Windows 8.1 to 10 questions

[Nonsensical86]

Hi guys,

I've recently completed building my rig and have installed and activated Windows 8.1

However, now i am planning to install Windows 10 and would like to do a clean install. My primary boot device is a Samsung Evo 850 SSD with WD Blue as my secondary device. I've installed Windows 8.1 on my SSD through UEFI boot and other program files on my WD Blue.

My main concern is my driver card driver which is installed on my SSD. I am using a MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G.

How should i go about doing it now? Do i need to uninstall my graphic card driver in safe mode before proceeding to do a clean installation of Windows 10 or I can just do a clean install straight away without remove the graphic card driver.

Another question is that i've installed some programs on my secondary storage do i need to reformat and reinstall the programs inside in view of compatibility issues because all the programs are installed when they are on Windows 8.1

Greatly appreciate if you guys can provide answers to my questions above. Thank you.

 

[maestro0428]

I have done several upgrades so far and its been smooth sailing. No need to make adjustments to drivers or anything. Just upgrade, update and then install the newest Nvidia driver. Just be sure to back up your data.

 

[XiPH3R]

Hi guys,

I've recently completed building my rig and have installed and activated Windows 8.1

However, now i am planning to install Windows 10 and would like to do a clean install. My primary boot device is a Samsung Evo 850 SSD with WD Blue as my secondary device. I've installed Windows 8.1 on my SSD through UEFI boot and other program files on my WD Blue.

My main concern is my driver card driver which is installed on my SSD. I am using a MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G.

How should i go about doing it now? Do i need to uninstall my graphic card driver in safe mode before proceeding to do a clean installation of Windows 10 or I can just do a clean install straight away without remove the graphic card driver.

Another question is that i've installed some programs on my secondary storage do i need to reformat and reinstall the programs inside in view of compatibility issues because all the programs are installed when they are on Windows 8.1

Greatly appreciate if you guys can provide answers to my questions above. Thank you.

first Download windows 10. after that reset your pc. Reset completely reinstalls Windows 10 and saves nothing. Think of it like essentially formatting the drive and doing a clean install. so you wont lose your windows key.

yeah after reinstalling you will have to install those programs again. No nned to worry abpout the gtx 970 drivers. you can install it again after resetting your pc

 

[maestro0428]

So, are you doing a clean install of windows 10 or upgrade? I would just upgrade. If you do a clean install, it deletes everything on the drive and rewrites over it with the new OS and nothing else. Then you need to add drivers, yes.

 

[Nonsensical86]

Hi guys,

I've recently completed building my rig and have installed and activated Windows 8.1

However, now i am planning to install Windows 10 and would like to do a clean install. My primary boot device is a Samsung Evo 850 SSD with WD Blue as my secondary device. I've installed Windows 8.1 on my SSD through UEFI boot and other program files on my WD Blue.

My main concern is my driver card driver which is installed on my SSD. I am using a MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G.

How should i go about doing it now? Do i need to uninstall my graphic card driver in safe mode before proceeding to do a clean installation of Windows 10 or I can just do a clean install straight away without remove the graphic card driver.

Another question is that i've installed some programs on my secondary storage do i need to reformat and reinstall the programs inside in view of compatibility issues because all the programs are installed when they are on Windows 8.1

Greatly appreciate if you guys can provide answers to my questions above. Thank you.

first Download windows 10. after that reset your pc. Reset completely reinstalls Windows 10 and saves nothing. Think of it like essentially formatting the drive and doing a clean install. so you wont lose your windows key.

yeah after reinstalling you will have to install those programs again. No nned to worry abpout the gtx 970 drivers. you can install it again after resetting your pc

Because my PC is relatively new and i do not have any programs that i want to keep as i can download and reinstall later. I am worried that an upgrade will cause compatibility issues with some of the drivers. Can an upgrade be done such that the old Windows 8.1 can be completely removed and install a fresh copy of Windows 10?

 

[Nonsensical86]

So, are you doing a clean install of windows 10 or upgrade? I would just upgrade. If you do a clean install, it deletes everything on the drive and rewrites over it with the new OS and nothing else. Then you need to add drivers, yes.

A clean install is preferred since my PC is relatively new and I can reinstall the programs back easily. So i do not need up uninstall the graphic card driver first?

I am afraid that Windows 10 cannot be activated if a clean install is performed.

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi

If you want a free install of Windows 10 then you need to upgrade from W7 SP1 or W8.1 to get the Win 10 upgrade activated first

(It is not clear if you need to record the new Win 10 activation details using produkey (by Nirsoft) or similar programs or MS Activation servers record sufficient details)

If you have problems and feel a clean install is needed you can then go ahead and do a clean install using a downloaded Win 10 ISO
[ using the MS iso download programs (32 bit or 64 bit versions depending on your Windows)]

regards
Mike Barnes

 

[maestro0428]

Okay. No leave the drivers. They will be written over anyway. Like was said, choose reset and that will perform a clean install (and use your win 8 key).

 

[Nonsensical86]

Hi

If you want a free install of Windows 10 then you need to upgrade from W7 SP1 or W8.1 to get the Win 10 upgrade activated first

(It is not clear if you need to record the new Win 10 activation details using produkey (by Nirsoft) or similar programs or MS Activation servers record sufficient details)

If you have problems and feel a clean install is needed you can then go ahead and do a clean install using a downloaded Win 10 ISO
[ using the MS iso download programs (32 bit or 64 bit versions depending on your Windows)]

regards
Mike Barnes

There are no problems now as the PC has just been set up. The problem is after upgrading the problems might surface. Sorry. Can i ask during the upgrading process are there any options that i can choose such as performing the installation of windows 10 and completely removing 8.1?

 

[Nonsensical86]

Okay. No leave the drivers. They will be written over anyway. Like was said, choose reset and that will perform a clean install (and use your win 8 key).

Thanks maestro0428. So from your point i can just simply choose upgrade and do a clean installation from it. Is that right?

 

[maestro0428]

Download the OS if you havent already (the upgrade) and when it pops up the main window, choose the Reset option to do a fresh install. From there it will ask you if you want to keep your files or not. Again, dont forget to back up, just in case.