Upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 questions

I'm preparing to upgrade my Windows 7 Pro 64 bit to Windows 10. I'm not that well versed in computer work, so I'd appreciate some advice. I've already been pointed toward the upgrade procedure that's posted in the forum. I have a couple of questions as I begin the procedure...

- I know I'll need to create a backup for my existing program before I start. I gather I need a USB stick to store my Windows 7 information. I've located some directions online that I think will guide me through the process of creating a backup, but I have one question......How big a storage device do I need? I don't store all my photos in the computer as I utilize cloud storage for most of them and I can reduce my document storage substantially from where it is now and recover most of the content from online after the transfer to Windows 10 is complete. I do have a Mailbird email account that I'd like to store and transfer. I have an existing USB adaptor that lets me transfer pictures from my camera to the computer which is 32 GB. Is that big enough to store my Windows 7 backup? If the 32 GB isn't adequate, can you recommend what size of USB storage I'll need?

- Also, in reading some of the posts that follow the Windows7 to Windows 10 tutorial, I saw a comment that indicated someone was having trouble with the computer running slow and getting blue screen incidents, and the recommendation was to do the transfer using the program from a media disc or USB. Do I need to do this, or can I work directly from the program download online? If I do need USB storage for that, how big do I need?

Sorry if my questions are very elementary, but I'm doing this sort of process for the first time. I'll say thanks in advance for any advice offered.

Ken

AddRAM said:

You will need a storage device that will hold all of the used space on your OS partition and any other partitions that are used to boot the PC.

The 1st thing you need to do for us is upload a full picture of Disk Management.

We need to see how much of C is actually being used and any other partitions on your OS drive.

How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management | Tutorials (tenforums.com)

Example

I'm having some difficulty because I'm working in Windows 7 and it's not the same as your tutorial. I did manage to find the disc management system but wasn't sure what's needed so I did two screenshots. I hope I've captured what's needed.

dalchina said:

Hi, your PC Hewlett Packard Compaq 8200 Elite is from 2011, so there's a chance of some incompatibility.

Have you ever been offered a Win 10 upgrade by Windows Update?
If you have, then there's a lower risk of a problem. If not, then MS may have deemed your PC to potentially be incompatible.

Before attempting an upgrade:
a. make sure you have the latest BIOS available for your machine.
b. uninstall any security software as this may not be compatible with Win 10.
c. for your own sake and that of your data, just in case, create a disk image of your Windows partitions - Macrium Reflect (free) + large enough external storage for image files - perhaps 1Tb. If buying new, consider 2Tb for future proofing and it's not that much more expensive.

Your disk image is a compressed copy of everything on your Windows partitions- think perhaps 60-70% of the size of the used part of your disk, depending on what data types you have.

That's EVERYTHING, not just bits of programs or data. So you don't have to worry about what you haven't backed up.

d. Check you have at least 30Gb free on C:
e. As a matter of routine, given the age of your PC, check your disks - just in case. Get a copy of Hard Disk Sentinel (free functional trial- excellent). Run that. Check the tab for each disk. Green is good.

Bear in mind many upgrades go smoothly: if not, diagnosing problems can be technically involved and time consuming.
In the worst case you may end up with an unbootable PC, although this is rather unlikely. So be prepared - create a disk image as above. Endlessly recommended as a routine and regular practice by members here.

There is a chance some program may be incompatible with Win 10- you may need an update, or find a replacement.

I don't recall over having been given the option of switching to Windows 10 since I began using this computer. Originally, I bought an identical HP Compaq Elite 8200 with Windows 10 two years ago as a reconditioned unite from a local store. I couldn't deal with it (Now I realize it was the Edge browser that was the problem) so I returned it and bought the identical unit with Windows 7 reconditioned from an online dealer. I'm guessing that if the two computers are the same model, I probably am going to be okay with Windows 10.

The only information I know how to access for this machine is:



OS Version: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional, Service Pack 1, 64 bit, Build 7601, Installed 20120529081952.000000-420
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2120 CPU @ 3.30GHz, Intel64 Family 6 Model 42 Stepping 7, CPU Count: 4
Total Physical RAM: 8 GB
Graphics Card: Intel(R) HD Graphics
Hard Drives: C: 224 GB (171 GB Free);
Motherboard: Hewlett-Packard 1495, s/n 2UA2310V4Z
System: Hewlett-Packard, ver HPQOEM - 1072009, s/n 2UA2310V4Z
Antivirus: Avast Antivirus, Enabled and Updated

If there's a more complete set of specs on the computer, I'm not sure how to access them.