Install "Update" to Win11 or is Fresh install absolute?

My workstation has qualified to update to Win 11 for a while now, but I've been reluctant to update for two reasons:
1: New operating systems always have so many bugs and a lot of them fail to properly support certain programs or even drivers.
2: I have many work related programs, add-ons, filters, fonts, settings, etc, just the way I need them. Many took quite a while to finetune. Way back when Win 10 was new ("the last official Windows" they said) I tried to just update/upgrade over Win 7. It was a horrible mess that ended up being merely a face job that conflicted with its underlying Win 7 system files. When I did a fresh install (Formatted and install fresh Win 10 OS) everything was great. Still, I had to redo ALL of my programs, add-ons, filters, fonts, settings, etc. It was a nightmare.
Im terrified to do the same with Win 11. Eventually Ill have to. I think it around 2025 Win 10 will no longer be supported.
My questions to the forum are these:
- Does Win 11 exhibit the same issues as Win 10, merely overlaying the pre-existing OS without properly uninstalling Win 10 system files? Will I have to do a completely System format and fresh install in order to avoid issues? I understand fresh install is likely to always be the preferred choice, but Im asking how big of a difference does it make for Win 11?
- I bought a key for Win 11 Pro from "Microsoft Keys". Searched legitimacy and reviews prior to purchase and it seemed pretty solid. I bought the key, but now having doubts due to how cheap it was. Anyone have experience with "Microsoft Keys"?

You can upgrade and test Windows 11 if you don't like it you can always revert back to Windows 10 within 10 day or extend to 60 day.

Make a full OS image backup of Windows 10... then do an In-Place Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11.





In-Place Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11...





Here is the short version of the In-place upgrade tutorial...

DISABLE non-Microsoft:
a) antivirus software
b) firewall software
c) drive encryption software

Make a full OS backup with a program like Macrium Reflect (free)
Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

Go here and get the Windows 11 ISO (use the 3rd option), and save the ISO to your desktop.
Download Windows 11
The ISO must be downloaded in the same language as you are using in Windows, to be able to keep your Programs and Files.








Right click the ISO image and choose: MOUNT
Open File Explorer and you will see a new drive letter. It will "look" like a DVD optical drive.
Double click the new drive letter to open it.
Find setup.exe and double click it to start the in-place upgrade.

Choose the Keep personal files and apps option.

After it's all done... to UNmount the ISO image, right click the new drive letter and choose: EJECT.


The ONLY thing you will lose is some of your personalizations. Your programs and data will be intact.

@varxtis You can do an upgrade install and elect to the oprion to "keep all your files and apps." I've done this with three of my PC's and had no issues. Many others have done this as well. Windows 11 will always allow you to go back to your previous Win10 installation for a limited amount of time. However, just to be safe, I would run a full image before you do the upgrade so that you have another way of going back should something go wrong. Many of the forum members use the free version of Macrium Reflect to make full backup images. Its reliable and there are tutorials here for you to learn how.

You can use the attached batch script to extend the time to roll back a buggy Windows 10 and Windows 11 feature update.

Puzzled why you bought a Windows key unless you're upgrading from Home to Pro.

WOW, That was a lot of replies in such a small amount of time. Thank you very much everyone. I'll pursue the image route incase I have to roll back or whatnot.
@Fabler2 I have windows 10 Pro. It was my assumption that the "Free upgrade" would take me from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 11 Home. I wanted to stick with pro since there are usally networking aspects that are only available with Pro. Was my assumption wrong? Does Free Upgrade go from pro to pro?

varxtis said:

WOW, That was a lot of replies in such a small amount of time. Thank you very much everyone. I'll pursue the image route incase I have to roll back or whatnot.
@Fabler2 I have windows 10 Pro. It was my assumption that the "Free upgrade" would take me from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 11 Home. I wanted to stick with pro since there are usally networking aspects that are only available with Pro. Was my assumption wrong? Does Free Upgrade go from pro to pro?

Click to expand...

No, you will upgrade to Windows 11 Pro.

Yes it goes from Win 10 Pro to Win 11 Pro.

@Ghot Does "OS Image backup" record everything including Videos, Fonts, Music, Programs, Add-ons, Settings, etc? Basically a complete and entire picture of my 1TB computer as it is now? Or will it be strictly OS/Driver related files?

varxtis said:

@Ghot Does "OS Image backup" record everything including Videos, Fonts, Music, Programs, Add-ons, Settings, etc? Basically a complete and entire picture of my 1TB computer as it is now? Or will it be strictly OS/Driver related files?

Click to expand...

Creating an image of your computer enables you to restore all your programs, personal data, and Windows settings without reinstalling Windows manually, reinstalling every application, and then copying your personal data back over. When something bad happens, such as a hard drive failure or Windows being broken beyond repair, it is better to restore your computer from an image.

varxtis said:

@Ghot Does "OS Image backup" record everything including Videos, Fonts, Music, Programs, Add-ons, Settings, etc? Basically a complete and entire picture of my 1TB computer as it is now? Or will it be strictly OS/Driver related files?

Click to expand...

It is an exact (but compressed) copy of your Windows install.

A lot of people made a backup of Windows 10... then moved to Windows 11 by various routes.
If they didn't like Windows 11, all they had to do was "restore" the Windows 10 backup.


Posts 1 and 2, here...


AOMEI Backupper is another option (it's a bit simpler)


Whether Macrium or AOMEI, make sure to make the bootable media, so you can get to your backups,
even if Windows won't boot.

@Ghot and @FreeBooter Thank you so much. Deeply deeply appreciated!

You are very welcome!

Ditto.

varxtis said:

WOW, That was a lot of replies in such a small amount of time. Thank you very much everyone. I'll pursue the image route incase I have to roll back or whatnot.
@Fabler2 I have windows 10 Pro. It was my assumption that the "Free upgrade" would take me from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 11 Home. I wanted to stick with pro since there are usally networking aspects that are only available with Pro. Was my assumption wrong? Does Free Upgrade go from pro to pro?

Click to expand...

I've upgraded several computers from W10 to W11.
W10 Home always upgrades to W11 Home.
W10 Pro always upgrades to W11 Pro.

varxtis said:

My workstation has qualified to update to Win 11 for a while now, but I've been reluctant to update for two reasons:
1: New operating systems always have so many bugs and a lot of them fail to properly support certain programs or even drivers.
2: I have many work related programs, add-ons, filters, fonts, settings, etc, just the way I need them..... Eventually Ill have to. I think it around 2025 Win 10 will no longer be supported.

Click to expand...

Windows 10 reaches end of support on 14 October 2025, so there is no rush to make the switch. Windows 11 has been out for over nine months now, time enough to iron out any bugs. In addition, the 22H2 Feature Update for Windows 11 is due out in September/October, addressing a number of the perceived shortcomings in Start and the Taskbar.

- Does Win 11 exhibit the same issues as Win 10, merely overlaying the pre-existing OS without properly uninstalling Win 10 system files? Will I have to do a completely System format and fresh install in order to avoid issues?

Click to expand...

Underneath the new GUI and security features the basic Windows 11 kernel is little changed from Windows 10. There should be none of the issues you experienced going from W7 to W10. Those were quite different OS's, Windows 10 and 11 are more or less the same OS.

I bought a key for Win 11 Pro from "Microsoft Keys". Searched legitimacy and reviews prior to purchase and it seemed pretty solid. I bought the key, but now having doubts due to how cheap it was. Anyone have experience with "Microsoft Keys"?

Click to expand...

I have not dealt with "Microsoft keys". But there is actually no such thing as a 'Windows 11 key'. Microsoft made no changes whatsoever to how keys or digital licences work. All keys and digital licences are now treated by Microsoft as being for 'Windows 10/11'.

Before you begin, you MUST do a OS drive image and save to an external drive so you can restore it back in the case things go wrong.
Win 11 is quite the same as Win 10 but looks different.
Many tweaks you have done on win 10 may not work on win 11. You may have to install some tweaks to be able to use as you do with win 10

If you have Win 10 working the way you want, stay with it. No reason to upgrade to win 11.

Thank you so so so much everyone for your feedback! Its been extremely informative and helpful. Truly, Thank you!!

Ammended question:
Ive decided to go for fresh install as my computer is experiencing issues that'll be addressed with a format and fresh install.
My current OS is Win10 pro. When I install fresh Win 11 Pro, do I use the windows key associated with my current OS/Setup, or will I need to install with a new Win11 Pro Key? I ask because as stated before, my system is qualified for a free "upgrade" to win11 pro. But idk if that's limited to an upgrade, or how that'd work for a fresh Win11 pro install after a complete format.