Is there a truly risk-free way to try Windows 10?

I've been hemming and hawing about giving Windows 10 a try.

But I'm very hesitant. Windows 7 SP1 runs fine and is configured to my liking.

Is there a truly risk-free way to try Windows 10?

I know that there is a 30-day free "return to Windows 7" option included with the Windows 10 "upgrade". But I hardly trust that after switching to Windows 10, and then back to Windows 7, that everything will be exactly the same.

So, step by step, is there some way to switch from Windows 7 SP1 to Windows 10, and then switch back (if desired) so that Windows 7 is exactly how it was before it was touched by Windows 10?

I'm only using about 250GB on the 1GB hard drive, so maybe it's possible to backup onto that same drive? I also have an external USB hard drive with about 300GB free on it, so that's another possibility.

AddRAM said:

I wouldn`t even bother with cloning 7, just get another drive (as suggested) and clean install 10 and give it a test run.

Remember to unplug your windows 7 drive, and any other drives before you install 10.

The "free upgrade" allows a clean install?

AddRAM said:

There`s only 9 days left for the free upgrade to 10. Why did you wait so long ?

Because I read thousands of posts from people claiming it is horrible in so many ways. But I've also read some posts by people saying they like it. Overall, the negative posts greatly outweigh the positive ones, but I'm still curious to try it.