Updating Windows 7

[Steppen wolf]

Has anybody done the update of a WIndows 7 PC to WIndows 10? I know very little about this stuff so I'm wondering how problematic it is. Will all my old applications run (like Lightroom 6 etc) or do I have to upgrade these (if that's even possible now). Or should I just carry on with Windows 7 and install better antivirus software? I hate buying new PCs when the old one is still working fine - except for Microsofts deliberate policy to force people to keep buying again.

 

[Simon Garrett]

Has anybody done the update of a WIndows 7 PC to WIndows 10? I know very little about this stuff so I'm wondering how problematic it is. Will all my old applications run (like Lightroom 6 etc) or do I have to upgrade these (if that's even possible now). Or should I just carry on with Windows 7 and install better antivirus software? I hate buying new PCs when the old one is still working fine - except for Microsofts deliberate policy to force people to keep buying again.

Search back on this forum for lots of threads about this.

I think most people find the update relatively trouble-free (I did on a dozen or more different PCs and laptops in a variety of environments). Nearly all applications run as before, but a very few don't run. Google for info about any older apps. I can't recall any on machines I updated that didn't run.

If you don't update, make sure you have up-to-date antivirus software, consider additional checks such as Malwarebytes (the free version: run it every week or so as an additional check for malware), don't click links in emails, avoid websites that might be suspect, remember to wash your hands, oh no that's coronavirus...

 

[Steppen wolf]

Thanks for the info, Simon. I'll look through the previous treads.

 

[CAcreeks]

Thanks for the info, Simon. I'll look through the previous treads.

Yes, Simon covered everything including Coronavirus precautions.

I'm not sure that online W10 update is still offered. If you don't see it in W7 update manager, you can download and create a W10 installer starting here. Presumably your PC has USB, which is lots faster than DVD. If you want to preserve W7 applications, you should not repartition your disk, nor choose clean install.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/15088/windows-10-create-installation-media

 

[keith]

My recommendation is to

1 Backup evryting.

2 download the win 10 install onto a usb stick.

3 update your current win 7 - this should give you a win 10 authentication when on line. Check that everything works.

4 do a clean install of win 10 , deleting the existing updated win 10 install. This will get rid of any left over junk

5 reinstall your applications and reinstate your data from the backup.

Keith

 

[Ho72]

I updated both a desktop and laptop (both aged approx 10 yrs) with no issues using the MS media creation tool. The desktop was a clean install, the laptop was an in-place upgrade install and both activated without any issues and, best of all, with no fees charged.

 

[Jestertheclown]

Some good advice from Simon and I'll also suggest looking back at some of the threads that have appeared on here on this subject.

I'll only suggest that though, with the caveat that you're extremely careful re. which posts you chose to believe/take notice of.

Windows 10 threads are rarely started by anyone who has a good word to say about it and the threads are littered with misinformation and quite often bad feeling.

As I've said, there is some good advice to be had out there but it's tempered by, even outweighed by, a lot twaddle, all of which you should ignore.

Windows 10 bashers love this place . . . !


"It's good to be . . . . . . . . . Me!"

 

[SC489]

All should be fine but ensure you back up your Windows 7 installation first e.g. using Macrium Reflect Free. When done your PC will have a digital licence for Windows 10. You can then do a clean install if you wish and Windows 10 should activate automatically. You can also clean install without upgrading first but this is a bit more complicated.

Upgrade: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/139745-upgrade-windows-10-windows-7-free.html

Clean install: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html

Clean install without upgrade: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials...10-directly-without-having-upgrade-first.html

 

[CAcreeks]

All should be fine but ensure you back up your Windows 7 installation first e.g. using Macrium Reflect Free. When done your PC will have a digital licence for Windows 10. You can then do a clean install if you wish and Windows 10 should activate automatically. You can also clean install without upgrading first but this is a bit more complicated.

Upgrade: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/139745-upgrade-windows-10-windows-7-free.html

Clean install: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html

Clean install without upgrade: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials...10-directly-without-having-upgrade-first.html

You and Keith both recommended or mentioned "clean install" of W10. Does that not overwrite any pre-existing applications? Media Creation Tool does have an option for upgrade leaving existing applications in place. I'm asking mostly for my own edification, having failed the in-place upgrade due to licensing issues (different motherboard).

Note that Steppen Wolf wrote this in the OP:

"Will all my old applications run (like Lightroom 6 etc) or do I have to upgrade these (if that's even possible now)."

 

[Austinian]

All should be fine but ensure you back up your Windows 7 installation first e.g. using Macrium Reflect Free. When done your PC will have a digital licence for Windows 10. You can then do a clean install if you wish and Windows 10 should activate automatically. You can also clean install without upgrading first but this is a bit more complicated.

Upgrade: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/139745-upgrade-windows-10-windows-7-free.html

Clean install: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html

Clean install without upgrade: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials...10-directly-without-having-upgrade-first.html

You and Keith both recommended or mentioned "clean install" of W10. Does that not overwrite any pre-existing applications?

Yes, and optionally deletes existing partitions, which I usually want to do.

Media Creation Tool does have an option for upgrade leaving existing applications in place. I'm asking mostly for my own edification, having failed the in-place upgrade due to licensing issues (different motherboard).

That's useful for feature upgrades as well as full-version upgrades from 7 to 10.

Note that Steppen Wolf wrote this in the OP:

(Steppenwolf was a great novel, and a great band too IMO.)

"Will all my old applications run (like Lightroom 6 etc) or do I have to upgrade these (if that's even possible now)."

The same old applications will very probably run (all mine did) but they would need to be reinstalled, and any data the user wants to keep restored from a backup.

 

[Sean Nelson]

You and Keith both recommended or mentioned "clean install" of W10. Does that not overwrite any pre-existing applications? Media Creation Tool does have an option for upgrade leaving existing applications in place. I'm asking mostly for my own edification, having failed the in-place upgrade due to licensing issues (different motherboard).

Yes, a clean install wipes the slate - you'd have to reinstall all of your apps. This is exactly why it's so important to keep a copy of the installation media and license keys for every piece of software you have.
When I upgrade to a new operating system I always do a clean install and I've always been able to do it on new hardware - it gives me plenty of time to learn the new system and migrate my data and settings without burning any bridges until I know that it's set up and operating the way I want.

 

[Patco]

Note that Steppen Wolf wrote this in the OP:

(Steppenwolf was a great novel, and a great band too IMO.)

Indeed! In my early years, it was one of those bands that demanded the car radio be LOUD.

"Will all my old applications run (like Lightroom 6 etc) or do I have to upgrade these (if that's even possible now)."

The same old applications will very probably run (all mine did) but they would need to be reinstalled, and any data the user wants to keep restored from a backup.

Just to add; for programs that phone home to check the license status, and have the option to deactivate/reactivate the licence when moving from one computer to another, it may be prudent to do so to avoid complications.

 

[Austinian]

Note that Steppen Wolf wrote this in the OP:

(Steppenwolf was a great novel, and a great band too IMO.)

Indeed! In my early years, it was one of those bands that demanded the car radio be LOUD.

Ah, yes, "Born to be Wild" was the theme song for my first long motorcycle trip...and indeed that was wild. Positively inspirational, back in the day.

"Will all my old applications run (like Lightroom 6 etc) or do I have to upgrade these (if that's even possible now)."

The same old applications will very probably run (all mine did) but they would need to be reinstalled, and any data the user wants to keep restored from a backup.

Just to add; for programs that phone home to check the license status, and have the option to deactivate/reactivate the licence when moving from one computer to another, it may be prudent to do so to avoid complications.

Thanks for mentioning that; none of my programs have an explicit deactivation capability, but I know that's important for some applications.

 

[Steppen wolf]

Lots of good advice here - thanks very much to all. I liked the Herman Hesse novel - and I just happened to be looking at it when I had to make up a moniker. I identified with the middle-aged misanthrope who narrates it - Henry Haller. I can just see myself chucking my PC out of the window after I've screwed up the conversion because of complete incompetence.

 

[calson]

No reason to go to Windows 10 unless there is a critcial application that requires you to do so. Whichever Windows OS you are using it is important to use good third party anti-spyware, anti-virus, registery cleaners and the like as the core Windows operating system has not changed since 1995.

We added a new laptop and went with a Mac Pro to get a modern operating system with OS X rather than one running Window 10.

 

[stardotstar]

Was it still free?

 

[SC489]

Was it still free?

The upgrade remains free

 

[calson]

New computers only ship with Windows 10 and a very small number of applications are only supported on Windows 10. For everything else there are no problems with remaining with Windows 7 and continuing to have a stable environment for your work.

Going to Windows 10 you will still need a registry cleaner and anti-virus software and Trojan blockers and want the use of a firewall application like Comodo.

Windows 10 is far from being stable as this February patch synopsis shows

Loading…

support.microsoft.com

We have had Windows 7 laptops and towers but our new laptops will all be Mac Pro ones starting with our purchase of a 16" Mac Pro laptop last week.

 

[Simon Garrett]

New computers only ship with Windows 10 and a very small number of applications are only supported on Windows 10. For everything else there are no problems with remaining with Windows 7 and continuing to have a stable environment for your work.

Going to Windows 10 you will still need a registry cleaner and anti-virus software and Trojan blockers and want the use of a firewall application like Comodo.

Not really necessary. A registry cleaner can do more harm than good, and is rarely necessary. W10 has built-in antivirus and firewall software. If you really like belt-and-braces, run a free stand-alone checker such as Malwarebytes occasionally.

Windows 10 is far from being stable as this February patch synopsis shows

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4535996/windows-10-update-kb4535996

We have had Windows 7 laptops and towers but our new laptops will all be Mac Pro ones starting with our purchase of a 16" Mac Pro laptop last week.

 

[Austinian]

We have had Windows 7 laptops and towers but our new laptops will all be Mac Pro ones starting with our purchase of a 16" Mac Pro laptop last week.

The Mac Talk forum is eagerly awaiting your contributions.