Windows 8.0 to 8.1 or 10 - please advise

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by Scott W, Dec 6, 2016.

  1. Scott W

    Scott W Registered Member

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    My Samsung laptop (Feb. 2013) running Windows 8.0 has been having problems updating for quite a while (that's why it never updated to 8.1). Typically the updates fail to install and Windows reverts them. I've run sfc /scannow several times over the years and it does report unrepairable errors!

    Anyhow, up to now I haven't had too many other issues with it but lately I'm starting to experience other problems so I'm wondering if I should continue trying to update Windows to 8.1 (which hasn't been successful so far) or just take the leap to Windows 10? :confused:
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2016
  2. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Scott,

    I like Win10. I suggest creating an Entire Drive image before you commence the upgrade, in case things go wrong. Download the Win10 ISO from...

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO/

    Use Rufus to create a USB flash drive. (but you won't boot this to do the upgrade). In Windows, double click setup.exe on the flash drive and follow the prompts. It is easy.

    Time for the upgrade is 10 minutes to a few hours depending on your hardware.
     
  3. Scott W

    Scott W Registered Member

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    Brian, thanks for the reply. When upgrading to Windows 10 doesn't it save the current Windows in case it has to revert? Also, is there a Microsoft diagnostic I can run beforehand to determine if the laptop can run Win10?
     
  4. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Yes, but it's not 100% reliable.

    Yes, but a 3 year old laptop will pass.
     
  5. Scott W

    Scott W Registered Member

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    I'll give it a go this weekend (unless wifey has other plans). ;)
     
  6. plat1098

    plat1098 Guest

    Some Samsung devices may not take to Windows 10, check the Samsung website for compatibility. You can theoretically install Windows 10 via ISO offline though it's ideal to have 8.1 in place first. Did you try to do recovery to 8 factory settings and then install 8.1 directly afterward? Did you double check if your laptop model had issues with Windows 8.1? Probably not but I would check anyway.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/15356/windows-8-install-update-kb-2919355

    Since you're installing after the free upgrade expiration, windows.old should be available 10 days after installation. Again, it's possible in theory to go directly to 10 from 8 but odds of a successful and viable installation are higher with 8.1 already in place. I say this simply because you stated your current W8 is corrupted and W10 would be installing over this corruption. After cleaning up as much as I can on Windows 8, I'd go for it, though. Go for it!

    Edit: Checking your hard drive is a good idea.

    http://www.thewindowsclub.com/disk-error-checking-windows-8
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 6, 2016
  7. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    It should be okay to go straight to Windows 10. I had a badly corrupted windows 7 install which would not upgrade to Windows 10 becuase having SP1 installed was a requirement to upgrade, but Windows 7 SP1 would always fail to install. When Windows 10 Anniversary Update was released, the dependence on SP1 was removed, and I was able to upgrade to Windows 10 without any issues, and the resulting Windows 10 install worked fine.
     
  8. Scott W

    Scott W Registered Member

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    Thanks for your suggestions but I wouldn't consider using the Samsung recovery partitions to restore the factory delivered configuration (if that's what you mean) as that would necessitate reinstalling all of my apps and recovering all of my personal data!!! :eek:
     
  9. Scott W

    Scott W Registered Member

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    I sure hope that's the case because updating to 8.1 has not been successful in all of my past attempts!
     
  10. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Scott, which upgrade methods did you try? I've found the most reliable method is to use a Windows UFD.
     
  11. Scott W

    Scott W Registered Member

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    Brian, I've only tried the typical 'direct method' via Windows Updates. How does the 'Windows UFD method' work?
     
  12. guest

    guest Guest

    Download the Microsoft Media Creation Tool , select the proper Win10 version, then use a bootable USB for a clean install.
     
  13. plat1098

    plat1098 Guest

    No external storage for your personal data? Yes, using recovery was exactly what I meant

    Just saying that Windows 10, specifically 1511, has a greater affinity for Windows 7 (and 8.1), than Windows 8 which is to be the first one floating on a little end-of-life island among the latter OS. At any rate, good luck, I hope it all works out for you. :)
     
  14. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Last edited: Dec 6, 2016
  15. Scott W

    Scott W Registered Member

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    I'd much prefer doing an upgrade in order to preserve my apps and data.
     
  16. Scott W

    Scott W Registered Member

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  17. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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  18. Scott W

    Scott W Registered Member

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    Yes, I was aware of that... Thanks
     
  19. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Yes, it is ver 1607.

    Get it done first as it's reliable and then consider Krusty's method.
     
  20. chrcol

    chrcol Registered Member

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    If you have no issue with the automated update system then go with win10.
    If you want to keep control of your rig go win8.1.
     
  21. Scott W

    Scott W Registered Member

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    So I can't pick and choose Win 10 updates? ...I sure don't like that. o_O

    I much prefer more control of my OS, so I guess that means Win 8.1 for me ...providing I'm able to update Win 8.0 to Win 8.1 by running setup.exe from a Win 8.1 installation disk (within Windows of course) ....and if that doesn't work, I'll try upgrading to Win 10. :rolleyes:
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2016
  22. Brummelchen

    Brummelchen Registered Member

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    from win8 to 8.1 needs a complete fresh/upgrade installation and upgrade from 8 to win10 is not possible (need 8.1)
     
  23. Scott W

    Scott W Registered Member

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    I really don't understand the above statement - would you please elaborate?
     
  24. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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  25. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Another myth is you need Win7 SP1 to upgrade to Win10. Not true. You can upgrade a freshly installed Win7 (no updates at all) to Win10.
     
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