Windows 10 Tips & Tricks

How to Install Windows 10 (in-place upgrade) (quick tutorial)

This is an un-narrated quick Step-through of doing an In-place Upgrade of Windows 10. An In-place Upgrade or Upgrade Install will allow the Installer to keep the personal Files and Apps that are installed under the current Operating System. The currently installed Applications\Programs, ofcourse, will have to be compatible with the new or upgraded Installation of Windows to work properly. If the Upgrade Setup was booted into when the Computer was first started, both Apps and personal Files should be kept when Upgrade is selected as the Installation Type. Windows Setup will, also, make a hidden Copy of the old Operating System and store it in a Folder named Windows.old. More than likely, when choosing the Upgrade Option, Windows Setup will request the User to restart the Computer and run (start) Windows Setup from inside the current Installation. When upgrading from inside the Current Operating System (shown), the User will have the Option of keeping the old Programs and Files, just the personal Files or Nothing at all. In most all Cases a back-up of the old Installation will be made to allow the Un-Installation of the new Operating System. Again, that is the Windows.old Folder. Once the new Installation is considered Stable and no further need of any Files that reside in the Windows.old Folder are needed. The old Installation can be removed by running the Disk Cleanup Utility and invoking the "Clean System Files" Option. That will give the User the Option of cleaning\deleting the old installation of Windows.

Before starting the Installation, I would dis-connect the Computer from the Internet or any other Networks, un-less I was positive the Computer was behind a secure Firewall or UTM with Anti-virus Capabilities.

To start the Installation from inside Windows insert the Windows Setup DVD or connect the USB Device that has the Windows Setup Files on it. Then navigate to that Disc or Drive and (select\click) setup.exe or setup, if File Extensions are hidden. The Installation Process will start. Answer "Yes" to the User Account Control Warning, if presented with one. The very first set of Options that will need to be made, is whether or not to "Download and install Updates". For a faster Installation (select) "Not right now". If the Computer is behind an external Firewall with Anti-virus Capabilities, (select) "Download and install Updates". The User can choose to send Installation Information to Microsoft during Setup by choosing "I want to help make the installation of Windows better".

(click\select) the Next Button.

Agree to the License Terms (…if you do) and (click\select) the Accept Button.

Then the "Ready to Install" Section of Setup will be displayed. Here the User can change what to keep, if necessary. (click\select) the Back Button to change or review any previous Dialogs or (click\select) the Install Button to start the actual Installation. Generally, The Installation will need 25 to 35 Gigabytes, even that will be lacking once all Updates are downloaded and applied. I suggest, atleast, 50 to 70 Gigabytes of Hard Drive Space for Windows 10.

It will take 10 to 25 Minutes for the initial Installation and Windows 10 Setup will restart the Computer a couple of Times during Installation. Do Not respond to the "Press any key to boot from the CD or DVD…" Action Message. That is only for running Setup from outside the Windows Environment and only for the initial Booting of the Windows Installation Media. If using a USB Drive make sure it is not set to be automatically Booted from, as that may interrupt the Setup Process and try to restart Setup from the Beginning. That doesn't usually happen. Windows 10 Setup will do It's best to detect that behavior and continue the Setup un-interrupted. Setup will take 20 to 55 additional Minutes to complete the Setup Process. Understand, if the User chose to Download and install Updates during Installation, the Internet Connection Speed will affect the Time it takes Windows Setup to complete.

Welcome to Windows 10!

Now…

Secure (Windows Firewall Settings, update Windows Defender or install a third-party Anti-virus, adjust Sharing Settings and the available Protocols for any Network Adapters)

Activate (goto Settings, then System, then About or (right-click) This PC (Start Menu-Windows System-This PC), then (select\click) Properties and (select\click) Activate Windows)
*If Windows 10 has been previously activated on the PC and the Product Key is eligible for the Version Installed, it should automatically Activate once Internet Access is available.*

Update (Start Button-Settings-Updates & Security (click\select) the Check for Updates Button.

For a better Experience setup Cortana, review the Privacy Settings and check the Computer Manufacturer's Website for Updates (be they for the Computer or for a specific Operating System)

For a Hardware & Software Manufacturers and Links to their Support Web-pages go here