Replies

colmac,

Regardless of the abovementioned by Alex, if you’re running a legal copy of Win 7 Pro, I see no reason not to try an inplace upgrade to Win 10 Pro, using the Media Creation Tool. Of course, this assumes you’ve cloned your system drive, in case things go sideways. The free update still works.

Zig

Webmaster:

Please make the above post a “stickie.”

Zig

I figured out the source of my confusion. I thought that by the name “Image for Windows,” you meant the built-in (inbuilt for our UK friends) Windows disk imaging feature. I now see that I4W is another Terabyte program. Sorry for leading you off into an unnecessary sidebar.

Zig

I thought you did your backups with BootIt Bare Metal, or am I conflating 2 programs for different purposes??

Zig

It depends on how often you multitask, i.e., run several things at once. I can’t guarantee you’d notice the difference, but adding a 2nd 8GB chip (preferably matched to the 1st one) could help your speed (dual channel).

Zig

No need to install the Insider Preview Program (I’m not sure what the reasoning behind that suggestion was). Looks like 8GB is the max for your laptop, so go for it.

Zig

So, install Win 10 on the laptop first. Don’t worry about Home vs. Pro., just take what’s offered. You MIGHT consider upping your RAM to 8 GB if you are facile enough to do that on a laptop, but not essential (maybe that’s why you describe your laptop as “slow”). Should cost $40-$60 to go to 8GB or 16GB, but anything over 4GB would be an improvement.

Zig

“So I think what I will do is buy a new Win 10 laptop, and do my Win 10 ‘learning’ on it. Then I can also sort out any issues without really affecting my computer usage.”

You’re overthinking it. I tried installing Win 10 on 2 “junk” computers, but they were beyond repair, so I “bit the bullet” and everything went fine; very short learning curve. Unless, of course, you really WANTED that new laptop ( and couldn’t speed up the old one by adding more RAM ).

Zig

“Zig suggested Defragging your OS drive but since it’s an SSD, I wouldn’t recommend that.”

Oops – sorry, he’s right. Just defrag your data drives (if you wish).

Zig

1.  Go for it.  16 GB would be nice, but not required.

2.  Free upgrade still works.  You do not need to pay anything to transition to Windows 10.

3.  The only really important version of Pro is the ability to delay/defer updates, but you get Pro since you are upgrading from Windows 7 Pro.

4.  Everything works fine for the upgrade unless you are having severe Internet problems.

5.  Almost everything that will run on Windows 7 will run on Windows 10; little need for Compatibility Mode if the program ran okay on Windows 7.

6.  I ALWAYS recommend moving data to a different drive from that of my operating system.  Now would be an ideal time to do that.  No need to use Macrium Reflect (though a backup is always good to have), just move the data.

7.  Although I do not have firsthand experience in this matter, I believe that Windows 10 will not alter your other programs installed in non-default locations.

8.  Sorry, I do not know.

9.  You are perfectly fine to install Windows 10 with a free space you have; in the old days and upgrade acquired the size of your windows for older plus approximately 9 GB; I believe that number is now 7 GB, and after Windows 10 build 1903 your installation will reserve that much for the future.

First, clean your computer of any unwanted data, old backups, etc.  Then run a good scan with an anti-virus program and clean everything up with CCleaner. ,

Next, defrag at least your operating system drive.  Before the install, turn any non-Microsoft antivirus off .

Use your Macrium Reflect to make a complete copy of your operating system drive (presumably C:), and a copy of your (new) data drive will even give you more security.  For safety put them on an external backup drive, then just go ahead and download your new copy of Windows 10 from Microsoft.  Happy computing.

Zig

 

I agree; a detailed step-by-step description would be most appreciated, even if not all of the mods are implemented by each user.
Zig

Krzemien,

I suspect that the keys, when depressed, push together 2 flexible membranes with circuit tracings on them. When wet & soapy they get stick together by surface tension. When the apparatus dries out, they become unstuck & function normally. That’s what happened to a standalone (and therefore able to be disassembled) keyboard of mine in the past.

Zig

FWIW, SMB Direct is present & enabled on my 1809 install.

Zig

1 user thanked author for this post.

Rick Corbett

v. 4.21 now also available on OlderGeeks.com

Zig

Indeed, v.4.21 was on Majorgeeks.com.

Zig