Windows 10 is a huge improvement over its predecessors, but its installation process, much like that of the earlier versions, can be vulnerable to hardware errors and glitches.

We are going to take a look at some common problems that users have faced while upgrading to Windows 10 and also look at some solutions to these problems.

Note: A genuine license is an important element for Windows 10 free upgrade. To ensure you do not face problems during the free Windows 10 upgrade, ensure your Windows 8.1 license is activated and recognized as genuine.

Prompted for a product key during installation

If you are upgrading from a genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8 Operating System, there is nothing to worry about.  You can just click on Skip, Next, or Do it later when you encounter an error message. Chances are that the Windows 10 installer will recognize the error and not bother you again.

Installer hangs or reboots continuously

If you are experiencing this problem, the first thing you need to do is unplug all external devices such as portable drives, second monitor or any additional peripherals that are not needed. If you are using a Wi-Fi connection, try changing to a LAN cable connection and try again.

If the problem persists, ensure you are upgrading to a right version of Windows, that is, if you have a 32-bit Windows 8.1 system, you should upgrade to 32-bit Windows 10 and if you have a 64-bit Windows 8.1 system, to 64-bit Windows 10.

Error: “Something Happened 0x80070005-0x90002”

The 0x80070005 error is one of the classic errors thrown up by Windows installer and it means the setup file can’t work as it cannot find a file it needs. Here is a general solution to resolve the error

1. Disable all firewalls and Antivirus programs
2. Reset the Windows update process by going to KB 971058 and running the Fixit
3. Run the Windows 10 installer again
4. If that doesn’t work, follow the instructions given at KB 947821 to run DISM
5. Run the Windows 10 installer again

Activation problems

 If you are using Windows 10 (Version 1511 or higher), you might be able to use a Windows 7 or Windows 8 license key to activate Windows 10. Microsoft has mentioned on its website that some Windows 7/ Windows 8 keys might work for activation.  In most cases this solution seems to work.

To see the version of Windows 10 installed on your system

1. Click on Start button
2. Select Settings-> System-> About to see the version of Windows 10

Microsoft is still rolling out updates for Windows 10 to fix bugs and errors. If none of the solutions above work to resolve your issues, you may need to wait until Microsoft offers a fix or post a comment below to see if any other users can help!