Windows 10: Upgrade vs Clean Install

The fix for many problems seems to be a Clean Install but this is defeating part of the test process. When 10 is released, I would bet 90% of the people who switch will do an upgrade because that is what they are being offered. Few will know what a Clean Install is, much less how to do one.

Seems to me it would be better if more people did upgrades for testing purposes then report the problems to get them fixed rather than doing a Clean Install that fixes your problem but leaves the real problem unreported and unfixed.

Comments?

:)

 

Feature update to Windows 10, version 1703

Clean installs should not be compared to upgrades. Different beasts, many of the variables are controlled or do not exist with a clean install vs. an upgrade. heh

 

Upgrade Vs Clean install.

Hi Baha,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

I understand that you have a few doubts regarding Windows 10 upgrade. Let me help you.

If you are selecting Upgrade keeping all old applications and files
your programs such as Word, Excel, Outlook (Office) etc are preserved.

If you are choosing Upgrade and delete all application and files
all your data and application will be gone.

Please be aware that you cannot use the free upgrade offer to perform a
Clean Installon first attempt. You must first upgrade from the qualifying version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 (whether you do it through
Windows Update
or using the .ISO file). Ensure the upgrade is completed successfully and then ensure that it is activated. You can then proceed to do a clean install by using recovery media or using the Reset function in Start > Settings >
Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC (Get Started).

For further reference, Frequently Asked Questions: Windows 10

I hope the information helps. If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact us again. We will be happy to assist you further.

Thank you.

 

Some of the issues are not really OS related but rather errors during the upgrade process which can due to connection problems or pre-existing issues before the upgrade. By doing a clean install we will be more accurate on reporting problems to MS.

 

MS will have to fix issues internally in a big hurry or users will have to learn how to Reset their PC or clean install with media.

 

You're confusing two things. Upgrading from a previous release of Windows, and upgrading from a previous BETA of Windows 10.

Microsoft does not put much effort into ensuring that upgrades from previous betas are problem-free, because there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of betas they would have to reconcile (remember, we only get a minute fraction of the beta builds they create).

They do, on the other hand, put immense effort into ensuring upgrades from a released version of Windows 8.x or 7 work correctly (or as correctly as they can... its impossible for them to be able to reconcile environments that might already be corrupted due to malware, or other problems).

So, the point is, you can't judge the upgrade process from a previous build of Windows 10. You can only judge it from a correctly functioning Windows 8.x or 7.

 

I have a new HP with Wins7 Pro 64-bit here waiting to install Windows 10, when and if Microsoft releases the Operating System to the owners of Win7, 8 and 8.1. However, after reading all these posts on this forum with all the troubles some are having installing the Win 10 builds, one would have some doubts about accepting the free Wins 10 upgrade. From what I have read, the Win 10 upgrade will come as a Windows Update to be downloaded over their present operating system. What happens if the upgrade as a Windows Update fail or have some problems. Will the computer owner have website or phone number to call to solve the problem.
Yes, I can see it now. Microsoft will have 70,000 computer techs hired to answer/solve these 30 millions new Windows 10 upgraders, the phone lines go into "overload" status. The wait per phone call is 360 hours, or 15 days which ever come first.
Come to think about it, I just might wait till Microsoft puts the little Window 10 discs in a box and I can buy it from the nearest "jot'um down store".
I can hear the forum mice chewing me out now.

 

Mystere, you raise a good point. When I upgraded from 8.1 to 10 TP I had very few problems I could trace to the installation process. It's only been since I've done repeated upgrades to newer builds of 10 TP that weird stuff happens.

Maybe what I should be doing is imaging back to 8.1 then upgrade to the latest build each time. That will take a half hour longer but at least it will be a more valid test bed. Might be good if more of us do the same or when 10 rolls out it could be a nightmare.

 

That would be wisest, I keep few backups for original W8 as I got it installed, clean W8.1 upgraded from W8 and a latest as clean and as complete as possible full system backup as in use right now. All backed up on another external HDD too. If nothing, it saves me from having to go thru activation of OS and programs again. Beets setting up from starting again from very beginning speed wise.

 

I think you have to remember we are using a pre BETA operating system in order for Microsoft to find out what the problems are. They even warned us that there would be problems, and there are some. I would suspect that the final release would have at least the majority of those problems worked out. In the meantime, we can learn our way around Windows 10 so there will not be such a big learning curve. You can download the ISO files that have been released, or get the links to them at https://www.tenforums.com/windows-10-...-iso-file.html . I'm not sure whether there is an ISO for this latest build, but there are for previous builds. But, the fact is, this is a pre beta release and there are going to be things that don't work as they should. That should be expected. I would not look at the problems being reported here and expect them to be present in the final release.

 

That won't work either, unless you have the ESD file to make an ISO of the latest build.

I just did two upgrades, one from my Windows 8.1 laptop and one from a desktop running Windows 7. If you upgrade from the Insiders page you get build 10074. Then you have to upgrade again to 10122. had to do that on both PC's. No easy way to just do the one upgrade. To get the ESD file you have to upgrade at least one PC the long way. If your only going to install on one PC what's the point. Except to make an ISO so you can do a clean install to fix all the glitches from doing two upgrades. *Wink And before any one asks, the ESD file from the 8.1 upgrade was no good for my Windows 7 upgrade. The Windows 8.1 upgrade was 10 Home and the Windows 7 upgrade was Windows 10 Pro.

Microsoft really needs to fix that, the Insider page should get you the latest build. MSDN is way behind too which is really annoying.

 

Lessee . . . I've lost count of how many Insiders there are, but say there are 3,000,000. 90% is 2,700,000 that will probably already have tested the update/upgrade path. So, why do they need me? *Smile

 

This is a very good suggestion. There are some members who are upgrading a Win7 or Win8.1 box, the results are mixed.

Now that the content for Win10 has been set, MS will focus on the other issues (GUIs, installs, updates, etc).

I think it's a worthwhile exercise for anyone willing to set up a Win7 or Win8.1 test bed and go through the process of upgrading that base to Win10. I'm not one of the willing however - too many other tracks, too few test beds.

The Slow ring release controls when the ISO is made available. Sometimes, the Fast ring has a higher release and the 'current' ISO never goes up. This happened with 10.061 & 10.074, there never was a 10.061 ISO. As we get closer to Current Branch release, expect things to start moving even faster. I think the most stable-to-date release ISO will be available. If they offer a link to the ESD, that would be ok for techies.

I had a matrix on the upgrade options, most include an ISO and Windows Update. I can't locate the reference for citation.

Bottom line - it is a very good idea to test all aspects of a release before it goes public. *Think

 

I went from Windows 7 to 10074 to 10122. Would have preferred to just do the one upgrade but had no choice. The insider page will only upgrade you to build 10074. I did have some weird things happen. I switched from a local account to a live ID. One or two reboots latter I got a guid not supported or something message and couldn't log in. Rebooted and it was then fine? Then when I did boot up tiles were blank with no graphics in them. Start menu wouldn't open. It was all I could do just to shut down and reboot. On the next reboot all seemed fine? Was able to log in and the tiles had their graphics. One issue I'm having is when a UAC prompt comes up, its minimized or behind the current open window. If I mouse to its icon on the task bar and pull up the thumbnail, it shows on screen. But as soon as I move the cursor off to go click yes, it disappears again. Clicking the thumbnail does nothing, it will not stay on screen. The only way out is to click the red X on the thumbnail to close it. Then turn UAC off so I can do what I was trying to do originally. I had the same UAC issue on my laptop after going from 8.1 to 10074 to 10122. Doesn't happen all the time though. If you don't change focus and click yes right away its probably OK. Let it minimize and your stuck.

 

I think for the next build I'll restorte to 8.1 then do the upgrade and see how that works. Only adds about 30 minutes to the process.