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      Should you just do an upgrade with Windows 10, or a fresh install?

      150 150 Robert Smith
      • 0

      With today’s official release of Windows 10, many are wondering if it’s better to upgrade, or just do a fresh install. There are pros and cons to both methods.

      The most obvious reason to perform an upgrade rather than a fresh install is upgrading allows you to keep your existing programs, settings and data. With a fresh install, your applications will need to be reloaded, and your data backed up. If you’ve lost the install media, or misplaced the key code for your program, that can pose a definite problem with a fresh install. However, a free keyfinder utility, such as Jellybean Keyfinder, can help extract the keys for your software prior to you performing a fresh install. Upgrading an operating system to keep your currently installed programs does leave you open to the possibility that your application(s) simply just won’t work in Windows 10. Although, odds are if it worked in 7 or 8, it will work in 10 as well. If you have questions about a particular program’s performance in Windows 10, then wait and let others test the waters first. From there you can read the online feedback about performance of that application with Windows 10.

      There’s one other thing to remember if you’d like to go the clean install route. In order to do so, you first need a Windows 10 keycode. In order to get that keycode, you must run the upgrade. From there, you can use your keyfinder utility to extract the new Windows 10 keycode, then use that key to perform the complete full install and activation of the operating system.

      There are a few other key points to factor in your decision to upgrade or do a fresh install. Check out the video below, from Youtube user, “ThioJoeTech“. He covers the points well.

      And as always, if you need help with this or any other issue, TechForce is always here to assist you!

      Author

      Robert Smith

      All stories by: Robert Smith
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