Windows 10: Cloned 8.1 drive - keep or use for 10 back-ups?

I currently have a cloned 8.1 drive that is unplugged and was done only for back-up before installing 10. Question, since I have no plans to go back to 8.1 I wonder if I should just use it as a test bed for new 10 releases? I guess I could hang on to it but it seems like a waste (until I need it). Maybe just pop-in a new HDD, they are fairly cheap now a days. Opinions?

:)

 

Windows 10 issues

download macrium reflect. clone windows 10 to the other drive. boot from other drive download windows 8.install windows 8 download windows 8.1. install windows 8.1 then upgrade to windows 10,and clone to original drive.

 

When upgrading from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, update fails and I get 80070002-20009 error

This failed installation was on a cloned ssd with win 8.1 Pro. I used the Samsung Migration software to copy my 8.1 installation on another ssd in my computer. I have 4 ssd physical drives. Only my latest one a Samsung 850 EVO has had this failure issue
with win 10. The other drives had successful installations of win 10 Pro. But I believe at least one other drive was cloned also. So I really can't be sure the cloning is the issue.

 

I'm running Win 7 but I'd keep the cloned 8.1 HDD and obtain another spare HDD.

I use 2 spare "spinner" HDD's for my 2-week C: HDD cloning. Since spinner HDD's are inexpensive, it's worth it for me to have a plug-play spare bootable HDD to allow fast recovery from numerous problematic circumstances.

If your HDD's are SSD's, then cost may be a factor to consider with buying another spare for storage use.

If I decide to go with the free Win 10 upgrade by next July, I'll do the same and keep a cloned Win 7 HDD on the shelf for awhile to enable me to get familiar with Win 10 and be able to switch back to Win 7 for a while (not running simultaneously - will shut down, swap HDD's, boot up, etc).

I have 2 Sata hot-swap trays in my tower for quick HDD installs and removals.

 

Thanks Voyager1. I'll hang on to the cloned drive for a while and get a new HDD.