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Whenever I backup I want both C: and E: to be backed up. In your backup articles it is not clear (at least to me ) just which drives can or will be backed up with the various Windows 10 alternatives which are discussed. In the past I used a backup program called Rebit Pro which backed up every file, no matter which drive it was on, that was changed as soon as that file was closed.

I’m not an expert on backups (I’m a computer engineer:-) but I suggest it may help if you distinguish between whole disk backups and individual file backups. Macrium is good at doing the former – and Windows 10 also provides a similar function (“system image” with a “repair disk” to give you access to the system image should the C disk drive actually become non-bootable.) These type of images are not usually done very often; with Windows 10 you an actually reinstall the OS (“refresh”) without losing data which is a new, and welcome, feature of 10.

Daily (or more frequent) data backups (previously performed by your Rebit Pro) are also catered for in Windows 10 with File History. Subject to negative comments in another post in this thread, I recommend you give this a try. You can select folders from multiple drives (your C and E). Just make sure the backup location has plenty of space and check that the files are backed up as expected. The thing I like about File History is that you can browse to the files just as you browse to any other file.

All good stuff, but surely the best way to achieve a “clean windows PC” is to reinstall the OS? Unless you don’t trust your audience to have a sufficiently good backup policy, Windows 10 (and 8 before it) have a refresh option, without affecting files, which may be a straight forward compromise.
For Windows 10 see here -> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-10/refresh-is-part-of-reset-in-windows-10
And for 8 here -> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc

If I upgrade a machine from Win7 or Win8.1 to Win10 and later do a Refresh, what operating system will I end up with?

Win10. If you’re not convinced think about this. After you have upgraded to Win10 -and verified that activation has worked (your license has been correctly record at MS servers)- do a Reset (NB. save data files first from ALL partitions!). Now when you do a Refresh what do you think you will end up with? Answer: there’s nothing to go back to except Win10.

As far as I know the upgrade from 7 to 10 is a full program and data upgrade and so all desktop data (and all users) should be maintained. Why wouldn’t it be? Make a backup first though. (as always).

And a hot-off-the-press MS Forum post. “No product keys are required.” [for clean reinstall of Windows10]
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-win_upgrade/reinstalling-windows-10-after-upgrade/578d0b7f-57e4-4893-b9d1-6cfac0d6290a?tm=1434646337185

IFrom what I read here, when ready, the download would take place without my knowledge and I would only be notified about when the Install would take place.

This is “Windows Update” so it really depends how this normally works for you. HOWEVER, this being a 3GB update it will NOT install without your permission first. Options are sketchy but include :-
– do you want to install now
– do you want to install at a later time
I have NOT seen any reported options like “save to media” (as we have seen previously) so if you are concered about multiple downloads of 3GB I would:-
1. cancel reservations
2. wait a couple of months anyway (what’s the hurry?)
3. download the ISOs that you need (hopefully all your rigs are the same OS/bit-length), burn that to DVD/USB and use that.

The iso would work providing they allowed you to enter old product key then let install continue. I do not buy my computers. I build them myself. Buying a computer for me will never happen.

So the yes or no question is: Can you upgrade with just old product key on new hardware?

Sorry I didn’t realise you had your old (windows 7) keys; I doubt very much you will be able to install “windows 10 upgrade” with just a windows 7 key.
I’d rebuild your windows 7 computers with ISOs from here
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery
[Of-course because you have new hardware, activation may be an issue here. A call to MS will be required!]
Then you can upgrade.

Do you know if there is any other way to get the upgrade other than the reservation method? I ask because I recently had my house burn down and lost all of my computers. For six of them i used the Windows 7 family pack. I purchased two packs. It allowed you to install WIN 7 on three computers. So could one say get Windows 10 upgrade with just the product key?

Download ISO after release. The problem is you have no existing product(s) which you can upgrade. Surely (surely!) you will be buying new windows 7 (or whatever) licenses/computers through your house insurance?
PS. terrible about your house.

“And if you haven’t updated from Win8 to 8.1, a necessary requirement for Win10, ” No its not. That’s only if you use Windows Update to upgrade. There’ll be ISOs available from the end of July to update ALL versions of Windows 7 and 8 to 10.

But I agree, best to NOT reserve the upgrade yet. Give them a couple of months to iron out any nasties. The main questions are the usual ones like:-
– can I clean install 10? (A: yes but you have to go through the upgrade first when Microsoft will generate you a (possibly invisible to users) windows 10 license based on previous license + hardware id)
– can I go back to my previous Windows if I don’t like 10? (A: depends whether Microsoft keeps the “Revert back to previous Windows” option in Recovery; I doubt it; you’ll have to talk to MS to revert back; best to try 10 first before you upgrade)