Windows 10 - To Clean Install or Not

Mark_Sanders

The fix for many problems seems to be a Clean Install but this is defeating part of the test process. When 10 is released, I would bet 90% of the people who switch will do an upgrade because that is what they are being offered. Few will know what a Clean Install is, much less how to do one.

Seems to me it would be better if more people did upgrades for testing purposes then report the problems to get them fixed rather than doing a Clean Install that fixes your problem but leaves the real problem unreported and unfixed.

jbainbridge

I had a laptop in last week that had many problems after the upgrade. A fresh install (and bios update) had it running perfectly!

As has been said - its important that your upgrade has 'activated' - then there is no need for a key when reinstalling. Once it gets on the internet it will activate by itself.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Win10's been around for many years - here's an earlier iteration of the spyware program.

cookie365

I'm confused about the product key - if you have W7 retail can you do a clean install of W10 over W7 and enter the W7 product key?

kwikbreaks

cookie365 wrote: »

I'm confused about the product key - if you have W7 retail can you do a clean install of W10 over W7 and enter the W7 product key?

No.
You have to do the free upgrade fro 7 to 10. Once it is running Win 10 and activated you can then do the clean install and can skip the product key request during that install.

Jivesinger

Mark_Sanders wrote: »

The fix for many problems seems to be a Clean Install but this is defeating part of the test process. When 10 is released, I would bet 90% of the people who switch will do an upgrade because that is what they are being offered. Few will know what a Clean Install is, much less how to do one.

Seems to me it would be better if more people did upgrades for testing purposes then report the problems to get them fixed rather than doing a Clean Install that fixes your problem but leaves the real problem unreported and unfixed.

I kind of agree, but given Windows 10 has been released for a month (and I bet many 'Insiders' have stuck with the released version rather than continuing testing), I'm not sure it's still apposite today.

debitcardmayhem

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Win10's been around for many years - here's an earlier iteration of the spyware program.

Unlike Richie not been around for months ... Hows it going RftB?

Jivesinger

To answer the OP, I have a tablet (originally with Windows 8.1) where the Upgrade install went fine, but on a clean install it really struggled to find drivers.

Presumably the upgrade used the drivers that were already there, but Microsoft's Windows 10 driver library didn't include them.

So I'd be sure you have all your drivers available, just in case one doesn't work with the clean install.

A backup image of it in its working upgraded state wouldn't go amiss either.

boliston

Is there any reason why an upgraded windows 10 would run more slowly than a clean installed version?

cookie365

kwikbreaks wrote: »

No.
You have to do the free upgrade fro 7 to 10. Once it is running Win 10 and activated you can then do the clean install and can skip the product key request during that install.

OK, thanks - so the product key is somehow embedded linked to the hardware? Wonder how you go about transferring the license to a new computer.