(02-19-2020, 09:16 AM)deanhills Wrote: 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?

(02-21-2020, 01:16 PM)ikk157 Wrote: [...]
For Question 2:

I’ve noticed that the installation wizard only lets you install windows on a specific partition and won’t let you touch the rest. I also found several different partitions on my laptop, but it would only let me install on one. [...]

(02-21-2020, 04:20 PM)Hidden Refuge Wrote: Unfortunately, this statement is incorrect.

In the Windows setup, during the disk & installation partition setup, you have all options or rather said tools to delete partitions and create new ones. Once you are done with that you can select the partition you want and install Window on it by simply clicking on it to have it selected/highlighted and going to the next step of the setup. I can say this safely and with confidence as I have performed so many Windows installations from XP to 10 (excluding Vista) over all the years privately and also during my job.

Since I never really used or installed Windows Vista on a computer I can only say that since Windows 7 you always had the necessary tools during the setup of Windows to do the basics of disk and partition management and be able to select the partition/disk you want to setup Windows on. From XP to 7 (and probably Vista) the whole installation process has evolved by so much and it now stays the same with minor theme changes to the design of newer Windows versions like 10.

The current installation environment that Windows uses is basically a small live Windows with all necessary tools to do the installation or repairs (remember you can start cmd or do system restore / repair on existing installations). All that happens during the installation can be easily broken down into a few basic steps.

Anyway.

(02-21-2020, 01:16 PM)ikk157 Wrote: For Question 1:

Never ever ever install anything from a pre-burnt disk! The chances of it being outdated are insanely huge! And trust me, you would NOT want to install a billion windows updates due to the fact that you installed an old image. Go with the DVD you’ve burnt the latest iso on.

(02-21-2020, 01:16 PM)ikk157 Wrote: I have to say, I’m quite impressed by how much research and thought you’ve put into this. I usually go by the “install it without thinking it through, see if you like it. If not, go back.” approach. It works, but not everyone’s a fan of said approach haha.

(02-21-2020, 11:05 PM)deanhills Wrote: Guess it's more a case of procrastination and dithering on my part to be honest.  I'm hesitating as I still love my Windows 7 and it hasn't given me any issues yet.  That I know off anyway.  

(02-23-2020, 02:57 AM)tryp4vps Wrote: I am just wondering..... If I were you, I would go find a spare harddisk just for testing Windows 8.1 installation.

I guess a very tiny harddisk of ~30GB space should be enough.

So if you don't like Windows 8.1 after your trial, you will be able to quickly switch it back to use Windows 7.