Windows 10 (can not activate Windows Defender or Windows Updates)

[Reesche]

Hi you guys… I seem to have problem with my HP ProBook 4530s.

I’m thinking I contracted a virus. Please see the things I have done so far to try to re-load Windows 10 back on to my laptop. Nothing is working Preferably, I would like to re load my “System Image” Back up I did in February of this year off of my WD My Passport 1gb portable HD. If I can not get to this, I will probably need to load a new copy of Windows 10 back on my machine. I am stuck here with my limited knowledge of PC’s Can you review all of this and see what can be done? I thank you for your time.

NOTE: I was running Windows 7 and Microsoft offered all regestered Windows 7 users a Free Upgrade to Windows 10

1. Update & Security:
2. Windows Update - Updates are always “available”… However, the updates never finish.

3. Windows Defender: Turn on Windows Defender… Virus & Threat Protection… I hit "Restart now… Error Message always comes up… “Unexpected error. Sorry, we ran into a problem. Try again.” I do and nothing happens again and again.

4. Recovery:
5. Reset this PC… I click this and nothing happens.
6. Advanced start up…I hit “Restart now” and it reboots but nothing happens and doesn’t offer any options. I do have a WD My Passport 1gb portable HD in which I did a “System Image” back up back in Feburary of 2018… But I never get close enough to reload it.

7. As a last ditch effort… When I restart the computer and hit the “escape” button there are several options in the "Start Up Menu… I ran System Diagnostics (found nothing) and when I hit F11 HP Recovery Manager…it says that I will loose EVERYTHING on my hard drive… nothing is recoverable. Have not done this…What happens to Windows 10 if I do this?

[Samuria]

The only real option is first to get any data off then download the latest ISO from Download Windows 10 that the brand new spring image click on the option to create media and either create a dvd or a usb. Boot from that delete all partitions so you know its clean let windows create what it needs. You then have the latest clean version. If you restore an image it will then update to 1803 which takes 2 hours but it wont be a clean install. If you use the recovery which may be 7 it will wipe everything and you would have to update all again. When you do a clean install if it asks for key skip it as it will activate from MS servers

[Reesche]

Thanks for your reply!

What about the Activation after doing all of that? Remember… I upgraded for Windows 7 to Windows 10 at no cost, when they offered it free to 7 users.
It sounds like it is best burnt to a DL DVD do you concur?

Reesche

[Reesche]

One more question … If I burn the ISO to a DL DVD what do you do for Start up? Insert disc and do you press any keys when you start up?

[jmarket]

What about the Activation after doing all of that?

You are FAR BETTER off with a clean install of Windows as per Samurai’s post, and your activation will be carried over from your old install. Remember though you will only be entitled to the same version ie: home or pro etc that you had previously.

If I burn the ISO to a DL DVD what do you do for Start up

Insert the bootable media in the computer, turn the computer off. Restart it and continue to tap the escape key and a menu will appear, press F9 to select your boot device.

[Reesche]

Ok I’m back… Not sure if I burnt the ISO file I downloaded correctly to the DVD. Everytime I totally shut the laptop down and restart with the DVD inserted, and press the escape key I get the following…

I press F9 Boot Drive Options

1. Notebook Upgrade Bay
2. Notebook Hard Drive
3. Notebook Ethernet

And everytime I press any of the choices, the laptop just starts up as usual… asking for my password etc.

DVD Preparation… I downloaded the ISO file and unstuffed it and burnt it to a DVD. Are you supposed to just burn the ISO file as is?

Any ideas?
Reesche

[Reesche]

Side Note: I burnt the DVD to insert (Win10_1803_English_x64.iso) “uncompressed” as is, Using Toast 16 Pro on my MAC (MAC and PC). I titled the disc “Windows Start Up Disc”. Thought this might give you more info…

[Samuria]

It may not have written the disk correct when you download the iso at the end it gives you an option to write to iso or dvd/usb an ISO is a disk image and must be written by the correct software the fact you gave it a title suggests its just had the files copied not a disk image I dont see the option in toast to directly write an iso there are plenty of free burning software for free http://www.imgburn.com/ is very simple load iso write to disk

[jmarket]

Or try using this guide to get a Windows ISO.

https://pchelpforum.net/resources/download-windows-and-office-isos.87/

[Reesche]

Resolved