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Windows 10 clusterfsck

CEHJ
CEHJ asked
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Last Modified: 2017-04-28
Just before i nuke this disk and put Debian on it, it might be worth asking: i suspect i've fallen foul of the latest Windows Update problems. Windows Update is thouroughly broken and sfc /scannow shows all sorts of errors. So ... as a nuclear option i decided to try two different tools: MediaCreationTool.exe and RefereshWindowsTool.exe in order to install a fresh copy of Win 10.
Both went into a cycle of downloading a large image (c 4GB - i've no idea where it was put) and then telling me that setup failed (see below)
Borked
Is it possible to get a fresh copy of Windows as i was promised without the buggy extra software i seem to be getting? I just want an ISO with Win10 on it of a recent vintage.
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Edward PamiasTeam Lead RRS Desk
Top Expert 2016

Commented:
The tool allows you to create a USB or DVD bootable option.
Edward PamiasTeam Lead RRS Desk
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Commented:
screenshot
Edward PamiasTeam Lead RRS Desk
Top Expert 2016

Commented:
If you download the ISO just burn it to a DVD, if you download for the USB you will be able to make a bootable USB off that.
Andrew LeniartIT Professional | Freelance Journalist
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Commented:
When you downloaded the Windows 10 ISO with MediaCreationTool.exe, did you not save it as an ISO ?

If so, you should be able to burn that ISO to a DVD and then boot with that DVD to do a fresh install.

Full instructions are given here..

I went  through this exact process about a week ago although in my case, I was installing to a Oracle VirtualBox VM, so I mounted the image and installed it that way. Shouldn't make any difference though.

Just curious why you say you have no idea where the ISO was downloaded to?  Did you save or try to install from the streaming download somehow?
CEHJ
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Commented:
It allows two options:

a. Upgrade this PC now
b. Create installation media for another PC.

It's not for another PC - it's for the current one
Edward PamiasTeam Lead RRS Desk
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Commented:
Then Create the installation media so this way you can always reinstall it if needed. If not you can just upgrade that PC from that point.
Andrew LeniartIT Professional | Freelance Journalist
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CEHJ
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OK so it WILL let me use it on this PC? If so, it will give me the option to nuke the current installation?
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Edward PamiasTeam Lead RRS Desk
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Commented:
When you create the media it will create a Windows 10 for the version of OS you have, such as if you have Windows 7 Professional 64 bit, it will create a Windows 10 Professional 64bit media and so on.
CEHJ
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Commented:
OK. I've chosen USB and it's telling me (for possibly the fourth time today) that it's downloading the image. Will let you know
Andrew LeniartIT Professional | Freelance Journalist
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If you nuke (format) your current installation, then it will install the version that your Product Key identifies that you're entitled to when you enter it.  From memory, you get to choose which version of Windows 10 you want to install on a new drive even if you don't have a Product Key handy at the time (Ie: You may have a digital license)
Edward PamiasTeam Lead RRS Desk
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Commented:
It usually saves under my documents. It did that for me.
Andrew LeniartIT Professional | Freelance Journalist
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Just be aware you will need to be able to "boot" from that USB.  

If you have a mainboard that won't allow (doesn't have the option) to boot from a USB stick, you're better off with downloading the ISO, saving it and then using it to burn an Installation DVD from it.

Good luck :)
CEHJ
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Commented:
It will boot from USB. It will be an OEM licence that's in place - this is consumer-grade hardware
nobus
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CEHJ
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Thanks Nobus. I guess i should probably run those tests to be thorough. I didn't know that UBCD has diagnostics for all main brands of HD - is that the case?
nobus
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yes - you have all the manufacturer's tools on it - and much more - for free
CEHJ
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That's good. I used to use System Rescue CD but the disk scanning tools are limited. Have just made a UBCD stick and going to try it on the Win10 box. It's got a WD HD. Wonder what the best for checking Western Digital is?
nobus
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the WD diagnostic of course - Always use the manufacturer's one - if they have one
the Data life guard    http://support.wdc.com/downloads.aspx?lang=en
CEHJ
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If you nuke (format) your current installation, then it will install the version that your Product Key identifies that you're entitled to when you enter it.
It must be using the product key somehow - i wonder how, since nothing was required to be entered on reinstallation and i chose a local login ..?
nobus
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Commented:
it is in your BIOS with Win 10
Edward PamiasTeam Lead RRS Desk
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Commented:
In addition to what Nobus said...

"If you upgraded to the free upgrade of Windows 10 from an activated Windows 7 or 8.1 PC, then you will not have a product key. Instead, the PC gets registered on Microsoft activation servers with a digital entitlement that will always be used to activate Windows 10 on that PC."
CEHJ
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Yes, i thought it might be a combination of BIOS and activation servers

Thanks folks

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