Windows 10: Windows 7 & Windows 8 Users Can Now Upgrade to Windows 10

As I can understand I can upgrade to Windows 10, but WILL lose my programs and data? Same goes if I restore since the PC came with Windows 8.1?

 

Says WIM is an invalid file.

 

That article is highlighting an issue with computers where a technology called WIMBoot (or Windows Image File Boot) has been used to free up as much space as possible on computers with small disk drives (usually solid state drives).

There is info on this link which would let you find out if this applies to your computer:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/.../dn631790.aspx I did what the link said, and it said that WIM is an invalid parameter.

 

What does it say if you use Method 1 on that link? (Which is to look at Disk Management.)

 

I think I know why it said that. I was on my Windows 7 laptop. The article said it applies to Windows 8.1. Checking my 8.1 desktop now.

 

Okay. The 8.1 computer doesn't have a WIM boot.

 

Now, how do I check my Windows 7 laptop for WIM?

 

I believe WIMBoot is fairly recent, so I don't think it would be on a computer running Windows 7.

 

May I recommend...........?

Since Windows 10 is a Beta Test version and we have no idea at this time where it will go before it's finally released in its Full Release version, the best advise would be to only install it on a separate hard drive, where it is totally unable to mess with your main OS.
I have mine on a spare HD, setting beside my Desktop PC and my main HD is unplugged, for safety.

I remember on the old Windows 8 forum, where I was a Moderator, we told people over and over and over again, till we were exhausted, to never load a Beta version of 8 over their main OS, but many didn't listen and many lost everything on their HD when Window 8 Beta crashed.
Now here we are again, in the same scenario .... with people who won't listen to our admonishments to NEVER LOAD A BETA TEST VERSION of an OS onto their main hard drive. If Windows 10 can see your old OS, it will most likely Mess With IT.
In a few months, it's going to expire anyway, so why try to make it your main OS. It's futile and pointless.

I always run Betas on separate hard drives, so when they crash or just expire, I can wipe the drive clean and use it for the Next Big Thing. *Smile

Cheers Mates!
*Cool

 

My advice is to heed the information given to you above. I will further suggest, wait just a short while until the primary problems are corrected before downloading.

 

Okay

 

I have to add that the first article is on SoftPedia and that I personally lost trust in SoftPedia a long time ago.

The article is correct though - user CAN upgrade.

Should they?
No, not everyone is ready or prepared to install and test alpha code.

If people read further, they'll see that once installed, you cannot get back to your previous OS unless ... you do a clean install of that OS (ok, technically you could restore an image - but that falls under 'prepared for')

People really need to understand that Win10, in it's current state is not a product.

If you're comfortable with computers, you can test it and help shape it, but it's not ready to be released. Probably not until October 2015 (my best guess). So there will be a lot of changes and a lot of bugs.

If you're not comfortable with computers or nervous about your data then you probably shouldn't update your main system to Win10. Use an test system or install in a Virtual machine.

Look over on EightForums in the tutorials for Hyper-V, it's a native virtual machine on Win8.1 (that's one way I'm testing Win10).

Due to articles such as this SoftPedia article, Seven, Eight and Ten forums are going to get very busy helping people who didn't understand that Win10 wasn't real yet.

Take your time, read up on Virtual Machines, figure out if you really want to play in this sandbox. You won't miss anything if you wait until after the Tech Preview expires in April (it might be pushed out to June).

Bill
.

 

I think I am going to put it in a Virtual Machine. It won't interfere with my system, will it?

 

No, that's the great thing about a VM - your main system and the Virtual machine are separate.

Read through this tutorial and ask questions
Hyper-V - How to Use in Windows 8

There are two main considerations, memory and disk space
I don't know anything about your system other than what you put in your specs (not much *Sad)
Tell me how much physical memory is in the machine you plan on using (an 8.1 machine) and post a disk mgmnt screen shot
See: Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Help Forums

I'll plant the seed now
- the VM uses the real hardware on your machine through emulation and virtualization,
do not try to install hardware drivers in the VM.

I tried it and felt foolish - what was I thinking!

There's no rush, believe me. Make sure you have a firm understanding of the material in the tutorial. Take everything step-by-step.
Cut once, measure twice

Bill
.

 

No, that's the great thing about a VM - your main system and the Virtual machine are separate.

Read through this tutorial and ask questions
Hyper-V - How to Use in Windows 8

There are two main considerations, memory and disk space
I don't know anything about your system other than what you put in your specs (not much *Sad)
Tell me how much physical memory is in the machine you plan on using (an 8.1 machine) and post a disk mgmnt screen shot
See: Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Help Forums

I'll plant the seed now
- the VM uses the real hardware on your machine through emulation and virtualization,
do not try to install hardware drivers in the VM.

I tried it and felt foolish - what was I thinking!

There's no rush, believe me. Make sure you have a firm understanding of the material in the tutorial. Take everything step-by-step.
Cut once, measure twice

Bill
. I am using my Windows 7 laptop. I didn't want to mess with my 8.1 desktop, since it is so new.

It's a 320 GB Hard Drive with 4 GB DDR3 Memory.

Here is my screenshot.





What else do you need?