time to replace components in wife's computer for dreaded Win10 to Win11

Levitate11 · May 13, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
I looked at the scripts for installations, but it would take far longer to setup the scripts than to just install the apps. I think scripts are the key if you're doing a lot of similar installations on multiple machines. I see much less utility for scripts for a one-off machine build.

The big thing I like about a clean install is I get a clean slate. Over a few years, I end up with a lot of crap that was installed, used once of a few times, and then forgotten. I leave those behind when I do a clean install and end up with a much more lean and mean installation.

Agreed. I've never seen a Windows system that didn't run better after I was "forced" into a clean install. That goes back to 3.1 and hasn't changed. Eventually, you need to do one.

I've taken to just looking over the Program Files directory and Desktop folders to make sure I don't miss anything after I do all the major components. Some stuff, like shortcuts, can be copied. Other stuff needs an install. That gets me to 97% of what I need done.

Ideally I have an identical (my backup) system to do the fresh build on and just run side-by-side until it's ready. Then I can do it in my "spare" time as I work with no downtime.

gunrunnerjohn said:
That progression would give me the Willies, hard to imagine there aren't some hidden gems waiting to bite you there.

My thoughts too. I'd buy the gray-ware $15 StackSocial Win 11 Pro and do a fresh install.

@Bree, while I've never tried it, can't you pull your product key out, do a fresh install (even on an evolved system), and use it to re-activate the same hardware? Obviously it's registered at MS as a valid key for Win 11.

I understand about a system with software that can no longer be re-installed... that's a different issue.

Scannerman · May 13, 2025

I've consistently had rotten results with upgrades. I'm guessing it might be the various third party apps I use or the way I configure my security. At any rate I almost always end up having to do a clean install when a new OS comes to town and I'm ready for it. Yesterday I discovered there was a new BIOS for the Crosshair VIII Hero that has been out since January. Perhaps this will help enable a smooth transition to 11 but I'm thinking I'm likely better off just doing a clean install.

gunrunnerjohn · May 13, 2025

Levitate11 said:
Ideally I have an identical (my backup) system to do the fresh build on and just run side-by-side until it's ready. Then I can do it in my "spare" time as I work with no downtime.

I always have a secondary system, I can't really afford to be totally without the computer for any significant length of time. I do my upgrades two at a time. The baby brother is on the left, but it has mostly the same hardware as the main system. I just doesn't get the more expensive GPU for the secondary computer, it just uses the on-board video. While that would certainly be slower, it suffices for most stuff I do. I regularly do a complete data backup to the secondary system, and also make sure that Windows and the major applications are all updated at least once a month. Obviously, I also have all my other regular data backups to draw from as well.

Bree · May 13, 2025

Levitate11 said:
....can't you pull your product key out, do a fresh install (even on an evolved system), and use it to re-activate the same hardware?

You don't need a key to do a fresh install of 11 on hardware that has previously been running an activated W10. Skip entering a key if asked, it will activate from the PC's existing digital licence as soon as it can contact the MS activation servers. The digital licence is tied to the PC's unique hardware ID and is valid for both W10 and W11.

Scannerman · May 13, 2025

Levitate11 said:
Ideally I have an identical (my backup) system to do the fresh build on and just run side-by-side until it's ready. Then I can do it in my "spare" time as I work with no downtime.

Nothing works like a good clone to save the day.

kelper · May 13, 2025

Scannerman said:
Nothing works like a good clone to save the day.

A disk image is even better!

Scannerman · May 13, 2025

kelper said:
A disk image is even better!

There's a difference?

gunrunnerjohn · May 13, 2025

kelper said:
A disk image is even better!

Not better than a complete computer that's got everything you need!

The disk image is only useful for a Windows software crash, I have those if that happens as well. Nothing beats a whole computer all ready to get powered up and take over.

Bree · May 13, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
I always have a secondary system, I can't really afford to be totally without the computer for any significant length of time....

I know what you mean. After losing my one and only XP laptop when its hardware gave up the ghost I swore that I'd never have less than two PCs......

....I may have over-compensated a touch..... :ROFLMAO:

See 'My Computers' below. (and those are just the ones running Windows 11)

Levitate11 · May 13, 2025

Scannerman said:
Nothing works like a good clone to save the day.

kelper said:
A disk image is even better!

Both. Both is good.

kelper · May 13, 2025

Scannerman said:
There's a difference?

Of course, there is a difference!

Feature	Cloning	Disk Imaging
Output	Identical, bootable drive	Image file (not bootable directly)
Usage	Drive replacement/migration	Backups and restoration
Flexibility	Low (1-to-1 copy)	High (multiple images, compression)
Compression	No	Yes
Immediate use	Yes	No (requires restore)

Scannerman · May 13, 2025

I used to use R Drive Image a lot but in my lazier years I'm finding Mini Tool Pro Ultimate good enough for the job. Whatever I'm doing with it Mini Tool calls it an "image" but I get immediate use with it and no restore is required. That's why I still think of the complete image as a clone. Having an identical, bootable drive has always been appealing to me.

Scannerman · May 13, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
Not better than a complete computer that's got everything you need! The disk image is only useful for a Windows software crash, I have those if that happens as well. Nothing beats a whole computer all ready to get powered up and take over.

Muah-ha-ha-ha-ha!

gunrunnerjohn · May 13, 2025

Scannerman said:
Muah-ha-ha-ha-ha!

You can't take it with you.

kelper · May 13, 2025

OK, but you can mount a disk image and access any files within it. Making a disk image is faster than cloning too.
For me, the advantage of disk imaging is that it is very fast on a low-spec machine. Using virtualisation is impossible with only 4GB of RAM. I know, because I have tried it.

Scannerman · May 13, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
You can't take it with you.

I have enough PCs to be completely buried in them after I leave this organic unit.

Scannerman · May 13, 2025

kelper said:
OK, but you can mount a disk image and access any files within it. Making a disk image is faster than cloning too.
For me, the advantage of disk imaging is that it is very fast on a low-spec machine. Using virtualisation is impossible with only 4GB of RAM. I know, because I have tried it.

I don't think I own a PC with less than 16GB of system RAM. I have two with 128GB, two with 32, four with 16, three with 24, and a laptop or two with a partridge in a pear tree. The wife's PC uses 32 and my daughters have PCs with 24 to 32 GB depending on which device they're using.

gunrunnerjohn · May 13, 2025

Well, I only need one operational PC, but I have two so that there is always one that is operational. I do have a laptop as well, but it's still Win10, and pretty long in the tooth, one day it'll be replaced.

I have a whole pile of partial computers in the boneyard, but I don't count those. :lmao:

kelper · May 13, 2025

Scannerman said:
I don't think I own a PC with less than 16GB of system RAM. I have two with 128GB, two with 32, four with 16, three with 24, and a laptop or two with a partridge in a pear tree. The wife's PC uses 32 and my daughters have PCs with 24 to 32 GB depending on which device they're using.

Well, bully for you! (This is a friendly reposte in UK English)

kelper · May 13, 2025

@Scannerman

You said, "I don't think I own a PC with less than 16GB of system RAM"

Perhaps your internal RAM need an upgrade! Or a refresh!

time to replace components in wife's computer for dreaded Win10 to Win11

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