Question about Upgrading Windows

futurefields

Diamond Member
Jun 2, 2012
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In the near future I am probably going to upgrade from Windows 7 to 8.x

I've never done an OS upgrade before. Will I be able to upgrade from Windows 7 to 8.1, while keeping all my programs the same? Will I lose save games? What about application preferences like for RadeonPro where I have custom profiles for games?

Also, how "clean" is the process of upgrading the OS? Does Windows do a good job cleaning up old extra unneeded stuff? Is there typically a performance difference between doing an OS upgrade, and reformatting and doing a clean install of the new OS?
 

futurefields

Diamond Member
Jun 2, 2012
6,470
32
91
I don't want to read several pages of tiny text. This is a discussion forum right?

Tell me your experiences upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1, in like a paragraph or so, would be awesome.
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
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Do not do clean install until after you try a direct upgrade. It works nicely. Clean installs tend to be a general cop out these days.

I always do direct upgrade first. If it is not satisfactory, then I just march on. If not, then I can do a clean install. I try to avoid clean installs because for me they are just the beginning of severasl days work. I have better things to do than that which I have already done. :)

I have done three direct upgrades from 7 to 8 and 8.1, and all programs, customizations, files, partitions, etc. were unchanged.
 
Last edited:

raf051888

Member
Jan 17, 2011
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0
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Clean install is the only method. For backing up your games there are a few different ways to do that [see link below].I would use the Windows Upgrade Assistant to make sure everything is compatible before you upgrade. I just upgraded from 7 to 8.1 myself, via a clean install and the Upgrade Assistant reminded me of a few things, that I would have forgotten.

HTG - 4 Ways to Backup Games
 

rhondas

Junior Member
Jul 18, 2012
13
0
0
In the near future I am probably going to upgrade from Windows 7 to 8.x

I've never done an OS upgrade before. Will I be able to upgrade from Windows 7 to 8.1, while keeping all my programs the same? Will I lose save games? What about application preferences like for RadeonPro where I have custom profiles for games?

Also, how "clean" is the process of upgrading the OS? Does Windows do a good job cleaning up old extra unneeded stuff? Is there typically a performance difference between doing an OS upgrade, and reformatting and doing a clean install of the new OS?
your main concern would be the disk space you have left in your system ?:|