Is it possible to upgrade a Model 500-214 Pavilion Desktop to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1

[500-214]

I'm trying to upgrade my Pavilion Model # 500-214 to windows 10 and when the install gets to 73% I get a message "Windows 10 Installation has failed". I've trying many suggestions for the last three days and still no go.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Looking at the specs, you should be able to run W10 on that PC.

HP even has W10 drivers for it.

HP Pavilion 500-214 Desktop PC Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Customer Support

How are you trying to upgrade to W10?

Did you click on the blue Update Now button at the link below, or did you create a W10 USB installation flash drive using the media creation tool?

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

I recommend that you make the bootable USB installation flash drive, but don't boot from it.

Open it in windows explorer and double click on the setup application to begin the installation/upgrade process.

[500-214]

Yes I clicked the Update now button and it did it's updating and checking and started the installation 

[500-214]

 to finish my last post at 73% it failed

[Paul_Tikkanen]

OK, then try making the bootable USB flash drive instead, and click on the setup application.

[500-214]

OK I will try that, thanks. I'll let you know what happens.

[itsmyname]

@500-214 --  to finish my last post at 73% it failed

How old is the disk-drive?  Perhaps, it is failing at that "73%" mark.  If so, replace the disk-drive, and start over.

[500-214]

did as you suggested and same result, 73% and failed.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

That's unfortunate.

Since you have not previously installed W10 on the PC, I don't know if you can try clean installing W10, and then use the W8.1 product key in the BIOS to activate the installation.

Clean installing W10 would require you to reinstall all of your programs and files after W10 installed, and there is still no 100% guarantee it will work.

Now You can Activate Windows 10 Using Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 Product Key – AskVG

Assuming you want to take the chance on this, I recommend that you make a system image of your current W8.1 installation prior to installing W10, so you can easily reinstall your current configuration in case the clean install fails too. 

I use the free Macrium Reflect software to do that, under the Backup at Home section. 

Along with the system image, make sure you create the bootable DVD or USB rescue drive you boot from to access the system image stored on your portable hard drive.

Macrium Software | Reflect Free Edition

How to clean install W10...

How to do a Clean Install of Windows 10 the Easy Way (howtogeek.com)

When you get to the part of the installation that asks you to enter a product key, select the I don't have a product key option.

You can use the free showkey plus utility that I zipped up and attached below to see your W8.1 product key so that you can activate W10 after it has installed.