Upgrading to Windows 10 from Windows 7 Home Premium

gfr · 04 Oct 2020

I informed my son today that he may no longer access my home network with the gaming computer he built seven years ago when he was 15 since it is still running Windows 7 Home Premium, Ver. 6.1, Build 7601, SP1. Over the years, he has made numerous hardware upgrades, but obviously did not upgrade his OS.

When I encouraged him to do a clean install and then reinstall all of his drivers and software, he informed me that:

He does not have all of the original drivers that came with some of his hardware, and
During the last seven years, particularly in the earlier years, he installed a good number of games and mods for which he no longer has the executable installation files.

I was going to suggest he:

Go to Programs and Features and take multiple screenshots to produce a comprehensive list of all installed programs,
Image or backup his three drives,
Do an upgrade install to Windows 10 Pro, and
If the upgrade did work the way you expected it to, come here and ask for help.

At this point, I decided I would come here first and ask for advice on how he should proceed expecting you folks to ask me a lot of questions that I will need to provide in order for you to help him.

Thanks!

GFR

NavyLCDR · 04 Oct 2020

Well, first - Windows 7 Home Premium would upgrade to Windows 10 Home, not Pro.

bobkn · 04 Oct 2020

Pretty much what you posted.

Image any of the drives that have installed programs. Drives that only contain data may be discnnected during the upgrade.

The upgrade: Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free

Haven't done it in years, but I believe that MS still permits a free upgrade.

As already remarked, Win7 Home upgrades to Win10 Home. It can be upgraded to Pro, but it'd require a license. Don't know the best place to get that, but here is one suggestion: Why you need to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro and how to do it on the cheap!

Bree · 04 Oct 2020

First thing I would do is make a system image of the current W7 system with Macrium Reflect Free, that way he could always put the system back to the way it is now.

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

The I'd try upgrading to Windows 10. W7 Home Premium would upgrade to W10 Home for free.

Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free

zbook · 04 Oct 2020

Windows 7: End of extended support: January 14, 2020
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4057281

Upgrade options are Windows 8 or 10.

Windows 8: End of extended support: January 10, 2023

Windows 10 support has continued for 1803, 1809, 1903, 1909, and 2004
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...cle-fact-sheet

Upgrade options include:

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

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...10-upgrade-faq

Imaging with free Macrium - Windows 7 Help Forums

steve108 · 04 Oct 2020

bobkn said:

Pretty much what you posted.

Image any of the drives that have installed programs. Drives that only contain data may be discnnected during the upgrade.

The upgrade: Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free

Haven't done it in years, but I believe that MS still permits a free upgrade.

As already remarked, Win7 Home upgrades to Win10 Home. It can be upgraded to Pro, but it'd require a license. Don't know the best place to get that, but here is one suggestion: Why you need to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro and how to do it on the cheap!

I just did an in-place upgrade of a Windows 7 Pro PC to Windows 10 2004 Pro last week, so yes still free upgrade. I was amazed how smoothly it went as the PC is a Core 2 Duo with 4 GB RAM and a HDD.

dalchina · 05 Oct 2020

He does not have all of the original drivers that came with some of his hardware, and
During the last seven years, particularly in the earlier years, he installed a good number of games and mods for which he no longer has the executable installation files.

Hi,
a. There's no guarantee whatsoever that all of these will run under Win 10.
Each could be investigated for compatibility reports on the internet, but you might not find useful info on all.

Games can be particularly awkward and might need special patches.

Searches may still find some installers.

b. 'Known' Incompatible programs may be removed when upgrading.

c. When attempting the upgrade, take the above precautions esp. disk imaging- anything can and may go wrong.

d. Ensure you have at least 30Gb free on C: and uninstall any security software (likely to be obsolete).

e. Remove or disconnect all disks other than the system disk.

f. Check the disk before attempting the upgrade.

g. Check reports of that particular PC running Win 10.

h. Has Win 10 been offered via Windows Update? If not, suggests not deemed compatible with Win 10, or WU is not running.

Clean Install Windows 10

gfr · 05 Oct 2020

NavyLCDR said:

Well, first - Windows 7 Home Premium would upgrade to Windows 10 Home, not Pro.