Upgrade from windows 7 to windows 8 fails, spectacularly.

[blackjackel]

I have talked to Microsoft Tier 1 and tier 2 reps for a whole week now, about 4 hours every day... to the point where they were trying to install OUTDATED drivers and telling me to "try installing w8 now". Hint, there is no tier 3, they wouldn't tell me this till I got really mad and lodged a complaint. Tier 3 is just the refund department.

When I run the windows 8 upgrade, it will run and boot into the windows 8 setup screen, say "preparing devices" and reboot again and show "getting ready", and finally one more reboot with the twirly dots and BAM, bluescreen.... reboot again, and restores back to windows 7.

Here is the setuperr.log from: C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setuperr.log


2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:22:53, Error [GetExePathFromLnk] [0x80070005] Failed to load link.[gle=0x00000003]
2012-11-09 19:28:43, Error [0x0808fe] MIG Plugin {ee036dc0-f9b7-4d2d-bb94-3dd3102c5804}: BRIDGEMIG: CBrgUnattend::CollectBridgeSettings failed: 0x80070002, 0
2012-11-09 19:28:43, Error [0x080389] MIG Failure while calling IDiscovery->Gather for Plugin={ServerPath="NetworkBridge\BridgeMigPlugin.dll", CLSID={ee036dc0-f9b7-4d2d-bb94-3dd3102c5804}, ThreadingModel=Apartment}. Error: 0x80070002
2012-11-09 19:28:43, Error Error READ, 0x00000002 while gathering/applying object: pre-scan, Action,CMXEPlugin,C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\ReplacementManifests,NetworkBridge\BridgeMigPlugin.dll,{ee036dc0-f9b7-4d2d-bb94-3dd3102c5804},Apartment. Will return 2[gle=0x000000cb]
2012-11-09 20:12:20, Error CONX ConX::Compatibility::CCompatibilityController::GetDriverBlockType: Found more than one match for the specified device.
2012-11-09 20:33:21, Error MIG COnlineWinNTPlatform::AddPathToSearchIndexer - Failed to create CSearchManager instance, error: 0x80070422[gle=0x000003f0]
2012-11-09 20:34:18, Error [0x0808fe] MIG Plugin {ee036dc0-f9b7-4d2d-bb94-3dd3102c5804}: BRIDGEMIG: ParseRegistryIfBridgeExists: query bridge presence key failed 0x139f, bridge present = 0
2012-11-09 20:34:18, Error [0x08038d] MIG Failure while calling IPostApply->ApplySuccess for Plugin={ServerPath="Microsoft-Windows-DirectoryServices-ADAM-Client\adammigrate.dll", CLSID={43CCF250-2A74-48c6-9620-FC312EC475D6}, ThreadingModel=Apartment}. Error: 0x80070002
2012-11-09 20:34:18, Error Error READ, 0x00000002 while gathering/applying object: apply-success, Action,CMXEPlugin,C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\ReplacementManifests,Microsoft-Windows-DirectoryServices-ADAM-Client\adammigrate.dll,{43CCF250-2A74-48c6-9620-FC312EC475D6},Apartment. Will return 2[gle=0x000000cb]
2012-11-09 20:34:18, Error [0x0808fe] MIG Plugin {C939EC0F-2F56-4CE8-AF56-2336596A5FA7}: failed to get pnpx db file size
2012-11-09 20:34:18, Error [0x0808fe] MIG Plugin {C939EC0F-2F56-4CE8-AF56-2336596A5FA7}: Failed to migrate the pnpx db

It might be worth noting that I am running the upgrade file that I download from microsoft, I'm not doing this off a cd or usb drive, but i doubt that has anything to do with it..

I tried googling every error, here are the things i tried:

- cleaning registry with ccleaner

- Clearing out ALL non-microsoft startup items AND services.

- Rolling back drivers to the older versions and also tried updating all drivers to the newest versions available.

- Disabling video and sound drivers for win8 install, also tried disabling my network interface cards, sound, and sata controllers through BIOS.

- Removing all drives except for the C: drive that I'm updating

- Switching C: to another controller (card) instead of mobo sata. Also removed all hard drives.

- Uninstalled all security programs including avira, comodo, prevx, and threatfire.



I'm really at a loss as to what else to do, please help!

 

[Automata]

At this point, it is probably worth it to backup the data you care about, boot the ISO version from that downloader, and do a clean install (format the disks). I had enough trouble getting W8 installed on a clean disk, let alone go through an upgrade on an existing system.

 

[blackjackel]

At this point, it is probably worth it to backup the data you care about, boot the ISO version from that downloader, and do a clean install (format the disks). I had enough trouble getting W8 installed on a clean disk, let alone go through an upgrade on an existing system.

I'm trying to avoid this, at all possible cost... if this were an acceptible option i wouldn't have spent days talking to microsoft technical and installing windows 8 about 10 to 15 times

I'd rather stick with windows 7 for now than start fresh with windows 8.

 

[Aspect404]

Upgrading from 7 to 8 is something that Microsoft planned poorly for. When I originally got 8 final (September??), the upgrade process was terrible. It worked... but then eventually broke. After the upgrade, there were broken links in context menu's.

I would shrink your primary partition, install 8, test, and then delete the partition once you've had your fill (make sure to fix boot options!)