Recommended Win 10 Install Path - Vista Installed - Want to Go To 10

ArchiMark said:

Will try to clarify things again....

Sorry, thought you were asking me about the Fujitsu Recovery Disk that I used to get Windows Vista onto the new SSD that I just installed in my U820. I used this disk as it formats, partitions disk, then installs OS, drivers, and Fujitsu apps. So, you get machine back to state where it was when the box was opened....

A. I just purchased a retail version of Windows 10 today from the store. Left it at office (I'm at home now..). So, have not opened the package yet. I would hope there's a product key in the box after spending $120 plus sales tax....

B. I have a retail upgrade version of Win 7HP, but I've used the key on other machine.

C. I have a retail upgrade (I think....disk is at work) version of Win 8, but I've used the key on other machine.

Thanks for clarifying about my option to install Win 10 is to do a clean install. Actually, this is the way I typically have installed Windows on other machines in the past. Always seemed like the best way to do an OS install.

My question was really just to confirm whether or not going straight to Win 10 via a clean install is the best approach with this 'old machine' versus going through some sort of upgrade install process.

Hope this is clearer now.....

Thanks!

If you bought from a retail outlet then it may have a product key. That is one of the few ways to get a product key. If you bought from the Microsoft Store online and ordered the usb then I don't think it will have a product key. Microsoft is using digital entitlement in most scenarios and no product key is provided. A product key does appear in the system after installation. Digital entitlement works very differently than the traditional (and now disappearing) product key.

If you bought the full product package (FPP), called by Microsoft "Standalone copy", Windows 10 won't rely on any previous version of Windows, even if you choose to upgrade a Windows 7 or 8 installation. Only the free Get Windows 10 (GWX) upgrades require a previous version of Windows.

In general, the only legacy product keys that can be used to activate Windows 10 (in the free GWX scenario) are Windows 7 and 8 from the same computer you are installing 10 on or keys not used to activate another computer. I say "in General" because not all possible scenarios have been reported on. So if your Windows 7 and 8 keys are what you used to activate other computers you are still using you probably will not be able to use them again with Windows 10. I have tried it and it does not work.

It all depends on that Windows 10 "box" you have at home.

Here is a Microsoft document that explains when digital entitlement is used and when a product key are provided when you get Windows.

Activation in Windows 10 - Windows Help

Thanks for your input and info, Cbarnhorst......

Again, as noted in prior posts:

My question was really just to confirm whether or not going straight to Win 10 via a clean install is the best approach with this 'old machine' versus going through some sort of upgrade install process.

I've been trying to determine whether there is any real benefit on a 6 year old laptop of doing 'Upgrade OS Installs' to eventually get Win 10 installed vs doing a 'Clean Install' of Win 10 from the getgo.

That's all I've been seeking input on....just wasn't sure if by doing the 'Win 10 Clean Install' from the beginning whether it would create any issues or a lot more effort to get drivers installed, etc, versus going the 'Upgrade from Win Vista or Win 7 to Win 10' approach......

Thanks...

ArchiMark said:

Thanks for your input and info, Cbarnhorst......

Again, as noted in prior posts:



I've been trying to determine whether there is any real benefit on a 6 year old laptop of doing 'Upgrade OS Installs' to eventually get Win 10 installed vs doing a 'Clean Install' of Win 10 from the getgo.

That's all I've been seeking input on....just wasn't sure if by doing the 'Win 10 Clean Install' from the beginning whether it would create any issues or a lot more effort to get drivers installed, etc, versus going the 'Upgrade from Win Vista or Win 7 to Win 10' approach......

Thanks...

If the laptop is not running 7 or 8 a clean install is the only way. There is no upgrade to XP or Vista permitted. If it is running 7 or 8 then it depends on what you are installing. If it is a retail copy you can clean install.

Cbarnhorst said:

If the laptop is not running 7 or 8 a clean install is the only way. There is no upgrade to XP or Vista permitted. If it is running 7 or 8 then it depends on what build you are installing. If your copy of Windows 10 is the July 29 release (build 10240) then you MUST upgrade. If it is an insider build, 10565 or later, you can clean install without having upgraded first.

OK, understand what you're saying.....thank you for clarifying this....

So, given the constraints you've outlined, it seems my question is not that applicable like it would have been in the past when looking to go to a new version of Windows.....

Interesting.....

Thanks.

ArchiMark said:

OK, understand what you're saying.....thank you for clarifying this....

So, given the constraints you've outlined, it seems my question is not that applicable like it would have been in the past when looking to go to a new version of Windows.....

Interesting.....

Thanks.

If your copy of Windows 10 is retail then go ahead and clean install. There are no upgrade licenses for Windows 10 like previous versions. With a retail Windows 10 you can use any method to install right from the beginning.

Thanks again for your help....

If you don't have too much data and applications, do the clean install. If it is version 32-bit, then proceed. If it is 64-bit version, please post your specs to verify that this version can be installed on that notebook. You may have to replace it with the 32-bit version.

If you have too many applications, then the upgrade route is to upgrade Vista to 7 (assuming they are both 32-bit or 64-bit and that you Vista version can be upgraded with your 7 version). Then activate Windows 7, and finally use the Windows 10 disc to upgrade to Windows 10 (again must be 32-bit to 32-bit or 64-bit to 64-bit and compatible versions).

The allowed upgrade paths are always the same bit (32 or 64), same language (cannot mix English US with Greek for example), and same or higher version. The last means that Vista Starter, can be upgraded to any Windows 7 version, Vista Home Basic to Windows 7 Home basic or higher, Vista Home Premium to 7 Home premium or higher, etc. If you have Vista Ultimate, you can only upgrade to Windows 7 ultimate. Then you can upgrade from Windows 7 Starter up to Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 10 Home only. You can upgrade from Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate to Windows 10 Pro only.

Yes, I know, it will take the whole day to go from Vista to Windows 7 and finally Windows 10, but I would prefer it if I had too many applications that I would need 2-3 days to install over a clean-install.

I hope that helps.

Thank you for all your input, spapakons.......

Understand your points...

As I just did the Recovery yesterday, I don't have any data or apps installed other than those installed by the Recovery disk. So, fortunately, that's not an issue now.

Will do a clean install of Win10.

Partly because it's the easiest way to get up to Win 10 and partly because it appears there is no real benefit in my case of going the slow way of upgrading from one version to the next version.

Thanks.

ArchiMark said:

Thanks for your input and info, Cbarnhorst......

Again, as noted in prior posts:



I've been trying to determine whether there is any real benefit on a 6 year old laptop of doing 'Upgrade OS Installs' to eventually get Win 10 installed vs doing a 'Clean Install' of Win 10 from the getgo.

That's all I've been seeking input on....just wasn't sure if by doing the 'Win 10 Clean Install' from the beginning whether it would create any issues or a lot more effort to get drivers installed, etc, versus going the 'Upgrade from Win Vista or Win 7 to Win 10' approach......

Thanks...

To go back to your original post, you only have 1 GB of memory. You cannot run Windows 10 on it. A six-year-old laptop can always be upgraded with more memory. Work on that before you do anything else.

Cbarnhorst said:

To go back to your original post, you only have 1 GB of memory. You cannot run Windows 10 on it.

Why not?

Windows 10 Specifications - Microsoft

RAM:
1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit