Win 10 ugrade

Hello
I am not techy enough to use VMs or partitions and will wait for the free upgrade to Win 10.
I have some concerns that you might be able to help me with:
to begin installation, I will click on the iso icon or the start button,
during installation I hope to find a choice for custom so I can perform a clean install,
I am unclear about product keys,
I am unclear about activation,
should I tic 'new' to create a reserve partition,
I will likely lose the WMC I purchased,

As soon as Win 10 is installed and updated I will download my imaging
program to get a clean baseline image to keep in lieu of the OS disc. for future reinstallations.
Thank you for correcting my errors

 

Thank you for the clarifications, David.
I realize I will have to wait awhile for answers.
The referral to the iso tool is great. Last time I used my Ash..... burner to create the 8.1 dvd from the iso file but will have a look at this.
I bought the WMC from MS when I bought 8.1 and have a key for it also.
I really hope we are given the option to do a clean install instead of the upgrade, don't you?

The image standing in lieu of the OS disc is a life saver. I have an image of each OS on both external drives in case of hardware failure. There is nothing like a disc.
Talk soon,
Peter

 

>>Would it help to have a clean image of Win 8.1 if upgrading so as not to upload clutter. If it is a clean install it would not matter as it would not be formatted?
If I installed the preview now would that be a clean install? if so it might be worth it.
What would you do to get the cleanest install?

 

Hi Peter

You may not realise that from Win 7 you no longer need burning programs such as Ashampoo. Just right clicking an iso file will offer to burn it for you.

Thought you might like to know

 

@ Earthling -I have used the right click to burn but was not aware it would do iso files so thank you for that.

@David I burned the Win 10 TP to DVD and noted the product key but will likely not use them as it could be devastating at this point.

It appears, as you say, it is early to judge and decide. I will likely either keep 8.1 which I love or do the upgrade with a clean image of 8.1 and all Windows updates done, hoping you can get a clean install option but not depending upon it.

The picture is beginning to become clearer and patience is the word for a while. Be in touch and thanks.
Peter

 

If you want to skip all the partition, multiboot, or anything dull that requires more research you can always buy a cheap used hard drive that is about 80 gb.

You can get an 80 gb hard drive online probably for $10 or a bit less if you search good enough. The point of this is to install windows 10 to ''test'' it on this small hard drive.

For a mere cost of $10 orso ( unless you already have a spare hard drive) you can avoid all the fuss with partitions and such and just swap out your hard drive and put this one in.

Or just install this 2nd hard drive, and unhook a the cables from it when you don't want your motherboard to read it.

 

Actually I have a 1 terabyte external hard drive and a 2 terabyte external hard drive.
Are you suggesting that if I attach the drives to my computer that I could then use them to test windows ten?
Right now they contain my images of Windows 7 8 and 8.1 but there is plenty of room?

 

IMHO, I'd go the vmware player (free) route and just try it that way. No weird configuration or anything, just give it 40GB somewhere and have fun with it. That is essentially what I did. Except that I used VMware Workstation 11 to do it. (Paid product).

 

Absolutely! No partitioning or hardware adjustment required and installs itself merely by pointing it to the downloaded iso file. I used the Player's recommended disk and memory settings and Win 10 TP runs superbly. You do not need to be 'techy' at all peterr to do it this way and performance will be superior to all other methods other than dual boot.

 

@ David - You mention 2.5" HDD to install to. Is that the same as my WD external hard drives? I think 2.5" is an internal rive not my external ones but I am not sure. If I could install to one of my external drives that would be great but it probably is not feasible.

@Earthling /theefool -I am trying to, sooner or later, install Win 10 at no cost.
I do appreciate your information.

I will erase my rw dvd of the current iso as it would be trouble.

 

So as to not confuse the forum, I have a plan.
First, I have all of my images on both external drives and will avoid partitioning so I cam eliminate that route but thank you for the idea. I was naïve to think the install like other images just reside on the drive.

I am going to wait to see how this unfolds. When I have spare time and it seems as though a tidy Win 8.1 system upgrade will be the way to go I will reinstall win 8.1. After installing Win updates, will image it for the wWn 10 upgrade so it will be clean. If something new comes around, I will reevaluate then.
Have a good one all.

 

I can't imagine what your problem is with a VM peter - it's completely free and requires no special expertise whatsoever. In use you can run Win 10 straight from your Win 8 Start menu or desktop shortcut, just like any other application, and 8 and 10 share an internet connection and can also share files and printers if you wish. You are seriously missing out by not trying it.

I'm posting this from Win 10 running in VMware Player running in Win 7 Pro.

 

David
I am having a dialogue with a group who feel that Win 10 will have the option for a custom or clean install.
I know you felt it was early to know but what is your gut feeling?
I ask b/c I would create a fresh install of 8.1 and image it for the Wni 10 upgrade so i won't bring all the clutter from the old OS along if there was no custom choice.
However, if I could fresh install Win 10 then all that work would be unnecessary.

 

David I agree it is best to wait a while to get the facts. I will perform a clean reinstall/ image of 8.1 if I see later that the option is not available with 10.
Good talking with you,
Peter

 

i had just post a question regarding win 7 to 10 so you are saying it is not a clean install just an upgraded update --- how so on an iso file ?????
am lost here rolleyes
isn't this a new OS ? or just a better 8.1 update ?

 

I was only saying that if it is unsure whether it is an update or an upgrade with the iso and the option to do a clean install I will wait to find out before cleaning up my laptop's OS.

 

i would like to thank everyone for the post to my Q
the HP l/top is not the upgrade am worried about it is my asus X53E. i did have the OS [ win 7 home prem ] burned to CD took 4 discs ; and yes it was the win 7 asus that i got notice to upgrade in OCT . so I will wait
thanks again for the help ; everyone is so great here :wave

 

no - i have not installed anything yet . yes i know it is in developer / beta till oct this year . just checking it is free for home prem / since it was the way i read the notice----- the other pc my new hp is on 8.1 so am not worried with that one . again thanks for all the links n help so i can make a smooth crossover
:wave:wave:wave

 

David and others, Win 10 TP is running smoothly on oracle.
Can you download to it or will the download go to the 8.1 OS?

 

It's a self contained OS. Anything you download to it stays there. VMware does have the ability to share folders with the host so I assume VirtualBox does too, but it probably is not activated by default.

 

Thanks for that. So far what is your take on 10 vs. 8.1?

 

For those who have acclimatised to 8.1 it feels more like a service pack than a new OS and will have very little effect on their computer use. For those upgrading from 7, or who find 8.1 difficult it should help them over the learning curve I think.

To justify all the hype and jumping over 9 there need to be real improvements in the engine room. Maybe David or Adrynalyne will expand on that in due course.

Congrats on finally taking the leap into a VM btw, and not before time!

 

Thank you for the computer notes and especially for the personal note.
Much appreciated

 

I was hoping for a change but 10 seems to be a regression from this layperson's point of view.
We will see what comes down the pike.
I made a mistake with the VM as I forgot to install the VirtualBox 4.3.24 Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack All supported platforms along with the oracle VM. Is this what gives one guest additions?

 

Yep, the major gripe about windows 10 is the icons. I've looked at leaked builds, and I hope they are not final, but just place-holders.

The new control panel is nice.

The big one is directx 12.

 

Hey peter, if you haven't already seen it Skysarge has raised a question about Win 10 and posted this link

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2898...10-upgrade-paths-will-work.html#tk.nl_pcwbest

That should answer your question about method of delivery, though they haven't explained how 8.1 users establish whether or not they have 8.1.514. Those with auto updates on ought to have it but I don't know of an easy way to check.

 

Good find, Earthling. Lots of information and I like iso's and discs in case of the need for a clean reinstallation.