so far the experience is horrendous! :)
I have time till Saturday to resolve it, if not, we will have to stick to Win 8.1 on this laptop.
Thank you

Hello durkat and welcome to TenForums :)

Is there any reason why you can't jump straight to a clean install of W10 and forget about going through the upgrade process?

philc43 said:

Hello durkat and welcome to TenForums :)

Is there any reason why you can't jump straight to a clean install of W10 and forget about going through the upgrade process?

Hello and thank you for looking into my problem. I thought I'd need to upgrade first for the legal reasons. Laptop was bought with Win 8.1, I've got a recovery disc and product key on a label on it. I wanted to upgrade 8.1 to 10, make sure 10 status shows as active. Then I was plannin on obtaining product key for 10 (I read it would be different, than the one I use for 8.1) and performing clean Win 10 install.

Also, once I perform clean Win 10, would this remove recovery partition with Win 8.1?

Since the free upgrade is now over you will need to buy a license for W10 as part of the activation process. When you clean install you have the choice of deleting all the old partitions or leaving some of them if you wish. See this tutorial: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...n-install.html

philc43 said:

Since the free upgrade is now over you will need to buy a license for W10 as part of the activation process. When you clean install you have the choice of deleting all the old partitions or leaving some of them if you wish. See this tutorial: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...n-install.html

I want to perform an update, which Microsoft kept as a free option for assistive technogoly users. But so far we got to the stage, where we're thinking this is impossible on that computer.

Yes, I am aware that assistive technology users still get a free upgrade and if you qualify then do try to achieve this. You could also try the upgrade by following this tutorial: Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First. I am not sure if it will work for assistive technology users but worth a try - you may have to call up Microsoft for the activation step and explain.

Finally, after 6 days of a constant struggle - laptop is operating Windows 10 Home.
I can't even say what was the fix, I think it was a combination of few factors.

I gave up on the upgrade option.
I used my laptop to create a USB Win 10 installation drive, using Media Creation Tool (selected option 'I want to use it on another PC'). I prepared the laptop and performed a clean Win 10 install, using Win 8.1 product key.

When I say prepared the laptop, I mean:
-clean install of Win 8.1 performed
-installed Wi-Fi driver (8.1 compatible) from the manufacturer's website. Only this one.
-updated BIOS (8.1 compatible); driver from the manufacturer's website.
-updated Windows 8.1 to the newest version (I repeated the process few times - until there were no more updates to install. Please keep that in mind, as sometimes it takes few attempts. I had 2 failed updates, but once re-attempted - everything installed smoothly. There must be no failed updates, no errors. Push it to 100%, so you get the newest Win 8.1 successfully installed)
-then I installed all other drivers from the manufacturer's website. Drivers compatible with current version of Windows (8.1).
-disabled 'Fast Startup' (I found detailed instructions on this forum)
-in power management setting I made sure the PC won't go to sleep once plugged in [I had to leave the laptop on and go to work; PC must not go to sleep while updating]
-changed boot setting in BIOS to start from the USB stick (instructions on this forum, if you don't know how to do it)
-switched the Wi-Fi off (this is the last step, but very important). PC must not be connected to the internet, once you start installing Win 10.

My install process looked as it follows:
-Laptop switched off. USB stick put in.
-Powered the machine. It switched the Win 10 installation on.
-Asked for the product key - I entered Win 8.1 product key.
-Prepared for the install. Checked the components, disk space, etc.
-Windows 10 started downloading. Steady, but rather fast process. Quicker at the beginning, slower towards the end.
-Once Windows 10 finished downloading and restarted - I removed the USB stick. Failing to do so will result in Win 10 installation window popping on again, as per boot setting in BIOS we changed earlier. Once Win 10 finishes downloading and asks for the PC to be restarted - once it switches off, take the USB stick out - not needed anymore.
-Win 10 was installing. It stayed on 99% for good few hours, be patient :).
-After the restart laptop was showing manufacturer's logo and 'getting ready' message for a while. Let it be.
-Then it went to the black screen + cursor.
-Next, it was showing manufacturer's logo and 'Loading' message.
And it finally showed Win 10 setting up screen.

I experienced most of the common problems with the install:
-PC freezing during the very first/or second/ restart during the Windows installation process [fix - 'Fast Startup' disabled]
-PC freezing on 'getting ready' screen [fix - BIOS updated + it takes time]
-PC freezing on 99% install [fix - Wi-Fi turned off] + it takes time. 1-60% went rather quick, then it was dragging like crazy. 94-100% took about 1% per hour.

Once completed, I started by updating Win 10 - it again took time, had to leave laptop on, once leaving for work. Came home, everything was updated. Configured the settings et voila!
Thank you very much for the advice, I never would have attempted a clean install using Win 8.1 product key. At no point I was asked to pay - my current licence activated Win 10.

All the best and be patient - it takes ages! Once PC and drivers up to date, newest BIOS and no antivirus, no 'Fast Startup', no Wi-Fi during install - it should take its' time, but finally complete.

Thanks for your brilliant write up of your process. I hope it will encourage others who have been having trouble! :)

For future reference, @durkat, everything after your blue "My install process looked as it follows:" was a clean install of Windows 10 and everything you had done with Windows 8 prior to that point was completely erased and had no bearing at all on the Windows 10 install. To upgrade you must start the install process from inside the running installed Windows. Booting from an install media does a clean install.