Windows 10: Upgrade vs Clean Install

Eventually the Insider page should offer up a newer build. Will it ever catch up to what's offered up by Windows update though? It's a bit of a pain to upgrade and then have to do it all over again just to get the current build. Ow, well, it is what it is I guess.

 

I think I agree with both of you.

Many of us would have installed an early build of 10 Preview and therefore for reasons mentioned would have clean installed it by now to fix a problem, assuming it wasn't a clean install in the first place (or dual boot, or run in a VM). So Insiders will generally be running something that has had at least one clean install at some point by now.

So I think that the upgrade paths from 7 and 8 won't have been tested much by Insiders, but as stated that is what the majority of Joe Public will be doing when Windows 10 is released.

 

I'm probably 50/50 as far as upgrade versus clean install goes. Early on I did upgrades, had issues, then clean installed to avoid said issues. In most cases it worked. After that I did clean installs when possible. Just recently though I did upgrades from Windows 8.1 and 7. I'll likely do upgrades when the RTM arrives to see how it actually works. I like to be able to say "I did it", instead of "I've read that" After that it will be clean installs on my PC's. I have MSDN, so getting install media will not be an issue.

 

Since I have no problem with reinstalling and redownloading all my programs, I simply cleaned up my HDD, threw in another partition, and installed Windows fresh on that.

 

I always try update and if it doesn't work out right, I install anew. Like Alpha said success was 50/50.

 

Within these forum "walls" there are two types of members . . . those who help others and those who come for help. I'm not even going to guess the percentage of each. *Smile

Then you have those who are Insiders. You have three sectors there; Upgrade over Windows (whichever version), dual boot (first install will have to be clean) and those with virtual machines (first install will have to be clean). OK, now you have to set them into sub groups: Always upgrade over the older Build and Always clean install.

Another thing that has to be taken into consideration is that by being an Insider, you have given Microsoft full "vision" into your installation of Windows 10 Build xx. This is so they can tell exactly what's happening with each installation. Also, when you give feedback, by choosing one of the "defaults", Microsoft collects logs. Before you ask, I don't have a source; I've just picked this information up through reading here and there from Microsoft to ZDNet, etc.

Before we sell Microsoft short in the data collection department, we must take the above into consideration. I hate to say it, and it's not pointed at you, Rich, but, "This ain't Microsoft's first Rodeo." They're aware of what's going on with our Windows 10 test computers, be they an upgrade, dual boot, virtual machine, etc.

And, from what I've typed above, it's no wonder that some folks tell us, "Be afraid, be very afraid!" With this said, I don't believe Microsoft is into collecting our data for evil purposes, but when it comes down to it, major corporations have been hacked and Microsoft isn't immune . . . although they're a lot more immune than your average large corporation, even Target! Obviously. *Smile

 

Question: If we're supposed to only do updates, why is it that Microsoft has provided ISOs to us on a number of occasions? And when they don't provide them, we're usually given an explanation as to why not.

 

I don't think MS is and can get and hold too much data on individuals, their concern has to be primarily BSODs and stuff like that and not anything personal as that would be very counter productive for them. If anybody is concerned about some "MSgate" they should not use W10 for banking or anything they are concerned it can spring a leak. I know how difficult it is to keep tabs on medium networks let alone million or so users.
As far as update vs. clean install debate, if direct update doesn't work an ISO can be used but that same ISO may be provided also for people just than starting with insider program as well as to do clean install if update doesn't work right which happened few times already. So, it's good to have it any which way. I'm keeping all the versions since very beginning.

 

A clean install is always better but how do you do that and get the free upgrade? You Don't!

 

Neither do I, Mike. But I can see the connection between data collection for the Preview and those running around saying, "The Sky is falling," That's not to take anything from real security issues that are out there@

[QUOT]E=CountMike;245158]As far as update vs. clean install debate, if direct update doesn't work an ISO can be used but that same ISO may be provided also for people just than starting with insider program as well as to do clean install if update doesn't work right which happened few times already. So, it's good to have it any which way. I'm keeping all the versions since very beginning.[/QUOTE]

Good points, Mike. No matter which way we install, I think Microsoft has their collective hands fully on the controls. *Smile

 

Why not ? I haven't heard anywhere that free upgrades (IF it happens) are for first version and and only for very early testers.

 

Wondered on this, and 8 has a similar feature but I have never tried it

If you do an upgrade install and then go into the settings app and select to do a refresh of your pc, this I assume would give you a clean build of 10 (removes everything and sets windows up from scratch)

 

Microsoft have said that ISOs will be the upgrade route for folks with Windows 8.0 or Windows 7 without SP1.
So there must be a way for those folks (and if they can get ISOs, I'm guessing others with 8.1 etc. could too).

 

Who said you're only supposed to do updates?

First, since Windows 10 can only upgrade Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 S16 via Windows Update, that means everyone else has to use an ISO to upgrade. Second, not everyone has direct access to Windows Update. In some environments, such as corporate ones, they block access so they can force people to use WSUS.

 

Oh, good grief!