After replacing hard drive, I can't get my system back to Windows 10

Anonymous
2025-06-04T03:40:44+00:00

I am dealing with an older HP Pavillion Elite HPE-112y here, refurbing it. I have a legit copy of Windows 7 premium home addition, and had upgraded to Windows 10, during the offer for free upgrade, several years ago. I replaced the hard drive; and now, have managed to get back the Windows update service via 4 manual updates to the Windows updater, and couple settings changed TS.1 AND 2; and installing my win7premium home recovery disks, to new drive. I also managed to install service pack 1 manual install. So, I seem to be operating now, on the new drive (Seagate 2GIG compute (do to MBR formatting issue); with Windows 7 recovered from my discs previously made, and service pack 1 for Windows 7 update, working. A new 2 gig barracuda(compute). Only other changes, are the clock battery, and new RAM; both working well. I scratched and clawed my way this far; but am now stuck in rabbit hole feedback loops. The instructions I am getting, for exactly what I have, never work; and usually relate to something else in some place. Rufus says it only supports 8 and above. The Windows Software install tool, will install, but will not run. I have even dared the registry; and given permission for Operating system change. Turned on the TS.1 and 2 deal.............gone in and put the version to Win 7; for the Windows software installer tool to run in a different mode; that tool Will not run on my machine. I don't do this often, and always a challenge, but I am against a wall it seems.
I just tried sorting out the process, to digital link my computer; to the Microsoft servers, but that again goes down the paradoxical rabbit hole; and starts describing features and screens, in Windows 10 already. I don't have those features, because I am stuck in Windows 7 service pack 1 la la land. I even attempted to download an image; which gets a bit complicated for me; only done it one other time. That seemed stuck in downloads, too big for a dvd BURN, and of course did not want to leave the host machine, to protect copyrite. That would get into reloading everything from scratch; and not sure I can pull that off; have not worked with image copies much. Could not find the download to USB option for an instalable copy of windows, if that would work. What I need, is a way to upgrade or update the "current" windows7SP1 environment operating now on my "new drive", to Windows Ten. The version of Windows ten working on failing drive, is digital linked to my account and valid; but it may be a bit corrupted, and part of the big refurb goal, was to start with a fresh operating system. In fact, not impossible WIN10 on failing drive, is an operating system corruption issue; but needed to refurb the whole computer anyway. It seems maybe, it has something to do with getting my machine linked to the Windows server? Maybe not seeing me as a legit copy of windows verified? But, I can't do much with that; through Windows 7SP1. All the forum advice, relates to screens in WIN ten or maybe 8. If I was there, I would not be having such a problem; and need to link, and all that to start. Edge and Internet explorer, are older versions; but I can get on line with Edge legacy I think it is, here now. Edge keeps reverting back to a version of Vista, when I set it for win7. But it is working for me here now; on some level.
It is almost like; someone made the operating system obsolete with anything prior to 2008, and doesn't want to tell me........or I am complicating something very simple, but seems very hard; to get my system back, after a simple hard drive replacement. I have nothing on the new drive, clean boot drive install. Not working around files and apps on the new drive; total rebuild of my system, after I get WIN10 back up. I already had to ditch my new 4gig drive, do to the formatting issue relating to MBR/GPT, and have a couple hundred in this now. It is still in pretty good shape really; boards cleaned quite well, and still a very functional machine. Not a boat anchor to me; even if it is old. 16gigg of DDR3 ram SATA3 3.0GIG per second original drive. It is an AMD machine Phenom 2 X4-925 (D) 2.8 GIG PROCESSOR with AMD chipset 785g, and legacy bios. However, it worked well with Windows10 upgrade installed, for several years. So, the mechanics work fine, with Windows 10; but perhaps the AMD infrastructure, is causing some kind of proprietary conflict with the Windows software installer tool, or with seeing me as a certified digital software owner? Any ideas. I could do a fresh install of Win10; with right instructions; but was a long way getting back to Win7sp1 with updater working. After more than 200 updates installed; don't want to go through that again; if there is any way to update WIN7SP1, to WIN10. I even thought about the manual upgrade to a version of WIN8, then maybe to ten; but that seems to indicate, it won't upgrade further. Reinstall windows 10 after hard drive failure and replacement - Microsoft Community Tried this, it won't "run". Error message, related to incompatibility, with the software installer; but the installer says it can do WIN7 upgrades to ten. If I could get this installer to run; It might be smooth sailing from there. Why won't it run? Has to be some kind of license recognition issue, or something specific to my computer. Also have run it in safe mode, no difference. Shut down firewall and not any spyware detection running in WIN7, scanner only it seems; and even shut down most process and applications that might conflict. Yes ran it as administrator. Yes, reinstalled it several times from microsoft, and a couple other places and links, seeming safe. Remember here; I am trying to upgrade RIGHT NOW; from A Win7sp1 platform; so all the advice relating to getting WIN10 back, using more modern software, or examples, or screens from WIN10; has a digital wall right now. Legacy edge is my browser working from a download, and it does not like the primitive environment much either;. sp1 is better than it was with updates; but still in caveman era of screens and capabilities here right now.....till I can get upgraded or installed. There has to be a better way, the solutions sound so simple in support; that it can be done easy; but I am not finding that at all. Perhaps I am complicating it. Can't I get a reinstall, since I am licensed; either a download from a server of win10 or upgrade, or even to my USB. I really want to update to 10 from 7sp1 at this point; but open for ideas likely to work. Oh, I also tried various drivers relating to my machine; fist tried Intell that obviously did not work with my AMD chipset something like an f6 driver update, installed through the repair disk; perhaps not doing it correct; but wouldn't touch it with drivers, from AMD sight either. I originally had things set up, to only update WINDOWS, so perhaps an update to a driver or such; could solve the issue, for Windows software installer not running, do to compatibility issue. Sorry for the discombobulated delivery and bad sentence structure here. Been a long rough week.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Licensing and activation

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Anonymous
2025-06-04T04:43:55+00:00

Hello Edward! Thank you for reaching out. I am Tin, an independent advisor, and glad to assist you today with this issue. Since you already have a digital license tied to this machine’s motherboard, you do not need to upgrade from within Windows 7. A clean install of Windows 10 will recognize your hardware and activate automatically. Here is some steps to do a clean install of Windows 10.

*Create a Windows 10 USB installer, on another PC, download installer from https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/win..., click “Download Tool Now” to get the Media Creation Tool. Run the tool, accept terms, and choose “Create installation media for another PC”. Choose USB flash drive when asked where to save. Let it create the bootable USB (this may take 10–20 mins).

*Install Windows 10 on your HP Pavilion, insert the USB drive. Boot into BIOS (usually F10, Esc, or Del on HP machines). Set the boot device to your USB drive. Save and restart.

*Do a clean install, at the install screen, select language and time then click Next. Click Install Now. When prompted for a license key, click “I don’t have a product key” (your license is digital and will activate later). Choose Windows 10 Home (to match your Win7 Home Premium). Select Custom, Install Windows only. Delete all partitions on the drive (make sure you’ve backed up anything important). Select the Unallocated space and click Next. Windows will install cleanly.

*Automatic activation, after the install, connect to the internet. Go to Settings then Update & Security then Activation. Windows 10 should automatically activate using your previously linked digital license.

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Anonymous
2025-06-04T08:52:20+00:00

You may be out of luck with activation.

Although you upgraded to Windows 10 when the free offer was available Microsoft have blocked Windows 7 or 8 product keys from activating Windows 10 in 2023.

So with all the effort you may find Windows 10 will not activate.

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-06-09T04:47:26+00:00

    I do not trust the integrity of my Operating system I am using;

    Nor do I trust the combination of your computer's hardware and software.

    I know little about the registry for example; other than it is very character specific, and stay the hell out, if you don't know what you are doing; or have step by step instructions.

    Good advice.

    I can run a utility, to at least check. I am not so comfortable with over 3000 registry entries of concern and errors. Only of which about 500 were cleaned.

    I have NO faith in those "Registry Cleaners" type of apps.

    While it looks like a hard drive failing, it could be operating system corruption as well, perhaps both.

    True, but total speculation.

    A fresh start is really the main goal here. New RAM, New Bios battery as I call it, new hard drives (boot and slave for old terms); and fresh install of everything.

    Yes, you can also change the power-supply, the video-adapter, and the motherboard, one at a time, to see if you can isolate the issue. However, changing the motherboard may totally invalidate your digital license to run Windows 10.

    A new approach, is the right idea here

    Asking your friend/relative to run the tool, writing the Windows Installer to your USB memory-stick, is the best approach, since you cannot trust your current hardware.

    Maybe I get another five years out of it

    If you do not trust your motherboard now, you will have LESS trust in it after five years.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-06-09T04:37:54+00:00

    Okay, there are two paradigms here kinda, intersecting just a little bit, confusing some perhaps. My digital link to download windows10, comes from my "Upgrade" DURING THE UPGRADE GRACE PERIOD; from Windows 8, years ago. Which was upgraded from Win7; my original licensed recovery discs....and the Windows product key on my machine.

    That upgrade granted you the right to re-install Windows 10, onto the identical hardware. Even further, it allowed you to change disk-drives, without needing to repeat the Microsoft Activation process. That is what it seems that you are trying to do.

    Anything referencing Images, or ISO's; that I have gotten, or tried to load on to a drive, are alternative to Microsoft directly.

    It does not matter that you are trying to re-install from the current official Microsoft media, rather than the original installation media.

    In other words; I could not get the "media creation tool" to run any way

    I asked you if you currently are running the 32-bit version of Windows 10, or the 64-bit version. What is your response? What error-messages, including the output from "show more details"are you seeing?

    I tried; after downloading it.

    What is "it" ? Is it being a successful download of the Media Creation Tool, or the successful output from running that tool?

    Only a couple; that went all the way to getting an ISO on the drive.

    One was a way to trick the servers, into a download it seemed, and the first image ISO, seemed like a direct download.

    I doubt that your "trick" made any difference from using the Media Creation Tool.

    Neither of them worked

    How can you tell?

    Exactly what did you try?

    What error-messages did you get?

    Fido could not make them executable.

    OK. Discard the idea that FIDO is a better path than asking a friend to download & run the Media Creation Tool, and allowing it to correctly write the download to your 8 GB USB memory-stick.

    Everything I have tried through Microsoft, has not gotten a single sniff of downloading an ISO, anywhere; because I am cut off by the failure of the media creation tool.

    I presume that you have had no problem downloading that tool.

    Next question; what error message do I get, when I download the media creation tool. On previous attempts; when I was trying to download it with the new drive with Win7 recovery on it; I got incompatibility message, posted back there some place; quite generic, and no doubt due to the version of Windows.

    Previously, I posted that I had NO problem running the tool on an "antique" Windows 7 Professional desktop computer.

    So, the tool works, and it correctly filled the USB memory-stick, and worked fine when booting from it.

    Is your "old" disk-drive formatted using NTFS (New Technology File System) or the older FAT-32 formatting?

    So, I switched drives, back to the old one with WIN10, many many times, many downloads; and on the Windows ten drive I am trying to replace here, and has the legit upgrade to WIN10; I get nadda.

    Not even any error-message(s)? Really?

    I right click, choose administrator, permission to make changes box... then yes; it brings up a white box, like a small banner starting the software, with a blue windows logo in it; and that is it. Banner exits, nothing! There for about seconds, and aborts. No messages at all.

    Does your friend (or relative) get the same result, when they run the tool?

    Your inquiry question three, about when I download the ISO; you say, when you run the tool, you have three options. No, I don't get anything, not with the Windows Media creation tool. I have never seen those options once,

    Strange. I get the same three options, each time that I run the tool.

    I want to use that tool, should work, but won't.

    Not even on computer belonging to a friend (or relative) ?

    If the tool did work, and I got the ISO direct from Microsoft servers; I would likely not have any issues booting it from my USB, to the new drive.

    True.

    The tool, just won't run anywhere; on either drive, from either drive, to either drive, with either operating system; in safe mode, out of safe mode....

    Again, if your copy of Windows is the problem, stop using it.

    Get that friend/relative to help you.

    The Note: about copying the tool. to my hard drive, then moving it to my USB. While I did try even that; it became quite apparent, as as I suspected; moving an ISO around, like a normal file, is not going to fly.

    I got a warning, about leaving behind important properties.

    Yeah, not moving ISO files around like JPEG files.

    That is what I stated. For an ISO, you need software that knows how to correctly write an ISO to a memory-stick, or to burn to a dual-layer DVD-recordable.

    the bootleg attempt ...

    That was a waste of your time.

    ... once I reformated my USB to take the full ISO image; it seemed like I got an ISO to download, about the right time for an operating system to download.

    Again, I suspect that you did not use the special software to copy the ISO from the disk-drive onto the USB memory-stick. As I expected, however you copied it, it did not result in a "bootable" system.

    Yes, I did mean to say "newer" video card, some kinda of galaxy with a fan on it; okay replacement, when I put it in, not super gamer or anything, works fine.

    I doubt that the change in video-adapter, or the installation of the compatible device-drivers, is the "road-block" to the process.

    Probably, running Windows in "Safe Mode" disabled those device-drivers.

    You have run the media install tool, on a WIN7 machine, of inferior specifications? Now that is useful information.

    Correct. On that computer of mine, everything worked as it should

    It tells me, even if my WIN10 drive I am on here with, is corrupted; that I should be able to run that media creation tool ...

    Incorrect. A corrupted installation may be the cause of the failure.

    on the other newer drive, with the fresh install of WIN7SP1....and dowload the ISO, top my USB FLASH DRIVE? That should be a total non corrupted operating system; unless by same remote chance, the Service pack was infected, or the updates to the updater. I installed the SP1 manual way, and then 4 updates to the Windows updater; to get the recovery install of 7, to function well. It is now fully updated, with no updates, all took.

    After many years of Windows 7 SP1 being available, it is EXTREMELY unlikely that it is virus-infected. Same thing for all the 200+ updates that you installed.

    However, I get similar compatibility error, on that drive environment.

    What is the full text of that error-message?

    I think on the 7 drive, one error message comes up when I try to run the tool, and another slightly different, when I run troubleshooter. Both quite generic

    Rather than "arm-waving" about the error-message, please post EXACTLY what you see.

    Hard to believe both operating systems are are corrupted,

    I agree.

    can't even open that tool; yet works for most other stuff?

    This discussion thread is NOT about your problems with "other stuff".

    You are seeking help for one specific app.

    To compare, most of the time, when I drive my automobile, I do not crash it. That does not imply that I will NEVER crash it.

    Oddly, I see a reference at very bottom, for a KB5058481 update; that did install.

    That is no "odd" at all. The "Update History" records the results of every update, whether it is "successful" or if it has "failed".

    Unless it is two parts or something?

    Not possible.

    I don't read these that much, so will let someone who does, tell me if it is important. Only this one update seems stuck. I hope this is what you are looking for? If not I will try again. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/may-28-2025-kb5058481-os-build-19045-5917-preview-7698d6e7-dd65-494d-b523-aa4c6aa913a2

    Note the word "preview". It means that the update was issued in one month, and the "official" version of the same update was released in the next month. Therefore, it is never necessary to install the "preview" version.

    But, the layout of the file(s) written to the memory-stick needs to be in a special format, to make it a "bootable" device. Question? Does the "Win media install tool" do that upon successful install of the ISO to the drive;

    The tool downloads a file to your disk-drive, not to your USB stick.

    Then, the tool has the three previously-mentioned options:

    1. stop right there, leaving the ISO on your disk-drive;
    2. reformat the ISO to write it to an empty 8 GB USB memory-stick;
    3. "burn" the ISO to the dual-layer DVD media.

    Then, the tool can be declared to be "successful".

    Does the tool,

    1. download an ISO;
    2. then that ISO needs burned to DVD,
    3. oor converted in some way, to install to a drive.

    My understanding, is that the tool, can do either; make a bootable USB by itself, or download the ISO, to burn a DVD. Likely selectable

    Correct. The tool has those 3 options. Just select one option.

    if I could ever get the tool to run.

    Get your friend/relative to run the tool on their computer, and allow the tool to write to your 8 GB USB stick.

    More windows open, worse it was. One time I thought I was never coming back up; but a couple boots later an automatic disc repair started finally; and I went from a black screen and stationary cursor, no action on the computer lights, for five ten minutes; to working much better. Always seemed to work better, after one of those disc repairs. Some were short, some were longer, near an hour. During the backup time, the computer was crashing a lot; several disc repairs; maybe five or six total. Sometimes it crashed on start up, very shortly after booting; acted really bad for a short time; and why I decided time to back-up while I can. A couple times, it crashed right after the Operating system loaded. I started it up, and it crashed, before I came back into the room.

    This is evidence that you have a significant problem with your old computer-hardware. Perhaps, your friend/relative has a computer without those issues.

    SOMETHING ELSE, when this started; it has been extremely slow to boot up and load the operating system; which made the crashes really fun.

    That is a symptom of a disk-drive that is failing, making it slow to restart Windows (which reads many files from the disk-drive).

    There was definitely a tendency to crash, and slow; with more windows open, and more drives hooked up.

    If it crashes when NOT running the Media Creation Tool, then the problem cannot be blamed on that tool.

    It was also crashing a lot, annoyingly; while I was trying to open navigate my Outlook account; and is very slow to open the internet sights [sites?] and get them going. Even Firefox slow to load;

    More symptoms of a computer with some problems, even when NOT running the tool.

    The browsers are still slow to load

    It seems that reading the disk-drive is an issue. Eventuallly, when the web-browser app has been loaded in the RAM, then it will run fine.

    Oddly, I see a 4th partition, on my failing drive here. The oddball, is a small partition marked recovery about 512 MB I think. I did not put it there, so where did it come from

    On every computer, a similar partition is present after installing Windows 10 or 11. Stop looking for irrelevant information.

    However, this screenshot is from today now, showing my current drive as disc 1, and the other new bootable 2TB drive as disc0.

    Both disk-drives are connected to SATA sockets on the motherboard.

    You have connected your new disk-drive to the 1st SATA socket, and your current disk-drive is connected to the 2nd SATA socket.

    Windows starts counting at "zero", not "one", resulting in the "disk0" and "disk1" labels. No big deal.

    where did the 511MB healthy recovery partition come from?

    Alien invasion from outer space? :-)

    that 386 MB unallocated space, was there yesterday?

    It is a small number of Megabytes -- 38% of 1 GB on your 4000 GB disk-drive. Don't worry.

    I am on now. Yesterday it was disc zero; because I am swapping drives around a lot; but that recovery partition is suspicious to me.

    So, those labels ("disk0" & "disk1") change every time you change the connections to the two disk-drives. Not suspicious at all. Stop looking for irrelevant information.

    There should only be 3 partitions here, much as the disk zero has. Partitioned by the same recovery discs years apart, as well.

    Stop looking for irrelevant information.

    Did you have SP1, installed

    Yes, before my Windows 7 computer was "retired", it was fully updated, via Windows Update. Stop looking for irrelevant information.

    One last thing; I have had a piece of software lodged, half installed, on my machine for a couple years. I mistook it for a helpful utility; and downloaded it. Then realized it was security of course, I don't need finish initiating it. It was a windows security app; that of course is hard to remove, because it is security; nothing worked on line I tried; and I got use to working around it. It basically set up a log in screen; so I had to log into my computer, each time I booted it. If, I had completely activated its final set-up. That software by Windows; would remind me about every ten days or boots, to finish activating it, and setting it up, to run on a password. I never did, and did not want it on my computer at all; it slowed the boot process, and once in a while would stop the boot, and demand a log in password; stuck on an interum screen till I did. I would reboot it, and not see it for a couple weeks.

    Open a new discussion thread on this forum, if you want help with this issue.

    Another reason, I wanted to start from scratch. Also the reason, I started with a new drive, fresh install of the 7 operating system; totally separate.

    Windows 7 is not currently installed on your Windows 10 computer.

    Stop looking for irrelevant information.

    Over ten fifteen years; a computer has a lot of glitches

    Ouch.

    if you can get the nemesis tool, to run on an inferior 7 machine; why can't I?

    There must be some reason. My Windows 7 computer was NOT manufactured by HP, unlike yours. That's just one difference. Right click the downloaded tool icon, select run as administrator; permission the program to make changes when the box pops up as usual...and something should run, open, download, or something. On one of the set up drives, you would think.

    None of the instructions on the official Microsoft web-page state any requirement to "Run As Administrator". Somebody gave you a useless suggestion. As you have tried it, and it made no difference, discard that suggestion.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-06-09T03:14:23+00:00

    I do have the 64 bit machine and OS, and am paying attention to that, across the board I think. I do see the other Windows drive controller; active in device manager; so likely what is actually running my drives. I checked those for updates, and seemed good. I do have legacy bios; so can't boot with a big drive; but I can change the USB drive to the boot drive, and turn off the others, to get Windows10 up; if I ever get a bootable copy of WIN10, that will install to my USB drive. I thought about turning the RAID DRIVER off in Device manager; but thought better of it. I did not want to lock myself out of the drive completely there. Bios I can get back into, or the RAID settings in start-up boot sequence; but get locked out of drive or video after boot and Windows loads, and that seems like big trouble for me, to test something. I tend to doubt raid is my problem, at this point in the deduction; but it was an unknown, so appreciate the input. If anyone knows Bill; I will pay him the 12 bucks, if I know the installer will work, and I can get WIN10 on my new drive. Shouldn't have to, but don't really care at this point. Not a crazy amount to pay. As long as no one is causing the problem, to profit from fixing said problem; I am good with a little operating expense. Problem is; how do I know the installer issue, will run for a paid copy either. I am kinda curious to find out, try it. If it that dastardly install tool suddenly works; I will highly suspect, some element of proprietary handshake, was just turned off.....for digital linking my authenticated user license, no matter what my computer says, or how I try it.

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