Morning all,
I just successfully upgraded my Win 7 PC to Win 10 and want to know the best way to copy the OS in case I need to re-install it at a later date without first installing Win 7 and going thru the upgrade process again. I don't want to clone it, just copy the OS and lic key in case of a problem later.
I will keep thumb drive and cloud backups of my pictures and documents.
No worries. Your license has been registered with MS.
To re-install you get OS and then follow this tutorial. No need to first install Win 7.
Clean Install Windows 10
Within tutorial is how to get the OS. For completeness here is link. Likely same link you used for upgrade.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/soft...load/windows10
It will activate on its own.
If you wish to backup your current install I would recommend Macrium Reflect free.
Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect
Ken
Cloud backup of pics and docs, and anything else (other than OS) is fine, keep that up. But, the only safe way to ensure you can go back to a working Win 10 OS is to do an Image Backup of the entire system. It's not a CLONE, it's an exact copy of the OS and all supporting partitions you would need to recover. The best and most recommended here on Tenforums is Macrium Reflect (free). There are others, but most feel this is the best and most secure and versatile.
Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free
Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect
When you upgraded from W7 to W10 your PC was given a digital license for Windows 10 which is linked to the hardware ID of the PC and stored on Microsoft's activation servers. This licence is valid for only one edition, the one you got in the upgrade from W7 (Home or Pro). The hard drive is NOT part of the hardware ID, so you are free to upgrade that and still keep your digital license.
For a clean install, when you are asked for a key click 'I don't have one'. Then choose the same edition as you had before (Home or Pro). It will activate automatically from the existing digital license as soon as it can contact the activation servers.
I know you said you don't want to clone it, but restoring a system image made by something like Macrium Reflect can save a lot of time reinstalling your other software, should you ever need to reinstall Windows.
Definitely use Macrium Reflect Free - ensure you backup all of the system partitions. Steer clear of Acronis products.
Some preventative maintenance options are:
1) making a backup image
2) backing up important files to another disk drive or to the cloud
3) making restore points
4) backing up the registry
5) regularly running scannow, restorehealth and chkdsk switches
6) regularly running Dell hardware diagnostics
etc.
Each of the above have pro and con.
Some have free and pay options depending on the features desired.
Following the advice of users who have had experience using this type of maintenance so to speak. Macrium so far in its free version can solve the conflict or doubt you raise.
I understand that restoration points are valuable when there are programs and configurations that can be changed in the long or short term. A configuration is not for everything. Each program alters changes in the system and generates a risk for the other programs and the same system.
Use the one that best suits your needs, as a suggestion Macrium
Well it looks like the consensus is Macrium Reflect.
After reading all the responses to the thread I believe that a copy may not correctly reinstall the partition, and that cloning is the best route.
That's why I made the thread, thanks for all the help, please mark as Solved !!
With Macrium you can clone and you can backup.
Think the consensus is backup. You backup the partitions necessary to start windows. (This could include your data)
By using backup you get some compression. You can also keep multiple versions. This provides you a way to go back in time based on how many you keep.
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to all the Macrium posts.
