Upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 install fails at 73%

[Dauk]

I'm trying to upgrade a Pavilion 15-p189na from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.  The install fails at 73% - every time. A google search shows other people had the same issue. There is no error code - just a window saying the installation has failed. I've tried the solutions listed in several sites found via Google search on this.  I know my laptop is not on the current list of Windows 10 compatible HP laptops (https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_3913140-3876462-16 ), but as far as I can see this should not stop me trying to install Windows 10 as suggested by a response to a previous question I posted. Has anyone else experienced this and fixed it? Even it it does not run properly I'd expect the installation to finish.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

In reference to this discussion a while back...

Solved: Pavilion 15-p/Window 8.1 to window 10 upgrade - HP Support Community - 8389034

If you used the Macrium Reflect software to create a system image and bootable recovery drive, the only suggestion I can offer if you are willing, would be to clean install W10 and activate it with your W8.1 product key.

If the process fails, then you can go back to W8.1 via the Macrium Reflect recovery.

You can make a bootable W10 installation flash drive with the Media creation tool from the link below.

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

Boot from the installation media and after you get past the Install Now screen, you will be asked to select the version of W10 you want to install.  Select W10 Home.

Then you will be asked to enter a product key.  Select the 'I don't have a product key' option.

You can delete every partition on the hard drive since the recovery partition will no longer work after you clean install Windows.

Hopefully, W10 will install that way without any problems.

If you need to activate W10, you should be able to do that with the W8.1 product key in your notebook's BIOS.

See this link:

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

After you get W10 installed (or you can do it now), install the free Showkey Plus utility from the Microsoft Store.

ShowKeyPlus - Microsoft Store Apps

Print out the report and you should be able to activate your W10 installation with the OEM W8.1 product key in from the Showkey Plus report by changing the product key in the PC settings menu.

It's a lot of work and not without risk, but there is no way that I know of to get past those failed upgrades.

I'm had that very same issue on a W10 PC that I wanted to upgrade to W11 and the installation failed at 96% every time with no specific reason.

I had to clean install W11 and that worked with no problems.

[Jake1138 · Accepted solution]

When the install got to the point where it was about to start checking and download win 10 updates I disconnected the internet. Then it got to 100% perfectly!
I never saw an option to install Windows 10 without updates, so disabling the internet before updates was the only choice for me.
The correct moment to disable the connection as I recall is just before the window turns blue; the idea is to stop windows from updating during the installation process.
After the install and reboot process is done the normal Windows update will run and get all needed updates at that point.