How to upgrade to Win10 from a non-bootable Win7 Pro (HP Elitebook 8540p)?

Discussion in 'Windows 10' started by BigG, Aug 5, 2015.

  1. BigG

    BigG MDL Junior Member

    Aug 26, 2008
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    My win7 pro (HP Elitebook 8540p) has the BSOD (black screen of death) issue and I could not recover it.

    Tried to upgrade it directly from boot media of windows 10, but failed. It seems that one can only upgrade form a running win7 system.

    My question is: How to get a non-bootable win7 upgraded to windows 10?

    Thanks.
     
  2. crackerbox

    crackerbox MDL Novice

    Feb 5, 2009
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    Performing a fresh install of Windows 7 before hand is your only solution currently.
     
  3. BigG

    BigG MDL Junior Member

    Aug 26, 2008
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    Crackbox,

    Thanks for the quick response.

    The problem is: with a fresh installation, my windows 10 won't have the activation info from Windows 7 I have on the laptop now.

    I retrieved the CDkeys from win7 (from my OS and the sticker at the bottom of the laptop), but both failed when I tried to run the windows 10 installation.

    Is there a way to keep windows 7 activation date and transfer it to windows 10?

    Thanks.
     
  4. Tito

    Tito Super Mod / Adviser
    Staff Member

    Nov 30, 2009
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    @BigG

    You've mixed things up. If the installed Windows 7 came with the laptop, then it uses OEM:SLP activation which is easy to retain. Clean install Windows 7 Pro/Ultimate & apply HP cert & key. Then upgrade to Windows 10 using ISO downloaded from Microsoft.
     
  5. yoda89

    yoda89 MDL Novice

    Jul 29, 2009
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    You could use your OEM key (under the notebook) to install and activate Windows 7.
    When W7 is activated, you can upgrade to W10 and activate but you can't activate W10 with your W7 key.
     
  6. Snuffy

    Snuffy MDL Expert

    Jan 7, 2008
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    Surely the Factory restore is still effective. boot to media and Factory Reset.
    or If No
    insert the Factory Media Restore Image you made as Recommended and Restore,
    or NO
    surely you did make a Restore Image (for your self) use that
    IF NO -
    I do hope that for some strange as hell reason you made a RESTORE POINT
    if you did boot to any media.
    run command and type
    rstrui.exe /offline /C:\Windows

    If No to all the above

    If not then your almost SOL
     
  7. BigG

    BigG MDL Junior Member

    Aug 26, 2008
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    Hi, there,

    Unfortunately the answers for all above are "No". -:(

    May be this is my final question before I re-install or clean install Win7 Pro: do I need to mud the BIOS on my HP laptop before I use OEM:SLP activation?

    Thanks so much for your help.
     
  8. CaptainKirk1966

    CaptainKirk1966 Former MDL Guru

    Oct 31, 2009
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  9. BigG

    BigG MDL Junior Member

    Aug 26, 2008
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    Thanks very much (for both the reply and links) !