windows upgrade question

[yashz123]

hi,
i own a HP laptop the operating system on my laptop is windows 7 i wanted to upgrade to windows 8.1
i've created a back up
my friends said that when i upgrade to 8.1 i will lose all the applications installed as some of the apps were installed b hp i don't have the product keys i wanted to know how to keep my apps on windows 8.1 without losing them

 

[drtweak]

Well doing an "Upgrade" it should keep most of the stuff. If you do a Clean install then yea you need the keys. If you don't know what your Keys are there are programs out there like Magical Jelly bean and a few others that help you recovery your Keys by getting them from the registry for you VS digging for them. That only works on things like Windows and Office. Other programs (Like quickbooks, Adobe CS, ect) If you open the program and then click on the Help and then the About section, a lot of times it will have the programs license info for you to jot down and keep.

 

[roshansoza]

i am telling you to do clean installed windows 8 or 8.1 first you get the backups and drivers after that you give the full format and clean installing your PC or Laptop