I’m not sure how it happened, but my Windows 7 laptop started doing an upgrade to Win 10 four days ago, and it still seems to be in the process. The hard drive light periodically flashes. Control/Alt/Delete does nothing. When I power down and try to power back up into safe mode it shows me the Win 10 windows logo and then continues the upgrade process never allowing me into safe mode. Any ideas on how I might be able to fix this?
Turn it off, unplug it, and remove the battery. Hold the Start Button down for one minute, and then put it back together and turn it on. If that doesn't get you back into 7, it's possible that you have had a hardware failure.
No, that didn't work. It still boots back into the Win 10 upgrade. Are there any other ideas that I can try?
Savanna, if removing all power (including the battery) didn't stop it, then it appears that Windows 10 is installed on your rig, and now it is locked up in either activation or upgrades. You mentioned that the Win 10 logo appears, so that's probably the case.
When the Win 10 logo screen appears, does anything else appear with it?
The dots that trace a circular pattern come up underneath the Win 10 logo, which I think means that something is in process. That holds for a bit and then the screen goes black, but the hard drive ligh flashes periodically.
Savannah, the circling dots indicate that Windows 10 is installed and is trying to start up. Your rig MIGHT be able to go into Safe Mode the same way that it did in Windows 7. If you don't remember, try restarting while repeatedly tap;ping F8.
Also, can you give us the model number of your computer?
I've tried to boot into safe mode several times and it won't take. It keeps going to the Win 10 icon with the circling dots. I have a Dell Inspiron N5050 laptop.
Okay, you're not going to like this. Your machine is not designed to be upgraded to Windows 10 Product Support | Dell US
You need to beg or borrow any legal copy of Windows--it doesn't have to be Windows 7. Put it into your DVD drive and turn off your machine. Turn it back on, and it should boot from the DVD. Use that to get into the repair menu. Use that to go back to 7.
If you can't get hold of one, you need to go to a computer shop and they can restore it to Windows 7.
Savannah, I'm sorry that this happened to you. Laptops are more finicky than desktops, and your laptop just wasn't up to the task.
I was able to find a set of Recovery Discs. Once booted it offers me a number of options. The one that I think I want is "Restore computer and preserve my new or changed files (recommended)". Is this correct? Otherwise I was also able to find a Windows XP Reinstallation CD with a product key.
Savannah, go for it. That option SHOULD get you back to 7 with all or most of your old files and programs.
