Had been having some crashes, and planned to eventually transfer my Windows 10 to a newly purchased computer, but I did not get to fully prepare thanks to my old computer becoming basically non-functional after recent massive update (suppose the Creators). Here is the situation:
* Let update install. Sat forever at something like 81% but then passed, rebooted. Then would not boot normally to Windows, but stuck at black screen, with mouse functional. After some hours, rebooted a few times, no success. Then let it sit overnight ,and a single box indicating something like setting Preferences but could do nothing, clicking in it gave (not responding).
* Eventually tried some solutions found online to activate Task Manager.
* Was able to get reboot to the advanced startup screen, got into Safe Mode with Networking, however did not know what to fix. After reboot normally, same problem.
* Later tried using install disc, and was able to after some startup repair that said nothing to fix, get back into normal Safe Mode. Again, didn't know what to fix.
* Normal reboot eventually after half hour or hour started with normal Windows screen except no taskbar icons, Busy showing anytime I moved mouse over Windows Start menu or anything, and no icons on screen. After half hour or hour waiting, able to get into Task Manager, after another half hour or hour, able to do Alt-R to run msconfig (though it takes another half hour to bring it up after I type it).
* Read some posts about new control checks in Windows Defender. But seems unable to bring up Defender screen most of the time before crashing.
* Have restarted and waited a few times (often letting it run overnight to complete its start-up process). Eventually got Defender screen once, but not able to make any changes there, other than to turn On Windows Defender. However does not let me configure anything.
* Now I do not get Safe Mode as boot option any longer, nor even with install disc get the Advanced Boot options.
* I tried to do restore point, but it said there were no previous restore points (I had created one just a few days before this update, but seems cannot access). As well I selected return to previous Windows, but it gave an error message when it tried. However I can see a Windows Old folder exists on the C drive....
* I have not Reset the old Windows because that will dump all my programs and defeat the purpose of getting a list to install on the new computer.
* Because it's not really working, I do not have internet access to old computer, but i can bring up command line prompt, get into Task Manager, and occasionally msconfig thus far, device manager, once got to Control Panel but seems to fail when I try Settings.
I have purchased a new Dell but it has Windows Home and I have Pro on my old computer. I also want to get back into my old one at a minimum to access my list of programs, etc. so I can at minimum install those on new computer. As well, the Dell has a physical hard disk as master, and i have bought an SSD drive I want to run Windows from.
My questions:
* Is there anything I can do to have old Windows return to normal speed?
* How do I handle deactivating the Windows Home from the Dell computer (so I can perhaps use for another computer someday)?
* How do I transfer my Pro license from old computer not really functional now to new SSD drive I will install as master in the new computer? Once I do this, I will still need to access for a bit the old computer to identify what to install and what settings I have on the old (unless there is a way to copy that over after installing the new SSD master).
Thanks