Older PC with Windows 7 Pro, Need to upgrade to Windows 10

Hello,

I am using a Dell PC with Operation System 7 Pro. I need to upgrade to Windows 10.
Surfing the net, I read that I need to reformat my “C” hard drive. I have all my data/photos on several external 1TB hard drives. However, on my “C” drive are all the software; like an older version of Photoshop CS4 (64bit) , PhotoImpact X3 . TotalAV (antivirus/firewall), latest version of MS 365 Office and ACT Sage Software V2010… And I do have on my download Folder some of the uploads and others on CD discs (Photoshop, ACT)..
Q:1 Do I need to format my :C” drive?
Q: 2 Will I lose some of my software above? And I prefer to not upgrade on some of them (mainly Photoshop and ACT).

Further, I might need to buy a new Dell PC which has Windows 10….($,2000) . Will I have a problem with coping the download Folder and also the above software?

Aside: I bought G-Technology USB C 8TB external hard drive and will place my data/photos on this drive. And for my older PC or new one I am not sure if I need Windows 10 Pro (never needed it on my older computer). Maybe Windows 10 Home might be the way to go.. but understand that Windows 10 Pro have more security features?

Any advice, comments will be helpful..

Sy S

If you have 7pro it will upgrade to 10pro.

There will be a tutorial on this site explaining how to do the upgrade, if you don't know how.. Upgrade is still free last time I looked.

Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free

Sy S said:

Hello,

I am using a Dell PC with Operation System 7 Pro. I need to upgrade to Windows 10.
Surfing the net, I read that I need to reformat my “C” hard drive.

Where did you read that? FAKE NEWS!

Backup your Windows 7 installation using Refelct then do an in place upgrade to Windows 10 as mentioned above. Your PC should update and you will get a digital licence for Windows 10. Check your programs works and backup again.

If you wish, you can then do a clean install of Windows 10 and it should activate using the digital licence already assigned.

Hello,

I want to thank everyone for your posts, nice to see I received replies immediately Wow!

Reformat “C” drive-
Fake News. I went to a major distributor inquiring about buying Windows 10 and read the reviews by people… that is where I got the info, obviously it was wrong.

Macrium Reflex software-
Do I really need to upload and use this software at this time?
a) I already do a weekly backup of my “C’ drive (do not need incremental back ups).
b) Second, I have made a Reboot Disc System Repair Disc Windows 7 pro 64-bit. (Aside- the problem is? That the DVD Disc size 4.7G (and a second CD Disc is 700Mb) both say Used space is170MB and no free space. Did the Windows 7 program completely record all the information for a reboot disc on these disc?
c) Should I try and copy information on my “C” drive for a backup (not sure if all files can be copied).. and also the download folder (with software to upload)?

Older Software-
I do not believe that some of my software (like Photoshop) will upgrade to with Windows 10 upgrades (and do not want to buy a monthly subscription). Can I use a Virtual Machine (VM) Software for this program and other ones that will not upgrade to Windows 7?
Installing Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
I have to make the time to read the tutorials on this and other videos;
Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free
And not sure when I can do this… in the upcoming months.?

Again, thank you everyone for your time and effort to help me with the above transition to Windows 10.

Sy S
(Metro NYC)

Sy S said:

Macrium Reflex software-
Do I really need to upload and use this software at this time?
a) I already do a weekly backup of my “C’ drive (do not need incremental back ups).
b) Second, I have made a Reboot Disc System Repair Disc Windows 7 pro 64-bit. ...

How do you make your backup? Is this Backup & Restore backing up just your user files? If so, then the system repair disk should let you rebuild Windows and the backup should restore you user files. But you won't have your installed software any more.

The whole point about Macrium Reflect ( or any other system imaging software) is that the system image is a snapshot of the entire system, Windows, user files and software, that can be restored to give you a full working system exactly as it was when the image was made.

Older Software-
I do not believe that some of my software (like Photoshop) will upgrade to with Windows 10 upgrades (and do not want to buy a monthly subscription). Can I use a Virtual Machine (VM) Software for this program and other ones that will not upgrade to Windows 7?

I'd be surprised if Photoshop et. al. won't work in W10, though some may need compatibility settings applied. . If so, Windows will apply them automatically (it did for my ancient PaintShop Pro). In the unlikely event that you have software that can't run in W10 the upgrade process will tell you before continuing, giving you the choice to uninstall before continuing or to cancel the upgrade.

Adobe do seem to be prone to dropping support for their older software though, what version do you have? Edit apparently you said you have CS4.

Another argument in favor of making a Macrium Reflect image of the system as it stands now is that Macrium's viBoot allows you to run that system image as a Hyper-V VM.


Macrium viBoot - Create Virtual Machine using Macrium Image

This is a checklist that you can run trough to increase the likelihood of a successful upgrade: (it was created for 10 to 10 upgrades so you can skip commands not applicable to Windows 7)

Code:

UPGRADE CHECK LIST:
Run through this check list before the next upgrade attempt:

1) remove nonessential hardware
docks
USB devices
printers
headset
speakers
joysticks
projectors
scanners
plotters
portable optical drives (CD, DVD)
microphones
cameras
webcams
smartphones
bluetooth devices
USB drives (other than a windows 10 iso if used for the upgrade)
USB Wireless Mouse or Keyboard Receiver, USB Wireless Network Card
secondary monitors


2) These should be the only attached devices:
wired mouse
wired keyboard
monitor

Any of these that have been done in the past week are not necessary to repeat:


3) open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste: (repair file system)
chkdsk /r /v C:
This may take many hours so plan to run overnight
Find the chkdsk report in the event viewer using the information in this link and post into the thread:
Read Chkdsk Log in Event Viewer in Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/40822-read-chkdsk-log-event-viewer-windows-10-a.html 

4) open administrative command prompt and copy and paste: (repair operating system)
sfc /scannow 
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth 
When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread

5) update windows (have all recommended updates installed) and reboot after updates

6) List and uninstall all non-Microsoft antivirus software
(This includes always on and manual software.)
(This includes running the applicable antivirus uninstall tools for any AV that could have been incompletely uninstalled)

7) List and uninstall all non-Microsoft firewall software

8) List all Microsoft and non-Microsoft drive encryption software. 
Uninstall all non-Microsoft disk encryption software

9) Run disk cleanup to clean temporary and system files

10) Verify that the drive has > 30 GB free space (At least 25 GB is needed for creating dumps)

11) Place the computer in clean boot:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/929135/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows
How to perform a Clean Boot in Windows 10 - TechNet Articles - United States (English) - TechNet Wiki
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/29876.how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-10.aspx
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/41804-perform-clean-boot-windows-10-troubleshoot-software-conflicts.html


12) Detach all SATA devices other than the disk drive that has the Windows operating system
(Make sure that the only disk drive that is attached to the computer at the time of the upgrade attempt is the disk drive containing Windows)
(Other disk drives may be able to be detached by disconnecting cables or if necessary to remove the drive from the computer)

13) Make sure that there is no metered connection:  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17452/windows-metered-internet-connections-faq

Sy S said:

I do not believe that some of my software (like Photoshop) will upgrade to with Windows 10 upgrades (and do not want to buy a monthly subscription).

I can confirm that Photoshop CS2 works well on Windows 10 Home 64-bit.

It is 14 years old---is your version even older?

ignatzatsonic said:

I can confirm that Photoshop CS2 works well on Windows 10 Home 64-bit.
It is 14 years old---is your version even older?

I've just re-read post #1 which says it's "Photoshop CS4 (64bit)".