Saying goodbye to Win7- should I bother with Win8 or go directly to 10?

My Dell Latitude 6430u with Windows 7 is dead and I've ordered a new Latitude E7440 (from the Outlet) to replace it. It has Windows 8.1 Pro (or I can upgrade to Windows 10). Does it even make any sense to start using the new system with Windows 8 or should I just upgrade to Windows 10 from the start? I have very little experience with either 8 or 10, but 10 seems like the logical choice. Right?

 

Check out that everything is working OK then make sure that you have the system, as supplied, backed up and then go straight to 10. It has a few annoyances but in terms of usability 10 is what 8 should have been. If you want 10 (or 8) to feel more like 7 then you will still need to install a start menu utility.

Some people will advocate doing a clean install of 10 but I've found the upgrade path to work fine. Dell have the notebooks configured with some utilities and without too much bloatware so I reckon it's easiest to carry through whatever optimisation Dell have done.

John

 

Performing a clean install should be easy on your laptop. The W8.1 key is stored in BIOS, and W10 will use the same key for activation during a clean install. You don't have to do the traditional upgrade just to get the W10 license (just in case you didn't know). However, you should still try it out like John said.

Just remember, if you want to preform a clean install you should do it soon, and not in a few months or so. By that time you have set up everything, installed all programs you need, and stored a lot of personal files, and all this makes it more tedious to reinstall.
This may seem obvious, but it's so easy to just think "I'll go with this for now."

I prefer a clean install, it's more of an obsession than anything else. Chopping down 90 processes to 60 or less makes me feel like I'm a bit more in control, it's not about gaining more performance. I'm not interested in propietary utilities and background processes that takes care of something that Windows can do in the first place. To each his own.

 

1) I would turn on the laptop first and use Windows 8 for 1 day just to make sure is running fine


2) Google Windows product key finder, and download one of the tools to help you get your Windows 8 key and note it down

3) use this guide to perform a clean installation, completely wiping your HDD/SSD via the diskpart /clean command

NBR Windows 10 Clean Installation Guide

 

Got e7440 with 8.1, very stable+++. Only mentions: stay on bios 15 to keep the sd card reader working, dell audio driver have problems with switching between internal\external on the audio jack, am using the stock windows High Definition.

All tile (cr)apps removed and deleted from hd, keeping watch over w10 related updates. Classic Shell. No plans or reasons here for 10. My 8.1 setup behaves like an improved 7, very good.

If going 10, lots of good tools and info available to control most negatives. I'd start up on 8.1 and do some (reflect) imaging, then eventually try 10 and see how it goes, with the image giving painless and swift revert to 8.1 if wished.

The 10 experiments\install here, have always installed on a dedicated hd using fresh 10 iso, then swapped back to previous os using the original hd. Always activating no problem from bios key.

Am shunning 10 ftm, got no problem being a MS customer buying and using OS's, but have some strong distate for dissolving into their telemetry & "user experience" dreamworld without putting up a fight :O)

 

@allfiredup I suggest 10. Just follow this brilliant guide.

 

Thanks for all of your input. The E7440 arrived just a few hours ago, but I haven't even had a chance to power it up yet. I'll be working from home tomorrow, so I'll have time to play with it some then.

I know there are numerous Classic Menu/Shell utilities. I actually use a Classic Menu utility on Office 2013. Any suggestions for ones I should check out?

I'm leaning toward your way of thinking. The lack of bloatware/crapware is one reason I stick with Latitudes. I may go with the upgrade route (after a system backup and system image) first, then reserve a clean install if something goes awry.

Any suggestions on start menu utilities? I am a creature of habit, so I'll definitely want to make it function similar to Windows 7, if possible. I remember feeling lost without my Quick Launch toolbar in Win7 when I initially upgraded, but I quickly learned how to restore it. Windows 7 was such a welcome upgrade from Vista, but the move from WIndows 7 to 8 or 10 is involuntary. I'm sure I'll adapt....eventually....

Thanks again for all your help!

 

I use Start10 (and am very happy with it) having originally paid my $5 for Start8 which I got a notebook with Windows 8. However, I believe there are other less expensive options but haven't tried any so I'll let others make their recommendations.

John

 

@allfiredup just unpin everything from Windows 10 start menu and it will behave like 7, no need for additional tweaks. I also removed all the apps, Store included - don't need them anyway.

 

My E7440 arrived with two surprises, one very welcome and one not (but not a deal breaker). Despite the listing in the Dell Outlet, the emailed Order Confirmation and the actual order details on their website, it arrived with Windows 7 Pro 64-bit rather than 8!!! =)

The description in the Dell Outlet stated that it had the Backlit Dual-Pointing Keyboard. Unfortunately, the Order Confirmation specified the regular (non-backlit) keyboard and that is what I got. I've had backlit keyboards dating back to my E6400 (The TANK, bought in 2008) and I feel lost without it (especially since the keyboard on the E7440 has some minor changes compared to my 6430u. I may just buy one on Ebay and install it myself. I'm hoping that replacing the keyboard in the E7440 is as simple as on my previous Latitudes.

Otherwise, I'm loving it. The FHD (1920x1080) display is awesome. I would normally be returning it because of the keyboard, but Windows 7 more than makes up for that.

 

I ended up with Win7 instead of Win8. The current BIOS is A14, with A15-A17 all available but I'm not sure if I need to upgrade the BIOS at this point....?

I'm still traumatized by my experience with the early versions of Vista along with Office 2007!!! Hence my reluctance to give up Windows 7 since it has worked so well for me.

 

If I was you give them a call. I bet they will send you one....can't hurt to try.

 

Excellent choice, just remember that you have to upgrade to W10 before July 29 this year in order to get it for free. That is, perform the actual installation and activation, unless your laptop came with both W7 and W10.
This doesn't mean that you have to use W10 after that though. It's something you have to do once in order to use W10 for free in the future.

Pop in a spare HDD, install and activate W10 and you're done. After that you can go back to your other drive with W7.

Or, you can skip W10 altogether..

 

Had 7 on the 7440 for a while, all well afaicr. Basically, don't upgrade bios unless some tech reason for it.

7 can be used out of the box, 8.1 fine after a little cosmetic surgery. 10 only useable after it's been through a longer isolation & treatment in psychiatric ward, main problems, got some Napoleonic visions about achieving world domination, and constantly trying to communicate with spirits (in Redmond)

 

Two words of advice: IT SUCKS

 

Thanks for that info. I knew that July 29, 2016 was the cutoff for free Win10 upgrades for all existing Win7/8.1 users. But I wasn't sure of the policy for those who purchased after Win10 came out. Actually, the invoice says Win8.1 with FREE Win10 upgrade. I'm just curious if those who buy a laptop with Win8.1 + FREE Win10 upgrade only have until July 29?

Regardless, there's no reason I can't follow your advice and get it downloaded and installedf/activated on a spare SSD that I have. I have a new 120GB Mushkin Atlas Deluxe mSATA SSD that I bought last year (for a $49, so I couldn't resist). So I can use it for the Win10 download/install. Then I'll put it away in case I am forced to give up Win7 at some point.

My best friend visited this past weekend (he was down for a few days from Pittsburgh). He has Windows 10 on an ASUS UX305. I played with it a good bit and I think the part I hate the most is that I can't find things, at least not easily. That alone makes me dislike it! The jump from XP to Vista was a shocker and took me a long time to acclimate. By the time SP2 was rolled out, it was actually a decent operating system. But the upgrade from Vista to Win7 was very easy and the changes were, for the most part, improvements. As soon as I figured out how to restore my Quick Launch toolbar, I fell in love with Win7 and I'm still very happy with it.

 

I gave it a shot. I called and after a few minutes speaking with a "customer service" rep (and I use that term loosely), I firmly but respectfully escalated the call to a supervisor. I explained that it was listed as having a backlit keyboard in the description when I was ordering it. I also mentioned that I got Windows 7 when the item description, invoice and packing slip all showed Windows 8.1 with FREE upgrade to WIn10. Even though I was actually VERY happy that I got Win7, I brought it up to point out that there were two discrepancies between what I ordered and what I got. She didn't offer to send me a keyboard (or Windows 8), just to allow me to return the E7440 for a full refund- no shipping cost and no restocking fee. I told her I needed to think about it...

I found an OEM backlit keyboard that is slightly used and they warranty it for one year. It was $23 including shipping and, to be honest, it would have been worth that to avoid that futile phone call! I like Dell designs and I've loved all of my Latitudes dating back almost 10 years. But their customer service, tech support and repair service leaves a lot to be desired! =/

 

I would buy that keyboard. It's a very good price for sure.

 

Good qustion, I have no idea.

Yes, this is your best bet. Just remember that once W10 is activated it's tied to your laptop, which means that you don't need that exact installation for future use. If you need that SSD for anything else just erase it.

Just check System in Control Panel (right click Windows button, or use Windows + Pause keys). If it's activated you don't need that installation anymore, by the time you want W10 (possibly never) you'll want a newer installation anyway.
http://technewsrss.com/wp-content/p...How-to-clean-install-Windows-10-activated.jpg

Edit: Don't forget to remove your other drive while doing this.