It's quite possible to clean install on the other partition, and then install ONLY the programs that you need, then transfer your data over. But this is only a temporary thing, as it violates the EULA to have two operating systems from one keycode.
If you want to run around in circles and get nowhere fast, then do that.
Please also make sure you have Fast Startup turned off:
Fast Startup - Turn On or Off in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
To understand what this is/does (it was first introduced in Windows 8):
“Fast Startup (aka: hybrid boot or hybrid Shutdown) is a new feature in Windows 8 to help your PC start up faster after shutting down. When turned on, Windows 8 does this by using a hybrid shutdown (a partial hibernate) method that saves only the kernel session and device drivers (system information) to the hibernate (hiberfil.sys) file on disk instead of closing it when you shut down your PC. This also makes the hiberfil.sys file to be much smaller than what hibernate would use (often 4GB or more). When you start your PC again, Windows 8 uses that saved system information to resume your system instead of having to do a cold boot to fully restart it. Using this technique with boot gives a significant advantage for boot times, since reading the hiberfile in and reinitializing drivers is much faster on most systems (30-70% faster on most systems tested). If you have a motherboard with UEFI, then fast startup will be even faster.”
Thank you very much. One question: Is it OK to use Revo Uninstaller Pro for the uninstalls? I've got a lot of work to do - but I'll get it done as quickly as I can. Thanks again...................
Yes, Revo is OK. But, when you uninstall the Anti Virus software, after uninstalling each one, find the dedicated uninstaller for each to clean up the leftovers. This should help some http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...nstallers.html
@simrick gave you a good list of stuff to uninstall, check for program updates, driver updates. If you follow the list as you should, I still think a clean install would be easier and faster. If you do all the preparations for a clean install, it is not the nightmare everyone thinks. Plus, I would hope you wouldn't be installing much of the software you have on there now. Some of it is, in my opinion, dangerous.
I may try the clean install because I've been thinking about it and I believe you may be right. Thank you!!!
I have a laptop.
Two drives: One is a 1TB for programs only (of course, many settings and some data is on this drive because I have no choice). It has a partition on it that is unused ~450GB. The second drive is 1/2TB and is used for data only. It has about 300GB free. I have current images for both drives - and images of both just before I installed W10 over W7.
The drives are not too difficult to replace. What do you have in mind?
Your system specs say one is an SSD. I would presume that would be the 500GB one. That is where your OS should go, on the SSD. If I understand you, your current OS is on the 1 TB mechanical drive. If that is correct, Move all the data from the SSD to the 450 GB partition on the Mechanical drive. Then remove/disconnect the Mechanical drive and do the clean install on the SSD. If you do the clean install while your current OS is connected, you will have a dual boot situation that will cause some issues when you want to remove your current OS. After the clean install you can reconnect your current OS. That will make them boot independently of each other, and will cause you no issues when you go to 1 OS.
It will also allow you the luxury of taking your time setting up your new OS and still allow you to use your current OS while you are setting up the new one.
Before you begin the new install, get your installation disks, downloaded installer files for the software you want to install, Your drivers plus all of your activation keys and place them on a USB drive. Once the install is completed, you will have everything in front of you and can begin installing programs and not have to go hunting for drivers, disks, downloading installer files for downloaded software. You can also set your BIOS to boot into whichever system you want to use and use the one time boot menu key to boot into the other system whenever you want to. Once the new system is set up as you want it just remove the other OS.
I hope I explained that to where you understand it. But, that is the easiest way to do a clean install. You can also take your time and plan on what you want/should install and what not to install.
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