windows 10 update issues

grumpycrab

Whether Margi can use the computer or not is still not clear.  Needs a Windows10 reinstall.  From USB  media. With help of a local computer friend.
www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

margi_g

sorry I am a bit vague This is a new area for me. My terminology might not be correct..So I will explain what  happens.
I try to run the changes , the updates and after  about 20 minutes an error message appears saying "unable to complete update, undoing changes" That takes as long as the update attempts take. 
I go to Settings and try to get online help because  there is an error message every time that says there is an issue with the product key. That it isn't valid product key. The product key do not show  the 25 digits. It only shows the last five. This was already on the laptop when  I bought it second hand a year ago .. I cant go back to the shop obviously as we are in lockdown ,though I would rather fix this myself.
The issue seems to be around the licensing . 
Your help is much appreciated

Jenni_D

Did the laptop come with Windows 10 on it when you bought it? Does it have anything on it to suggest it originally came with Windows 7?

Is there a Certificate of Authenticity on the laptop anywhere? (Or maybe on the box it came in, or on some piece of paper)?

Jenni x

jsmith9

Thanks for that so it seems you can boot the laptop.

Start by opening the Settings app and then, go to Update & Security. On the left side of the window, click or tap Activation. Then, look on the right side, and you should see the activation status of your Windows 10 computer or device. Is your copy activated?

Next, find the full product key and compare it with the sticker you hopefully will have on the laptop....

Google 'how to display windows 10 product key' or use this below

1. Press Windows key + X.
2. Click Command Prompt (Admin)
3. At the command prompt, type:     wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey. 
4. This will reveal the product key. 

jsmith9

Finally, do this:

Step 1: Click Windows logo and R key on the keyboard in Windows 10 to open the Run dialog.

Step 2: Type   slmgr.vbs /dli    and press Enter key to display license information. 

In the pop-up window, if you see volume activation expiration, renewal interval and these types of information, you should know your Windows 10 is activated using activator software and it is cracked. If not, then it is genuine.

margi_g

I tried it and the message was this "Error:0x004f012 on a computer running Microsoft Windows non core edition run slui.exe 0x2a
to display error text" I will do that now.

JJ_Egan

As above

My guess is that its a hacked win 10 product key that is checked and rejected on update .

jsmith9

If you go to settings / update and security etc does windows show as activated?

Heedtheadvice

Ok Margi_g you have explained a little but unfortunately not enough really for people to give you clear help. [Edit you seem to be making better progress now with jsmith9's help -this post will not help much but might clarify things a bit?]

To clarify you say you cannot boot but yet you seem to be booted and the update process is started so you must be booted ??

As mentioned above you really do need to be specific. Computers are very specific in what they do and a general and incomplete description of an error message is not specific enough to diagnose in many cases....especially remotely on such a forum as this.

I suggest that if you are trying to boot (the initial process to get the machine running) then it will load the operating system(win 10 in your case) and then log you on (sometimes automatic so no logon screen for you to respond to) it then  sets up windows for your own use (your settings, programs and desktop display etc) . That is a very general overview but each step is specific and separate. Booting is really just the first step.

Hence you need to be both specific and accurate in what happens and what the messages say preferably in full.

As you seem to be having licence issues can I suggest that if you are already up and running you download and install Belarc advisor. Run it and it will read all sorts of useful info about your computer display it in your browser and then you can print it so the info is to hand to answer some of the questions.

When starting your computer (boot etc) note down what happens (what gets displayed on the screen and what is the last thing displayed when it no longer 'boots' such as manufacturers logo, win logo, error message " I cannot boot because...with error....file xxxxx " etc.

Further, do you have a backup of your drive made? Have you made a rescue/boot disk? Does your computer store important information that you do not want to loose -or would you be happy just o start all over as if it was a new machine with non of your data or programs?

All that helps advisors help you to diagnose exactly what is happening (that "exact" is important) resolve the problem or just restart again saving or loosing things that are specific to you.

In responding it is best to follow through suggestions step by step, answer them if they do not work and ask for explanations if you do not follow them. You might not know the technical language but be descriptive and don't miss anything out. That way a techie person can best understand. Most are not geniuses just more familiar!

inspectorperez

If I am not mistaken, Belarc Adviser will complete a scan of your whole computer and provide you with full detail of hardware, installed software and all license keys. I run this software from time to time just to make sure my security updates are literally up to date. The download link is as follows https://www.belarc.com/AdvisorDownloadEmail

This is free software and as far as I am aware having used it for many years on the advice of my own firm's computer support team, it is completely free of bloatware.