[SOLVED] Windows 10 upgrade fails

[PeterJ]

Please do following when you have the Windows 7 Ultimate disc at hand.
Recreate the Licensing Store:

1. Open an elevated commandprompt.
2. Copy and paste net stop sppsvc into the commandprompt window and press enter. It may ask you if you are sure, select Yes.
   Note: the Software Protection service may not be running, this is ok.
3. Copy and paste cd %windir%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwareProtectionPlatform and press enter.
4. Copy and paste rename tokens.dat tokens.bar and press enter.
5. Copy and paste cd %windir%\system32 and press enter.
6. Copy and paste net start sppsvc and press enter. Wait 5 seconds before you continue.
7. Copy and paste slui.exe and press enter.
8. Wait until the "Windows Activation" dialog appears. You may be asked to re-activate and/or re-enter your product key or Activation may occur automatically.
   If you are asked for your key, use the one on the COA sticker which is on the Windows 7 Ultimate disc.
9. Reboot, run the MGADiag tool again and provide the new log.

 

[Tango22]

Hi Peter,
I ran the dos commands as instructed. A Windows Activation dialog popped up after the slui.exe command and it said something like activate windows online. I clicked on the box and windows activated successfully. I then rebooted and ran the MGADiag tool. The MGA report is attached.

 

[PeterJ]

Did you see an error while performing the commands in message #101 ?
If so, post a screenshot.

 

[Tango22]

Hi Peter,
I saw no errors the first time I performed the commands in post #101.
I re-ran them again just now and again got no errors. Screenshots are attached for each step. After completion I shutdown, restarted, and re-ran the MGADiag tool. The new report is attached.

 

[PeterJ]

Something still fails with the validation.
Please redo the steps given in message #101. At step 7 run the command slui.exe 3 instead. You will need to re-enter the product key.
Attach the new MGADiag report.

 

[Tango22]

Hi Peter,
I started off by renaming the existing token.bar file to token.bar.old2. Then I re-ran the dos commands from post #101 and using slui.exe 3 at step 7. I got no errors. A screenshot of the dos prompt window is attached. Then I shutdown, restarted, and re-ran MGADiag tool. It said windows activated successfully. The report is attached.
Also, I mis-spoke in post #100. The laptop was originally Microsoft Vista Home Premium and not XP. I do have the Windows key for Vista if you think I should try to enter that number instead of my Windows 7 Ultimate key.

 

[Tango22]

Hi Peter,
I don't know if this is pertinent to my problems with the laptop but I recently installed new memory in early April 2022. The old memory was 3GB (a 1GB module plus a 2GB module from two different manufacturers). I installed two new memory modules from Crucial of 2GB each for a total of 4 GB. I was hoping to upgrade to Windows 10 to make use of the added memory.
I also upgraded the hard drive from a 250GB HDD to a 500GB SSD but that was a couple years ago.

 

[Tango22]

Windows Update still fails with error 80072EFE and Windows Defender also fails to update definitions with error 80072EFE. Do you have any suggestions of what I can try next?

 

[PeterJ]

Try to uninstall or repair Service Pack 1. Please report the result.

 

[Tango22]

If I try to uninstall SP1 it gives me a message that SP1 is needed by my system. Attempts to run SP1 installation keeps coming up with installation was unsuccessful; computer has to be restarted. Tried that twice and the same screen keeps popping up.

Should I just try to do a clean install of Windows 10? This laptop was running Windows 7 32-bit but I think the processor is 64-bit capable. Should I try to install Windows 10 64-bit? Will all the components using 32-bit drivers be able to switch to 64-bit drivers?

Should I just scrap this laptop and buy a new machine with Windows 11?

 

[PeterJ]

Should I just try to do a clean install of Windows 10? This laptop was running Windows 7 32-bit but I think the processor is 64-bit capable. Should I try to install Windows 10 64-bit?

I think that would be the quickest solution. You cannot upgrade a 32-bits to a 64-bits OS but you can do a clean install of Windows 10 64-bits.

Will all the components using 32-bit drivers be able to switch to 64-bit drivers?

Not automatically. As you are doing a clean install the required drivers 32-bit or 64-bit will be installed. You will need to re-install all programs you currently had installed.

Should I just scrap this laptop and buy a new machine with Windows 11?

Dunno the age. If more than 10 years I would buy a new machine and leave this machine as it is which allows you to work on this machine as long as it last and transfer all important data to the new machine when it suits you.

 

[Tango22]

OK, thanks Peter. If you are willing, I'd like to keep working on this machine. You've done a great job of getting rid of all the corruptions and all that's left is to try and get Windows Update working again. I think then it would take the Windows 10 32 bit upgrade.

What should I do next? I can't uninstall SP1 nor can I re-install a new copy.

 

[PeterJ]

This machine appears to be about 15 years old. Is that correct ?

Warning: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Do not run this script on another machine.

1. Download the attachment fixlist.txt and save it to your desktop.
2. Right-click on FRST.exe and select "Run as administrator".
3. Press the Fix button.
4. The tool will now process fixlist.txt.
5. If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
6. When finished, a log called Fixlog.txt will appear in the same directory the tool is run from.
7. Attach the logfile Fixlog.txt to your next reply.

 

[Tango22]

Yes, the laptop is indeed about 15 years old. I think it was built in 2009 and my daughter bought it new in late 2010. I inherited it around 2014 after she graduated. It has been a great little laptop and worked well for me over the years. The only reason I'm now trying to upgrade to Windows 10 is because Microsoft quit supporting Windows 7.
Attached is the latest Fixlog file. I also restarted the machine to complete some of the resets.

 

[PeterJ]

Yes, the laptop is indeed about 15 years old.

I personally would not upgrade such old machine. You might ending up with a failed install of Windows 10.
Any improvement with Windows Update after the latest fix ?

 

[Tango22]

No, unfortunately Windows Update still gives me the 80072EFE error.

Thank you for all your help in trying to fix this machine. You have done a wonderful job in cleaning up all the corruptions on the laptop and I am extremely impressed with your knowledge and expertise. Based on your recommendation, I will am going to purchase a new laptop and say goodbye to this old HP G60. I think we can go ahead and close this thread now as the machine will soon be retired.

Best regards.

 

[PeterJ]

Your welcome. I will mark this thread as solved.

Follow the instructions below to cleanup the tools and logfiles used in this thread.
Rename the file FRST64.exe to uninstall.exe and run it. This will remove all files and folders created by FRST and the tool itself.
Reboot the machine to complete.
You may remove all other tools and log files used in this thread.

Take care.