windows 10 upgrade questions

[brimic]

I have a laptop running widows 7 which I resisted upgrading to 10, until now.
I want to run a CNC controller (Centroid Acorn) on it which appears to require windows 10 , so now I might need to upgrade the OS or purchase another laptop.

Will I need to back up all of my data before doing an upgrade, or is it as simple as downloading Win10 to a usb drive, install from the USB and enter a license?

I noted that Windows 10 licenses can be purchased on amazon for around $15...

[HeroHog]

Back it up! MOST of the time it goes fine, but not EVERY time. How much can you afford to lose?

[fifth_column]

I haven't read through the article yet, but apparently, free Win10 upgrades are still available:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-you-can-still-get-a-free-windows-10-upgrade/

[Brad Johnson]

I'd be tempted to image the disk, not just run a backup (two images, preferably, and on two different devices). Much easier to restore an image than to reload an OS and deal with all the associated hooha of getting all your apps and programs back up and running.

Brad

[brimic]

I haven't read through the article yet, but apparently, free Win10 upgrades are still available:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-you-can-still-get-a-free-windows-10-upgrade/

I read through that earlier, but couldn't figure out what they were talking about...

I'd be tempted to image the disk, not just run a backup (two images, preferably, and on two different devices). Much easier to restore an image than to reload an OS and deal with all the associated hooha of getting all your apps and programs back up and running.

Most of the stuff on the computer now is tax records, wife's business records, and pictures... I was thinking about transferring it to my external HDD anyway.
I was looking at the minimum requirements of the software, and found that this laptop is right at the minimum, so I might be better off buying another laptop with windows 10 already installed...

[Ben]

I'd be tempted to image the disk, not just run a backup (two images, preferably, and on two different devices). Much easier to restore an image than to reload an OS and deal with all the associated hooha of getting all your apps and programs back up and running.

Brad

+1. This is pretty much all I do anymore other than separate, more frequent backups for a single data directory. Monthly disk clone to a separate, identical SSD to what is running on my computer. If anything ever goes FUBAR, it's five minutes to swap SSDs and be pretty much right back where I was.

Before I do the Win10 move later this year, I will absolutely do a clone immediately beforehand.

[HeroHog]

Macrium Reflect Free is what I use as an auto-backup for all my systems. Works great! By Backup, I mean Full and Differential.

[lee n. field]

I have a laptop running widows 7 which I resisted upgrading to 10, until now.
I want to run a CNC controller (Centroid Acorn) on it which appears to require windows 10 , so now I might need to upgrade the OS or purchase another laptop.

Will I need to back up all of my data before doing an upgrade, or is it as simple as downloading Win10 to a usb drive, install from the USB and enter a license?

You should anyway, but no, you don't need to.   

go here, click "update now", follow the bouncing ball.

[Calumus]

You should anyway, but no, you don't need to.   

go here, click "update now", follow the bouncing ball.

I'd like to add that there's no need to buy any license. If you're already activated with 7, 10 will activate automatically. As a side note, any Windows keys you buy for $15 will either be pirated, or old Technet keys that are subject to deactivation once Microsoft finds out that someone's been selling them.

[Ben]

I'd like to add that there's no need to buy any license. If you're already activated with 7, 10 will activate automatically.

What about going from win7 home to win10 pro? That's the path I'll be taking.

[Calumus]

What about going from win7 home to win10 pro? That's the path I'll be taking.

Sorry, same version only. Home to home, pro to pro. So it looks like you'll actually need a license. Stick to big retailers for the new copy though. Best way to make sure you get a legit copy.

[Ben]

Sorry, same version only. Home to home, pro to pro. So it looks like you'll actually need a license. Stick to big retailers for the new copy though. Best way to make sure you get a legit copy.

Okay, thanks!

[Hawkmoon]

Sorry, same version only. Home to home, pro to pro. So it looks like you'll actually need a license. Stick to big retailers for the new copy though. Best way to make sure you get a legit copy.

If I can find it, I have an Acer Aspire One netbook on Windows 7 Starter Edition -- which normally wasn't even sold in the U.S. but was the native software for the Aspire One. The Aspire One meets the bare minimum requirements for Windows 10 -- will it update using that link?

[Calumus]

It should upgrade to Home.

[Calumus]

Okay, thanks!

Actually, you might save a bit of coin by upgrading to Home, then upgrading that to Pro via the Windows Store.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12384/windows-10-upgrading-home-to-pro

[lee n. field]

If I can find it, I have an Acer Aspire One netbook on Windows 7 Starter Edition -- which normally wasn't even sold in the U.S. but was the native software for the Aspire One. The Aspire One meets the bare minimum requirements for Windows 10 -- will it update using that link?

Yes, but you seriously don't want to do it.  

It will upgrade to Home, but on that hardware, even maxed out, will be almost unusable.  

[Ben]

Actually, you might save a bit of coin by upgrading to Home, then upgrading that to Pro via the Windows Store.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12384/windows-10-upgrading-home-to-pro

Thanks again!

[Hawkmoon]

Yes, but you seriously don't want to do it.  

It will upgrade to Home, but on that hardware, even maxed out, will be almost unusable.  

That's what I was afraid of. Maybe it's a good thing I don't know where I put it ...

[WLJ]

Speaking of W10: Update 1903 is downloading now and it looks to be a big one

[lee n. field]

Speaking of W10: Update 1903 is downloading now and it looks to be a big one

I've done 1903 on everything in reach, no problems yet.