Getting ready to install SSD thread closed.

that

Retired_at_55 wrote: »

Re posts # 59 and # 60:
The newly created old data is safe in its caddy and, for now, I'm glad just knowing it is there and safe for when transfer is needed, thank you.

Saved on its caddy in a temporary form is more correct way to look at it. Although useful, these drives and caddies, usb sticks and CD etc have a reputation for failure and loosing all the data, happens to many and I have at least had 4 usb caddies go bad on me.

If you really want to keep things that are valuable, like photos, then you need it saved to multiple devices to spread the risk, including a cloud solution like the free drop box but there are others. Just do not think that things never go faulty or missing, as it happens a fair bit in IT, probably more than any other industry. Most people in IT keep their jobs thanks to failure


Also Microsoft are ditching windows 7 support under a year and a half years time - 14 January 2020. Meaning no patches, probably all online help will be removed and no new drivers and a dwindling range of apps will support this as time progresses.

Microsoft are ditching windows 8.1 support 10 January 2023.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13853/windows-lifecycle-fact-sheet

I know the customer is always right, but you should have gone with windows 10

Retired_at_55

Re Post # 62 - Thanks that. I'll definitely keep your helpful post in mind, thank you. I have my photographs on a USB stick. They are important, of course, although I am of an age (70) where I still have what I consider to be my really 'valuable' photographs from early childhood onwards in the old style photographs albums.


EveryWhere advised me (and I did it) to store details for Windows 10 download (should I need it in the future) on a USB stick. This is as well as the download disk for Windows 8.1 clean install.



The Dell does not have a DVD drive although the Toshiba has one as well as ports for USB. (I like having the DVD drive on my laptop.)



The refurbished Dell Laptop has Windows 7 Professional on it and that is now my 'reserve laptop.' I'm so pleased with my Toshiba L830 now I'll use it most of the time - it is so fast!


Re: "windows 7 support under a year and a half years time - 14 January 2020" That gives me plenty of time to think about Windows 10 for that Dell laptop.


Re "Microsoft are ditching windows 8.1 support 10 January 2023.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13853/windows-lifecycle-fact-sheet" -



I'm 'comfortable' and pleased with my Windows 8.1 Toshiba (especially now with the SSD and other helpful advice) so I'll stay with that - keeping in mind the date and helpful link you have given, thanks. By January 2023 (provided I'm still here!) I hope to be much more knowledgeable about technology. I always read this techie forum as it is helpful and interesting - even if sometimes beyond my level of technical understanding.



It was quite a struggle for me to achieve the success relating to this and the previous thread about installing SSD - but, as I have mentioned a number of times, I only managed with the great help, persevereance and encouragement of EveryWhere and the other kind posters on this forum who have also helped - thanks again.


Retired at 55

Frozen_up_north

Now you have a fast and tidy fresh installation, it's a good idea to consider making a full backup of it. As you found out, making an installation from scratch is tedious and time consuming.

I use Acronis backup software and a standalone USB hard drive for backup. In the early days of Windows 10 I had a few driver problems and swapped back to a backup copy of Windows 7, then back to Win 10, etc. While a backup cannot be 100% reliable, it can save an awful lot of work if you foul something up and need to revert back a step. BTW, Windows Restore can help sometimes but not always.

neilmcl

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

Now you have a fast and tidy fresh installation, it's a good idea to consider making a full backup of it. As you found out, making an installation from scratch is tedious and time consuming.

I use Acronis backup software and a standalone USB hard drive for backup. In the early days of Windows 10 I had a few driver problems and swapped back to a backup copy of Windows 7, then back to Win 10, etc. While a backup cannot be 100% reliable, it can save an awful lot of work if you foul something up and need to revert back a step. BTW, Windows Restore can help sometimes but not always.

Do you use Acronis True Image for backups or their specific Acronis Backup software?

Frozen_up_north

neilmcl wrote: »

Do you use Acronis True Image for backups or their specific Acronis Backup software?

Acronis True Image, home user.
https://www.acronis.com/en-gb/personal/computer-backup/

EveryWhere

that wrote: »

Saved on its caddy in a temporary form is more correct way to look at it. Although useful, these drives and caddies, usb sticks and CD etc have a reputation for failure and loosing all the data, happens to many and I have at least had 4 usb caddies go bad on me.

If you really want to keep things that are valuable, like photos, then you need it saved to multiple devices to spread the risk, including a cloud solution like the free drop box but there are others. Just do not think that things never go faulty or missing, as it happens a fair bit in IT, probably more than any other industry. Most people in IT keep their jobs thanks to failure


Also Microsoft are ditching windows 7 support under a year and a half years time - 14 January 2020. Meaning no patches, probably all online help will be removed and no new drivers and a dwindling range of apps will support this as time progresses.

Microsoft are ditching windows 8.1 support 10 January 2023.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13853/windows-lifecycle-fact-sheet

I know the customer is always right, but you should have gone with windows 10

I don't agree. I think that it is right that the OP installed exactly what she wanted.
Windows 8.1 Update is fully supported with Drivers from Toshiba and still supported by Microsoft. Whereas the machine is an unknown quantity with Windows 10. Everything might go swimmingly, but possibly it might not.
Windows 10 does bring new features, but it also removes some features. The OP is free to install/try out Windows 10 at any time. But for now, she is happy with Windows 8.1 Update 3.

In the meantime, she can do some reading on Windows 10 Home at her leisure. If she likes what she reads, she can, with her new experience, manage most if not all of the upgrade or clean install process herself. Will certainly be confident enough to do so with the assistance of the genuinely helpful here.

As to the others, no need for glib comments of it only needing to take a minute or suggesting cloning an install without even the slightest help in the form of a detailed guide.


I'm certainly not referring to you with the last paragraph..

EveryWhere

neilmcl wrote: »

Do you use Acronis True Image for backups or their specific Acronis Backup software?

Have you tried https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree ?

Retired_at_55

Yes, thanks everyone. EveryWhere guided me very well and I really am pleased with Windows 8.1 - until the time is right, in the future, for something different.

I have learned so much (more thank you-s)and I understand that backup is necessary. it's on my 'to do' list. For now I am delighted to be enjoying the vastly improved Toshiba with Windows 8.1.

All this - and beautiful sunshine too.

Retired at 55

EveryWhere

Retired_at_55 wrote: »

Yes, thanks everyone. EveryWhere guided me very well and I really am pleased with Windows 8.1 - until the time is right, in the future, for something different.

I have learned so much (more thank you-s)and I understand that backup is necessary. it's on my 'to do' list. For now I am delighted to be enjoying the vastly improved Toshiba with Windows 8.1.

All this - and beautiful sunshine too.

Retired at 55

When 2020 arrives for the DELL, you will still have the option of Dual Boot. That is to have both Windows 7 Professional and Windows 10 Pro installed on the same machine. When you start the machine, it will offer a drop-down list for you to choose whether you want Windows 7 or Windows 10 to load.
So for anything that doesn't work for you on Windows 10, you can revert immediately to Windows 7 and vice versa. No cost involved. Just a chance for you to utilise your newly learned skills.

You wouldn't have imagined that a £25 component and a clean install would make that much difference.

that

EveryWhere wrote: »

I don't agree. I think that it is right that the OP installed exactly what she wanted.

I agree that the OP got installed exactly what they wanted, and I did not say otherwise. The customer is never wrong, you did the correct thing. However if a member of your family asked for this (and you liked them), I suspect you probably would have cursed them, not gone down this route, but installed Win 10 and done the right thing.