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21 Windows 10 Upgrade Problems & Fixes
The Free Windows 10 Upgrade Offer wrapped up in 2016, but upgrades to the operating system continue. Windows 10 upgrade problems persist too.
Some of these Windows 10 upgrade problems are widespread. Small amounts are due to Microsoft not explaining the Windows 10 upgrade process well in the first place. You could find yourself with a frozen notebook, desktop or tablet if the right programs weren’t removed by the Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant before you started the update.
Gotta Be Mobile has collected information and fixes for the Windows 10 upgrade problems that users have run into since the update launched. Note that fixing some of these problems will require an internet connection.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems
- How to do a Clean Windows 10 Install
- Something Happened Error
- Windows 10 Will Not Run on This PC Issue
- Where to Find Your Windows Key
- Windows 10 Is Not Genuine
- You Are Out of Space
- Get Your Space Back
- Your Programs Are Gone
- Black Screen After Updating
- Windows Update Installation Failure 80240020
- Do a Clean Install After the Upgrade
- We Couldn’t Install Windows 10 0xC1900101 – 0x30018
- Internet Explorer is Missing
- Can’t Disable Updates After Upgrade
- How to Go Back to Windows 8.1 or Windows 7
- Poor Performance & Screen Flashing in Windows 10
- Broken Printers & Accessories
- Broken Start Menu
- Missing Free Upgrade
- Where to Download the Windows 10 Anniversary Update
- How to Install the Windows 10 Anniversary Update Manually
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: How to do a Clean Windows 10 Install
Microsoft hopes you’ll do an in-place upgrade of Windows 10 if you’re eligible. If you are eligible for a free Windows 10 upgrade but want to start fresh you can do that too by grabbing the Windows 10 Download tool.
Update: Unless you snagged a key before the offer ended, you can’t do a clean Windows 10 install for free. You can purchase a USB drive with the operating system from the Microsoft Store.
Read: How to Do a Clean Windows 10 Upgrade
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Something Happened Error
Even when users get Windows 10 running on their PCs, they can run into issues. The Something Happened error is a great example of that. It’s the vaguest error message Windows 10 has.
Microsoft has a tool to automatically fix the Something Happened problem called the Windows Update Troubleshooter. If you’re an experienced user, you can manually fix this with the Command Prompt by following these instructions.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Windows 10 Will Not Run on This PC Issue
Some are reporting that the upgrade tells them “Windows 10 is compatible with their PC \but some devices don’t work.” If that’s the case for you, do the update anyway. After the upgrade finishes, you can have Windows Update download any new drivers for the devices inside your notebook, desktop or tablet that won’t function properly.
Manually check for updates after you’ve upgraded by going to Start, then Settings, then Update and Security. Tap or click on Check for Updates.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Where to Find Your Windows Key
Doing a fresh install of Windows 10 requires that you have your product key from the version of Windows that was on the PC before Windows 10. If you have Windows 7 or Windows 8, look for a sticker somewhere on your PC. If you are using Windows 8.1, the key is embedded in your device. The upgrade tool should find it on its own.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Windows 10 Is Not Genuine
According to most estimates, there are millions upon millions of PCs not running a genuine copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. If you get the “Windows 7 is Not Genuine” your computer is one of them.
Genuine means that either the copy of Windows that came with your machine is directly from Microsoft’s hardware partners or someone purchased a copy of Windows directly from Microsoft and installed it. If your copy isn’t genuine, it’s stolen and not eligible for a free or discounted upgrade. You’ll need to purchase Windows 10 outright.
Microsoft has purchasable versions of Windows 10 on flash drives for purchase at Amazon. These upgrade flash drives start at $119.99.
Read: What is the Windows Insiders Program?
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: You Are Out of Space
Users of Windows 8 media tablets are finding that they just don’t have the space to download the free Windows 10 update. For those users, Microsoft recommends the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool and installing the upgrade on a USB flash drive. You’ll almost certainly need a MicroUSB to USB adapter like this one sold at Amazon for $5.23 to connect your flash drive to your media tablet.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Get Your Space Back
Users who take advantage of the free Windows 10 upgrade will notice that they have less storage space than they had when starting the update. This is because Microsoft store’s your old copy of Windows for 30 days. That way, you can go back to your old version if you don’t like Windows 10.
Anyone who likes Windows 10 and doesn’t plan on going back can delete their old copy of Windows. Go to Settings. Now tap or click on System. Now tap or click on Storage.
Tap or click on Temporary Files. Now tap or click on Delete Previous Versions. You won’t see this button if your old version of Windows is already gone.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Your Programs Are Gone
Before starting the upgrade, Windows 10 compiles a list of apps that it needs to remove from each system before it can install.
Once the upgrade has finished, you can install the programs the update removed again. Be careful if you decide to do that. If Windows 10’s Upgrade Tool removed a program, chances are it doesn’t work correctly with the latest updates.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Black Screen After Updating
Some users taking advantage of the Windows 10 Upgrade find that their PC only gives them a black screen afterward. The issue is sometimes caused by a virus program not being uninstalled before the update. If you’re having this issue and can get into Windows, uninstall your virus program and try the update again. Take your PC to the nearest PC technician.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Windows Update Installation Failure 80240020
Microsoft’s own support employees recommend people edit what’s called their registry to get Windows Update Installation Failure 80240020 fixed. Anyone who isn’t familiar with a registry already should definitely stay away from this and take their PC to a technician.
You can find more details about the registry change to fix Windows Update Installation Failure 80240020 here. Again, this fix isn’t for casual PC users. Messing with the registry can cause issues.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Do a Clean Install After the Upgrade
Anyone who has installed Windows 10 and activated it online can get a fresh install to get rid of any errors after the upgrade. Just use the built-in reset tool in Windows 10 to reset your PC.
Read: How to Reset Windows 10
Go to the Settings app and select Update & Recovery from the list of options shown. Select Recovery. From there, chose whether you’d like to keep your files where they are or cleanly install everything again.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: We Couldn’t Install Windows 10 0xC1900101 – 0x30018
Incompatible hardware and software are the leading cause of Windows 10 upgrade problems. Microsoft’s tools should tell you when you have a piece of software or hardware that won’t work in Windows 10, which they do. Unfortunately, it seems the tools don’t do a great job of predicting what apps will cause problems with the upgrade itself. One of these problems is Error Code 0xC1900101 – 0x30018, and it’s usually accompanied by the message, “We Couldn’t Install Windows 10.”
Microsoft says this happens because of an incompatible driver or security software. To fix the issue, wait until your PC has returned to its previous version of Windows, which it’ll do automatically. Next, the company recommends turning off your antivirus software, wireless internet, and unplugging unnecessary accessories.
Next, you need to open the Command Prompt (Admin) app and type sfc /scannow to make sure there aren’t any damaged hardware drivers on your device.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Internet Explorer is Missing
In Windows 10, Microsoft began moving away from Internet Explorer. The company is hoping that users will switch over to its new Edge web browser. You can still find Internet Explorer by using the search bar at the bottom of your screen. Search for Internet Explorer.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Can’t Disable Updates After Upgrade
Once you’ve successfully made it through the Windows 10 upgrade process, you might notice that there’s no place for you to disable updates directly from Microsoft. That’s not a bug, but a feature.
Microsoft wants to make sure that as many people as possible have the latest version of Windows 10. That includes virus definition updates, fixes and new features. To make that happen, the company is taking a page out of iPhone’s handbook. You can’t block Windows 10 updates forever.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: How to Go Back to Windows 8.1 or Windows 7
Read: How to Go Back to Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 from Windows 10
Buried within the Settings app is the option to downgrade back to whatever operating system came installed on your PC before. Inside the Settings app go to Updated & Recovery, then Recovery and click on the Go Back button. You won’t see this button if Windows 10 was installed more than a month ago.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Poor Performance & Screen Flashing in Windows 10
Bad drivers could cause your PC’s screen to flash after the Windows 10 update. After your installation is complete, go to the Settings app and click or tap on Updated & Recovery. Now click or tap on the Check for Updates button. You want the latest software and hardware drivers made specifically for Windows 10 to download. If these updates still don’t help, considering going back to Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 from Windows 10.
Read: How to Go Back to Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 from Windows 10
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Broken Printers & Accessories
In an ideal Windows 10 upgrade, the devices and accessories that you own would work flawlessly. Some users aren’t finding that this is the case. Either a gaming controller that they enjoy using has stopped functioning properly or a printer isn’t behaving the way it should.
After the upgrade finishes, manually check for updates directly from the Update & Security area in the Settings app. Windows 10 should reach out to Microsoft’s servers for the latest drivers. It’s a good idea to check the website of whoever produced your device for the latest drivers too. If it’s a responsible vendor, there are software updates to address any issues that Windows 10 users are having by now.
You can also manually check for driver updates through the Device Manager in the Control Panel. Right-click on the device giving you problems and select Update Driver Software.
Read: Windows 10 – Things to Back Up Before you Upgrade
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Start Screen Won’t Open
Some users report that the Start Screen/Start Menu won’t open after the Windows 10 Upgrade. When this happens, try hard restarting your PC by holding its power button until it turns off. Then turn it back on.
Windows 10 users should have this issue less going forward, but it still happens on occasion. You don’t always have to do the hard restart; sometimes Start will just show up after a few moments.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Broken Start Menu
The Start Menu/Start Screen sometimes breaks and won’t open. This issue doesn’t crop up until weeks after your upgrade. In both cases, you’ll want to try Microsoft’s tool for fixing the issue without refreshing your PC. We’ve included a link to the tool in What to Do When The Windows 10 Start Menu Won’t Open.
Windows 10 Upgrade Problems: Missing Free Upgrade
You’ve probably noticed that Microsoft has stopped offering you the free Windows 10 upgrade. That’s because the Upgrade Offer officially expired at the end of July 2016. All those that made the upgrade in time will continue to get free updates for Windows. Anyone that didn’t upgrade their Windows 8 or Windows 7 PC for free will need to pay for it. Windows 10 upgrades start at $119.99.
Read: How to Get the Windows 10 Download
Windows 10 Anniversary Update Problems
Where to Download the Windows 10 Anniversary Update
If your PC has Windows 10 installed, you’ll get the Windows 10 Anniversary Update free through the Windows Update utility. You don’t have to manually install, your PC will do this for you once it becomes available to it.
Read: How to Install the Windows 10 Anniversary Update
Go into the Settings app and manually check for updates from the Update & Security area.
How to Install the Windows 10 Anniversary Update Manually
Microsoft is doing an automatic rollout of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. Doing so allows it to see what issues are cropping up with specific hardware configurations. If you haven’t received the update yet, this is probably why. You can manually download the update by going to the Settings app and opening Updates & Security. Once there, click or tap on Learn More under Update Settings. You’ll get a download that’ll let you do the upgrade immediately. Back up your PC before doing this update.
Error Code 0x80070070 When Installing the Windows 10 Anniversary Update
Some report getting an error code 0x80070070 whenever they try to download the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. The error indicates that the device has run out of space when it hasn’t. Windows 10 users have had success with deleting the files downloaded for the upgrade, then downloading again. You can do this by opening the Settings app. Select System. Now, select Storage. Select your hard drive from the list. Click on Temporary and delete Select Remove Files.
Read: Windows 10 Anniversary Update Problems & Fixes
Gotta Be Mobile will continue to update this list of Windows 10 upgrade problems as new issues surface.
