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Question

Windows 10, Backup Version

Sep 16, 2015 8:44AM PDT

I would like to know if anyone has this problem? I updated 2 Computers 1 desktop Dell and the other a Dell Inspiron Laptop, Both had Windows 8.1 in them. After the download both said I had Windows 7 for a backup. Does not make sense ? I contacted MICROSOFT and never honestly received an answer. I was told to backup to Windows 8.1 on a different area of Windows 10. I have done what they said and it did go back to Windows 8.1. But I would still like to Know WHY it said I had Windows 7? I have put Windows 10 back in my Laptop and it still says backup Windows 7 for a backup?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
I've never heard about this.
Sep 16, 2015 8:52AM PDT

Backups are done by us to external media and such. Maybe you are reading a menu or other? Since this doesn't make sense as a question I fear that you won't get clear answers.

Tell more.

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Need help with version of backup? Windows 8.1 - Windows 10.
Sep 18, 2015 12:29PM PDT

Well I just wrote that I had a Dell XPS To begin with it had Windows 7 in it and I had windows check to see if I could put Windows 10 on it and it was approved. That was the first time I asked for Windows 10. At the end of June I purchased a new Dell Mini Desktop. I never used the XPS again. It came with Windows 8.1. My Laptop is about 18 Months old it also came with Windows 8.1. I would have to say it was a couple of Months between the time I had the old Computer the XPS and the newer ones checked. But both of the last 2 Computers claimed I had Windows 7 installed before I downloaded Windows 10. I used the same name would that make a difference?

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Are you using Microsoft's new email login?
Sep 18, 2015 12:35PM PDT

I don't so I never see some issues folk are seeing here. But it's clear as mud what the issue is here.

We know that Windows can get things wrong about what the version is or was. This can really peeve some folk as they expected better.

Let me make this very clear. Microsoft does not make or strive for perfection. They ship when it works good enough to ship. They ship with bugs. Not much new for me to add but you are encountering folk that never heard or read this.

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Answer
Don't use Windows-supplied backup period.
Sep 16, 2015 9:10AM PDT

When you've gotten your system back like you want it, I urge you to get yourself an external hard drive and a good 3rd party backup program. You can set it up to do everything automagically at the time and frequency of your choice. 1 TB external hard drives are about $50 these days and a really good FREE backup program is the Easeus Todo Backup Free. That can save you a lot of time and frustration the next time something like this happens. Sooner or later it happens to all computers for one reason or another.

Good luck.

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Answer
Well Dell would be able to give you a better answer than MS.
Sep 16, 2015 10:05AM PDT

But it sounds like you PC's came with Windows 7 and you mean the the System Restore partition is Windows 7. The means the PC's were purchased with Windows 7 and then upgraded to Windows 8 and updated to Windows 8.1.

MS is the past has offered a plan where you get a new OS for free if you buy a PC with the old OS I beieve 60 days before the new OS is released. The OEM send you the media with the new OS once you register. I did this with Vista to Windows 7 and Windows 7 to Windows 8.

If says Windows 7 because since Windows 8 was an upgrade the restore partition was never deleted. Restore partitions are typically created in the factory but there are ways to create a restore partition with the upgraded OS. But nowadays it's easier to just create the media with the system restore.

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Both Dell Computers came with Windows 8.1.
Sep 18, 2015 12:02PM PDT

I purchased the laptop 16 month's ago. It came with Windows 8.1. The mini Desktop I purchased in June it also came with Windows 8.1. The only Computer I have that has Windows 7 in my older desktop Dell XPS with Windows 7. This was the very first Computer that I had scanned to update to Windows 10. Then I changed my mind and bought the new desktop. So I never downloaded to the Dell XPS anything. I have not used it at all. I did have them check the other 2 Computers before I downloaded Windows 10. I have gotten a runaround from Microsoft, Very Upset

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Here's the thing.
Sep 18, 2015 12:23PM PDT

Look at this error I got on my Windows 7 laptop.
http://i.imgur.com/6yzoeIo.png

So no one had the time to fix that? The answer to why this is upsets folk today. Many can't accept the slap dash programming that is in today's Windows.

So here you have an unclear situation but we continue to get messages that are incorrect. Backup is still our responsibility. I'm sure you are running into folk that didn't know this.

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Answer
It sounds like he's using the term backup
Sep 16, 2015 10:08AM PDT

when he's talking about the system restore done by the OEM.