How To Replace my Win7 Pro to Win10?

[1st fltsimguy 466]

I really want to give MSFS a go but I can't until I get my Windows updated.

I have a $2,700 PC loaded pretty good and do not want to buy another PC, I can't afford it.

I am totally familiar with the ability to upgrade from Win7 pro to Win10 pro, I have tried it twice.  Both times it failed.  Meaning I could go through the process but due to some sorts of errors I get well known and posted problems.  One, the launch to black screen.  For which I found five possible solutions, which I tried all five and all failed to fix this issues.

Two, I can launch in safe mode but I get greyed out menus making it impossible to work with the OS.

I have tried about five ways to install the MS downloader, reassign boot order and launch but all fail.  I also have tried to do a dual boot system following video tutorials online which I was also not able to get to work.

All I want it a Win10 OS installed on my PC.  How do I get one?

Can one buy an HD with Win10 installed and license activated and plug into a PC currently with WIn7?

Any ideas or suggestions that allow me to retain my current PC?

Bryan

[Jude Bradley 659]

I would suggest a clean install of Windows 10, https://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-to-clean-install-windows-10/

[1st fltsimguy 466]

1 hour ago, Jude Bradley said:

I would suggest a clean install of Windows 10, https://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-to-clean-install-windows-10/

OK this is interesting, I didn't think the selection of ..for another PC applied.  I will read this through thoroughly.  Basically I have used the approach but always selected "upgrade this PC" option and gone from there.

I want to retain my C drive personal files, settings if possible, if not well I'll just reinstall everything and upgrade.

 

[jmdriskell 178]

I've done this a number of times.  I backup the important stuff from the c drive to a external storage drive, then do a clean install and restore your info.  You might think about using a cloud based backup service such as "Backblaze" before you make the move.  Then you have two choices for the re-install. 

 

Jim Driskell

[1st fltsimguy 466]

12 minutes ago, jmdriskell said:

I've done this a number of times.  I backup the important stuff from the c drive to a external storage drive, then do a clean install and restore your info.  You might think about using a cloud based backup service such as "Backblaze" before you make the move.  Then you have two choices for the re-install. 

 

Jim Driskell

Thanks you guys and @jmdriskell, this actually gives me "strength" to give it a go, again!  Yes I have plenty of HD space to backup my C drive.

[Ted Striker 338]

I don't know how often you will need to return to windows 7 or whether you just want it as a backup. What I have done with some of the win 7 computers in my house is remove the working win 7 SSD and put in a new SSD for win10. That way I could always put the win 7 drive back in and be up and running if I needed to. After I had win 10, all my other software, and data installed and working on the new drive I still kept my win 7 drive as another backup. The last time I checked SSDs were still reasonably priced and available.

Ted

[1st fltsimguy 466]

42 minutes ago, Ted Striker said:

I don't know how often you will need to return to windows 7 or whether you just want it as a backup. What I have done with some of the win 7 computers in my house is remove the working win 7 SSD and put in a new SSD for win10. That way I could always put the win 7 drive back in and be up and running if I needed to. After I had win 10, all my other software, and data installed and working on the new drive I still kept my win 7 drive as another backup. The last time I checked SSDs were still reasonably priced and available.

Ted

This is exactly where I want to be.

[onebob 125]

I had similar problems couldn’t get w10 installed on my c dive. Turn out I had a very small partition where I think some w7 os was placed. Had to enlarge the partition and then the W10 installation went on ok.

Recently changed the c drive for a 1 tb , bought a usb/ sata cable for the old c drive and use it as additional storage.

[Hornit 3]

You could install a fresh drive, SSD or a HD and do a fresh install of Win 10 on it. Keep your old HD (Win 7) installed and just change the boot order in the BIOS screen when you want to go back and use the old drive/software. When you are done, you just reboot and use the BIOS to use the new drive again. Ive done this successfully many times over the years. Just takes a few moments to switch.