W10 update error on (really) old laptop: SAFE_OS phase

Hi everyone.


So, I've got a bit of an unusual situation here. I have a really old LG laptop from 2006 that I put Windows 10 on. Yes, it is horrible and laggy and terrible to use in day-to-day life, but this laptop has always been something I've played around with and never really used for real work. As a result, putting Windows 10 on it is more for fun than for productivity.

These are its specs:

- Intel Pentium M 740 @ 1.73 GHz
- 2 GB DDR RAM
- 60GB Fujitsu MHV2060AT IDE hard drive
- Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Wi-Fi card
- HL-DS DVD drive
- Video drivers don't exist, so it's using Microsoft Basic Display Adapter

I stopped using it quite a while ago, but recently I plugged it in and noticed it's on W10 version 1709. As a result, I let it run its Windows Update. However, the updates keep failing. For some reason, it keeps trying to update to 1803 instead of 1809.

See this picture:




I noticed the CMOS battery died on this laptop, and even after replacing it, it still keeps failing.

Here's a list of other things I've tried:

- Reseating RAM

- Checking RAM with Windows Memory Diagnostic and MemTest86 -- no problems

- Installing W10 1809 through a DVD with the ISO burned to it--booting to DVD simply doesn't work. It shows the blue Windows logo, but nothing loads. I've left the laptop on for more than a day and it nothing happens.

- Removing the Wi-Fi card-- I saw online that some Broadcom Wi-Fi adapters can cause issues, and even though mine is Intel, I still removed it and nothing changed.

- Removing the DVD drive--same as above.

- Installing W10 1809 through Windows 10 Update Assistant, but also with the latest ISO file -- produces the following error:

0xC1900101 - 0x20017
The installation failed in the SAFE_OS phase with an error during BOOT operation.

- There's literally not much about this error on Google or here on TenForums. Anyone got any idea what this could be?

- As for the BIOS version, forget about a BIOS update. This laptop is running the original 2006 BIOS version. There are no updates available. Doing a Google Search for this laptop, or its motherboard, or its BIOS version, leads nowhere as this model was very specific to a country I used to live in, and thus, it "doesn't exist" online.

- As for BIOS settings, there's nothing that can be changed on this BIOS with the exception of turning off Intel SpeedStep (which downclocks the CPU to 800 MHz and I already tried) and disabling legacy USB support (which I also already tried).




I really don't care much about this laptop, but these errors definitely got me curious now... I'm hoping somebody here on TenForums has some idea about what to do next. This is a fun mini project!

Hi Ken, thanks for the reply!

Caledon Ken said:

Well if you want fun this article may help.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/win...dy_UpgradeTips

Your latest error code is related to drivers. Article sort of walks you through. There is even a tool that could boil the ocean for you and might tell you which driver is at fault.

I agree, it's something driver related. I'll take a look at that article and read more about what they say.

Like I said in the OP, the only driver that this laptop doesn't have is the Video Controller driver, which shows up with a yellow triangle in Device Manager because there simply aren't drivers for Intel GMA drivers for W7 or newer.

Caledon Ken said:

I would use the MCT tool, boot from the USB key and perform a clean install. The MCT tool creates a USB that boots legacy or UEFI.

I know about the MCT, I already tried using it. This laptop cannot boot from USB drives for some reason, only DVDs. I already tried burning a DVD with 1809 32-bit and trying to boot from DVD, but just like all the other upgrade methods, right after I "Press any key to boot from DVD/CD" it gets stuck on the blue Windows logo with black background, and nothing happens

Sadly I suspect its just to old and outdated... in fact reading the first post sounds pretty much like my old Acer laptop, also from 2006. That now refuses to even clean install the latest version from the MCT (past versions would to a greater or lesser degree).

The only way I successfully got the latest version of Ten onto it was to first install the x86 version onto my main laptop and then use imaging software to restore that image to 'dissimilar hardware'.

It worked and although I have a few drivers that are OK, the whole experience is painful and the laptop runs terribly slow with frequent blue screens at boot up. In fact I've given up on Ten on the Acer and only last week put a pristine fully updated Vista image I had back onto it. Compared to Ten that really flies.

Mooly said:

That now refuses to even clean install the latest version from the MCT (past versions would to a greater or lesser degree).

Interesting. I just tried clean installing W10 1511 32-bit from an old DVD that I had, and guess what, it installed perfectly fine. So now I am on 1511. It seems to me that MS changed something in either 1709 or 1803 that prevents our old PC's from updating. Any guesses??

BTW: What are the specs of your Acer laptop? Just curious to see if perhaps we share components.

Mooly said:

The only way I successfully got the latest version of Ten onto it was to first install the x86 version onto my main laptop and then use imaging software to restore that image to 'dissimilar hardware'.

Did you have W10 on it before the updates started to mess up? Is the experience similar? If so, I might do what you're saying.

Caledon Ken said:

I have a Dell that was built for XP and an HP built for XP. For sure the Dell is on 1809.

I have an HP dv6 built for Vista running the latest release of Insiders, Fast ring.

Okay, nice! It looks like it might be a specific issue related to my particular configuration.

What are the specs on those three PC's that you have W10 on? On the Dell and HP built for XP, do you have video drivers or is it just using the generic MS Basic Display Adapter?

Interesting thing just happened: After installing 1511, I connected the laptop to the internet and let it do updates. It started downloading and installing 1809 directly, which was a good sign. It installed fine, and prompted a restart.

When I restarted, right after POST, I got a blue screen with this error: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

After some Googling, it seems to be a memory issue, but like I mentioned before, I extensively tested this laptop''s RAM already.

Caledon Ken said:

The HP Pavilion is running the NVidia Geforce 8400GS

The Dell Latitude D630 is running Mobile Intel 965 Express Chipset ( Microsoft Corporation - WDDM - 1.1)

The HP 530 is running Mobile Intel 945 Express Chipset (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM - 1.0) This is also on 1809, just checked and it is updating.

Hmm, looks like your Dell and HP 530 are running a slightly newer version of my chipset, which is (according to DxDiag) an Intel 915GM/910ML/915MS chipset. DxDiag says it's running under WDDM 1.3, but I don't believe that.