This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This is the 2nd computer in 2 years that has been destroyed IMMEDIATELY after a Microsoft update. My hard drive is totally ruined and I've lost my $200 microsoft Office and all of the programs that were downloaded and everything that had not been backed up since the prior back up. There are comments all over the internet about computer's that have been destroyed. Why don't you destroy your own computers and leave ours alone until you know the update is safe? If any attorneys know a way to file a class action suit, there are thousands upon thousands of people who would participate. I'd say I've lost $2,000 with the multiple computer failures and program losses.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Since your computer is destroyed ... can I have it? I mean, if it's destroyed then you're probably not using it, so perhaps you can send it to me? It is destroyed, after all, so it's really useless.
Why would I want it? Oh, I don't know ... I guess I could clean it up ... clean install ... and use it as a tricked out monitor stand.
There are two issues here. If systems crash with things like inaccessible boot device - that's a driver failure. But the hard drive is still viable and will work after a reinstall. The error code you have indicates more of a hardware problem. Software problems means that the hard drive still works. Hardware errors are different.
SSD's die a flaming death with little to no alert ahead of time. It's why I do workstation backup here at the office.
Patches by themselves do not damage a running hard drive. If the drive isn't spinning, then something mechanically went wrong with the system. If the computer had a SSD, I have truly known them to spontaneously die but not directly caused by patching.
That particular error code is hard drive failure. The fact that it occurred after patching or rebooting is a reflecting that the system is processing information, not that the ultimate cause was the patches themselves.
If your theory was correct, we'd all have systems dying this month. Do you know if it was SSD or SATA drive?
Even IF the hard disk is trashed (physically), a new hard disk, depending on the size, is 50-100$, the replacement a matter of 10 mins.
Windows and MS Office will need a reinstall, but as you (as I assume) have bought legal licences, all you need is the serial key. You do not need to purchase a new Office.
When it comes to your documents...yes, if you did not back them up (or use OneDrive or another cloud storage to store them), they are most likely lost.
You can purchase a new drive and reinstall Windows 10 and your apps.
Windows 10 Digital License
When you upgraded from a previous version of Windows or receive a new computer preinstalled with Windows 10, what happened is the hardware (your PC) will get a digital entitlement, where a unique signature of the computer will be stored on Microsoft Activation Servers. The Windows 7 or Windows 8 genuine license you were previously running will be exchanged for a diagnostics key.
Anytime you need to reinstall Windows 10 on that machine, just proceed to reinstall Windows 10. It will automatically reactivate. You will prompted to enter a product key a couple times through the installation, click I don't have a key and Do this later.
There is no need to know or get a new key, but if you have issues with Digital Licensing or the Activation Troubleshooter, you can utilize an existing Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 product key you already own to reactivate if necessary. or use the reset function in Windows 10.
Go to a working computer, download, create a bootable copy, then perform a clean install.
Step 1: How to download official Windows 10 ISO files
[http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...](http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_10-windows_install/how-to-download-official-windows-10-iso-files/35cde7ec-5b6f-481c-a02d-dadf465df326)
Step 2: How to: Perform a clean install of Windows 10
[http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki...](http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki/insider_wintp-insider_install/how-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-10/aef0ae63-2117-41ee-a8ea-4a3181625b08)
Review the following guide for instructions and details about configuring your BIOS or UEFI boot settings for DVD, CD, USB or SD Card.
BIOS/UEFI Setup Guide: Boot from a CD, DVD, USB Drive or SD Card
https://www.groovypost.com/howto/bios-uefi-setu...
Once your computer is set to boot from the DVD, you should see this option. If you are installing from a retail Windows 10 USB thumb drive, you will be asked to select either 32 or 64 bit Windows 10. Learn more here https://www.groovypost.com/howto/choose-windows...
The Windows logo will appear on screen, this might be here for a while, as long as you see the animating dots, everything should be ok.
Select your Language, Time and Keyboard method then click Next.
Click Install now
Windows 10 setup will prompt you for a product key during installation a couple times. If you originally upgraded from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 click the option 'I don't have a key' and 'Do this later' . If you have a Windows 10 product key, you can proceed to enter it.
Setup will also prompt you to select the edition you have a license for - Home or Pro. Please make sure you choose the right edition. If you choose the wrong edition, your only option will be to perform a clean install again.
The copy of Windows 10 you download and upgrade from will correspond with the edition of Windows you have installed, if it does not, this is why you might be experiencing problems activating:
Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Windows 8.0 Core, Windows 8.1 Core should install Windows 10 Home
Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8.0 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro should install Windows 10 Pro
Wait while setup prepares to copy files
Accept the license terms then click Next
Click Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)
NOTE: Sometimes Windows 10 setup can become confused if it see's a thumb drive. You might get a driver missing error or something to that effect. If you do, restart setup, but this time, when you arrive at the following screen, disconnect your thumb drive then go through Custom options. When setup is ready copy files, it will prompt you to reconnect the installation source (your USB).
Select the drive then click New
NOTE: If you have multiple partitions listed, select each one (starting at the bottom), then click delete until there is only a single (one) unallocated drive displayed in the window.
Select the unallocated drive listed, click New, click Apply then OK
This will split the drive into multiple partitions, select the Primary partition then click Next.
NOTE: The System Reserved partition is where recovery files are kept for diagnostics and repairing damaged Windows 10 files; or even reinstall Windows 10.
Wait while Windows installs
When this phase of setup is complete, Windows will automatically restart then reboot into setup again.
Windows is detecting and installing your hardware. After this is complete, Windows will restart one last time.
Out of Box Experience
The Out of Box Experience page is where you get to configure detailed settings in Windows, which includes creating a user account, configure privacy, sync PC settings and install modern applications.