Best way to upgrade Envy M7-J020DX to Windows 10

[jag_man653]

Missed the windows of opportunity for free Win 10, but would like to do it now.  The Envy came with 8.0, but I've upgraded to 8.1.   I have a Windows 10 Education upgrade thumb drive from my university. Can I use that? If not, what's the best way to get in install package? E.g., should I just buy a full version at a local store, or would it be cheaper and/or easier to do it through HP?

TIA.

Ed

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @jag_man653

Welcome to the HP Support forum.

There are 2 ways to upgrade to Windows 10:

1st)  real upgrade - keep files, some programs, upgrade to Windows 10 over the existing Windows 8.1

2nd)  clean Windows 10 installation - delete all existing files, apps, OS  and  clean install Windows 10

Personally, I prefer the 2nd option (clean installation). You can give the PC fresh clean start and avoid issues or corrupted upgrade.

If you have Windows 10 Education edition and a license from it - this is the best one from you. Just an installation media is not enough, you need a license key, as well.

Windows 10 upgrade path >> https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/upgrade/windows-10-upgrade-paths

If you don't have this key or if you cannot obtain one, you can purchase Windows 10 Pro or Home from Microsoft Store online >> https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/b/windows?icid=Homepage_LeftNav_02_Windows_en_US&activetab=tab...

119 USD - Win 10 Home lic

199 USD - Win 10 Pro lic

Let me know if you know how to install or upgrade Windows 10 after you obtain the proper license and after you choose the upgrade path (1 or 2). Provide your reply/feedback/update.

[jag_man653]

Thanks for the insights.

I decided to try the Upgrade option, figuring I had nothing to lose. Thought it was going to work 'cuz it got through a bunch of checking, downloading, installing without incident. Then, it stopped at 32% of the

 first boot phase with  0xC1900101-0x30018  SYSPREP error. It did restore Windows 8.1 though (yeh!). Itsuggested trying again. But, I'm not too interested in that since it takes 2-3 hours and probably wouldn't work either, based on other posts here.

My current thinking is to use the HP-provided "restore to initial state, i.e., Win 8.0" option. Not sure exactly where that will leave me with regard to data and software, but it seems it would be a state from which the Win 10 Education Upgerade would work. It will cost nothing and I don't see that there's a downside since the other option, wipe-clean & install fresh full version of Win 10 Pro, would for sure wipe out all the data and software.  And that will cost me $200.

Am I wrong?

Ed

[IT_WinSec]

---

@jag_man653wrote:

My current thinking is to use the HP-provided "restore to initial state, i.e., Win 8.0" option. Not sure exactly where that will leave me with regard to data and software,

---

Hi,

You are welcome.

Not sure if you have such a media - you will need HP Recovery drive (or one created by you) to restore your PC to Windows 8 factory default condition. This will erase your entire drive and you will loose all the data and software currently stored on the hard disk drive.

---

@jag_man653wrote:

My current thinking is to use the HP-provided "restore to initial state, i.e., Win 8.0" option. Not sure exactly where that will leave me with regard to data and software, but it seems it would be a state from which the Win 10 Education Upgerade would work. It will cost nothing and I don't see that there's a downside since the other option, wipe-clean & install fresh full version of Win 10 Pro, would for sure wipe out all the data and software.  And that will cost me $200.

 

---

it all depends on how many people will do that and which operating system is the best for you - Windows 8 or 10.

Do you have a license key for Windows 10 Education edition ?

If you have a lic key for Education edition, you can perform a back up of your most important files and proceed to the update.

(edited)

[jag_man653]

yes. Got the key. Surprisingly, I wasn't asked for it when I was trying to do the upgrade.

"Not sure if you have such a media - you will need HP Recovery drive (or one created by you) to restore your PC to Windows 8 factory default condition."

Reset to initial state is an option on the HP Envy. No media required.

"it all depends on how many people will do that and which operating system the best for you - Windows 8 or 10."

I don't understand this remark at all. ????

[IT_WinSec · Accepted solution]

---

@jag_man653wrote:

Reset to initial state is an option on the HP Envy. No media required.

---

This might not work because during upgrade attempts sometimes recovery partitions get corrupted.

If you already have a key for Windows 10 Education edition and if you already have the installation of it, just use them and perform clean installation of Windows. Boot from the media (F9), proceed to install Windows, perform Custom installation, delete all existing partitions, install Windows on Disk 0 unallocated space and you should be good to go.

In my opinion there is no point of attempting to restore back to Windows 8.1 default condition and then trying to upgrade to Windows 10 while you can just install Windows 10 and nothing else.

[jag_man653]

The instructions the university gave me along with the thumb drive say "in is an upgrade in that it requires your computer to already have Windows installed.  And , very emphatically, "do not erase the hard drive prior to installing Windows 10."  I thought I mentioned this earlier, but maybe not. I think I'll just buy Pro and use your first option. I did a backup to my WD MyCloud using the WD SmartWare so all the user data should be there.

Many thanks for your help.

Ed

[jag_man653]

Oops, I should have said "use your 2nd option, clean installation."

[jag_man653]

Issue resolved with 2nd method. After all the partitions were deleted the installation from the full Win Pro thumb-drive went smoothly. Took about 30 minutes. Now, reinstalling all the software...

Thanks!

[IT_WinSec]

@jag_man653

You are welcome ! Thanks for your update.