Advice needed on upgrading to Windows 10 Home.

graywoulf said:

With consideration to the problems I am having with Win 7 HP, and after all of the helpful suggestions on my other threads, I am considering upgrading to Win 10 Home on my Dell Inspiron 17 laptop. I am sure that the laptop can handle this upgrade but I have a question or two about doing this.

I just did a complete backup using the Windows backup utility and I have read that I can install Win 10 and be able to do a restore from Win 7. I would like someone to confirm this if possible.

I also would like to know if the backup does contain all of my files including all documents, pictures, folders and programs or is it just a system image? The backup used almost 850 gigs of my WD Passport 1T portable drive. At least that is my assessment. Windows Explorer reports that there is 83.6 GB left of 931 GB of the storage space available.

Depending on the option(s) you chose, Backup & Restore can just back up you user files, back up user files and include a system image, or just make a system image. Which did you select? If you made a system image then you should also have made a recovery CD/DVD when offered at the end of making the system image. You can boot from this recovery disk to restore the system image.

If you chose to back up files then Backup & Restore creates a backup set containing your user files in a folder on your external drive that has the same name as your PC. This will hold all your user files and photos, but not your programs. Windows 10 includes 'Backup & Restore (Windows 7)' which can restore your user files from the backup set.


If you have created a system image there will also be be a folder named WindowsImageBackup. A system image includes everything from your PC, the Windows OS, your programs and your user files. But it is not possible (or at least, not easy) to recover individual files from a system image.

I'm honestly not looking forward to this as I cannot possibly imagine that this is going to be easy.

Any and all advice will be GREATLY appreciated.

It's easier than you think, you can upgrade your Windows 7 to Windows 10 and retain your user accounts, passwords, user files and installed software. You have sensibly made a backup before starting, but you are unlikely to need it. All your files should still be there after the upgrade. See:

Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free | Tutorials

One sensible precaution would be to uninstall any 3rd-party AV before starting. Windows 10 has its own Windows Security AV built in, so you shouldn't need any other AV.

graywoulf said:

I also would like to know if the backup does contain all of my files including all documents, pictures, folders and programs or is it just a system image? The backup used almost 850 gigs of my WD Passport 1T portable drive. At least that is my assessment. Windows Explorer reports that there is 83.6 GB left of 931 GB of the storage space available.

I know that this copy of Win 7 HP SP1 was installed in 2013 so I figure that now that Microsoft no longer supports Win 7 and I could not download the ISO files that I needed to repair my original Win 7 OS factory installation that it is time to move forward. I'm honestly not looking forward to this as I cannot possibly imagine that this is going to be easy.

Any and all advice will be GREATLY appreciated.

Did you perform a full system Image? The 850 GB is most likely a full image. Mount/open the backup and look! What did you do the backup with? Hopefully not Microsoft backup!

Read my last few posts on the other thread you started that I continue to respond to. I don't give up on computer issues easily!

graywoulf said:

I know that this copy of Win 7 HP SP1 was installed in 2013 so I figure that now that Microsoft no longer supports Win 7 and I could not download the ISO files that I needed to repair my original Win 7 OS factory installation that it is time to move forward.

Wrong, that is why Microsoft has made it very very difficult to get a Win7 ISO, they want you to upgrade to Win10. As I stated I can help you with TeamViewer for a few minutes, depending on your download speeds!
Snick

Western Digital is not one of my recommended drives! Too many failures!
SevenForums recommends AOMEI Backupper Free or Macrium Reflect Free as your backup software. I prefer to recommend AOMEI, it is a little more user friendly. They both have the same basic backup functions.
AOMEI had a pro key giveaway but I believe that expired Jan 15th or so.

graywoulf said:

I have found a seller on eBay that is selling a brand new OEM copy of Win 10 Home on a disc that he guarantees to be the genuine article. Even though I don't usually consider buying such items there, I don't have much choice at this time financially speaking. The pictures and description looks good and the package does have the holographic sticker on it.

Why? You can still upgrade to Win 10 home for free right now. Your current valid key transfers!!!
Download Windows 10 Disc Image (ISO File) - Microsoft

To keep your computer secure you can still update Windows 7 to Windows 10 for free, see our Tutorial at Ten Forums for instructions

Your current valid 25 character key if needed, I ran the tool upgraded and didn't need my key for activation

Create Windows 10 installation media

To get started, you will first need to have a license to install Windows 10. You can then download and run the media creation tool. For more information on how to use the tool, see the instructions below.
Download tool now
If you need to, use your win7 25 character key
To obtain key run KeyFinder | Magical Jelly Bean
You want CD key from MJB not Product ID
I believe you can copy paste key