markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

I've been having a continuing and plaguing issue with unscheduled reboots of PC and crashes with Chrome. I've had to contact Microsoft several times in the past weeks to initiate Chats/remote sessions. No resolution. Previously I had tried multiple fixes. Today I Chatted again and the tech indicated I had a corrupt Win 10 installation. She downloaded Win 10 and reinstalled, no data or app changes. It failed and I had an error message on the screen. I initiated another Chat and remote session. The tech wanted to download an ISO file to a flash drive. I told her I already had one - she was delighted. I have a very fast internet connection (200+Mbps), so the reinstall and updates did not take very long.

My suggestion, for all those who run Win 10, is to use or purchase an 8GB flash drive, format it (actually 4GB will do) and download the Win 10 ISO file to the flash. It does not take too long(pending your internet speed). This download and flash might also be very handy if you have a virus or malicious file installed on your PC and do not have internet connection or cannot boot to Windows 10. You can boot to the USB and reinstall Windows 10. I encourage you play it safe and download the file to a freshly formatted flash drive. You never know when you might need it.

I do believe the issue is resolved!! YEA!!! It is very distracting and troublesome when my PC is not running well.

Not trying to be a PIA, just trying to help.
Mark
Here is the link to the download. Make sure you know whether you have 32 or 64 bit installation. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

BTW: Easy to contact Microsoft support and institute a Chat. Just type (in Cortana- search box to the right of Start), "Contact Support". Fill out the form and you'll be led to the Chat or return phone call.

Kuzano

Thank you. This is timely for me. I just picked up two computers and want to play with them. The computer I have on my desk now is a Windows 7 computer, and I may also want to see if I can upgrade it to 64 bit Windows 10.

I downloaded Affinity Photo Trial for Windows yesterday (10 day free trial) and Affinity Photo doesn't run on 32 bit Windows 7, so some playing around there is in order.

I've been on Windows 10 since the beginning of the "Insider" progam, and done about 25 computers so far. Very little problem on all that. Had one machine that had an illegal Windows 7 Key... but that's about it. No software or equipment otherwise that did not work.

25 years on computer teching and consulting.... Best Windows Ever... 10 that is.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Totally agree with your experience & analysis. Good luck with the PC. If you have Win 7 Pro, it should be easy.
Mark

Erik_H Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana

I agree, great advice. Like you, I've been an insider from the start and I've lost trackof the number of builds I've installed. I keep a flash drive with the ISO file and also a clone of my C:\ drive with a known good Windows install.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

I back up c:/ continuously to external and daily to cloud using Acronis and keep the media file handy too. I like my PC humming, trouble free.
Mark

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Good advice Mark. Sometimes very handy to have the windows 10 ISO on a thumb drive for easy reinstall. Also good to set regular restore points, and have a different login with admin privileges in the event of a malware/virus attack.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Also good advice. I run antivirus (AVG) and MalwareBytes and back up to externals & cloud. I learned after a dedicated photo internal drive, even though I backed up regularly, developed bad sectors. Lost quite a bit of photos - recovered many via recovery software. The catch was that since the drive developed bad sectors, the backup was corrupt. So now, I also backup to the cloud too. I grow older, but perhaps a bit wiser too? LOL
Mark

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Congratulations! I've seen lots of articles about putting an ISO on a flash drive. Originally, when Win10 was being introduced, I did that, but I had considerable trouble getting it installed. "There's a problem, but we don't know what it is." I forget how I eventually got Win10 installed on my old machines, but I bought a copy for the ones I built. Windows is so finicky.

It's so much easier to wipe and reinstall on a Mac.

Thanks for the tip about connecting via Cortana.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Actually, I find downloading ISO to a flash drive is straight forward and easy. No different than downloading any other file to a flash. To use, simply insert the flash into USB,
use File Explorer to locate the flash drive, open it and double click "setup". Windows will begin re-installation and offer options. It's imperative to format the flash drive before downloading the ISO. To format, right click on the drive in File Explorer and select "format". I'm sure you know that Jerry, but I'm explaining for those who may not know.

As for Macs being easier, I have no means of comparison. I can use a Mac, but my experience is very occasional and limited. Sometimes, I go to the Apple store & play so I know how to do basic stuff. I help some of the Mac owners in my condo complex. I don't like them, but probably because I've always been a Windows dude.

As usual Jerry, thanks for the response.
Mark

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

And that is a classic reason to mirror files (to a remote site for DR) as well as keeping a local backup. Very wise, Mark.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Come to think of it, I think I had problems both downloading and then installing. The ISO process stopped because of some unknown issue.

With the Mac, you click here and there, and the drive is wiped, and a new OS is installed.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Thanks for the concurrence. I feel safer with my additional cloud backups. I use Acronis, but that is not as important as religiously backing up my drives &
data. I thought my external backups were foolproof. I learned they were not the hard way.
Mark

RRS Loc: Not sure

Mark, just got to ask, are you saying that you actually don't like some of the Mac owners in your condo complex???

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Sure sounds as if I was saying that. Syntax makes a difference in interpretation? Good point! No they are fine! Just need some intelligent decision making. LOL
Mark