[iamstillwater]

Hello!

It's been a while since I've posted here, but I was wondering if you could provide me with some guidance, as I'm a bit lost regarding upgrading to Windows 10.

My current situation:

I'm running Windows 7 and have enough updates to let me go directly to Windows 10.

My computer uses two disk drives, with 2 partitions each. I keep the Windows 7 install on a partition separate from everything else, and it's smaller than the other ones, so I can tell which partition it is.

I'm also using an NVIDIA GTX 960, and have GeForce Xperience installed, along with a specific driver that works well with my machine for the games I play.



Questions:

1. What is the difference between an upgrade and a clean or fresh install of Windows 10? Which one is preferable given my partitions?

2. Will Windows 10 wipe the Windows 7 partition on a clean install?

3. How do I reconnect my programs and files to their proper places? For instance, how do I reassign my partition diskdrive letters in WIN 10?

4. Are there any programs or MMORPGs that do not play well with Windows 10? I sort of hop around a lot but play Steam Games, FFXIV, WoW, The Elder Scrolls Online, and SWTOR most.

5. Will upgrading to Windows 10 cause issues on my video card? I saw once (anecdotal) that someone attested to Windows 10 not playing nice with GeForce Xperience? Should I uninstall Geforce Xperience? Will I be forcibly updated to the latest GTX 960 driver at the end of the WIndows 10 install?

6. How about programs? I use third-parties and free programs a lot, and I was wondering if I'd lose functionaltiy for the following:

LibreOffice, NotePad++, Slack, Discord, Forge.gg, Evernote, Musicbee, Keepass, CCCP (the codecs that let you play anything).

7. Upon completion of the upgrade, should I decide to continue, are there any tips or recommended things I should do to make Windows 10 act like Windows 7? For instance, what's the equivalent of the User Account Control settings, so I can turn it off?

8. Is there anything else you can offer in terms of advice or wellwishes?

Thanks again!

EDIT TO ADD:

Sorry, some additional thoughts.

I won't lose my files, will I?

Another thought. Can I keep using Google Chrome and Firefox?

 

[Masterchiefxx17]

1. What is the difference between an upgrade and a clean or fresh install of Windows 10? Which one is preferable given my partitions?

An upgrade of an older version of Windows will replace the current version of Windows with the later version. Keeping your files and installed programs (if supported).

A clean or fresh install would be removing everything on the drive or partition and installing Windows with a fresh or clean image.

2. Will Windows 10 wipe the Windows 7 partition on a clean install?

When installing Windows 10 using an ISO key (CD or USB), you will have the option on where to install the operating system. If your hard drive is already partitioned, you will have the option to select that partition to have Windows install a clean install.

3. How do I reconnect my programs and files to their proper places? For instance, how do I reassign my partition diskdrive letters in WIN 10?

If you do an upgrade path, which I recommend you do, your drive letters should remain untouched.

Remember, upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10 using the upgrading tool keeps everything and transfers it to Windows 10, including personal settings.

4. Are there any programs or MMORPGs that do not play well with Windows 10? I sort of hop around a lot but play Steam Games, FFXIV, WoW, The Elder Scrolls Online, and SWTOR most.

I can't speak for all of them since I don't play all of those. By now, I would say that everything is well supported.

5. Will upgrading to Windows 10 cause issues on my video card? I saw once (anecdotal) that someone attested to Windows 10 not playing nice with GeForce Xperience? Should I uninstall Geforce Xperience? Will I be forcibly updated to the latest GTX 960 driver at the end of the WIndows 10 install?

GeForce Experience, while buggy (the program, not in Windows 10), performs just fine. It's Windows 10 supported and I have been using it on seven of my machines.

No need to uninstall it or change drivers.

6. How about programs? I use third-parties and free programs a lot, and I was wondering if I'd lose functionaltiy for the following:

LibreOffice, NotePad++, Slack, Discord, Forge.gg, Evernote, Musicbee, Keepass, CCCP (the codecs that let you play anything).

OpenOffice, NotePad, Evernote, Keepass will work for sure. Furthermore, I would believe the rest work just fine.

Remember, Windows 10 has compatibility mode built in now for all licenses. Meaning you can run a program as if its in Windows 7.

7. Upon completion of the upgrade, should I decide to continue, are there any tips or recommended things I should do to make Windows 10 act like Windows 7? For instance, what's the equivalent of the User Account Control settings, so I can turn it off?

You can turn UAC off if you wish; if you already have it off and upgrade your Windows 7, it will remain off.

As for making it like Windows 7, I would recommend you keep the looks and learn Windows 10 instead.

8. Is there anything else you can offer in terms of advice or wellwishes?

Backup all of your important data and allow Windows to do all of its work. They did the upgrading path well!

I won't lose my files, will I?

You shouldn't, but that doesn't mean something can't go wrong. While rare, it is possible! So I highly recommend backing up your very important documents like Photos, Music, Videos, etc.

Another thought. Can I keep using Google Chrome and Firefox?

Yes, of course.

 

[Rich-M]

NIce job Justin. Can I add a little more caution here? When considering the upgrade I have to ask the user how long has Windows 7 been installed and are you trying to fix some problems with your Windows 7 or is it just you want the newest version of Windows? The reason I ask is the upgrade process does not do well if you are trying to fix a mess and if the version of Windows you have has been on this pc for a long time as the longer it is there the more corruption issues pile up. Now ith the upgarde you do have 30 days to roll it back if things do not go well, however the last few of those I did not go very well so I would like to put in a good word for doing a clean install. I know it is more work but you will better enjoy the results I think.

 

[iamstillwater]

NIce job Justin. Can I add a little more caution here? When considering the upgrade I have to ask the user how long has Windows 7 been installed and are you trying to fix some problems with your Windows 7 or is it just you want the newest version of Windows? The reason I ask is the upgrade process does not do well if you are trying to fix a mess and if the version of Windows you have has been on this pc for a long time as the longer it is there the more corruption issues pile up. Now ith the upgarde you do have 30 days to roll it back if things do not go well, however the last few of those I did not go very well so I would like to put in a good word for doing a clean install. I know it is more work but you will better enjoy the results I think.

Hello!

My Windows 7 install is a clean install from maybe less than a year ago. Likely around 6 months old.

Thoughts?

 

[jenae]

Hi, very good answer from chief, the upgrade path is the best way for you, unless you have a windows seven dvd, a fresh install will not allow you to revert back to seven, so you would have to fresh install seven to revert.

Having said that a fresh install is preferred to an upgrade, still most have found the upgrade path worked well, and if your system is now without problems, I would go that path.

 

[Rich-M]

With a relatively new install of Windows 7 I think the upgrade will work fine for you and as said you can always go back if not so. Recently the upgrade path has been working well but that is only recently true. The best way will always be clean install that said imho.

 

[iamstillwater]

Hi, very good answer from chief, the upgrade path is the best way for you, unless you have a windows seven dvd, a fresh install will not allow you to revert back to seven, so you would have to fresh install seven to revert.

Having said that a fresh install is preferred to an upgrade, still most have found the upgrade path worked well, and if your system is now without problems, I would go that path.

Hello!

Thank you! I do actually own a disc copy of Windows 7, so I should be good. Assuming that using my code allows me to re-install Windows 7 or 10 afterwards.

 

[Rich-M]

Hello!

It's been a while since I've posted here, but I was wondering if you could provide me with some guidance, as I'm a bit lost regarding upgrading to Windows 10.

My current situation:

I'm running Windows 7 and have enough updates to let me go directly to Windows 10.

My computer uses two disk drives, with 2 partitions each. I keep the Windows 7 install on a partition separate from everything else, and it's smaller than the other ones, so I can tell which partition it is.

I'm also using an NVIDIA GTX 960, and have GeForce Xperience installed, along with a specific driver that works well with my machine for the games I play.



Questions:

1. What is the difference between an upgrade and a clean or fresh install of Windows 10? Which one is preferable given my partitions?

2. Will Windows 10 wipe the Windows 7 partition on a clean install?

The above have been answered already in this thread.

3. How do I reconnect my programs and files to their proper places? For instance, how do I reassign my partition diskdrive letters in WIN 10?

The Upgrade will leave you partitions and programs listed in tact.
Clean install you can change drive letters in Partition Management except for "c" drive of course.

4. Are there any programs or MMORPGs that do not play well with Windows 10? I sort of hop around a lot but play Steam Games, FFXIV, WoW, The Elder Scrolls Online, and SWTOR most.

Steam should be fine

5. Will upgrading to Windows 10 cause issues on my video card? I saw once (anecdotal) that someone attested to Windows 10 not playing nice with GeForce Xperience? Should I uninstall Geforce Xperience? Will I be forcibly updated to the latest GTX 960 driver at the end of the WIndows 10 install?

Windows 10 Nvidia cards can have driver issues so I wold suggest you go and download newest Nvidia driver for Windows 10 on your card now.

6. How about programs? I use third-parties and free programs a lot, and I was wondering if I'd lose functionaltiy for the following:

LibreOffice, NotePad++, Slack, Discord, Forge.gg, Evernote, Musicbee, Keepass, CCCP (the codecs that let you play anything).

Those should all be fine.

7. Upon completion of the upgrade, should I decide to continue, are there any tips or recommended things I should do to make Windows 10 act like Windows 7? For instance, what's the equivalent of the User Account Control settings, so I can turn it off?

Personally I find the start menu hateful and nothing more than the Metro or Start page in Windows 8 shrunk down so I use Classic Shell on all systems I see with Windows 10. I also right click that annoying search bar that covers 1/3 of the taskbar and hide it and Cortana.

8. Is there anything else you can offer in terms of advice or wellwishes?



Thanks again!

EDIT TO ADD:

Sorry, some additional thoughts.

I won't lose my files, will I?

No if you are careful.



Another thought. Can I keep using Google Chrome and Firefox?

Yes of course.