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
    2025-06-06T14:55:08+00:00

    White box with blue windows logo, not there long enough to post. But it looks like something you would see at the loading of a web page, as part of the banner or header. So likely an initiation screen to the program, then it shuts down. That is for today/tonight; hope this feeds some new ideas, I am about out of ideas: ) Thank for all the help; there has to be an explanation. I am going to run my virus scanner a good full run while I sleep; and see if perhaps there could be some form of novel virus, not picked up. My only other thought; is that the flaky drive I am using here, that sometimes crashes early on; but seldom once up; it does seem to crash more with Windows related tasks, which maybe could be a sign of corruption. It is just as likely, I have some form of corrupted operating system; as I do a failed drive. Though I have had a variety of run, with checkdisc and system repairs; often not by me....at random usually at start up. This makes me think some intermitant hard drive issues. While at the same time; I can go hours on line video or whatnot, and no crash. Moving several windows around, and opening and transferring files; tends to have more issues with crashing; which was more common, as I manually retrieved all my data. However I can't ascertain for sure, hard disc failure; as none of the scanners or Speccy flagged anything. Just mentioning this stuff; as perhaps it might give some clue; why the installer won't "run"! This won't matter; once I get my new drive up with Windows. Once that happens, old drive will likely never run again. Till then, I am using old drive right now; because I can't get to any of my accounts, with Windows 7;SP1new drive, except legacy version of Edge can access my Outlook account. Till I fresh install WIN10 on it.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-06-06T16:34:23+00:00

    I see "incompatible program" in the image that you posted.

    Please click "View detailed information" and tell us what you see.

    If you download the "ISO" file from Microsoft, it will give you two options:

    1. write the file to an empty 8 GB (or larger) USB memory-stick;
    2. burn the file to "dual-layer" DVD-recordable media. The file is too large to fit on the usual "single-layer" DVD.

    Then, you can connect the USB/DVD to your computer, and run the "setup.exe" in the "root" folder on the media, to try to upgrade Windows.

    Note that as soon as you installed Windows, even by taking the time-limited free upgrade from Windows 7 or 8, and you get an Internet connection, Windows 10 "called-home" to send your product-key to Microsoft. So, anytime that you re-install Windows, the product-key will be downloaded from Microsoft, and reused to re-activate your "fresh" installation.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-06-07T06:54:52+00:00

    I will post again, in case I did not post in correct spot, or you missed this post. Seems to be triggering some kinda compatibility issue; however this is not being done on an older program of any kind at the present. When I was downloading the Windows media installer on the "new replacement drive" and trying to upgrade from the recovery discs, which is not possible now; I did have Win77SP1 and legacy edge running that attempt. However on this drive; I am not running those outdated programs. I am running current updated WIN10, and using edge. On the new drive with the update attempt; I was getting a bigger less direct box; that said something more generic; that "not sure what the problem is" but referenced some kind of compatibility error there. Understandable since, I was trying to do what can't easily be done, if at all. Update from WIN7. Anyway, here is what is under details; after running the troubleshooter for the WINDOWS MEDIA INSTALLER tool.
    Not to break away from the original trail; but I might have come up with a possible cause; perhaps someone could give input on. This can't be that hard for most; something has to be different about my machine, to cause such trouble?? Yes, while I have not tried the ISO image, or ways outside using the installer; the installer will not run, to even get me to a point; where any option to create bootable media, UBS copy of operating system, double density DVD, or ISO image; it won't run. Not crazy about trying some bootleg download of the operating system; so seems I need the installer and handshake? That got me thinking, in the effort to affirm; I was digital linked, did have authorization license to download. It almost seems like; I am being denied; at the "digital link" level........out of the gate. The installer starts; sees something; says, I don't like that..........then shuts down. IS THIS A POSSIBLE CAUSE?? When I bought my machine near 15 years ago(near top of line then for home PC) I was scraping for cash a bit harder times; and I went with a refurb from a big electronics dealer on line; it came with most software, created my windows recovery discs, and the repair disc; and had the Windows product key for it; still on side of machine. There was one odd thing; I never understood, and never dealt into much.....................it had some kinda RAID controller or card, something to do with networking. It worked, I don't network; not a problem. don't fix it; it wasn't broke. I wondered about the "unknown" causing me some problem some how; even opened it up on the boot up, before this refurb of mine, to investigate what the RAID was. While buying my 4gig drive that won't work on my old MBR legacy bios; I considered this could come into play, somewhere; but did not see much adjustments in there; and thought it would be more drive related; not an issue with the install of the operating system again. Which was working fine on the old drive for yearS(same everything NOW, sept RAM and new hard drive, till a crash recently.
    Now I am wondering; COULD THE PHONING HOME PROCESS, TO THE MICROSOFT SERVERS, TO VALIDATE THE DIGITAL LINKED LICENSE; BE EXPOSING MY COMPUTERS RAID CONTROLLER OR CARD(I am not even sure if RAID controller, is hardware or software, or both; but is someplace on my machine, kinda like bios for a network I suppose). If the process of validation; thinks it is sending a home edition of Windows 10, to a "NETWORK" SERVER on my machine, BECAUSE THE RAID SYSTEM IS SHOWING SOME WAY; MIGHT THAT FLAG THE AI, OR digital link process; to abort any install? This seems very possible; even though the upgrade did not do anything about it, back when I upgraded to WIN10; but maybe much greater advancement in system analysis, is picking up my home PC, as a NETWORK MACHINE, do to the RAID on there some place....and my old copy; and my updated home version of Windows, is for a home PC. Mine is a single drive PC right now; but it has this reminant card. Now that I have a spare 4 gig drive; may want to find some way; to add it, if I can. Perhaps another thread; but it seems this RAID element, may come into play here, and come into play when I try to find a way to get the 4 gig drive; that would not run do to the MBR 2.2 gig ceiling. For now, I fixed the first issue; by buying another 2gig drive; then ran head on into this operating system issue. While the smaller drive mitigated the MBR GPT partition barrier issue; now I have the operating system issue, and will have a spare 4gig boat anchor, I will want to try and get working at some capacity, for extra storage space alone.
    I have not done much with computers since SATA, since the old master slave ribbon connects and jumpers; so I will have to plot this tangent, after I get my operating system up, with the appropriate new 2 gig drive. In any case; my computer has RAID, whatever exactly that is relating to a network. Technically, I don't have a network, only one drive. It s possible I may have two drives; when I am all said and done; because I will want to try and find some way, to get the 4gig advance capacity drive, to give me a bit more onboard storage capacity. I film birds, peacocks, storks, and cranes...and store a fair amount of video clips each week. So wanted some more onboard space, along with my, external capacity. I am telling all this, because the RAID, may play a role in both the digital link process, and anything I might do, to get my new 4gig boat anchor I have now, working with the current new 2 gig drive...if I can even achieve that. For now, I am trying to get the operating system back; on the new 12 gig drive. By the way, It was a recertified refurb. So was a recertified factory machine; still smelled new when I got it, mint condition...........so was not something that fell off a truck, or someone put together. Yeah, says HP RECERTIFIED, SO CAME FROM HP originally, to the store for re-sale. Has been a great machine really. Double the RAM now, new hard drive; can't wait to get it running.

    Relating to above, your post; any of the downloads I have have found, or have been linked to so far(for any of the LEGAL downloads of WIN10; seem to involve the "Windows Media installer"; which seems to authenticate the digital link. and allow any mentioned downloads, to any media ; which I am verified on my machine, for sure; but something won't let it run. The old RAID, controller I think it is; is the one big thing, that might be different about my machine. Could that be my nemesis? If so, what can I do about it?

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