Windows 10 upgrade path

[Skinleech]

Hi all.

So I am about to upgrade my parent's pc from a core 2 duo to core i5 & ssd & will install windows 10.

Unless th2 appears in the next couple days I can't really wait for it to avoid the need to have win 7 already installed so am thinking I have 3 options :

1. Use the current HDD in their pc which has win 7 home on it in the new build. It'll need to install loads of drivers etc but will immediately get upgraded to 10 then a fresh install.

2. Format mechanical HDD, install win 7, upgrade to 10,clean install 10. Trying to avoid many installs on a new ssd.

3. As per number 2 but all on the sdd.

Hoping number 1 works but would appreciate advice.

Thanks.

[shaithis]

If the Win7 is OEM, will any of the methods work?

If it were me, I would go far enough on the old PC to get the Win 10 key and then install clean on the SSD after doing the upgrades.

[Skinleech]

Ok, thanks. I didn't think that would work in that the internals would be so different it wouldn't recognise the new pc as the one tied to the win 7 key. Perhaps I misunderstood the upgrade options.

[scaryjim]

Is their copy of Win 7 retail or OEM? If it's the latter you'll be operating outside of the license terms if you transfer it to a new PC.

if it's retail, then option 1 is the way to go - generalise the Win 7 install, stick the HD into the new machine, boot up, install a million and one drivers and updates, and you're ready to update to Win 10 as and when. Once you move to the SSD you can use drive cloning software to simply copy the OS straight onto the SSD.

[Skinleech]

It's retail from when Win 7 was available half price.

Option 1 was my preferred choice so all sounds good, thanks.

[scaryjim]

... Option 1 was my preferred choice so all sounds good, thanks.

No worries I'd clone the original Win 10 install onto the SSD and try it for a bit before doing a clean install, personally - with the speed boost from the SSD you might find the clean install isn't necessary, and it'll save you some hassle.

The only caveat I will pose is that AFAIK once you upgrade retail Win 7 to Win 10 it becomes machine locked; I've not heard anything official stating otherwise. If that's the case a second major upgrade later may require a new OS purchase..

[Skinleech]

That should be fine I think, the machine will only be used for light tasks - emails, browsing, some occasional YouTube, so I don't expect to be upgrading it further any time soon.

Appreciate the heads up though.

[abaxas]

That should be fine I think, the machine will only be used for light tasks - emails, browsing, some occasional YouTube, so I don't expect to be upgrading it further any time soon.

Appreciate the heads up though.

So that begs the question... why is the current core2duo not fast enough?

[Skinleech]

It's not that it's not fast enough. The machine is on its last legs with random loss of power. They've asked for an upgrade so I've obliged.

Yes it's likely overkill, but will last them a while.

[kimandsally]

I keep getting BSOD halfway through.