Can I clone my Windows 7 drive, update to Win10, dual boot & use both?


  1. Posts : 4
    Windows 7
       #1

    Can I clone my Windows 7 drive, update to Win10, dual boot & use both?


    hi,

    I was prompted a while ago to update to Windows 10, but haven't had a reason to until recently, there's a game (Killer Instinct) which is Windows 10 only so I decided now's the time.

    When I was prompted for the update originally, I followed a guide on this forum for turning the update file into a bootable iSO, I though this would let me install windows 10 on another partition so I could dual boot, but when I tried it asked me for my product key and didn't accept my original Windows 7 key.

    I'm currently running windows 7 from a 120gb SSD, now partitioned in 2 equal half's. I was wondering if its possible for me to clone my existing Windows 7 drive to the 2nd partition, then do the Windows 10 update on either the clone or original drive for a dual boot setup. Is this possible ?

    Thanks in advance
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,983
    Windows 10 x86 14383 Insider Pro and Core 10240
       #2

    Not within the terms of your windows 7 or Windows 10 licenses - one or the other, not both.
    Check that your PC can upgrade to Windows 10 by trying this:

    Upgrade Assistant: FAQ - Windows Help
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 4
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Fafhrd said:
    Not within the terms of your windows 7 or Windows 10 licenses - one or the other, not both.
    Check that your PC can upgrade to Windows 10 by trying this:

    Upgrade Assistant: FAQ - Windows Help
    Thanks, it can upgrade alright, I just converted the ESD file after downloading it using this guide

    How to turn your Windows 10 upgrade files into an ISO disk image | ZDNet

    Sorry, could have sworn I saw it here. Anyway, thought it would let me dual boot both.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,983
    Windows 10 x86 14383 Insider Pro and Core 10240
       #4

    Sadly, you will risk Microsoft deactivating one or both of the cloned/upgraded installations, and having to get in touch With Microsoft to try to get just one of them activated again.
    Good luck with the upgrade, don't forget to clone the old system first anyway, just as a backup if things go wrong.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 134,237
    Windows 11 Pro (x64) 23H2 Build 22631.3296
       #5

    Make a complete image backup 1st of your Windows 7 keep it on a separate drive. BEFORE doing any upgrade to Windows 10.

    This way if something goes wrong, you can go back to your Windows 7. Use a program like Macrium Reflect for making your image. Macrium Reflect has a Free version.
    http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
      My Computers


 

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