Windows 10: New Install - What to do about existing applications

I'm planning on moving from Win 7 to Win 10 via a new install (although it seems I should upgrade first - I'll read about that).
My questions have to do with my Win 7 applications...

#1) Is there a list someplace of applications that need to be "de-registered" so they can be registered on the new Win 10 clean install? For example, I'm pretty sure the Adobe suite has to be deregistered - maybe MS Office too?

#2) Is there a way to move an application? By that I mean I either don't have the original install files anymore or in some cases I've found some useful software from Giveaway of the Day - free licensed software daily where you download the install file but it has to be installed and registered that day. If you wait a day, you can't register it. Any way to "move" these programs? I realize generally you can't just move applications and then the added complication of going from Win 7 to Win 10.

Thanks,
\Dave

:)

 

What do I need to do about existing programs running on Windows 7, including Norton 360?

I requested Windows 10. Before installing, what di I do about all my programs, including Norton 360?

 

What do I need to do about existing programs running on Windows 7, including Norton 360?

Will my Antivirus be compatible with Windows 10?

Most likely not. Windows 10 will require that you have a version of your Antivirus that is designed for Windows 10. It is recommended that you uninstall your current Antivirus before intiating the upgrade. If you have a subscription that has not expired,
contact the developer to find out about Windows 10 support. Most Antivirus utilities should be upgraded by the time Windows 10 launches. If your subscription is still active, then you should be entitled to a compatible update for Windows 10.

How
to enable and use the built in Windows Defender for Antivirus Protection in Windows 10

Will upgrading from Windows 7 or later preserve my personal files, applications and settings?

Yes, upgrading from Windows 7 or a later version will preserve your personal files (documents, music, pictures, videos, downloads, favorites, contacts etc, applications (ie. Microsoft Office, Adobe applications etc), games and settings (ie. passwords, custom
dictionary, application settings).

Will my existing programs, hardware and drivers work on Windows 10?

Most applications and hardware drivers designed for Windows 7 or later should work with Windows 10. Of course, with significant changes expected in Windows 10, it is best you contact the software developer and hardware vendor to find out about support for
Windows 10. Windows 10 setup will keep, upgrade, replace and might require that you install new drivers through Windows Update or from the manufacturers website.

You can also download the Download the Windows 10 Reservation App and use it to check your system readiness.

How
to reserve your free upgrade to Windows 10



Click the hamburger menu at the upper left hand corner.

Click Check your PC

Backup your computer:

When making significant changes to your computer such as updating the operating system, you should always backup. See links to resources about backing up by clicking the link for the respective version of Windows you are running:

Windows XP,
Windows Vista,
Windows 7,
Windows 8/8.1

Also review:

How
to manually backup and restore your files

How to: 10 Tips before
installing the latest Windows 10 build

How to: 10 things
to do if Windows 10 Setup fails.

Once you have installed these important updates and followed the prerequisite instructions, you should be ready to receive your
free update to Windows 10 this summer.

 

In a nut-shell.
If you chose to do......................
1. Upgrade Install. You get to keep your files, settings and most of your apps. Some programs that are not compatible with Win 10 will be either left out or become unresponsive.

2. Clean Install. You keep nothing but you will have a clean slate with no carry-over "baggage".

 

The upgrade install is good for the programs you want to keep, but it is also good for all the gremlins you have. Those move right along too. It is a matter of personal judgement which solution is most suitable.

 

It would be good to take a backup/image of your present install before doing anything just to have it on hand.

You do need to upgrade from a qualifying OS and activate first before doing a clean install. W10 will activate automatically from the upgrade. After W10 is installed and activated you can do a clean install if you feel it's needed, but an upgrade will probably be fine, as whs said, it's personal preference.

You might want to check for any registration emails you received from those downloaded programs that would have registration links or activation keys you could reuse to get those programs back. Some might move through an upgrade to the new OS but probably not all.

 

Yes absolutely!

Actually upgrading first is now no longer necessary. See this tutorial here on this site for how to do it: Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First - Windows 10 Forums

 

Thanks for the update. I would always have a backup. In fact, I'm going to image the drive with an identical size drive in case I have to just swap it in if I do the upgrade and something goes very wrong. - Although going a new install I would not have that issue.

 

nhbeachbuy:

LapLink makes a product known as PC Mover that allows you to "migrate" applications from one PC to another and one OS to another.

You need to buy the Pro version -- as only that version migrates apps.

 

Thanks, I'll look into that.

 

"Microsoft offers an Upgrade Advisor that scans your system and informs you if it finds any applications or hardware devices that won’t work properly on Windows 10. This is built into the new “Get Windows 10” application that’s been rolled out to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users via Windows Update. Click the Get Windows 10 icon and go through the process.

If you have important applications that you use for business purposes or anything else irreplaceable, you should consider contacting the developer or company that produced them and asking if the applications will be compatible with Windows 10. These applications should be if they were compatible with Win 7 and 8."

(Should you choose to upgrade first, uninstall AV and anything that modifies the GUI.. that's a basic hint).

I used Laplink PCMover Image Assistant in conjunction with a disk imaging program very successfully.
As you will have a disk image, this could be more convenient, as you simply mount the image and run PCMover I. A. rather than the back and forth procedure with PCMover and huge files.

You will then find
a. some programs will not be transferred and you will be told.
b. you need to check the programs transferred and see if they
i. Run
ii Are licensed (some will be, some not)

A few will need reinstalling.

The majority of my 300 or so were fine, and I very quickly had all my POP3 email, Firefox and addons and favourites, and appearance modifications and Classic Shell (most important!) running.

I had C: (Windows) and programs installed in categorised folders on D: and I moved this lot from a HDD on my old PC to an SSD on my new PC.

Aomei Backupper did not work here (permissions bug) but O&O Diskimage (which Laplink promotes alongside this, did. Fortunately I had giveaway licenses for both I'd kept, planning ahead. Macrium Reflect (free) is said to be fine too.

 

dalchina - thanks for all the details. I've run the Upgrade Advisor some time ago and the only app it complained about is my backup software Acronis True Image 2012. I've been using Acronis for a while now so I'll probably upgrade to 2016 verion which supports Win 10. I'll do that first.