Pay special attention to low-level system tools such as antivirus software, disk management tools, and so on. Even if you don't know the exact reason for an upgrade problem, you might be able to resolve it with some simple troubleshooting measures.įirst, temporarily uninstall any unneeded software. The most common upgrade errors can be traced to a handful of basic causes: software incompatibilities, storage-related issues, and errors in the Setup wizard. Even some older systems that were past their support deadline received fresh BIOS code around the time of Windows 10's release in mid-2015. If the BIOS date is earlier than 2016, it's worth checking the computer manufacturer's website to see if an update is available. If the BIOS date is before 2016, see if the PC maker has an update available. On the System Summary tab, look for the item labeled BIOS Version/Date, as shown here. To find details about your system, press Windows key + R to open the Run box, type msinfo32, and then press Enter. Back in 20, many PC manufacturers released updates to their BIOS code, specifically designed to address upgrade issues, and sometimes just upgrading the BIOS is enough to solve a failed upgrade. On legacy PCs, the BIOS takes care of starting up a PC and managing connections to essential system devices like keyboards and disk controllers. This step is especially important for older PCs that were designed and built before the release of Windows 10. (They can do so using remote support tools, as I explain in 'Remote support essentials: 4 steps you can take now to keep friends and family connected.') Check for an updated BIOS If you're uncertain about some of the details or unsure about how to interpret results, ask a friend or colleague with IT experience to assist. Note that some of these steps require intermediate to advanced technical skills. These steps can also help you diagnose problems installing feature updates on PCs that are already running Windows 10. In this post, I provide details about tools and techniques you can use to identify and fix the issue that's blocking an upgrade. Coronavirus: Business and technology in a pandemicįrom cancelled conferences to disrupted supply chains, not a corner of the global economy is immune to the spread of COVID-19.īut a small percentage of readers have reported problems with the upgrade, usually because of compatibility problems with existing software or hardware.

Windows 8 installation failed