Clean install Windows 10 after upgraded from win 7 to 10


  1. sgtsixpack
    Posts : 57
    Win10 Pro N installed AND activated
       New #1

    Clean install Windows 10 after upgraded from win 7 to 10


    My Dad said he wanted a fresh install of windows 10, he previously has upgraded from win 7 to 10. I have already prepared an installation media with the media creation tool but it was done on my old pc and I selected to upgrade for another pc / ISO creation rather than inplace upgrade.

    So my Dad can keep his windows 7 key through the install process do I need to do an inplace upgrade or upgrade from ISO then use windows 7 key? If its the former I will need to reinstall windows 7 and then window 10 for a fresh install all on his laptop which I'm not familiar with and will probably be quite painful, although it does have raid 0 SSDs. Its a vpcz21v9e Sony (and he told me they don't make laptops anymore).
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  3. zbook
    Posts : 41,480
    windows 10 professional version 1607 build 14393.969 64 bit
       New #2

    Once you upgrade Windows 7 to 10 it creates a digital license.
    Then you can replace the drive or clean install as the license is digitally available simplifying activation.

    If you want to return to Windows 7 (which no longer has support) you can restore an image:
    Imaging with free Macrium - Windows 7 Help Forums

    These are some tutorials:
    Windows 10 - Test & Try with No Risk, No Install - Windows 7 Help Forums
    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free
    Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First
    Dual Boot Windows 10 with Windows 7 or Windows 8
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  4. dalchina
    Posts : 43,014
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #3

    Note that as the laptop is older and not supported, upgrading to Win 10 is at your own risk. You might find it works quite well, but then there's a problem with a future build upgrade, for example.

    Or you might find some hardware device is no longer functional.

    Do make due preparation for these possibilities, and research others' experience with that PC running Win 10.

    You may also find a difference with respect to driver compatibility depending on whether you install a 32 bit or 64 bit O/S.

    Just some considerations so you don't assume upgrading is guaranteed to be troublefree.

    These seem to be for Win 7 including 64 bits
    vpcz21v9e drivers result | Sony VAIO Driver
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  6. Robbie
    Posts : 104
    windows 10 pro
       New #4

    dalchina said:
    Note that as the laptop is older and not supported, upgrading to Win 10 is at your own risk. You might find it works quite well, but then there's a problem with a future build upgrade, for example.

    Or you might find some hardware device is no longer functional.

    Do make due preparation for these possibilities, and research others' experience with that PC running Win 10.

    You may also find a difference with respect to driver compatibility depending on whether you install a 32 bit or 64 bit O/S.

    Just some considerations so you don't assume upgrading is guaranteed to be troublefree.

    These seem to be for Win 7 including 64 bits
    vpcz21v9e drivers result | Sony VAIO Driver
    Hello Dalchina,

    I was reading this post, and have a question which is in the same category I think

    My computer is a desktop.....8 years old more or less and it runs windows 10 perfectly. Now because of all the free time available because of the virus I am playing with the idea in doing a computer reset or something like that to clean up the PC somewhat. I know whit all the apps and drivers installed it's going to be a challenge. The PC migrated from windows 7 pro to windows 10 pro, so my question is with a windows 10 reset as an example, is the PC going back to the state when windows 10 was installed or when windows 7 was installed long time ago. (Or are there better options?)

    Regards,
    Robbie
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  7. dalchina
    Posts : 43,014
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #5

    If it's running Win 10 well now, best leave it. You can run something like Ccleaner (or one of the now better options- Ccleaner is ok, but Piriform have added some poorer aspects you can read about) - but don't bother with registry cleaning or driver updaters.

    There's an extensive tutorial here about recovering disk space.
    Free Up Drive Space in Windows 10
    and e.g.
    Turn On or Off Storage Sense Automatically Free Up Space in Windows 10

    Any action you take with respect to the O/S will either keep you with the same major build or update it, unless you specifically download an older build and clean install that.

    Be very careful when considering any such action in terms of what you lose, depending on your options. For example, a reset could lose you your accounts, data, installed programs.. depending on the option you chose.

    whereas... an in-place upgrade repair install keeps all progs, data and most settings.

    Make sure you have a routine backup procedure especially disk imaging e.g. Macrium reflect (free-paid).
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  8. zbook
    Posts : 41,480
    windows 10 professional version 1607 build 14393.969 64 bit
       New #6

    Consider opening a new thread so that it focuses on the issues as you perform the steps.


    Sometimes perfection is not the best option.

    But if there are things you want to address these are some options.

    1) make a free backup image:
    Macrium Software | Your Image is Everything
    Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

    2) plan to backup and restore drivers:
    Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

    3) A reset save files and custom install maintains the similar partition structure as Windows 7 which is typically MBR.
    A clean install allows you to switch from MBR to GPT.
    This has the capability of > 100 partitions, enhanced security, bitlocker drive encryption, etc.

    4) A reset save files should return to windows 10.

    These are some links:

    Reset Windows 10

    Custom Install Windows 10

    Clean Install Windows 10
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  9. sgtsixpack
    Posts : 57
    Win10 Pro N installed AND activated
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Forum - [Solution] Win7/8.1 Drivers for USB 3.0/3.1 Controllers of new AMD Chipset Systems I used a slightly different version of drivers found there. Was the first link for win 7 that worked. I had to use the usb 3.1 ports instead of usb 2.0. Then I got my genuineticket.xml Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First - Page 50 - | Tutorials

    I will do my Dad's laptop, just need to create a new win10pro N iso. I was making a win 10 pro iso but then the activation kicked in:
    Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First
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