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

Anonymous

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.

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

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.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

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.

0 comments

61 additional answers

Anonymous

2025-06-08T20:27:32+00:00
The file fido.ps1 is here. Click the "Download raw file" button.

It is a Powershell script to run on your PC.

Start a Powershell session with admin rights

Enable scripting (if necessary):
```
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope CurrentUser 

Type Y to accept change 
```
Run the Fido script using its full path to wherever you saved the download:
```
e.g. C:\Users\xxxxx\Downloads\Fido.ps1 
```
The Powershell session will close and a small Fido GUI will open:
```
Select the version of Windows you want.
```
You can then use the ISO with method 2 mentioned previously. I have lost track of whether you still need to move to a new drive after the upgrade. If not ignore using Macrium.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2025-06-08T20:07:11+00:00

I tried Rufus alone, to convert the ISO file I managed to get on the USB, to an executable file yesterday. As I stated before; that ISO on my USB got rejected by Rufus; and may not have been a safe or viable ISO; because I obtained it, via a not so secure method. I don't know; but I have not tired Fido, as of yet, trying to do so. I got mention of Fido today; still trying to make heads or tails out of that information. I could not find a download means on that posted page, perhaps you sent me; so maybe I need to go get Fido separate on my own, and that was just a descriptive page of the capability. Those pages seemed more informative, a bit above my tech level perhaps. Doesn't mean I can't use the software, if it works. I just download Fido; and it can be used to download the image to my USB? Also, will that download Fido makes, be ready for install, or will I need to burn that to dvd, or convert that download; once it is on the USB? I can go over to MAJOR geeks maybe C-net couple places I see often; and download Fido. Let me try that. Thank you.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2025-06-08T19:51:21+00:00

I am sorry, I had a brain lock, after partitioning my 4 terabyte drive in gigabytes yesterday; and juxtaposed the terminology in my head. I have about 40 gig of space; on my 2Terabyte hard drive, I am currently trying to run the media creator tool on. I don't have any friends, and don't see people much; do to disability, so I am really trying to do this with my current machine, I am typing on. Getting out, is difficult for me. Any ideas, what might cause the tool, not to run? In case I have missed something. I do have one windows update stuck. I dumped the download folder, and reset the downloader service; but still stuck. I have done, a full virus scan with NOD, found one fix, and one item in trash, I deleted. Both looked pretty innocuous. I did a scan and repair of the registry; to see if that fixes anything yesterday. Seems to run a little better perhaps; as not crashed in a while, came up good today. Some old programs on my machine, not updated or used, in a long time. It is not in perfect shape; and part of why I am doing this refurb, of the entire system. Double the RAM, and will triple the drive space when done, so yeah, my machine is not perfect. Speccy does not run so well, last few times. Hard to load, and sometimes crashes the system. This entire thing, may have started with a corrupted operating system to start. I often use my computer to make videos of birds, and such; and compile heavy system usage; especially with only 8gig of RAM, in past. So, I on rare occasion, will shut down the Lan line, by pulling it from the router, so I can preserve resources; usually if I am trying to listen to something on TV. It always seems to update; while I have a video timeline, stacked 8 layers deep trying to edit something. I don't want the router off, but I don't want updates running in back, or anything else hogging resources. I suspect, perhaps, I inadvertently interrupted an important update; doing one of these. So, yes it is somewhat possible my operating system is corrupted; from an update interruption? Only thing I can think of at all; because I have tried to run the tool in safe mode. That should eliminate most of the other conflicts, or outdated programs? It does not seem to me, like that should affect a download entirely, or keep the media creation tool from at least opening; but if I knew for sure, I would not be here asking for advice. Some windows stuff, does seem a little flaky on my machine; more than the rest; but I have used it for many hours recently, done many a downloads, and file transfers; with no serious problems. Wordpad won't open from the menu bar icon, but will from programs. That is consistent, odd and new. I don't doubt my machine has some problems. If the person is right, and the tool will run from Windows 7; then that install should be pretty good, outside the primitive software. It got service pack 1, and fully updated, nothing stuck, and a new drive; not much at all on it; but the operating system. I don't have professional; but aside that. If the media creator will work with seven, as someone has said; should work fine with mine.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments