Gene51 wrote:
Thank you - I just rebuilt my system from a failed attempt on Microsoft's part to automatically, without my permission, update my Win7 to Win10. Setting up my backup schedule was the last thing I had to do before I could claim "mission accomplished" - and you just reminded me of that. I owe you a beer, or a single malt, or a bourbon and branch, or whatever your poison . . .
Windows 10 isn't too bad, and seems to support most essential hardware but I did 3 systems identical boxes and the upgrade install failed on one saying windows 10 wasn't compatible with the system. Funny that as I had done a clean install on one of the other identical systems already.
Anyway the way to go is
first recover your product key from your existing install
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.htmlmake a note of it :)
if your on a home version you will want install media for home if pro or above the win 10 pro install media
if its 32 bit windows then you need to install the 32 bit version first.
now if you don't really want to go to windows 10 just yet swop out your hard drive for another it doesn't need to be big 80gb is more than enough.
now do a clean install on that disk using the product key you recovered from your windows install.
it should be done in around an hour if you don't give a microsoft account you can just set a local admin account.
if you want to sign in with a microsoft account add that as a second user and you can promote that user to admin.
if you add a microsoft account to the first user it converts that account into a microsoft account losing you your local admin account. You really don't want that.
Anyway at this point you should have a 32 bit version of windows 10 activated.
To switch to 64 bit you need the 64bit media and use the same product key as before.
Microsoft lets you upgrade 32 bit 7 to 32 bit 10 and associates your hardware with that key. You need that association to be able to switch from a 32 bit windows 10 install to 64 bit windows 10.
They do not allow going from 32 bit 7 to 64 bit 10 directly.
When Windows 10 is activated you can swop back in your Windows 7 disk and carry on as before. Come july 29 when microsoft starts charging for 10 you already have a registered product key for 64 bit windows 10 and you can upgrade for free when you want. :) It is associated with your hardware.
Realistically at some point we are all going to be pushed into windows 10 at some point this little exercise saves paying for it. It actually performs quite well on a 1.8 ghz dual core laptop. Boot times are much quicker once it has set up your account.