Steps for clean install to move from Windows 7 to Windows 10

Hello - I am about to move from Windows 7 64-bit pro to Windows 10 and after much reading I want to check that I have the steps correct. I would class myself as a computer literate user but far from expert and I have highlighted what I understand to be the right steps along with a couple of questions below.

Prior to install :
1. Take system image
2. Copy user data to separate drive
3. De-activate software (such as photoshop etc)
4. Create bootable USB using media creator
5. Unplug data drives and move my current Disk 2 which is partitioned as EFI system / C: Windows boot / D: Prog and User data to the SATA 0 port which will make it the only disk visible (disk #0)
6. Unplug network connection and all peripherals except keyboard and mouse
7. I am not clear on this part :
My BIOS is set to Fast Boot "enabled" - should I disable this?
My BIOS secure boot setting is Windows UEFI mode - do I need to change this? the only other option is "Other OS"
(The motherboard is an ASUS p9x79Pro)

Install :
1. Boot from USB
2. During installation delete the current partitions (will I be given the opportunity to do this for all three?)
3. Enter my Windows 7 pro product key during the set up

Once running :
1. Move drives and plug back in data drives (will I be able to use disk management to see these in windows 10 without losing the data?)
2. Download and install latest drivers and then plug back in peripherals
3. Re-install software packages
4. Copy back user data

Have I got this right?

Thanks in advance

Dave

You could -if you have a lot of programs installed- consider using Laplink PC Mover or Easeus ToDo Trans to transfer installed programs, if your file structure is going to be the same.

You also need to consider any data in other places - e.g. favourites, and if you use an email client, address book, email rules, emails etc.

Note that 'latest' drivers may or may not work. You'll just have to see. Some find that the odd driver cannot be updated for older hardware, or the latest version as provided in the Win 10 installation causes problems and an earlier version has to be used.

For example, a clean install of Win 10 64 bit on my 5 year old laptop left me with one driver (coprocessor) unresolved. No later manufacturer's drivers. In the end I resolved this with DriverMax (a driver utility) which is NOT recommended in general- esp. with Win 10.

Make sure you have a bootable CD for your image software just in case- and check it works.

Note that you may be displeased with
a. The Win 10 start menu (it does not respect my iconised start menu folder structure - so I use Classic Shell.
b. The appearance of the windows- whilst active windows now again have coloured title bars and a 1 pixel or so border, inactive windows have white title bars. So you may wish to use the Aerolite theme to solve this, or Aeroglass which adds transparency.

Thanks Dalchina.
My file structure will change - my current system was Sysprep'd to have User and Program Data on a separate partition. My understanding is I cannot have the latter on Windows 10. So I will use the opportunity for a good tidy up with a clean install and re-installation.

Thanks again

Dave

You can move the Program Files folder and the user folders to another disk after the installation, but this will prevent you upgrading to the next build when available. To be able to upgrade you will have to relocate the folders to their original place (fortunately it is not required to copy your data to original place as well). There is no need to move your folders, do "Save as" to a new location instead of just "save". Same with applications, do the Custom installation where you can select the location.

The quick boot in BIOS has nothing to do with Windows. It just skips some tests when in warm boot (restart) to boot faster. It does the tests only in cold boot (switch on).

Your steps look fine. Since all devices depend on chipset, install the chipset driver first and then proceed with graphics, audio etc.

If you don't like the new start menu, use Classic Shell to change it. You can also change other things, even the icons. Have a look at the Customization section for our posts.

spapakons said:

You can move the Program Files folder and the user folders to another disk after the installation, but this will prevent you upgrading to the next build when available. To be able to upgrade you will have to relocate the folders to their original place

This is not true any more. You can upgrade Windows 10 (in place upgrade and upgrade to later versions of Windows 10) without moving user folders back.

What you can't do (which you could in 7) is relocate ProgramData directory to another partition or disk.

I don't have a BIOS so I can't answer those questions but the rest looks fine to me. Certainly you can delete all partitions during install and you'll be able to reconnect and use your data drives after.

I haven't tried in Windows 10, but in Windows 7 you certainly not allowed to do an in-place repair upgrade or upgrade to a new version of Windows unless Program Files is on C:\ and your user folders are on C:\Users\username (no need to contain data).

spapakons said:

I haven't tried in Windows 10, but in Windows 7 you certainly not allowed to do an in-place repair upgrade or upgrade to a new version of Windows unless Program Files is on C:\ and your user folders are on C:\Users\username (no need to contain data).

I have done it many times and it works fine. No need to move back any more :)

Thanks to all for reading and for your helpful comments and hints. It gives me confidence to go ahead.

Dave