Install over Windows 7 has problems - can I reinstall over Windows 7

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  1. Posts : 16,325
    W10Prox64
       #161

    Nisko said:
    I'm still here - caretaker responsibilities have been heavy. The last posts are about me being about ready to clean install Windows 10. I have collected all my important programs and drivers - but haven't gotten any further than that. I'm wondering if there is a tutorial somewhere that explains step by step how to perform a clean install of Windows 10 after trying to install it over Windows 7 and had failures like mine. Also, another issue is how can I go back and forth between the clean install and the install I'm limping along with now. I've kept all the important notes from all the previous posts we've exchanged in a notebook. My primary drive now has only two partitions: one has Windows 10 installed over Windows 7. The other is the System Reserved partition. This is an SSD drive. My second drive only has one partition and is used for data only.
    Hi.
    Here's the tut:
    Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums

    Basically, what you want to do is, boot to the W10 install media, select custom install, then delete all the partitions one by one, until you have nothing left but one big unallocated drive. Proceed with the install. Don't enter a key if asked. You may have to tell it whether you want Home or Pro - be sure to select the correct one (same as you have now) or it will not activate. You won't be able to go back and forth, but why would you need to? W10 will make all the partitions it needs when it installs.

    Install over Windows 7 has problems - can I reinstall over Windows 7-unallocated-drive-space.png



    If you like, you can make an image of your current installation to your external drive using Macrium, and then, if you find you forgot to backup a file, you can always grab it from the image.
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  2. Posts : 16,325
    W10Prox64
       #162

    p.s. Make sure your other hard drive is NOT connected when you clean install, or you run the risk of W10 installing some boot files on it.
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  3. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #163

    Have you ever upgraded to Windows 10 and activated it? I don't recall if we have covered this, but the free upgrade from 7/8.1 has ended.

    1. Make an Image of your current install so you will have a way back in case something goes wrong. Most members here, me included, are big believers in Macrium.

    2 Also Backup all of your data to an external source, which I think you have already done.

    3. Get your online installers for the software you want to install, your install Disks and activation keys, so they will be handy. That will make everything much easier. Put them on a USB drive or an external hard drive for use when you need them. Make certain you have your LAN/Wi Fi driver so you can get online in case Windows cannot provide one for your computer.

    4. Follow this Tutorial. Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums . When you get to the screen of 'where do you want to install windows' Highlight each partition and use the delete button. Continue doing that until it says Unallocated. Then proceed. Everything else is in the tutorial listed as well as a video taking you through the process. Do not put in an activation key until afterwards when you find out it works right. The video in the tutorial link will show you each step. It was done on an older build of Windows 10 and some of the screens look a little different, but are the same thing. After watching the video and reading the tutorial, you should have a very good idea of exactly what to expect. Then make sure to run all of the Windows Updates.
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  4. Posts : 1,033
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #164

    Reason for keeping my current Windows 7 installation


    Because of my caretaker role, I'm sure it will take me a long time to get where I want to be with Windows 10. So I want to have something to fall back on.
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  5. Posts : 16,325
    W10Prox64
       #165

    But you're on Windows 10 now? If you think you want to dual boot, perhaps @essenbe can comment on that. I don't have a whole lot of experience in that area (I use VMs).
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  6. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #166

    @simrick, as I understand it, he is on Windows 7 now and he wants to keep both 7 and 10. I have no experience at dual booting, But, this will help. Windows 10 - Dual Boot with Windows 7 or Windows 8 - Windows 10 Forums.
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  7. Posts : 16,325
    W10Prox64
       #167

    essenbe said:
    @simrick, as I understand it, he is on Windows 7 now and he wants to keep both 7 and 10. I have no experience at dual booting, But, this will help. Windows 10 - Dual Boot with Windows 7 or Windows 8 - Windows 10 Forums.
    Okay sorry - system specs say W10...my memory is not the best these days.
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  8. Posts : 1,033
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #168

    There is another reason I want to keep my old installation for a while: There are personal settings in many of my programs that I want to copy over to the new installation. Is there a way to quickly jump back and forthe between two installations? I have used dual boot in the past but it is slow to go back and forth (boot the reboot ad nauseum.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 16,325
    W10Prox64
       #169

    Nisko said:
    There is another reason I want to keep my old installation for a while: There are personal settings in many of my programs that I want to copy over to the new installation. Is there a way to quickly jump back and forthe between two installations? I have used dual boot in the past but it is slow to go back and forth (boot the reboot ad nauseum.
    Not that I'm aware of. A VM would be much easier.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,033
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #170

    VM


    Please point me in the right direction (where do I learn how to set up a VM?).
      My Computer


 

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