Questions for 7 to 10 upgrade

Topic

New Reply

Hi, I have bitten the bullet to upgrade 7 to 10, and read loads of guides, but I cannot get Microsoft Creation Tool to work on either of my systems, both get error code 0x80072F8F, I have checked the microsoft help and don’t seem to have any of the issues (date, updates turnon, etc).

Is there an alternative place to download the windows 10 creation media?

Is there somewhere to download the windows 10 iso without media creation? and if so can I run istall of 10 keeping windows 7 apps and files this way?

Sorry, if this is all a bit obvious but any help would be much appreciated.

 

 

Reply | Quote

Replies

Get yourself a browser a useragent extension from whatever browser you use and trick the website into thinking you are using another operating system ie: linux, macOS. Then download the iso directly from MSFT:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/home

Use rufus or equivalent to flash the iso to a usb stick 8Gb>
or mount the iso within your win7 OS and run setup.exe

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

Reply | Quote

Richard wrote:

both get error code 0x80072F8F

This error occurs if Windows has trouble connecting to the online activation service and can’t verify your product key.

You’re most likely getting that particular error because, as of Sept 20, Microsoft deactivated the servers used to activate Windows 10 & 11 using older Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 product keys.

Windows 11 and 10 no longer activate with Windows 7, 8 keys

This means the ONLY way to now upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10/11 is to buy a license.

1 user thanked author for this post.

b

Reply | Quote

Thanks for the help, what kind of licence do I need to upgrade windows 7, I have seen lots of windows 10 pro keys for sale but many have the caveat that they only work for a clean install and I don’t wish to do a clean install if it can be avoided. MS aren’t selling windows 10 licenses anymore so I’m confused what to get.

Reply | Quote

If you can upgrade using the 10 ISO you should be able to enter the 10 key to activate.

Make an image backup.
Mount the ISO and run setup.exe to see if it will upgrade.
Let us know if it works.

cheers, Paul

Reply | Quote

n0ads wrote:

Richard wrote:

both get error code 0x80072F8F

This error occurs if Windows has trouble connecting to the online activation service and can’t verify your product key.

You’re most likely getting that particular error because, as of Sept 20, Microsoft deactivated the servers used to activate Windows 10 & 11 using older Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 product keys.

Windows 11 and 10 no longer activate with Windows 7, 8 keys

This means the ONLY way to now upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10/11 is to buy a license.

This is not correct and based on guessing. The tool does not conduct key verifications. The issue is not related to any recent deactivation as it is more than one year old.

The Media Creation Tool requires the TLS 1.2 protocol enabled.

Media Creation Tool Error 0x80072F8F – 0x20000 in Windows 7/8

 

Reply | Quote

The original poster indicated he got error 0x80072F8F not error 0x80072F8F – 0x20000.

According to Microsoft’s official Get help with Windows 10 activation errors page.

0x80072F8F

You might see this error if the date and time for the device is incorrect, or Windows has trouble connecting to the online activation service and can’t verify your product key.

He indicated he was trying to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 after Microsoft had shut down the servers that allowed that option, so my response wasn’t a “guess” but the most obvious reason why he would be getting that error when, prior to the server shut down, other users had successfully upgrade their Windows 7 to Windows 10 using the Media Creation Tool with no problems.

Reply | Quote

“This error occurs if Windows has trouble connecting to the online activation service and can’t verify your product key.”

Can you explain how key verification without even connecting makes sense? As far as knowing about the TLS 1.2 requirement goes, you did not and therefore made something up. And when it comes to referring to Microsoft explanations for 0x80072F8F – 0x20000 regarding the tool – they have yet to release one.

Other users have successfully upgraded prior to Media Creation Tool version 21H2.

Reply | Quote

Volume Z wrote:

Can you explain how key verification without even connecting makes sense?

When using the Media Creation Tool to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 part of the process requires the software to connect to Microsoft’s activation servers to verify the product key you’re trying to update is “eligible” to receive the upgrade you’re attempting to install.

On Sep 20 2023, Microsoft turned off the servers used to do that for older Windows 7/8 keys!

So, on Oct 15 2023 when Richard tried to use the Tool to upgrade his Windows 7 PC’s to Windows 10, it wouldn’t have been able to connect to the activation servers needed to verify his Windows 7 product keys were eligible for the upgrade because those servers were not on line.

That means the “most likely” reason he got a 0x80072F8F error was because “Windows has trouble connecting to the online activation service” which is exact what would have happened.

Volume Z wrote:

As far as knowing about the TLS 1.2 requirement goes, you did not and therefore made something up.

Talk about making something up…

You’re assuming I didn’t know about the TLS 1.2 requirement but the fact is I did!

1- I didn’t mention it because KB3140245, issued all the way back on 06/14/2016, added TSL 1.1 and 1.2 support to Windows 7.

2- The lack of TSL 1.2 when running the Tool specially causes a 0x80072F8F – 0x20000 error and Richard indicated he got a 0x80072F8F error not a 0x80072F8F – 0x20000 error.

3- Even if TSL 1.2 was not activated on his Windows 7 PC’s, activating it would not have helped the Tool work because Microsoft turned off the Windows 7/8 to Windows 10 activation servers 4 weeks before he attempted to upgrade his Windows 7 PC’s.

Reply | Quote

You are still not getting the point that error 0x80072F8F – 0x20000 (ever get the idea someone might abbreviate the number?) means the tool is not running at all. “We’re unable to run this tool on your PC”. We’re unable to run it. Whatever this tool does, we’re unable to. No key verifying has been done at this point. But then the tool does not do any key verifying anyway because the tool is not upgrade only. It’s also creating installation media (iso file, USB drive). Remember it’s called the Media Creation Tool?

Using the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) to install Windows 10 on a different PC

The issue with 0x80072F8F – 0x20000 is that it’s the default behavior in Windows 7 and 8 since version 21H1. The tool not running is the default response. Nothing at all done but checked for TLS 1.2.

It does not matter if KB3140245 is from 2016. It is required to run the tool. So yes, they made a 2016 optional update the prerequisite for a 2023 tool.

You can speak to error 0x80072F8F whatever after enabling the TLS 1.2 protocol, not before. 

Reply | Quote

The default option when you run the Media Creation Tool is not to create installation media but to Upgrade this PC now.

Nowhere in his initial post did the OP indicate he was trying to “create installation media”, he said he tried to update his 2 PC’s using the Media Creation Tool and the update failed with error code 0x80072F8F!

 

Reply | Quote

The Media Creation Tool doesn’t work b/c it has to download the Win10 components from the MS servers whether it “Upgrades this PC now” or “Creates installation media…” even with TLS 1.2 is enabled. You have to be connected to the Internet. I would be surprised if the Servers didn’t check for the presence of Win7/8/8.1 before proceeding, even if you don’t choose “Upgrades this PC now.”

Reply | Quote

Volume Z wrote:

Other users have successfully upgraded prior to Media Creation Tool version 21H2.

Microsoft closed in Sept.2023 the option to upgrade from Win 7 to Win 10/11.

Microsoft Says the Days of Free Windows 7 to 10 or 11 Updates Are Over

Your only option is clean install of Win 10 providing you can get a license (Microsoft stopped selling Win 10 licenses.)

You can download Windows 10 ISO using Rufus, HeiDoc.net

Reply | Quote

An update, got the ISO using useragent work around.  Made full back up.  Cleaned up primary hard drive (SSD), more than 100GB space and unzipped iso on to the primary. Unplugged all preferals, unistalled other AV, turn off windows defender, unplugged secondary drives SATA cables. Finally disconnected from Wifi. Ran set up, all good, got through the initial install stage and then hung on the windows 10 logo screen.  Tried a couple of times with same results and same error 0xC1900101 – 0x20017  The installation failed in the SAFE_OS phase with an error during BOOT operation.  Any tips on how to fix?  Thank you

Reply | Quote

If you have an unimportant hard drive you can blank out, I would experiment by first create a bootable USB (8gb or larger, or if you prefer a DVD) created from your ISO – use Rufus or media creation tool to make a usb.

Then unplugging all active hard drives from the system, installing only the junk hard drive and doing a clean install from your bootable USB.  If the clean install works (skip when it asks for key), connect it online and see if it says it is activated.  If this all works, it indicates your computer hardware should be compatible with Windows 10.  If this fails with the same or different error you may have more information to go on.  Also advise posting your error codes and symptoms on the official Microsoft support forum.

Reply | Quote

Richard wrote:

An update, got the ISO using useragent work around.  Made full back up.  Cleaned up primary hard drive (SSD), more than 100GB space and unzipped iso on to the primary.

You can’t upgrade from 7 to 10 anymore.

What do you mean got ISO using useragent ? You don’t need any tricks to download Windows 10 ISO. Just go to HeiDoc.net and download the ISO.

You don’t have to ‘unzip’ the ISO (which isn’t a zip file). You should mount the ISO as a drive, open the drive and run setup.exe

You should ‘clean install‘ wiping all data the on the drive.

You need to have a Windows 10 license.

Reply | Quote

That error seems to be a disk driver problem.

Boot to the BIOS and check the disk mode. It should be AHCI. If not you may need to find a disk driver.
You could change it to AHCI to test – after writing down the current setting.

cheers, Paul

Reply | Quote

STOP!
What you are trying to do, upgrade from Win7 to Win10, will NOT work.

Microsoft has ended the free upgrade from Win7 to Win10, AND turned off the activation servers for Win7/8/8.1. Win10 will NOT activate using a Win7 license anymore.

If you want Win10, you will need to do a Clean Install and you will need a valid Win10 license. But there is another hitch. MS no longer sells Win10 licenses, so you will need a previously purchased/owned valid Win10 license.

So, if you want to convert your Win7 computer to Win10, the only way to do it is a Clean Install with a previously owned valid Win10 license. Upgrading will not work.

Reply | Quote

Do we know the upgrade won’t work if you have a valid retail license?

I was going to suggest doing a reinstall from scratch to make sure W10 runs on that machine without additional drivers.

cheers, Paul

Reply | Quote

A valid Retail Win10 license on a clean install will activate – but MS doesn’t sell one, you have to already possess it.
A valid activated Win7/8/8.1 license will not upgrade to an automatically activated Win10 license b/c MS no longer supports/authorizes/recognizes that upgrade.

The only way to get Win10 now is a Clean Install + a pre-owned valid Win10 license (b/c MS no longer sells them).

1 user thanked author for this post.

Alex5723

Reply | Quote

Volume Z wrote:

means the tool is not running at all

So don’t use it. Use Rufus, HeiDoc.net instead.

Reply | Quote

That means trading prerequisites.

Reply | Quote

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17718

It won’t help as there is no way to upgrade 7 to 10/11 and clean install need Windows 10 license which Microsoft doesn’t sell but searching the Internet you can buy a Pro license for $14..

Reply | Quote

PKCano wrote:

Upgrading will not work.

Does that include using a Windows 10 license obtained/activated when doing an upgrade from Win7 (back when it was sanctioned in 2016), then reverting to Windows 7?

Reply | Quote

I’m making a wild guess here:
If it was upgraded on the same computer, and you are trying to put it back, it will possibly be already registered on the MS Servers validated/activated for Win10. Maybe. From a mounted ISO, not the MCT. You’d have to try that one to know for sure. (Be sure you have a full image backup and a file based data backup first).

But if the Win7 is on a different computer, I have my doubts.

1 user thanked author for this post.

zat_so

Reply | Quote

Hi, well I have got 2 machines updated from windows 7 pro to update to windows 10 pro whilst keeping user settings, apps, etc. This was using the useragent extension acquired creation tool, as suggested above by Microfix.

Unpack useragent into window 7 main partition, run set up from the unpacked files, the big difference from previous failed attempts was leaving internet connection in place so the install updated as it went along. With one machine I had to manually reboot from thread exception errors a couple of times, but the install got past them.

Interestingly the update was to local account with no request screens to create a microsoft account which I kind of was expecting to have to deal with, hence all previous attempts been with internet disconnected.

As expected windows 7 licence wasn’t valid, but windows 10 worked without keys, and I got a couple keys online and they activated.  Having a few weird problems (1 machine sometimes doesn’t detect second drive although drivers are uptodate and connections/hardware sound) but thats the way with any new set up in my experience.

Hopefully I can keep 10 going as long as I did 7 (targetting 2028-2030) and then jump either to linux or perhaps windows 12 will be a gem!  I’m going to dual boot my third win7 machine with linux.

Thanks everyone for the advise and suggestions, may you have a prosperous New Year

 

1 user thanked author for this post.

Cybertooth

Reply | Quote