How did GRUB survive Windows 10 upgrade?

My Dell Latitude E6420 has two operating systems side by side. First there was Windows 7. Then came Ubuntu Linux. They both have been living in perfect harmony for many years.

Windows 10 came available this week. Off I went and upgraded (did not do a fresh install!) Windows 7 to the latest operating system from Microsoft. During the installation I thought GRUB would not be there anymore. That didn't happen. When PC booted again, GRUB was the first one to greet me.

Keep in mind my PC has so called "old school" BIOS (not UEFI). Dual-boot still works and I'm grateful for that. For example installing Linux-based mobile operating systems on my Nexus phone is IMHO so much easier via Linux. That's why dual-boot is so important for me.

Upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10

Dell Latitude E6420 upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10

Windows 10 came available earlier today (on July 29th). I wanted to see if it was possible to upgrade from Windows 7 to the latest from Microsoft - Windows 10.

The first thing to do was to force Windows 7 to download and start install of Windows 10. Read my blog to see how the trick is done.

The rest was not in my hands. Windows 10 setup program took over. There was nothing one could do but pray. It took longer than normally since there were many applications, files and folders in my Windows 7. In addition I had four accounts. Setup went on smoothly. Finally, Windows 10 was there.

Below you can see my Desktop before and after. Not very surprising? Yes, I guess it's not. However the gotcha was to find out whether Windows 10 would install on top of Windows 7 or not. Well, there you have it. I must admit I hate the idea of registry which is in poor condition. And that's what worries me now. If my Dell doesn't work as quick as it did when Windows 7 was there then I have to make a fresh install of Windows 10.

Before

After

Write Windows 10 on USB stick the official way

Microsoft is offering a tool which downloads and writes Windows 10 on USB stick. here is how:

• Point your browser here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
• Download the tool and run it as administrator.
• Follow the instructions on screen. You may choose between 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 10. or you can pick up both of them. There are also different Windows versions available (Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro etc.).

WARNING! BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR WINDOWS 10 USB STICK! 

READ OTHER SOURCES HOW TO MAKE WINDOWS 10 SETUP ACCEPT YOUR WINDOWS 7/8.1 PRODUCT KEY!

Force your PC to download and install Windows 10

If feeling impatient force your PC to download and install Windows 10. Here is how:

• Make sure you are receiving updates automatically.
• Delete all files and folders under folder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
• Open Command Prompt (cmd.exe) and run as administrator: wuauclt.exe /updatenow
• Download starts and leads to Windows 10 install. Be sure to back up your PC beforehand!

Remember that you are upgrading at your own risk!

Acer W4-820 upgraded from

Windows 8.1 to Windows 10

Migrating from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 went well

As soon as Windows 10 came available I forced my Acer W4-820 -tablet to download and install Windows 10 on top of Windows 8.1. You can read how anyone can make PC fetch the files needed and boot up the latest operating system from Microsoft.

What I wanted to see was the migration from one Windows to another. It was never before advised to install new operating system on top of another. Well, install went just fine and took about 45 minutes. Afterwards Windows 10 downloaded drivers and as fas as I know special software for tablet use. How do I know? Icons got bigger. Now it's easier to tap them.

So far Acer W4-820 has behaved ok (about 1-2 hours ;D). It's up to Microsoft from now on. What I've heard is Microsoft will force all of us to receive updates for Windows 10. Let's hope all those updates work well!

Näin pakotat tietokoneesi lataamaan Windows 10:n ja aloittamaan asennuksen

Windows 10 on julkaistu. Mikäli haluat ladata sen heti ja asentaa vanhemman Windows päälle (Windows 7 tai 8.1), toimi seuraavasti:

• Varmista, että käytät virallista versiota Windowsista (ei siis mitään piraatteja).
• Tyhjennä kansio C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
• Aja seuraava komento komentokehotteessa pääkäyttäjänä: wuauclt.exe /updatenow
• Windows 10:n latauksen pitäisi alkaa ja kansio C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download täyttyä. Kannattaa siirtyä tarkkailemaan Ojauspaneelin Windows Update -sovellusta. Asennus alkaa latauksen jälkeen.

Acer W4-820 -tabletti siirtymässä

Windows 8.1:stä Windows 10 -versioon.

Näin teet virallisen Windows 10 -asennustikun

Windows 10 on julkaistu. Mikäli tarvitset asennustikkua, toimi seuraavasti:

• Siirry osoitteeseen https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 .
• Lataa työkalu, jonka avulla voi luoda Windows 10:n sisältävän asennusmuistitikun.
• Varaa riittävän iso tikku. Minun tapauksessani päätin sisällyttää molemmat eli 32- ja 64-bittiset Windows 10:t tikulle ja tarvitsin tilaa 6 Gt. HUOM! Etsi tuoteavain (= product key) ennenkuin aloitat Windows 10:n asennuksen.

VAROITUS: LUE ENSIN MUISTA LÄHTEISTÄ, MITEN SÄILYTÄT VANHAN WINDOWS 7/8.1:N TUOTEAVAIMEN NIIN, ETTÄ SAAT AKTIVOITUA WINDOWS 10:N. TÄSTÄ LINKISTÄ LISÄÄ TIETOA!

ÄLÄ SIIS VÄLITTÖMÄSTI TYHJENNÄ KIINTOLEVYÄ VAAN SYÖ PURKKA JA JUO KUPPI KAHVIA!

ENNENKAIKKEA ÄLÄ TEE KOKEITA NK. TUOTANTOKONEELLASI ELI SILLÄ, JOLLA PITÄÄ PÄÄSTÄ ESIM. PANKKIIN.

Lataa työkalu ja asenna se

• Työkalun käyttö on suoraviivaista. Seuraa ao. kuvia:

Three PCs waiting for Windows 10 upgrade

At the moment there are three PCs at home waiting for Windows 10 upgrade. They are all in different situations:

• Acer Iconia W510 (touch screen device) was once delivered with Windows 8. When Windows Insider Program started, I decided to let Windows 8/8.1 go and installed Windows 10 Preview on Acer. Ending up to pre-version 10240 Acer is now waiting for the final version of Windows 10. And of course after that Acer will continue to receive (infinite?) updates so the Insider-story goes on and on...
• Dell Latitude E6420 is running Windows 7. It has many accounts and a lot of applications installed. It will be interesting to see IF Windows 10 runs smoothly on top of Windows 7. It was never advised before to do it that way...
• Acer W4-820 is my Windows 8.1 -based tablet. I want to see two things: a) how Windows 10 installs on top of Windows 8.1 b) is Windows 10 made for touch screens or not (I guess it's not)?

So, Microsoft. Let loose! Gimme that operating system! I promise to wake up early in the morning (European time) to see if you have passed me the chance to install your new software.

Windows 10 on the way - image downloaded and system accepted by Microsoft

My Windows 7 is not that far away from a major upgrade - Windows 10. There are two things I've noticed so far:

• Encrypted ~ 2,5 GB image showed up (see picture below)!
• Microsoft says my Dell Latitude E6420 and all installed apps are compatible with Windows 10 (see picture below). In addition read my earlier blog post concerning reservation update.

All set! It's up to Microsoft to decide if I'm allowed to upgrade my Windows 7 to Windows 10 already tomorrow. Let's hope for the best!

install.esd is the name of the encrypted image

Microsoft remotely tested my PC and all the apps...