I found myself forced to go to 10, a new computer for less than $200 left me no choice. Then ATT forced me to buy a faster modem. So they ate up my savings. Bottom line if Win 7 works I see no need for 10 unless you want your computer to look and feel like your smartphone.

I took a couple of my computers from Windows 7 to Windows 10.

It's not really difficult. My only advice would be to take it slow, read each screen, looking for keywords such as "Customize settings", "Skip this step", "Later", stuff like that.

For instance, it will ask you for your Microsoft account credentials. You will have the option of entering your existing credentials or creating a new account. (Nothing wrong with that if that's what you want) However, if you'd rather just have a local account(like with Windows 7), you have to look closely, it's not so obvious, it says "Skip this step" down below.

--------------------------------

.

"Customise settings" allows you to review some settings (such as privacy) and make your own decisions instead of just going with the Microsoft defaults. You can still go with the defaults, but I think it's good to know the alternatives.

.

Personally, I'd probably not rush to upgrade if Windows 7 was running smoothly and I was happy with it. Neither would I fear it. If you upgrade, just take it one screen at a time and you'll soon be done.

.

Truthfully though, and this is just me, I'd use whatever method I was familiar with to create a system image before upgrading. Not that I'd likely need it, just for peace of mind, just in case something goes unexpectedly wrong and I couldn't boot Windows 10 to restore Windows 7. (Such as this?) Unlikely perhaps but I like to be cautious, at least when it's not too hard. :)

Richard, thank you so much. I'm in the same boat as Nancy. But I'm moving from XP to Win10, I have a Win 8 laptop we never used because we couldn't figure it out - I'm 66, hubby is 83. So it has sat in a closet for 2 years collecting dust.

I'm going to open that laptop and give it a slow try following your great directions.

Thank you very much!!

Jane

You're welcome Jane.

I'm sure if you just take it one screen at a time, you'll be just fine. :)

The only fails reported to techs are due to installed anti virus or malware, it is advised to uninstall any of these except for Windows Defender and Microsoft Security Essentials. Do this prior to the install of W10 and all should go smooth as butta! your PC does all the work for you. After W10 is in, you can then reinstall AV of your choosing.

Win 7 is supported with updates until January 2020, Win 8 until 2025. The difference is then 5 years of updates (starting 5 years from now) when most older PCs may not be alive anyway. If you're uncomfortable doing the upgrade, then don't.

I have a multi-PC household and have replaced all Win 7 units (because of age) but one with PCs having Win 8. I plan to leave all as they are and do no migration to Win 10, I see no advantage in doing so. The Win 7 unit will be replaced before the support ends and the support date difference between 8 and 10 is 2023 vs 2025, which is irrelevant to me.

An OS is an OS, it's what's under the hood and mostly invisible. Programs and apps are what users interact with 90+ percent of the time. For most users, getting a new OS is no more important to the user experience than getting a new power strip to plug it into. It's easy to ignore.

I could upgrade my Win7 to Win10 at any time, but procrastinating. Guess my long-ago experience of trying the shiny new Win98 from Win95 & finding it ran my box at 1/2 the speed of 95 is giving me pause. Win98 was appalling junk. :)

beng12, I can find many people who would argue about 98 being junk. There are lots of people out there that absolutely loved Win 98SE. Windows XP However was the most loved of all MS Operating Systems.

IMO, Windows 10 is running much Faster on my Desktop, Laptops and Tablet then they ever did with Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1. When I first loaded Windows 10 I had decided to install it on just one of my seven desktop/laptops/tablet computers and give it a test run. I installed it on a Separate Hard Drive on my Laptop that was running Windows 7 Home Premium (I saved the other hard Drive intact just in case). Within two days of this install I upgraded all six of my other computers! I'm not saying Windows 10 is the Best of Microsoft's Operating Systems, but I do see it running my computers more efficiently!

Only thing I haven't upgraded is my Nokia Lumina 928 Windows Smartphone. They said it's eligible but nothing has been released yet! My Smart Phone is running on Windows 8.1.

Mudlady and Jane, Chuggerguy is right. Installing Windows 10 is nothing to be afraid of. Just take your time and follow the direction. If you get to a point where you don't understand something, just stop where you're at and post here asking questions! I'm sure someone will be here that can help! There are also tons of Videos on YouTube that you can use for help!

bugspop, on a PC platform, the differences between Win10 and Win 8 relate almost entirely to the user interface and new user tools (like Cortana). As far as the machinery is concerned, as affecting performance, there were reportedly few or no changes made.

10 is a newer version of 8 in some respects, and is identical to it in others.

W10 is more like W7 then even 8 it's a combination of both but faster and better and over all according to all the techs I am in contact with (many) some are testers, it has been very well received and approved by millions of users now. like I've been saying it's amazing and very user friendly and nothing to be afraid of. those who do not take the free full FREE version, well your only cheating yourself.

The laptop I would upgrade did not come with disks. I would like to erase everything to do a clean upgrade. Its mostly photos.

Is there a way to reinstall Win 8 to upgrade to Win 10 without any discs? I have no idea how to do that. All our other computers came with discs.

It is a Dell laptop, almost 3 yrs old. It has no warrantee but I'd like to do a clean install of Win 10?

Is that possible?

Thanks so much everyone,

Jane

You could restore W8 back to factory settings, then your PC would be like when you just got it out of the box, but then you would have to go to the Windows website and download W10, then install.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download

"Is there a way to reinstall Win 8 to upgrade to Win 10 without any discs?"

If you really want a fresh clean install of Windows 8(.1) you can do that. You can create clean Windows 8.1 install media using the media creation tool found here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8IS However, if the goal is to end up with clean fresh Windows 10, you can probably save time by skipping that step.

-----------------------

When you upgrade to Windows 10, select "Change what to keep" when you get to this screen(during the upgrade):

And "Nothing" when you get to this screen:

Credit to http://www.cnet.com/how-to/clean-install-windows-10/ for the above images.

-----------------------------

Of possible interest? https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/home

"W10 is more like W7 then even 8 it's a combination of both"

The articles I've read would dispute this. The User interface changed, as everyone knows, to abandon the tile approach as the primary screen and restore the traditional desktop. Beyond that, 10 is 8 with changes and additional features.

If you're suggesting that new core code and shell code in 8 were abandoned and replaced by old code from 7 to make Windows 10, I'll suggest that you're wrong.

Allot 3 hours of time for the upgrade. Most are more like two, but it depends on connection speed and the system itself. Be patient and don't start clicking on things thinking the process is frozen. When W10 tells you to do something do the task and then sit back and wait.

I haven't heard of an upgrading system blow up yet.

I do hate this, but I agree with Snidely as to his code position.

DA

Thanks to everyone. Richard, I wish I could take you out for a drink! But I don't know what you mean about a 'media creation tool.'?

The problem is this Win 8 laptop was a gift to my husband a few years ago. He couldn't figure out how to use it. He did install all sorts of things, most Photo Programs. Things are messed up. Nothing is running right. I don't want to deal with straightening it out. Long story.

I'd rather start from scratch and get the laptop back to the beginning. I don't think I can do that without installing Win 8 first then look for the install for 10.

Without disks, I don't know how to do this. Is there a setting on the computer where I can tell the computer to reinstall Windows?

Sorry if I sound so silly, but I've reinstalled OS from discs but have no idea if its possible without them. Where would I go on the computer?

Jane

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your advice. If I try to install Win 10 on the computer the way it is, that would erase everything that is messed up? I just figured, let me wipe this machine clean and start over. But if I could do the same thing by installing Win 10 that would be a time saver.

Sorry, this stuff is just over my old brain!

Jane

" ... 'media creation tool.'?"

Jane, that's what Microsoft is calling the tool that you download from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO If you download and run it on the machine you're upgrading, it should give you the option to "Upgrade this PC now". http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install That way you don't even have to burn a disc.

Once you start the upgrade, watch for the screens I posted above. (http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3438639/afraid-to-install-10#c13)

Selecting keep "nothing" should allow you to end up with a clean fresh Windows 10 installation.

.

" ... I've reinstalled OS from discs ... "

You'll do fine then, this should be easier.

.

BTW Jane, I'm just learning too. I did my netbook the hard way. I burned a Windows 7 disc, reinstalled Windows 7. Then I burned a Windows 10 disk and did the upgrade. I didn't realize there was a "Keep nothing" option that would have accomplished the same thing. It worked out fine though; I just wasted a little time. :)

Think I got what your saying Richard. Thank you sooo much. You are a life saver.

I haven't looked at the laptop for a while, but when I have a day to sit and figure this out I will do exactly what you recommend.

I can't thank you enough.

Jane

You're welcome Jane.

Before I upgrade, I'll want to get/use an .iso file to create a bootable installation/upgrade DVD. For me, need to have it in case of emergency (like a hard drive failure).

"Before I upgrade, I'll want to get/use an .iso file to create a bootable installation/upgrade DVD."

The media creation tool gives you that option too.

When you run it, just select "Create installation media for another PC". A couple screens later you choose between creating an ISO or burning the files directly to USB(which will be bootable).

.

BTW, if you visit the download page with a non-Windows machine, you'll not be offered the executable media creation tool. The page will assume you want to create media for another machine and only offer the ISO.

Richard, curious, a DVD is only 4.7 GB or so. I assume the .iso file will install on one DVD? If not, I'll need to use a USB thumb-drive (32 GB).