Upgrade to Win 8

By kiddingguy
in Microsoft (Windows)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

kiddingguy

Posted
Posted

When Win 8 will hit Technet, I'm planning on upgrading one of my machines.

I noticed on the Dev.Prev. and TR that there is an upgrade option. The current Windows folder Will be renamed Windows.old

Can this folder safely be removed after the upgrade and migration of my data?

Or should this folder be kept at all times?

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1096117-upgrade-to-win-8/
Share on other sites
Grand Master

kiddingguy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

So this is the right order??

1. Upgrade with keeping all data,

2. Check if data is still there with all shortcuts (like documents not in users\<...>)

3. When OK delete Windows.old

And in the case it still goes wrong:

4. Perform a clean Windows 8 install and install all your programs

The reason why I would do an instant upgrade - and not a clean install - is to check how this works, because I have never done this before. I guess I'm just a "clean install junkie". It's just in case when I upgrade my "main" computer to Windows 8 eventually I know the procedure.

This Windows 8 PC is just for daily basic usage, testing & work and in case something goes wrong there will be no damage to (important) files.... just the time to reinstall everything.

Rising Star

Andrea Borman

Posted
Posted

Well they say that Microsoft may only sell update DVDs of Windows 8. But when Windows 8 does go out on sale in the shops.I want to do a clean install of Windows 8,like I do when I install Windows 7.

They say on all of the Windows forums I have read that upgrade install causes too many problems. And that clean install is best. Andrea Borman.

Grand Master

articuno1au

Posted
Posted

Yes, but:

Personally I would suggest establishing a good backup system, formatting and going from clean.

Not to give Andrea's input any credence whatsoever; there are advantages to clean installs (mainly in neatness and install size) which make it worth while.

On top of this, having a good backup system means you can format, reinstall and be up and running in next to no time. For instance, my turn around time from format start to back fully installed and running is about 2 hours (I scripted an unattended install for office/visual studio etc).

It's a huge advantage if anything crashes/needs replacing or you get a virus you don't want to risk leaving on your system.

Grand Master

kiddingguy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yes, but:

Personally I would suggest establishing a good backup system, formatting and going from clean.

Not to give Andrea's input any credence whatsoever; there are advantages to clean installs (mainly in neatness and install size) which make it worth while.

On top of this, having a good backup system means you can format, reinstall and be up and running in next to no time. For instance, my turn around time from format start to back fully installed and running is about 2 hours (I scripted an unattended install for office/visual studio etc).

It's a huge advantage if anything crashes/needs replacing or you get a virus you don't want to risk leaving on your system.

True.

However, what's the deal with the install size of (the new) Windows folder?

Will the old folder just be renamed Windows.old and a new one created and installed in?

The itchy part is the registry I guess.... (neatness)

Basically you are just saying... do a clean install and I'm better off in the long run?

Like I said, the progams used on my notebook - and which are to be installed afterwards - are not that much. Just some Office applications and browsers and other productivity software, like Adobe, Diskeeper etc.

EDIT:

Windows 8 has a new file system right? Windows ReFS.

I guess with an upgrade I'd still stick to the NTFS file system of Windows 7 and have Windows 8 as primary OS on NTFS. This could cause some (major) problems - maybe.

So a clean install is preferred. At least I think so....?

Grand Master

neo1911

Posted
Posted

Most people are confused when we say Upgrade to Windows 8

1. Upgrade to windows 8 by clean install

2. Actual upgrade by keeping programs, settings, files, etc.

3. Mix of above two by keeping all old operating system data in windows.old folder.

Any other upgrade scenario?

@ OP

Make sure you have restored save games, program settings, and documents, music from the windows.old folder. If you don't require any of the data in Windows.old, you can delete it.

Collaborator

SledgeNZ

Posted
Posted

The other option is to convert your current machine into a VM. You can use disk2vhd (Available from MS) and then run your original setup via hyper-v in win8.

You need to check that your machine supports hyper-v prior to doing all of this though.

At the very least you'll be able to mount the virtual hard drive of your previous install under win8 and copy anything off it that you need.

Grand Master

articuno1au

Posted
Posted

True.

However, what's the deal with the install size of (the new) Windows folder?

Will the old folder just be renamed Windows.old and a new one created and installed in?

The itchy part is the registry I guess.... (neatness)

Basically you are just saying... do a clean install and I'm better off in the long run?

Like I said, the progams used on my notebook - and which are to be installed afterwards - are not that much. Just some Office applications and browsers and other productivity software, like Adobe, Diskeeper etc.

EDIT:

Windows 8 has a new file system right? Windows ReFS.

I guess with an upgrade I'd still stick to the NTFS file system of Windows 7 and have Windows 8 as primary OS on NTFS. This could cause some (major) problems - maybe.

So a clean install is preferred. At least I think so....?

The install will only gain a couple of gb (at a guess) but it's the small things like finding backed up profiles with random names, backed up program settings etc etc that when you are browsing your files just annoy the hell out of you.

The same thing is true of the registry. There'll be tons of changes between the system. I just think that you are better off avoiding having to clean up by starting clean >.<

It's purely a personal choice thing. I've "upgraded" a dozen machines and the users have had no problems whatsoever.

Windows 8 doesn't allow you to use ReFS. It's currently only available in Server '12 (just like NTFS was when it was released) with client support likely coming by Windows 9.

Both answers are completely viable. I just like clean installs :p Worst that happens is you run an upgrade, decide it ****es you off too much and then do a clean install.

The only consistent piece of advice between both scenarios is make sure your backup is solid >.<

  • 2 weeks later...
Grand Master

BajiRav

Posted
Posted

Any experiences with this so far?

I had upgraded a 13+ month Windows 7 install to Windows 8 RP and the system performance was pretty much same as what I have now (with a clean install at RTM). I had few minor issues but I think they were unrelated.

Collaborator

brlmedia

Posted
Posted

this is a question that will be debated for ages lol. I personally have cleaned installed the RTM on 2 machines, one hour I was back up and running. have tested 2 upgrades as well, just seemed to have "junk" I didn't need or want.

whatever you decide, have your data backed up. product keys, your favorites folder, etc. you will thank yourself :)

Grand Master

Nothing Here

Posted
Posted

EDIT:

Windows 8 has a new file system right? Windows ReFS.

I guess with an upgrade I'd still stick to the NTFS file system of Windows 7 and have Windows 8 as primary OS on NTFS. This could cause some (major) problems - maybe.

So a clean install is preferred. At least I think so....?

ReFS? Then why is my disk still NTFS when I did a clean install?

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • The Trump administration doesn't want you to use OpenAI's GPT-5.6 without its approval

      By ad47uk · Posted

      The only reason I want to know where you from is because if you are not from the U.K, then why should you care what we in the U.K do or don't do? Racist I am not, I am fed up with the amount coming over here and feel they can come over here and think we need to support them. Do you know how much it costs this country to support these people coming over here? Even when we give them a place to live it is not good enough. We had a barge that was being used to house immigrants, oh but that was not good enough. A mate said to me at the time, when he was homeless, he would have been happy to live on the barge, instead of ending up sleeping on a bench on the beach. I am not scared to say what my family heritage is, unlike you who is scared to say where they are from or where they live. Father side U.S, mother side Wales, still have family living in the U.S. A mate who sadly died a few years ago, had a load of people from different races recording in his studio, I got on with all of them. Skin colour don't bother me, where they are from don't bother me. Religion don't bother me as long as they don't push it onto me and it is not crazy stuff. I am not religious. But if you are not living in the U.K, then why should you care if we are in the E.U or not? This the problem, too many people poking their noses into where it don't belong. But you believe what you believe, if you think I am racist, then be it, I really do not care. Just grow a pair
    • Why it's almost impossible to produce a smartphone in the United States

      By dismuter · Posted

      If he hasn't been able to figure that out, then why is he obsessed with tariffs? Because that's one of the most prominent tools to level the playing field when you have high cost of labor.
    • Microsoft released Windows 11 KB5102558, KB5095615 Setup and Recovery updates

      By hellowalkman · Posted

      Microsoft released Windows 11 KB5102558, KB5095615 Setup and Recovery updates by Sayan Sen This past week Microsoft released the newest preview update (C-release) under KB5095093. Alongside those, Microsoft also released new dynamic updates. For those who may not know, dynamic updates bring improvements to the Windows Recovery process in the form of Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) updates, which are also called Safe OS updates. The dynamic updates also affect the Setup file binaries in the form of Setup updates. These Dynamic Update packages are meant to be applied to existing Windows images prior to their deployment. Dynamic Updates also help preserve Language Pack (LP) and Features on Demand (FODs) content during the upgrade process. VBScript, for example, is currently an FOD on Windows 11 24H2. This time both recovery and setup updates were released for Windows 11. The company writes: "KB5095186: Safe OS Dynamic Update for Windows 11, version 26H1: June 23, 2026 This update makes improvements to the Windows recovery environment (WinRE). After installing this update, the WinRE version installed on the device should be 10.0.28000.2335. KB5102558: Setup Dynamic Update for Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2: June 23, 2026 This update makes improvements to Windows setup binaries or any files that setup uses for feature updates in Windows 11, version 24H2 and Windows 11, version 25H2. KB5095615: Safe OS Dynamic Update for Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2: June 23, 2026 This update makes improvements to the Windows recovery environment (WinRE). After installing this update, the WinRE version installed on the device should be 10.0.26100.8737." Microsoft notes that both the Recovery and Setup updates will be downloaded and installed automatically via the Windows Update channel.
    • Politically funny images of the World

      By +Edouard · Posted

    • Why it's almost impossible to produce a smartphone in the United States

      By TsarNikky · Posted

      The high cost of labor and operating within the US. Donald hasn't been able to figure that out--pathetic.

  • Recent Achievements

    • Conversation Starter
      jessse3334 earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • Reacting Well
      JuvenileDelinquent earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • One Month Later
      Excellence2025 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      Excellence2025 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      flexorcist earned a badge
      Week One Done

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      508
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      200
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      151
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      73
    5. 5
      FloatingFatMan
      62
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!