Upgrade install W10 64 from W7 64 SPI with non default Users Folder

Zwyx56 · 19 Jan 2017

Hello. I have read through the tutorial "Users Folder -Move Location in Windows 10" but unsure if it applies. I have the os on a SSD and the data partitions D through to I on a pair of mirrored dynamic HDD's. I don't want to do a clean install and I want to preserve progs and data. All of which backed up.

Problem 1: I put the newly bought OEM dvd in and started set up. It did this and that but didn't get to the bit where I have to press ctrl+shift+F3 to go into Audit mode etc. Instead I get a window saying "installation failed" with no clue why not !
Q: is there a log file hidden away?

Problem 2: Looking at the bit where I have to alter an "unattended answer file". Well my Users Folder is on partition letter I, but how do I know whether W10 will overwrite everything?

Thank you for reading this

Kari · 19 Jan 2017

Zwyx56 said:

Hello. I have read through the tutorial "Users Folder -Move Location in Windows 10" but unsure if it applies.

I wrote the tutorial you mentioned and know this method as well as anyone else here on Ten Forums (not bragging, just stating a fact). It applies if and only if you have used the Sysprep method to relocate Users folder in the first case in Windows 7, 8.1 or earlier build of Windows 10. Any other method to relocate Users folder, it must be moved back to C: before upgrade or upgrade will fail.

In your case the tutorial does not apply in any case because of mirrored drives. Clean install is your best shot. See this tutorial: Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First

Kari

Zwyx56 · 20 Jan 2017

Thank you for your reply Kari. I shall bite the bullet and do a clean install. It was several years ago since I have. I installed W7 using Audit mode etc. to move Users Folder.

I appreciate your and tutorial and video. Indeed all of the advice from the Forum's Gurus. When I spoke to the Microsoft UK help department I was assured all my progs and data would be safely left where they resided, no matter what partition. And I though, wow, Microsoft has come on a long way regarding making installation simple....

But I can't understand why dynamic disks would make a difference. Thought that would be invisible to OS except in Computer Management section.

Question 3: Are you saying that a clean install of W10 64 Pro is not possible using Mirrored Dynamic Disks?

Best regards

Kari · 21 Jan 2017

I have tested various upgrade scenarios quite extensively. I have never managed to upgrade Windows with mirrored drives or RAID with*relocated*Users folder. It can be done by moving the Users back to C: drive.

Clean installing on mirrored drive is something I have never done, not even to test it. I am not able to tell if it works or not. I would not even try it, regardless if possible or not. I would first install Windows, then mirror my drives.

Kari

Zwyx56 · 21 Jan 2017

Thank you for your replies.

I have ordered a larger SSD and shall do a clean install of the OS to it. I shall use the mirrored HD drives for personal data folders relocated by the "move" command within Explorer. That's the plan.....

Regards

Zwyx56

Kari · 21 Jan 2017

Please do post what you did and how it worked :)