Eli Sherer

Q: Unable to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 "Something happened"

I'll try to keep this short because my 48-minute call to Microsoft Support ended with me trying to educate the MS "Support" guy on how Bootcamp works! If I wanted to do that, I'd start a class and charge a fee.

 

Anyway, I have a MacBook Pro, 2012 model, with 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and which has been running Windows 7 Pro since purchased.

 

Some months ago, I got a new MacBook Pro 2015 model, same configuration, and migrated my Windows partition (using WinClone) to the new machine, in the process upgrading to Windows 10. In other words, I have ONE Product Code for Windows, but it was available on TWO machines (one running Win7, the other Win10).

 

Knowing that I could/should not run two versions of the same license on different machines, so when it came time to upgrade the "old" machine to Win10, I purchased a new Product Code online, then tried over the past few weeks to upgrade Windows. This is where the Microsoft Guy says that it's a Mac Hardware issue, and where I got lost in his broken English explanation. What happens is this:

 

I have tried the Internal "Software Update" version of upgrading, but the process fails giving me the elusive error code: "C1900101-20017". But for this, I am NEVER asked for a new Product Key. So I assumed that this might be because somehow the software realizes that I have two machines running the same key (no way to replace the product key I suppose).

 

But when I try to boot from a Thumb drive with an ISO burned with the upgrade application, I have to enter a Product Key (which is fine, since I bought one), but then I am told to reboot the computer and restart the process. When I do this, I get the other elusive "Something happened" error, saying that it could not validate my new Product Key.

 

So here I am, running Windows 7 Pro, having purchased a new Product Key for Windows 10... and with Microsoft (lack of) support telling me to "Call bootcamp" because it must have something to do with the hardware.

 

Any ideas, really, any ideas short of reaching through the ether and throttling the guy at MS Support, would be appreciated.

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1), MacBookPro5,3

Posted on Aug 1, 2016 12:34 PM

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Q: Unable to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 "Something happened"

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  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Aug 1, 2016 2:43 PM in response to Eli Sherer
    Level 7 (23,663 points)
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    Aug 1, 2016 2:43 PM in response to Eli Sherer

    Your W7 is activated, but your W10 activation tied the key to the 2015 Mac. M$ allows a "backup" copy to be installed using the same license, to avoid hardware issues from usability.

     

    Eli Sherer wrote:

     

    But when I try to boot from a Thumb drive with an ISO burned with the upgrade application, I have to enter a Product Key (which is fine, since I bought one), but then I am told to reboot the computer and restart the process. When I do this, I get the other elusive "Something happened" error, saying that it could not validate my new Product Key.

     

    You need to create a USB Installer using a 64-bit only ISO via BC Assistant. Once you have created the installer, then you can boot from the installer and upgrade the W7 to W10 on the 2012 Mac. The installation must be done without any Internet Connection to avoid the activation fiasco. Once it is fully installed, you can change the Product Key in Control Panel. After the key is changed, connect to the network, and activate the W10 product key you bought.

  • by Eli Sherer,

    Eli Sherer Eli Sherer Aug 1, 2016 5:28 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 1, 2016 5:28 PM in response to Loner T

    I appreciate your help, but I am confused. I created a USB installer with 64-bit ISO in Windows... are you saying that I need to do this in Bootcamp Assistant instead?

     

    How is this different? And where do I boot from to start the installation? NOTE: I do NOT want to do a Clean Install of Windows! That would wipe out my data!

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Aug 2, 2016 10:24 AM in response to Eli Sherer
    Level 7 (23,663 points)
    Safari
    Aug 2, 2016 10:24 AM in response to Eli Sherer

    Eli Sherer wrote:

     

    I appreciate your help, but I am confused. I created a USB installer with 64-bit ISO in Windows... are you saying that I need to do this in Bootcamp Assistant instead?

    Yes. Here are the steps for the 2012 Mac to create the USB Installer using the first two options of BC Assistant.

     

    1. Download the ISO from M$ - 64-bit only, over a wired connection.

    2. Put it in your Documents folder.

    3. Unmount the ISO, if mounted.

    4. Disconnect all external storage and peripherals, and run SMC/NVRAM Reset.

         Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

         How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

    5. Run BCA. Connect USB when prompted by BCA.

    6. Point to ISO in the Documents folder, when prompted.

     

     

    How is this different? And where do I boot from to start the installation? NOTE: I do NOT want to do a Clean Install of Windows! That would wipe out my data!

    After you boot from the USB Installer, you should upgrade, not install.

  • by Eli Sherer,

    Eli Sherer Eli Sherer Aug 3, 2016 11:54 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 3, 2016 11:54 AM in response to Loner T

    Nope...

     

    I followed your instructions about creating the new USB installer using Boot Camp Assistant, then booted into Windows and shut down all the Internet connections.

     

    I booted to the USB drive, and the install started. I selected that I do NOT have a Product Key, and moved on to the part where I am told to Reboot the computer and continue the installation by starting it again with the USB drive.

     

    Again, NO internet connection to mess things up, I booted to Windows, started the install again, and saw the message "Something happened" saying it could not validate my Product Key.

     


    Any suggestions??

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Aug 3, 2016 12:00 PM in response to Eli Sherer
    Level 7 (23,663 points)
    Safari
    Aug 3, 2016 12:00 PM in response to Eli Sherer

    Is your W7 installation activated? Is your license for W7 a retail license?

  • by Eli Sherer,

    Eli Sherer Eli Sherer Aug 3, 2016 1:26 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 3, 2016 1:26 PM in response to Loner T

    I have Windows 7 Pro and the license, as far as I know, is still active. I have no notifications saying it's not.

     

    I'm not sure what you mean by "retail", it was provided by my company in a box with installation DVD. The box does say "for distribution with a PC," but this was never an issue when I installed it in the first place.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Aug 3, 2016 2:34 PM in response to Eli Sherer
    Level 7 (23,663 points)
    Safari
    Aug 3, 2016 2:34 PM in response to Eli Sherer

    Eli Sherer wrote:

     

    I have Windows 7 Pro and the license, as far as I know, is still active. I have no notifications saying it's not.

    You can check in Control Panel.

     

     

    I'm not sure what you mean by "retail", it was provided by my company in a box with installation DVD. The box does say "for distribution with a PC," but this was never an issue when I installed it in the first place.

    Usually such licenses are OEM licenses and are tied to specific hardware. Based on what you find in Control Panel, you may need a Retail License to be able to upgrade. Does your company provide W10 upgrade, because it could be tied to corporate volume licensing.