Question regarding windows key and upgrading

Im trying to figure out a way to keep all my programs and installed games(non game distribution like steam or origin...etc) upgrading to windows 10 from windows 7. I have multiple HDD containing installed games and a SSD containing my os and installed programs. Heres my questions

1.If i was going to unplug all my other HDD containing my installed games while leaving my OS and programs SSD plugged in will it work? Or do i need to have all drives plugged in for windows upgrade?

2.Lets say i can have the non os hdd unplugged while upgrading my os and lets say during windows upgrading process like the media creation tool didnt keep my all my installed programs. If i had a clone copy of my ssd containing OS and installed programs can i just unplug the updated windows on the plugged in ssd and plug in the clone ssd thats containing my windows 7 before upgrade. Will it still work? or the key has been changed i can no longer use it again?

hope i explain it well and its not too confusing

Leave all drives in goto media creation tool site hit update it will update and keep all your programs and games it won't ask for a key. It then gives you 30 days to role back. It's normally bomb proof

samuria said:

Leave all drives in goto media creation tool site hit update it will update and keep all your programs and games it won't ask for a key. It then gives you 30 days to role back. It's normally bomb proof

Ive seen alot of problems people post online with media creation tool, i wish it was bomb proof. This might be a expensive solution but i think i should clone all my drive as a backup in case my programs and games dont get fully transfer over to windows 10. If not all programs or games are transferred after the windows 10 in place upgrade i can unplugged all current drives and just plug in my clone drives and it will be like i never updated. Am i right?

A backup is always best idea but its rare there are any problems unless the games arnt supported I have done loads and most people it will go trouble free

samuria said:

A backup is always best idea but its rare there are any problems unless the games arnt supported I have done loads and most people it will go trouble free

can you please answer second part of my question regarding clone drive plugged in after windows 10 upgrade.

If you want to be exceptionally well protected against any possible upgrade issues, make an IMAGE of ALL of your drives -- no need to clone them; just have an image file so you can restore them to their exact state if need be. Any good imaging utility will work -- I prefer Image for Windows, but if you want a free utility Macrium Reflect will do.

I agree, however, that the '10 upgrade is VERY reliable. But if you want it to keep all your programs and data, they need to be "seen" by the system during the upgrade, so you do NOT want to unplug your other drives.

I would use the Media Creation Tool and create an "ISO for use on another system". Then use 7-Zip to extract the files in the ISO to a folder on your system; and then run Setup from that folder. This will run the Windows 10 installer and you'll be able to choose what to keep -- by default it will have your files and programs already selected. When it finishes, you'll be running '10

… and as already noted, you can easily roll back to your previous OS for 30 days -- it's literally just a few mouse clicks to do that.

Yes the clone will still work but don't forget you can role back the upgrade for 30 days

garycase said:

If you want to be exceptionally well protected against any possible upgrade issues, make an IMAGE of ALL of your drives -- no need to clone them; just have an image file so you can restore them to their exact state if need be. Any good imaging utility will work -- I prefer Image for Windows, but if you want a free utility Macrium Reflect will do.

I agree, however, that the '10 upgrade is VERY reliable. But if you want it to keep all your programs and data, they need to be "seen" by the system during the upgrade, so you do NOT want to unplug your other drives.

I would use the Media Creation Tool and create an "ISO for use on another system". Then use 7-Zip to extract the files in the ISO to a folder on your system; and then run Setup from that folder. This will run the Windows 10 installer and you'll be able to choose what to keep -- by default it will have your files and programs already selected. When it finishes, you'll be running '10

… and as already noted, you can easily roll back to your previous OS for 30 days -- it's literally just a few mouse clicks to do that.

samuria said:

Yes the clone will still work but don't forget you can role back the upgrade for 30 days

Thanks guys, may i ask why imaging over cloning? Ive done cloning before fairly easy plug and play with cloned hdd. With imaging is it ISO when its done and i need to run it on the drive i want it on?


I have 4 1tb hdd containing installed games, will imaging be better than just cloning it? if imaging how big will the image file be?


Im little confused about the media creation tool. From youtube videos ive seen even without creating another iso for another system and running it later it still asks you if you want to keep programs and data.

An image doesnt creat an ISo it creates a file in its own format which is a lot smaller than the drive if you image a 200gig drive half full it will only take up 100gig plus most have an option to comnpress which will depend on the data. With images you can keep several as they are smaller. The problm with clone is windows writes a signature to the disk if you put a clone back with orginal disk it sees it as the same disk and may not work with a disk signature collision.


As stated just got to the media creation website and hit upgrade now it then downloads for YOUR pc and it will download any updates needed were the iso may not. if you get an iso it may contain other version and a lot bigger

samuria said:

An image doesnt creat an ISo it creates a file in its own format which is a lot smaller than the drive if you image a 200gig drive half full it will only take up 100gig plus most have an option to comnpress which will depend on the data. With images you can keep several as they are smaller. The problm with clone is windows writes a signature to the disk if you put a clone back with orginal disk it sees it as the same disk and may not work with a disk signature collision.


As stated just got to the media creation website and hit upgrade now it then downloads for YOUR pc and it will download any updates needed were the iso may not. if you get an iso it may contain other version and a lot bigger

Thanks ill give that a suggested advice a try once the support ends. I cant find specific media creation for my system, the download seems generic.



Btw is there a way to combine my 4 1tb hdd with already installed games into a 4tb hdd?