Updating from Windows 7 to Windows 10 with lots of programs and files

den942 said:

I do have a Windows 7 CD with the COA labels. So, I can install W10 on a clean partition and use that CD key to activate it?

Usually, yes. Especially if it is the same computer that the Windows 7 was originally installed on.

den942 said:

If I save all my files to a backup, then I could copy them back again. I would have to install all the programs and drivers? Are manufacturers good about having drivers for the hardware with W10? I have another PC with W8 and drivers are not a problem on that one.

Yes, you would have to reinstall all the programs. Drivers are hit and miss, it depends on what computer model it is and what hardware is installed.

den942 said:

Much of the space used on the other drives are backups and system images. I could clean clutter from them and do a system back up on most any of them. I have thought of cleaning off D: drive and installing W10 there and have a dual boot system but I'm not sure how that works these days. I've done it in the past with XP and W7.

Thanks for the reply...

Dual boot works the same with Windows 10 as it did with Windows 7. You can even use the old style text boot menu from Windows 7 to boot Windows 10. The bcdboot command is the basic way to set up dual booting. However - to have more than one installation of Windows installed and activated requires a separate license for each copy. If you kept your Windows 7 and dual booted with Windows 10, you would need to purchase a second license for Windows. For example, it violates the EULA to have Windows 7 installed and dual boot it with a Windows 10 that came from using the license for that same Windows 7 either via upgrade or product key.

NavyLCDR said:

Usually, yes. Especially if it is the same computer that the Windows 7 was originally installed on.



Yes, you would have to reinstall all the programs. Drivers are hit and miss, it depends on what computer model it is and what hardware is installed.



Dual boot works the same with Windows 10 as it did with Windows 7. You can even use the old style text boot menu from Windows 7 to boot Windows 10. The bcdboot command is the basic way to set up dual booting. However - to have more than one installation of Windows installed and activated requires a separate license for each copy. If you kept your Windows 7 and dual booted with Windows 10, you would need to purchase a second license for Windows. For example, it violates the EULA to have Windows 7 installed and dual boot it with a Windows 10 that came from using the license for that same Windows 7 either via upgrade or product key.

Ok, thanks. I have several things to dwell on and decide which to try...

Since you have enough free space on another disk, use Acronis or Macrium or whatever utility to backup your Windows hard disk on a large file on the other disk. Then try to upgrade from Windows 7 to 10. Once successful, Windows 10 whould activate automatically with a digital license. If anything goes wrong you can always restore from the backup and get your files. I would try upgrade first and if not successful (rare) I would do a clean installation. For drivers you can use Windows 10 or 8 or 7 or even Vista drivers (the newer the better). To allow you to upgrade Windows 7 must be activated and the Windows 10 version must be the same (32-bit or 64-bit) and same language as Windows 7 (that is if you have added any language pack, it doesn't count, the original language matters). Also you can upgrade from Home to Home and from Pro or Ultimate to Pro.

spapakons said:

Since you have enough free space on another disk, use Acronis or Macrium or whatever utility to backup your Windows hard disk on a large file on the other disk. Then try to upgrade from Windows 7 to 10. Once successful, Windows 10 whould activate automatically with a digital license. If anything goes wrong you can always restore from the backup and get your files. I would try upgrade first and if not successful (rare) I would do a clean installation. For drivers you can use Windows 10 or 8 or 7 or even Vista drivers (the newer the better). To allow you to upgrade Windows 7 must be activated and the Windows 10 version must be the same (32-bit or 64-bit) and same language as Windows 7 (that is if you have added any language pack, it doesn't count, the original language matters). Also you can upgrade from Home to Home and from Pro or Ultimate to Pro.

Ok, thanks. I also have an external hard drive I can back up on so I think I know what to do and what to expect...