Windows 8 upgrade failed 5 times - logs attached

I've tried 5 times now to upgrade from 7 to 8 Pro. 4 times I tried using a USB image and the last time I tried using Windows' downloadable installer. Each time, the install completes and right after the restart for first boot it begins to load Windows and then blue screens, saying SYSTEM_SERVICE_ERROR: nvklddm.sys (or whatever the nvidia driver is) and proceeds to revert to Windows 7.

I've disconnected all peripherals besides mouse, keyboard, and one of my monitors. I've run a chkdsk on my main HDD and updated my nvidia drivers.

Here is the error log: setuperr.log - Pastebin.com

I'm wondering if my overclock could cause this. I already reset my GPU clock but my CPU and ram are overclocked (100% stable in win 7).

Any ideas?

Hello Haxxed, and welcome to Eight Forums.

If you don't mind starting fresh, you might see if you may be able to do a clean install with your upgrade Windows 8 instead.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13375-clean-install-windows-8-upgrade.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

The thought has crossed my mind but it is an absolute last resort. I would probably just stay on 7 if a clean install is my only option.

From the error you got, it appears to be an issue with your NVIDIA graphics driver. Uninstall any NVIDIA driver you have installed, make sure that you have uninstalled any 3rd party AV and firewall program, and try the upgrade again to see if that may help.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2234-upgrade-install-windows-7-vista-windows-8-a.html

I tried that but Windows just installed an older version of the nvidia drivers through the found new hardware wizard. Is there a way to prevent this?

If you look in the log that I posted, you'll see a number of driver files referenced. Do I need to do anything with those?

I hate to say it, but with the trouble you having just trying to upgrade, it would be best to bite the bullet and do a clean install to avoid any unknown issues from an upgrade if you were able to upgrade it.

You'll be much happier in the end.

The problem is the sheer number of apps, customizations, services, etc. that I have installed. I'm coming up on finals in law school and I don't have a weekend to spend reconfiguring all my settings. I'm trying another update now. I deleted all the drivers listed in the log and uninstalled a few more programs that might cause issues. If this doesn't work, I'll pull my gpu, remove my gfx drivers, and try it with onboard video. If I can't get my GPU to work after 8 is installed THEN I'll format.

Just a warning that depending on what customizations, services, etc you did, these may not carry over even in an upgrade to Windows 8.

So I pulled my GPU from the system and installed via onboard video. When it completed, right before the first real boot (the same place it always happens) I got a blue screen. This time it was 0xc000021a. I'll have logs later tonight.

setuperr.log - Pastebin.com Here are the latest logs.