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Question

Backing Up Data When Switching Windows OS

Mar 16, 2016 8:50PM PDT

Hi all, I purchased a laptop a while ago and it came with windows 10 home. I'd like to upgrade to Windows 10 pro, but instead of paying for an upgrade in the windows store I'd rather use the unused copy of windows 7 ultimate that i already own since you get w10 pro when upgrading from w7 ultimate. All my data is on the C drive so how would I go about backing it up so I can restore it on the new OS? Also would I lose all the drivers and programs for the laptops features such as the webcam, keyboard backlight, etc? I've never really made back ups or restored them with windows so I'm not really sure how it works

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Where is your data?
Mar 16, 2016 9:41PM PDT

You have some plan to file your files. Just copy them out and you're good to go.

However I find folk really taken aback on installing Windows today. It's a laptop so are you sure they have Windows 7 drivers? Some don't.

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Not too sure about the w7 drivers...
Mar 16, 2016 11:15PM PDT

My documents won't be a problem. It was more the programs in the program files and program files (x86) folder as well as the laptop's drivers, I thought a copy paste might not work since some programs install in places other than the program folder.

For the w7 drivers I'm not really sure, I thought all that was installed when you first booted w7? Since it came with w10 I'm going to assume there's no w7 drivers on it.

Side note, will booting and installing windows 7 delete the old os or will I have to do that separately?

Thx for the reply

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So far, no.
Mar 17, 2016 8:24PM PDT

You have to manually delete the old partition that holds the OS and maybe more. It's an advanced install. No backup program I know of backs up drivers and app.

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Answer
Well you have a decision on how much
Mar 17, 2016 6:13AM PDT

your time is valued at to reinstall the apps. WIndows 7 had a feature in place where you could do a anytime upgrade from home to ultimate. This process you would click on the option and if you paid they would send you a new key and you would enter the key and it would do a in place upgrade from home to Pro or Ultimate. I assum it's the same with WIndows 10 except you go thru the store. But if you do using your Windows 7 Ultimate key it would clean your hard drive first which would mean you loses your programs. Also is the Windows 7 Ultimate retail or OEM? If it's OEM and came with another PC it's not transferrable to another machine and you might have to pay to activate (which would be the full blown WIndows 10 price). One thing about the webcam it built into Windows 10 so it can setup most cameras correctly. If you PC came with WIndows 10 then all the drivers will be on the OEM website as Home or Pro won't require different drivers. Also your drive will be formatted and you will lose your files if not backed up.

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W10 home backup compatible with w10 pro?
Mar 17, 2016 7:49PM PDT

My copy of windows 7 is unused and retail so no problems there. I did assume the new OS would wipe the hard drive, wondering if I could make a system backup on say an external hard drive or maybe even create a partition on the laptop's hard drive for the backup? I'm just not sure if a system backup from w10 home would be restorable on w10 pro?