Windows Update Poll


What is your preferred method when upgrading your computers to a new version of Windows?

  • Upgrade overtop of the existing version of Windows when available via Windows Update

    Votes: 29 54.7%

  • Upgrade overtop of the existing version of Windows but by not using Windows Update (how?)

    Votes: 13 24.5%

  • Do a clean install (please state how)

    Votes: 8 15.1%

  • Other (please state what and how)

    Votes: 3 5.7%
  • Total voters
    53
Bree said:
Ignore the Product name, in the registry (where this is being read from) Windows 11 is still described as being Windows 10. In fact, for all intents an purposes (such as software compatibility) it is, the Kernel for 11 is functionally almost identical to that of 10.

Look at the build numbers instead, they identify what was installed.

View attachment 115955
Click to expand...
Thanks for the clarification! So it is a WIN 11 clean install.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Wind 11 Pro 24H2 (Dev Channel)/23H2Beta (offl...2 Intel Xeon 5680120 GbMSI(Nvidia) GeForce GTX 970
OS
Wind 11 Pro 24H2 (Dev Channel)/23H2Beta (offline)
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
DELL T7500
CPU
2 Intel Xeon 5680
Memory
120 Gb
Graphics Card(s)
MSI(Nvidia) GeForce GTX 970
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2719DGF
Screen Resolution
2560 x 1440 (155Hz)
Hard Drives
Samsung 2TB 870 (24H2 Device)
Samsung 1TB 860 (23H2 Beta)
PSU
Dell 1100W
Antivirus
Premium Malwarebyte, AdwCleaner (Malwarebyte)
jimhow4545 said:
So it is a WIN 11 clean install.
Click to expand...
Yes, a clean install of 23H2 22621, followed by joining Insiders, first as Beta, then as Dev. Both of those were a full Feature Update, replacing all the system files, first updating to 22635, then again to 26120.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeAMD Athlon Silver 3050U8GBRadeon Graphics
    OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23-R9VY
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD (from April 2026: 250GB EVO 850)
    Internet Speed
    150 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    UPDATE - 11 April 2026: due to lid hinges starting to break up this laptop has been retired from active duty. The OS with all software and files has been migrated to my System Seven in 'Other systems' to carry on as my general purpose 'main machine'.

    I've now clean installed 25H2 and used Garlin's scripts to update Secure Boot to CA 2023 and revoke the PCA 2011 certificates. It's new role is to test secure boot issues.

    Info for 2021-2026:
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2, and 25H2 on 30th September 2025 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 25H2.

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProIntel® Core™ i5-520M8GB(integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround.

    In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround.
    Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.
    In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media.
    Upgraded to 25H2 by Enablement Package.

    Also running Insider Dev, and Canary builds and Windows 10 as native boot .vhdx.
  • My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR was a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (1st gen) type 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device. This has now been sold. It has been replaced by my System Eight.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 1TB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Hyper-V host machine. Updated to 25H2 on 30th September 2025.

    My SYSTEM SEVEN is a Lenovo Thinkpad T580, Intel Core i7-8650U, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD + 2nd 512GB NVMe SSD, a supported device for Windows 11. This is my current general purpose 'main machine'. The installed Windows 11 Home from my System One has been migrated to this machine.

    My SYSTEM EIGHT is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (5th gen) type 20LN, Celeron N4120, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, a supported device for Windows 11. Currently running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Dev, Beta, and Canary builds as native boot vhdx.
Clean install. I removed the hard drive from my Acer, wiped it with all zeros, reinstalled the hard drive. Then used the media creation tool I made from Microsoft to do a clean install. Every time I perform a clean install I learn something new about my machine, the OS, and the software I run.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro12th Gen i5-1240016gb Crucial 3200MHz DDR4Geforce RTX 3050
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer 1760 UA92
    CPU
    12th Gen i5-12400
    Memory
    16gb Crucial 3200MHz DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce RTX 3050
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Amazon Omni Fire tv 4K 55"
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    Kingston NVME M.2 1tb
    Samsung 850 1tb sata
    PSU
    300 Watts
    Cooling
    1 Internal Case fans
    Keyboard
    Wireless Logitech
    Internet Speed
    300Mbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro10th Gen i-7, 4-core 8-threads, turbo to 3.9GHz16gbIntel Iris Plus
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    10th Gen i-7, 4-core 8-threads, turbo to 3.9GHz
    Memory
    16gb
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Plus
    Hard Drives
    500gb M.2
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot
I create a Windows installation ISO and install over the existing Windows version. A clean install would make about 2 days of work for me in addition to the Windows install since I have so many custom settings, not only in Windows but installed programs. Back in XP days, I did a clean install once or twice a year just to keep things fresh. But I came to my senses and abandoned those silly youthful shenanigans.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 ProIntel Core Ultra 265KTeamGroup T-Force Vulcan DDR5 6400MHz 32GBMSI GeForce RTX 3050
OS
Windows 11 Pro
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Self Build
CPU
Intel Core Ultra 265K
Motherboard
Gigabyte Z890 AOROS Elite
Memory
TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan DDR5 6400MHz 32GB
Graphics Card(s)
MSI GeForce RTX 3050
Sound Card
GPU NVIDIA High Definition Audio via HDMI to Denon AVR-S670BT Receiver
Monitor(s) Displays
LG 32UN650 32" 4k
Screen Resolution
3840x2160 @ 60Hz (175% scaling)
Hard Drives
Samsung 980 Pro NVMe 1TB x2
PSU
Corsair RM850x
Case
be quiet! Pure Base 600
Cooling
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120SE & be quiet! Silent Wings Pro x3 case fans
Keyboard
Arteck Backlit USB Wired
Mouse
Logitech M510
Internet Speed
500Mb down/12Mb up
Browser
Firefox & Edge
Antivirus
Windows Defender & Free MBAM
Other Info
Main PC
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