Fresh Install of everything? From Windows 7 to 10

[Tslap]

Hey guys,

I'm just wondering if I should do an entirely new installation of either Windows 7 or 10. I'm going to be building an entirely new computer and my old desktop has windows 7. I tried upgrading it to Windows 10, but it's not compatible with my computer for some reason (it might be too old).

Anyway, should I copy everything from my OS driver from my old desktop and copy it over to a new hard drive for my new desktop? Or should I just keep the necessary files that I want and completely re-install everything (OS and drivers?). That might be the better bet right? So that then I won't have to troubleshoot everything since I will have done a fresh re-installation of everything.

How do I transfer over my windows key to my new computer and is it possible to get a free upgrade for windows 10?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Backup and perform a clean install.

 

[drtweak]

For the key part if it is a Retail key, you can install windows and attempt to activate 7. if it failes you can call up MS and get them to activate it. Sometimes it is better to just say my motherboard failed and I had to get a new one vs moving the key to a new PC and some of the reps will be like, buy a new key. Just depends on who to get.