Microsoft Windows 10 is hailed as a nearly flawless Windows version, at least much better than its predecessor, which was an outright debacle for the Redmond giant. But we are currently going through an initial phase, which is, mostly, rife with problems and unanticipated errors. Speaking of errors, a good error message is a blessing; it could really point out the direction where the user should go to find a fix. But ironically, Windows 10 is not much generous when it comes to explaining the sort of errors. Most of the users who are trying to upgrade Windows 8 or Windows 7 to Windows 10 are getting an error messages saying “Something Happened”. Well, “Something Happened” is perhaps the safest error message to hurl on the users. Whenever there is a glitch, just say “Something Happened” and move along. What happened? How to fix it? None of Microsoft’s business, eh?
But don’t worry, if you got the Something Happened error message while using the media creation tool or trying to install Windows 10, there are some of the working solutions to get rid of it. Here’s how to fix Something happened while upgrading to Windows 10 error.
Fix Something Happened Windows 10 Installation Failed During Upgrade Error
Activate Windows From Which you are Upgrading
If you are trying to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8, and your OS is not genuine, Windows 10 would not be installed. There is a high chance that the something happened error while upgrading to Windows 10 is coming because of this. You can check the validity of your Windows copy by right clicking My Computer->Properties and seeing the sign of genuine Windows. You will have to validate and activate your current OS version in order to successfully install Windows 10.
Check Necessary Services Status
Sometimes the necessary services in Windows are not running and they create some very serious issues. In order to ensure that all the services are running in Windows during the update process, Open the services manager by typing ‘services.msc’ in the run box. All of the below-mentioned services must be up and running; if they aren’t, turn them on and restart the process again.
IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules, Automatic Updates OR Windows Update, Background Intelligent Transfer Service, Workstation, Server, TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper.
Restart Files Download Process
Another way to fix Something happened Windows 10 error is to download the Windows 10 files afresh. Windows 10 files create a lot of loops and lags during their downloading process, especially if the process is carried out via media creation tool. In order to do so, just go to the drive in which the current Windows is installed (mostly it’s C), disable the hidden files and folders from options and then delete $Windows.~BT and $Windows.~WS folders and run the tool again.
Edit Registry
You can also tinker with the registry to fix “Something Happened” error while upgrading to Windows 10. Open the Windows registry by typeing ‘regedit’ in the run box, then go to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade
Create a new DWORD (32-bit) file and name it “AllowOSUpgrade” (sans quote marks). Set its value to 1 and close the registry editor.
Now try running the update again.
Try Microsoft Update Troubleshooter
If nothing works, there is an official troubleshooter by Microsoft, which you should run in order to scan the causes of error and fix “Something Happened” error in Windows 10. This troubleshooter is especially made for all the problems which sprout up during the upgrading process in Windows.
This is how you can fix Something Happened error while upgrading to Windows 10. If nothing works, let me know in the comments and I will find another solution for you.
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