Windows 10 upgrade - if I have future issues or need to reinstall?


  1. steveeyes
    Posts : 41
    windows 10
       New #1

    Windows 10 upgrade - if I have future issues or need to reinstall?


    I finally made the leap from Windows 7 to Windows 10. Gulp! I have two window 7 computers and upgraded them both to windows 10 (doing it online).

    My questions are related to future issues (I have no doubt I will eventually have issues at some time) and how to handle them.

    Computer 1 - This computer can be put back to factory specs with reboot and key combination. Since the computer came with Windows 7, if I have to restore my computer will it restore it back to windows 7 or windows 10?

    Computer 2 - This computer came with windows 7 disks which is great. If I had any issues and nothing worked to fix it, I could easily install windows 7 without having to reformat my hard drive to fix the issue. Now that I upgraded to windows 10 (did update to windows 10 online) and I have no disks, if need be, can I just as easily reinstall windows 10 without formatting my drive to fix issues? If it can be done, how since I have no disks.

    These are probably rookie questions. I tried to find the answer with google but wasn't successful. I'd appreciate feedback on my above concerns.

    Thanks
    Stevie
      My Computer
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  3. dalchina
    Posts : 43,007
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #2

    Basics which everyone new to Win 10 needs to know:
    a. You can reinstall Win 10 as many times as you like once it's been installed- and activation should be automatic - no key needed.
    b. System Restore is off by default. You can enable it, but restoring is unpredictable. Safe, but it may not always do anything.
    c. an in-place upgrade repair install (tutorial available) is a great repair tool using an iso fo you current build - keeps progs and data.
    d. Every 6 months a new build is released- same underlying procedure as (c) - via Windows update or manually.This can add and remove features.These builds are often buggy when first released- especially the last two. Best wait until after the first major update after that.
    ** If you have a Pro license, best defer upgrades for up to 365 days, giving you some control.

    e. iso's for EVERY Win 10 build are freely downloadable.
    E.g. search for Microsoft Media Creation tool

    Disk Imaging - most members here regard routine disk imaging as essential e.g. Macrium Reflect (free) + external storage for images. That way you can restore a disk, partition or Windows to a previous good state without technical help.

    Tutorials
    Windows 10 Tutorial Index | Tutorials

    A vast resource and may well address your question- very professional.
    Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade | Tutorials
    Clean Install Windows 10 | Tutorials

    Very useful tools:
    Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums
    posts #1-3

    Start Menu
    - you may well find this hard to grapple with. Many like Classic Shell (free) - now Open Shell. Full support of drag 'n drop, configurable appearance and search.

    Computer 1 - This computer can be put back to factory specs with reboot and key combination. Since the computer came with Windows 7, if I have to restore my computer will it restore it back to windows 7 or windows 10?
    This will do what the manufacturer intended- restore your PC to 'as bought'.
      My Computers
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  4. Neil53
    Posts : 9
    Win 10 64bit
       New #3

    Hello...
    Back to square ONE with this satanic device!!
    Restore did precisely that - and all functions were working again as on day one.
    All my data was safe, but email accounts etc had to be restored as well as my own tools.
    I was reloading various tools and at some point pc asked for a restart, so I did.
    It woke up like it was before...

    Dare I do it again?
    Your iso / in-place upgrade has me lost at the first turn - cannot get into motherboard to disable whatever?
      My Computer
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  6. dalchina
    Posts : 43,007
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #4

    At this stage an in-place upgrade install should be irrelevant- that would have been the appropriate thing to try when yo just had some broken features. It should not require BIOS access.

    I have no idea why a restart would remove changes you've made, I'm afraid.

    I suggest you try making one significant change to configure your system, then try a restart, and see if the change is retained.

    If not, post back. It may then be best simply to do a clean install, making sure you first have all personal data backed up.
      My Computers
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  7. Neil53
    Posts : 9
    Win 10 64bit
       New #5

    Almost 3hours now after following your iso file restore - just made MS permission decisions... and back in business 😉. All looks fine... but I still have a couple of tools to restore - ever hopeful 👍
      My Computer
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  8. spunk
    Posts : 4,801
    Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit 22H2
       New #6

    Disk Imaging - most members here regard routine disk imaging as essential e.g. Macrium Reflect (free) + external storage for images. That way you can restore a disk, partition or Windows to a previous good state without technical help.
    Once you get all of your tools and apps installed and do all Windows Updates, make a Disk Image of your computer and save it to a different drive or USB HDD. If disaster happens, you can easily restore to the day you created the image
      My Computer
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