win8 Upgrade to Win 8

[kiddingguy]

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?

[Manarift]

The folder should be kept untill you can fully migrate all your information over :)

[kiddingguy]

So when everything went okay with the upgrade I can - thus - delete the old Windows 7 folder?

[kiddingguy]

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.

[Andrea Borman]

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.

[FloatingFatMan]

^ This is just FUD and hasn't been true for a long time.

[kiddingguy]

But to get back to the question... these are the steps to take?

[articuno1au]

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.

[kiddingguy]

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....?

[grayscale]

Yes, those are the steps but I did before but being the "junkie" that you are, even after a succesful upgrade install, the urge of wiping it clean will be there :shifty:

P.S. I've seen that similar post from Andrea Borman somewhere :D

[neo1911]

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.

[SledgeNZ]

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.

[articuno1au]

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 >.<

[kiddingguy]

So with the RTM out now... can I just upgrade without too much trouble (registry items not there anymore and stuff like that) or is a clean install - still - preferred?

[kiddingguy]

Any experiences with this so far?

[Lee G. Veteran]

Any experiences with this so far?

I would always recommend doing a clean install, and I think most others here would too.

[BajiRav]

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.

[brlmedia]

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 :)

[+virtorio MVC]

I upgraded from 7 to 8 RTM with no issues.

[Nothing Here]

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?

[kiddingguy]

I upgraded. Didn't go as planned... freezes after 2-3 mins all the time.

I finally did a clean install and not it's running very smoothly.