Windows 10: Should I transfer my Upgrade or Clean Install?

So I've been using Windows 10 for the past two weeks now. I really dig it, however the hard drive I'm on is slightly slower than my 7200rpm drive which could boot Windows 7 up a lot faster.

I upgraded my Windows 7 installation to this current Windows 10 install and since I want to
1. Sell this current hard drive

and

2. Move to the other hard drive,

I'm in a bit of a dilemma here. I have a large amount of software and important documents installed on this pc.

In the event where I want to clean install to the other hard drive, I don't really want to be tasked with having to reinstall all of this software again, mostly because I don't have installers available for them.
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So I guess I want to know what are the benefits to clean installing over upgrading on an already fast hard drive and what would be most convenient in my case if this option is more viable?

I've read differing opinions online over upgrade vs clean install and I want to know what I should do.

:)

 

Should i upgrade or clean install windows 10?

I would go with the clean install. To make it easy, use the Windows 10 ISO, double click it to mount it then start setup, choose the option 'Keep Nothing' during setup:

• How
  to download official Windows 10 ISO files
• How to: upgrade from previous versions of Windows using
  Windows 10 ISO file

 

Should i upgrade or clean install windows 10?

There is absolutely no doubt that a clean install is superior to an upgrade. The great advantage of a clean install is that you get a fresh start.

Once you've been using your computer for a while and making configuration changes, installing and removing software, and generally exploring your computer, it is inevitable that mistakes and problems creep in. It happens to everyone (and especially to the
'computer people' who love to tinker with their systems.) When you upgrade, all those mistakes and problems get carried forward. When you do a clean install, you're starting over.

Before you think of an upgrade or a clean install, it's vitally important to know whether or not all your hardware is supported on Windows 10. If your hardware is not supported, it most likely will not work properly or at all on Windows 10.

A clean install is more difficult than an upgrade, which is difficult enough on its own. Installing a new operating system, whether by upgrade or clean install, is perhaps the scariest and most technically difficult thing you can do to a computer. It requires
a lot of preparation.

All that said, a properly performed clean install on supported hardware is a 'can't miss.' Windows 10 will install correctly the first time.

 

Clone the existing drive to the newer, faster drive and try it. If not satisfied, backup then do the Clean Install.

 

You have one harddisc with Windows 10 on it and you have another harddisc. Now you want to have Windows 10 on that other harddisc and all programs and so on from the Windows 10 installation should be kept. Is that correct?

If yes, then there are imaging programs, which can copy the complete partition with all its data over to the new harddisc. You won't lose anything and you won't have to reinstall anything.

 

For cloning, I've considered the newest version of Acronis. Any suggestions?

Also is there a loss in performance with Upgrading over Clean Installing even on a faster hard drive? This is one of my major concerns.

 

Macrium Reflect Free will clone drives and as shown, is free.
CloneZilla, also free will do the job as well.

I've given up on Acronis. They never, ever fix anything, just release a new version you have to pay for to get.

As for performance, the answer is sometimes. Your best bet is to try it. At worst you'll waste an hour or two doing the clone and drive swap. At best you do it and it will work well and you'll be happy and not have to spend time reinstalling anything.

If you want a real performance boost, look at getting a SSD, like the Samsung EVO 250GB. I see them on Amazon and Newegg for $89. You'll get a 4x to 8x performance increase.

 

I'll check out CloneZilla. I should also note the drive I'm moving to (1tb) is smaller than my current drive (2tb). I've got about 700gb of space taken up on here.

 

Hmmm. Would you consider 1) getting an SSD (120 or 250GB), clean installing onto that and reinstalling programs, 2) moving data from the 2tb to the 1tb and then 3) selling the 2tb after wiping it?

Just a thought.*Smile

EDIT - Meh, OK just reread and you don't have install files for programs. So, depending on split between size of data and size of programs, maybe still the SSD (right sized for OS & Programs, left at upgrade) by a clone of the 2TB MINUS the data already moved off to the 1TB?

 

That should be okay, Macrium or CloneZilla will handle the size difference.

 

Using Macrium as I type this to clone my drive to the 1tb. I was having a bit of a challenge getting Clonezilla to boot from my USB drive and physical dvd. It's a shame too because Clonezilla seems like really promising software. I even used the Universal USB Installer tool to get the iso on my flash drive with FAT32 partition and everything.

 

Alright so it's copied successfully! I switched sata cables and am now on my faster 1tb. Everything is here just the way it was on the 2tb. Awesome. Is there a way to ensure that all of my data is properly here and stable?

 

Gonna bump since I asked this question a whole day ago.

 

Macrium Reflect is so easy to use Make sure you get the FREE Version of it. . . .

 

invictus has not only gotten that program, he even has already used it.