Regarding the boot options.
I did changed the bootsequence. i tried using the HDD as boot drive. thinking it has something to do with Samsung EVO M2 SSD. anyway the boot options are
BOOT 1
2
3
i hve returned the boot options on its original set up.
BOOT 1 0
2 SAMSUNG
3 HGST HDD
Thanks for your feedback.
Im a bit confused on
(1) UEFI must be set to boot the Windows Boot Manager during an upgrade.
are you saying my laptop is not set on UEFI on boot? If not, how do i enable it?
(2) C:\Windows.old should not pre-exist the upgrade.
this folder has been deleted some time ago.
(1) No, I think you are in UEFI mode. But, as you confirmed, it looked like you had moved - I guess SAMSUNG - to be above the Windows Boot Manager in UEFI (that's the real name for BIOS these days).
So - you say you moved it back down? Then, show me: BCDEdit -enum {FWBootMGR}
Yours should look different now & will be one less thing we must do to your BCD.
(2) That is very good, that Windows.old does not exist on C:.
(a) Does it exist on the other drive - the D:\drive? If so, I'd delete/rename it there too. Windows may be nosey.
(b) I don't know how references to Windows.old got into your BCD, but I'll add it to the stuff we will delete. Windows is nosey, & may take it as a sign that the folder exists & refuse to do the upgrade.
(3) Have you made a "BCD Backup" & "BCD Copy"? Upload one, so I can get it to play with.
(4) Can you easily disconnect HGST HDD? It would be best to do so during the upgrade. Reconnect it afterward, if you must.
(5) Go back & re-read my posts for any items you may have missed.