02-19-2020, 09:16 AM
I have a few questions for our experienced users. I'm planning to install Windows 8.1 Professional and am doing my research first.
Question 1. Which installation disk is best - disk I already have but purchased in 2014 together with the OEM Product Key - or current ISO download from Microsoft Download Center burnt to DVD - without Product Key and Product Key still to be added?
I discovered that I'd purchased a copy of Windows 8.1 Professional many years ago - around 2014. It is on a Microsoft disk with the Microsoft authentic label with the product key on it.
My question is, should I use the more up to date download from the Microsoft site instead? I did download it and burnt the ISO file to DVD. Logic being that it would be more up to date than the install disk version I purchased many years ago. However, I was wondering after whether there may be an effect on the Product Key if I used the version from the Microsoft site instead of the disk that came with the Product Key?
Question 2. Clean install - set up of partitions
I'm planning to do a clean install which means I have to delete the partition on which Windows 7 is. I currently have a setup with three partitions:
c://(Boot, page file, crash dump Primary Partition) (232.78 GB )
d:// (Primary Partition) (232.88 GB )
System Reserved (100MB )
I checked tutorials and them suggesting to delete all the partitions. Question here is do I have to delete the partition with my personal files on d://? and the System Reserved partition as well? Or would it be OK to only delete one partition - the boot - partition - and recreate it again? If I have to delete all of the partitions, can I recreate the same partitions before I continue with the installation? Like c:// and d:// and System Reserved again? By just clicking on "new"?
The size of partitions came with the computer. I'm not a hardware expert. Is there a more ideal partitioning than the one my computer comes with? As this may be a chance to fix it.
Question 3. File Manager vs tap
One of the reasons I've stuck with Windows 7 so long (there are many), is I like the File Manager very much. I've used Windows 8.1 temporarily on another computer, and found myself looking for the File Manager all of the time - clicking through all of the icons to find it. I don't particularly like the icon layout either. Is there a way one can set up the File Manager and Windows 7 lookalike from the start?
Question 1. Which installation disk is best - disk I already have but purchased in 2014 together with the OEM Product Key - or current ISO download from Microsoft Download Center burnt to DVD - without Product Key and Product Key still to be added?
I discovered that I'd purchased a copy of Windows 8.1 Professional many years ago - around 2014. It is on a Microsoft disk with the Microsoft authentic label with the product key on it.
My question is, should I use the more up to date download from the Microsoft site instead? I did download it and burnt the ISO file to DVD. Logic being that it would be more up to date than the install disk version I purchased many years ago. However, I was wondering after whether there may be an effect on the Product Key if I used the version from the Microsoft site instead of the disk that came with the Product Key?
Question 2. Clean install - set up of partitions
I'm planning to do a clean install which means I have to delete the partition on which Windows 7 is. I currently have a setup with three partitions:
c://(Boot, page file, crash dump Primary Partition) (232.78 GB )
d:// (Primary Partition) (232.88 GB )
System Reserved (100MB )
I checked tutorials and them suggesting to delete all the partitions. Question here is do I have to delete the partition with my personal files on d://? and the System Reserved partition as well? Or would it be OK to only delete one partition - the boot - partition - and recreate it again? If I have to delete all of the partitions, can I recreate the same partitions before I continue with the installation? Like c:// and d:// and System Reserved again? By just clicking on "new"?
The size of partitions came with the computer. I'm not a hardware expert. Is there a more ideal partitioning than the one my computer comes with? As this may be a chance to fix it.
Question 3. File Manager vs tap
One of the reasons I've stuck with Windows 7 so long (there are many), is I like the File Manager very much. I've used Windows 8.1 temporarily on another computer, and found myself looking for the File Manager all of the time - clicking through all of the icons to find it. I don't particularly like the icon layout either. Is there a way one can set up the File Manager and Windows 7 lookalike from the start?