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

I need to tell you that Win7 doesn't have Hyper-V

You can run Virtual PC on Win7, but I wouldn't. It's far less powerful virtualization, plus I'm not all that familiar with it.

This is good, planning is important.

I know the feeling about using your 8.1 machine - it took me a while (4 months) to setup a Hyper-V machine on my newly upgraded laptop. It was my only machine at the time.

I think you'll have much better luck using the Win8.1 machine ... more than that though, it's the only one I can really help you with because it has Hyper-V.

I can point you to a Virtual PC tutorial, but I'd have to read it and scratch my head while you read it and scratched your head - no sense both of us doing that.

Try this:
Set p the Hyper-V machine all the way up to installing Win10. You won't be able to do anything with it until an OS is installed, but the practice might give you the confidence to move forward.

Let me know if you decide to use the 8.1 desktop or even just test setting up a Hyper-V machine.

It's pretty easy and very safe - everything you'll use is native to Windows.

Bill
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Okay. I am on the 8.1 desktop now. What do I need to do?

 

Alright - you need to provide the same information as before for this machine
physical memory and a disk screen shot

One more thing you need to do ... understand that this won't be real time. I was just about to hit the hay. I might not be on everyday and I might get busy helping other members. You're pretty quick *Wink

Please post the information and read the tutorial. Post any questions and I or another member will answer them.
If you feel really anxious - try the test Hyper-V setup (you can stop at the ISO part or .... if you're really anxious go ahead and install the ISO.

I'm assuming you have already joined the Insider program and have downloaded the Win10 bld 9926 ISO from their reference page - yes?

If you haven't done any of the above then you have more reading to do, start here: The Insider Program

Bill
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Its a 1 TB Hard Drive with 4 GB DDR3 Memory.





Yes, I have joined the Insider program. This will not interfere with my system, will it?

 

Jesse, make sure you have full backups of both your systems, then you can try various options without risk of losing anything.

I have a mutil-boot setup and VM's running - no problem - just follow the tutorials.

Good luck.

 

You need 8.x Pro to have Hyper-V. Also, 4GB is not very much memory, barely enough to run every apps much less run a virtual machine.

You could download the free VMWare Player, but you're going to find it painful with only 4GB.

 

Well, how are they going to support it for Windows 10?

 

4GB is plenty to run Windows on its own.

But if you were to run Windows 10 inside a Virtual Machine you're running 2 versions of Windows at once - one on your host machine and another version inside the VM.

This means your 4GB is being shared between 2 operating systems. Simplistically you could give 2GB to each one (although there may be better ways to tweak the split; perhaps to give a little more to the host OS ). Although Windows 8 and Windows 10 will both run in 2GB, it is a bit more of a squeeze and it will be slower.

I'd still recommend using a Virtual Machine if you want to try out Windows 10 though. I'd suggest the 32 bit version of Windows 10 which will save a little space.

 

My Laptop only has 4GB and I run 10 in a VM on it with no problems (I am just checking out the features, trying the new style apps, not using as a replacement yet)

Not tried in the latest build, but in previous one win 10 worked perfectly fine on 1GB ram in a VM

Depends what you want to run/test on it, modern style apps should auto suspend themselves if running out of ram, which you don't notice unless checking in taskmanager at amount of ram used (unless latest build has changed this, not checked that yet)

 

Jesse, the best thing you can do, and what I recommend, is to get another hard drive, or a 120 GB ssd and hook it up to your desktop. Do not fool with your laptop.

Disconnect your 8.1 drive (just the power and data cables),and connect and install the Preview on the new drive.

This will give you the best possible experience .

VMs suck for testing.

Did you burn the 9926 build to dvd yet ?

And memory is so cheap now, there is no reason not to have at least 8 GB in the desktop. That is of course if it supports at least 8 GB.

Post the exact make and model of the desktop and I will look up the specs.

 

Hi there

SSD with a SATA==>USB2 or USB3 connector works just fine if you want to run a VM without changing anything on your laptop.

Actually using an SSD I find using a LINUX system as host on the external SSD (Windows to go is another solution but you need Enterprise for that) with a Windows VM works just fine. Even on a USB2 connection response time of the VM is better than a HOST system running on a conventional HDD.

Most laptop HDD's are pretty horrendous as far as performance is concerned but they are decently rugged though.

I mention Linux as it's simple to get a bootable OS on the external drive and can run totally from the external drive even if there's no INTERNAL HDD working. Windows to Go if you have Enterprise makes another decent alternative for running a VM from an external device.

Cheers
jimbo

 

You're right to question, it's your system.

No the Insider Program will not interfere. But it will allow you to download the ISO and send feedback to MS.

Jesse, I'll be careful with your new Win8.1 machine.

How far did you get in the Hyper-V tutorial I linked for you?
Did you get to the part where you have to Add new features to Windows?

There might be another step in BIOS, but please tell me where you are ... every time you ask a question.

It doesn't have to be a full recap, just what you're doing at the moment. The information will be available in all of your posts.

So far, all I know is that you've posted the information (memory & Disk management) plus joined the Insider Program.
Did you download the Win10.iso?
20 questions is not the way I want to do this, ok?

It will take a very long time if I have to type questions to get answers you should be providing. I am a two finger typist with poor eyesight. Let's set some ground rules that should make this better for both of us.

I give you information and guidance

You give me feedback and ask question specific to the step you're attempting, as well as feedback on steps you have completed. Using the tutorial steps should make that real easy
For example "I completed steps 1, 2, and 3 without any issues, but I don't understand step 4"
or "I completed steps 1, 2, and 3 without any issues, but step 4 failed with this message (or error code)" - screenshots of the error are important and save time.

The memory info and screen shot are great.

I'd like you PUBLISH a Speccy report that will detail the system you'll use for the Hyper-V machine.
See: Speccy - Publish Snapshot of your System Specs - Windows 7 Help Forums

Bill
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While I was typing it looks as though you're getting plenty of good ideas.

Choice requires a decision - the ball is in your court Jesse. Pick one and ask the person who recommended it to walk you through the process.

Your thread, your machine, your decision. How to decide?
I've already laid out the plans for Hyper-V, other members can provide you with details on the other options.

Then flip a coin *Wink

 

I think I am going to be patient and wait on the full complete version of Windows 10. I will then upgrade to it.

 

AddRAM, how do I find my specs?