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Below I have posted a list of errors and fixes that people may encounter when trying to either activate or upgrade to windows 10
I didn't write a lot of this, I just thought some members may find this helpful when trying to install or activate windows 10
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Windows 10 Upgrading Errors
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Error: Cursor Bug
Fix: Read
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Error: 0x80246010
Fix: Try restoring and installing hidden updates
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Error: 0x80240020 and 0x80246007
Fix: Read
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Error: 0x80240020
Fix: This error means that your installation folder is unfinished or corrupted. To fix, follow these steps:
- Go into "C: \Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download" and delete everything in that folder. If you're unable to complete this step, look at "edit 5" down below
- Now, run the command prompt as an administrator. Type in "wuauclt.exe /updatenow"
- Go to your Control Panel > Windows Update and your Windows 10 should start re-downloading from scratch, hopefully without flaws this time
EDIT: For those who still have issues, several users reported that setting their time forward (to the First of August for example) and then doing the above steps again helped them resolve the issue
EDIT 2: If none of the above works, you can try to
You must login or register to view this content.. Just be cautious that you want to do an upgrade, not a clean install. If you do a clean install, Windows 10 will not activate. You would need a new product key for that. But if you do an upgrade, your product key from Win 7/8/8.1 will carry over to your Win 10. Once you've completed the upgrade and checked that Windows is activated, you can do a clean reinstall if necessary
EDIT 3: Another possible fix from Microsoft themselves but requires you to tamper with registry keys:
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EDIT 4: Microsoft support is confirm that this is an
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EDIT 5: If you're unable to delete the contents of the folder due to them being in use, try the following:
- Open the folder "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download"
- Run the command prompt as an administrator. Type in "net stop wuauserv". You should see a message indicating that the Windows Update service has been stopped
- Now, go back to the folder and now you should be able to delete all its contents
- Go back to the command prompt and this time, type in "net start wuauserv". This time, the message will tell you the Windows Update service has been started
- Go back to step 2 in the original post
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Error: Something happened
Fix: Read
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Error: 0x80073712
Fix: This error might mean that a file needed by Windows Update is damaged or missing. Try restoring your computer to factory default and then updating to windows 10
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Error: 0x800F0923
Fix: This error might mean that a driver or other software on your PC isn't compatible with the upgrade to Windows 10. For info about how to fix this problem,
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Error: 0x80200056
Fix: This error might mean that the upgrade process was interrupted because you accidentally restarted your PC or signed out of your PC. Try upgrading again and make sure your PC is plugged in and stays turned on
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Error: 0x800F0922
Fix: This error might mean that your PC couldn't connect to the Windows Update servers. If you're using a VPN connection to connect to a work network, disconnect from the network and turn off the VPN software (if applicable), and try upgrading again
The error could also mean there isn't enough free space in the System Reserved partition. You might be able to fix this problem by using third-party software to increase the size of the System Reserved partition
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Error: We couldn't complete the updates. Undoing changes. Don't turn off your computer
Fix: These are generic errors that might appear any time a Windows update fails. You'll need to determine the specific error code to investigate how to best resolve this problem
You can find the error code for the failed update by viewing your update history. Look for the update that wasn't installed, note the error code, and then contact Microsoft support
To view your update history in Windows 8.1:
- Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you're using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up)
- Select Settings
- Choose Change PC settings
- Selecte Update and recovery.
- Select View your update history
To view your update history in Windows 7:
- Select the Start button
- In the search box, type Update
- In the list of results, Select Windows Update.
- Click View update history
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Error: Failure configuring Windows Updates. Reverting changes
Fix: These are generic errors that might appear any time a Windows update fails. You'll need to determine the specific error code to investigate how to best resolve this problem
You can find the error code for the failed update by viewing your update history. Look for the update that wasn't installed, note the error code, and then contact Microsoft support
To view your update history in Windows 8.1:
- Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you're using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up)
- Select Settings
- Choose Change PC settings
- Selecte Update and recovery.
- Select View your update history
To view your update history in Windows 7:
- Select the Start button
- In the search box, type Update
- In the list of results, Select Windows Update.
- Click View update history
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Error: The update isn't applicable to your computer
Fix: This error might mean that your PC doesn't have the required updates installed. Check to make sure that all important updates are installed on your PC before you try upgrading
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Error: 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C
Fix: This error might mean that an incompatible app installed on your PC is blocking the upgrade process from completing. Check to make sure that any incompatible apps are uninstalled and then try upgrading again
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Error: 0xC1900200 – 0x20008
Fix: This error might mean that your PC doesn’t meet the minimum requirements to download or install the upgrade to Windows 10
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Error: 0xC1900202 – 0x20008
Fix: This error might mean that your PC doesn’t meet the minimum requirements to download or install the upgrade to Windows 10
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Error: 0x80070070 – 0x50011
Fix: This error might mean that your PC doesn’t have enough space available to install the upgrade. Free some space on the drive and try again
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Error: 0x80070070 – 0x50012
Fix: This error might mean that your PC doesn’t have enough space available to install the upgrade. Free some space on the drive and try again
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Error: 0x80070070 – 0x60000
Fix: This error might mean that your PC doesn’t have enough space available to install the upgrade. Free some space on the drive and try again
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Windows 10 Activation Errors
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Error: Windows 10 isn't activated after upgrading for free from Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update
Fix: If you upgraded to Windows 10 for free and ended up in a non-activated state, try following these steps:
- Go to Start Start button icon, then select Settings > Update & security > Activation
- Select Go to Store, and check to see if a valid license is available for your device. If a valid license isn't available, you'll need to buy Windows from the Store
- This only applies if you haven't made any hardware changes to your device
If you don't see the Go to Store button on the Activation page, contact your organization's support person
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Error: 0xC004C4AE - Genuine Validation detected tampered Windows binaries
Fix: You might see this error if you used a third-party app to add a display language that isn't currently supported by Windows. To fix the problem, you can restore your PC to an earlier point in time to undo the changes that were made to Windows. For more info, see
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If this doesn't fix the problem, it's possible that your copy of Windows isn't valid and you'll need to buy a new copy
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Error: 0xC004F061 - The Software Licensing Service determined that this specified product key can only be used for upgrading, not for clean installations
Fix: You might see this error if a previous version of Windows wasn't installed on your PC before you tried using a product key to upgrade to Windows 10. In order to upgrade, you need to have Windows 8 or Windows 7 already on your PC. For more info, see
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Error: 0xC004FC03 - A networking problem has occurred while activating your copy of Windows
Fix: You might see this error if you're not connected to the Internet or your firewall settings are preventing Windows from completing the activation process online. Check to make sure you're connected to the Internet and your firewall isn't blocking Windows from activating. If you're still having problems, you can try activating Windows by phone
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Error: 0xC004C008 - The activation server reported that the product key has exceeded its unlock limit
Fix: You might see this error if the product key has already been used on another PC, or it's being used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. To fix the problem, you'll need to buy a product key for each one of your PCs to activate Windows on them
You can buy a new product key from the Windows Store or a participating retailer. To buy a product key from the Store:
- Go to Start Start button icon, then select Settings > Update & security > Activation
- Select Go to Store, and then follow the instructions to buy Windows
If you don't see the Go to Store button on the Activation page, contact your organization's support person
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Error: 0xC004C003 - This product key didn't work
Fix: You might also see this error if you're using an invalid product key. You'll need to buy a new product key, or if you bought a PC with Windows preinstalled, contact the PC manufacturer for the original key
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Error: 0xC004C020 - The activation server reported that the Multiple Activation Key has exceeded its limit
Fix: This error occurs when a Volume License (a license that has been bought from Microsoft by a business to install Windows on multiple PCs) has been used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. To fix the problem, you might need to use a different product key to activate your PC. Contact your organization's support person for more info
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Error: 0x8007232B - DNS name does not exist
Fix: You might see this error if you're trying to activate your work PC but aren't connected to your workplace's network. If you're connected to your work network and still see this error, you might need to change your network settings. Contact your organization's support person for more info
If your organization doesn't have a support person, you might need to enter your product key again. Follow these steps:
- Go to Start Start button icon, then select Settings > Update & security > Activation
- Select Change product key, and then enter your 25-character product key
Administrator permission required You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice
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Error: 0x8007007B - The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect
Fix: You might see this error if you're trying to activate your work PC but aren't connected to your workplace's network. If you're connected to your work network and still see this error, you might need to change your network settings. Contact your organization's support person for more info
If your organization doesn't have a support person, you might need to enter your product key again. Follow these steps:
- Go to Start Start button icon, then select Settings > Update & security > Activation
- Select Change product key, and then enter your 25-character product key
Administrator permission required You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice
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Error: 0x80072F8F - A security error occurred
Fix: You might see this error if the PC’s date and time are incorrect or Windows is having trouble connecting to the online activation service and can't verify your product key
To verify your PC's date and time, follow these steps:
- Go to Start Start button icon, then select Settings > Time & language > Date & time
- Check to make sure your PC is using the correct date and time
To check your Internet connection, follow these steps:
- Enter network troubleshooter in the search box on the taskbar, and then select Identify and repair network problems.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to fix any problems with your network
- If the network troubleshooter didn't find any problems with your network connection, try restarting your PC to see if that fixes the problem
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Error: 0xC004E003 - The Software Licensing Service reported that the license evaluation failed
Fix: You might see this error after installing third-party software that changed system files. Windows activation needs certain system files to complete activation. You can try to restore your PC's system files back to an earlier point in time. This will remove any software you installed after that point in time without affecting your personal files. For more info, see the section about restoring from a system restore point in
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Error: 0x80004005 - Unspecified error
Fix: If you see this error, go to Start Start button icon, then select Settings > Update & security > Activation, and then select Activate Windows to try and manually activate Windows. If that doesn't work, you might need to reset your PC. For more info, see
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