Windows 10: testing windows 10 on my wifes Dell 8700 desktop

I have a situation that I need some help with. My wife has a Dell xps8700 desktop computer with windows 7 professional. She has some special software on this machine which is working on windows 7 at present, it's some data entry software that is no longer made or supported but I have it running for her because she does some fund raising data entry for some people now and them, it's really really important that this software operate properly as others need her to be able to do this work for them. That's just background info, she was using windows xp but I was able to get her software running on her new windows 7 computer.

So - here's my question:

I want to clone her SSD C drive to a new SSD drive, same size and then install the Windows 10 update to the new drive. If all goes well then we'd be up and running on Windows 10 and we'd be happy folks. But - if for some reason I cannot get her software running properly on Win10, we'll need to drop back to her original Windows 7 SSD C drive. Will we be able to do that or does it get unregistered because of the clone and install of windows 10.

I cannot even attempt this operation if in any way I cannot revert to windows 7 as she'd kill me, and others would help her.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Gene

:)

 

Bluetooth portable speakers are connected, but no sound.

I have same problem with my desktop Dell XPS 8700!

 

Why does my hard drive run at 100% in Windows 10?

No virus detection by Defender.

Dell XPS 8700 desktop.

[Moved from: Virus and Malware / Other / Scanning, Detecting, and Removing Threats / Windows 10]

 

Making a "backup" disc image is the first step in upgrading. Cloning the drive or making a disc image of the drive to some other media will work. Clone seems to be a hit or miss, works for some and not for others. If cloning the drive does not work, then use backup software such as Macrium Reflect and make a disc image. You can then do the upgrade and if the old software does not work, you can restore the disc from the disc image.

 

I would use Macrium Reflect to clone the win7 SSD to a clean SSD of the same size. I would then connect the new clone in place of the win7 SSD and boot up and do the Win10 update to the clone. The question really is, does my running the clone with the win10 update cause my win7 to become unusable should I have to revert to it cause her software won't work with win10?

I've done this process in the past but have not tried to run the original win7 drive to see if it was still a valid copy. BTW, not with the system in question.

Gene

 

I'm still not confident about this as I need to revert to the SSD with the Windows 7 professional if the update to windows 10 of the clone does not allow my wifes special software to operate properly.

Does my running windows 10 on the clone via the windows 10 update, does it invalidate the windows 7 original that I may have to revert to?

Anyone know the answer?

If for some reason, I have to go back to the original windows 7 SSD, and cannot - well, we'll be screwed big time and my wife will NOT be happy....

Gene

 

Hi.

Windows 10 still has the compatibility mode selections. If that's how you got the program working in W7, you should be able to do the same in W10. What program is it, and what did you do to get it working in W7?





As far as cloning/imaging goes, I would recommend using Macrium Reflect Free, and make an image of your entire SSD (all partitions), and include the "verify" option when making it. Then, I would restore that image to the new SSD.

Using the "Get Windows 10" tool through Windows Update, it *should* give you a list of any incompatible programs before you upgrade, but I have seen OEM programs (considered bloatware) removed during the upgrade process, and not mentioned until after all is done; a message appears in Notifications telling you such-and-such is not compatible and has been removed. If you find it has removed your wife's special program, you could try reinstalling it at that point using the compatibility selections.

Since you technically have 30 days to make up your mind if you want to keep W10 or rollback, I don't believe your W7 key will be "consumed" at this point by the upgrade. I have heard many people making images using Macrium before taking the plunge to W10, in case the "rollback feature" fails. I can't think of anyone here on the forums at the moment who has actually restored an old image after upgrading off hand, though I'm sure there are some.

Hopefully someone will chime in here if they have done it. Hope that helps. *Smile

 

Nothing happens to the Windows 7 license/product key because of the upgrade to Windows 10.

Read the last option here "Go back to your previous version of Windows":
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...covery-options

Going back to the previous Windows 7 by re-installing the SSD is no different than clean installing and activating with the product key. Except that the activation is already done.

 

Then download the windows 10 setup media > Windows 10
Choose create media for Another PC and then create USB

After creating the media on usb - just run Setup.exe to upgrade to windows 10

be it on the old SSD or the New SSD > but be sure you only have one SSD installed - as the other will be the saved (backup) windows 7 SSD

 

Here's a good article for you:
How to lock in your free Windows 10 upgrade and keep using your old Windows version | ZDNet

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Ok, thanks to all for the great information. I will look close at everything. Just so you know, the program is called Ultra. A program that was not well written to start with and seems to run on a thin thread of life. It also seems to not use registry entries from what I can tell. I was able to get it installed on my wifes new Win7 machine but it's been a couple years now so I don't remember how much trouble I had, or even if I had to use compatility mode at all. There is a data base addon that's tricky to install but I also got that going. The program is no longer supported.

But - all the info here has me thinking I can give it a try. I have ordered another SSD to clone her current drive to. I have to be honest, I've done this clone and update method in the past with another windows 7 machine and it worked great, never had to revert to the original SSD for any reason and only a couple minor things didn't work under windows 10, but this Ultra program is another beast for sure.

Thanks all,
Gene

 

The name Ultra [too many things use it] leaves one making a myriad of guesses, only one I found searching is this one that has been discontinued:
Adobe Ultra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

*Ditto

 

Well, I have my wifes computer up and running on Win10, took better part of a day but it's doing pretty good right now. The only problem I had was update failure due to 'couldn't update the system partition'. But again, thanks to these forums I was able to alter the partition sizes and thus the install went well after that. Took a very long time, which surprised me. The Ultra program I was concerned about seems to open without problems, wife says tomorrow morning she will test a group with the program to make sure it's fully operational. The bottom line is: I seem to have more trouble getting my printers running after doing these updates to Win10. It was funny, the two network connected printers were found with out trouble, not needing any work but I also have two USB connected printers and I'm still without one of them working. A Canon MF4350d, its still a work in progress.

My thanks for the fantastic support and comfort these forums provide, to all that contribute!!!

Gene

 

Did you download the Windows 10 driver for the Canon printer? imageCLASS MF4350d