Setting up Windows 8.1 on Windows 7 requires careful steps and compatibility checks.
Setting up Windows 8.1 on Windows 7 requires careful steps and compatibility checks.
When you choose upgrade in the Windows 8.1 installer, your files will appear, but I wouldn't suggest it.
To achieve this (or make it possible), you'd need to process 7 > 8 > 8.1. OP: If you skip the D:\ folder in the installer, your files will remain safe.
The expression 7>8>8.1 means 7 is greater than 8, which is greater than 8.1. It’s a comparison chain showing a decreasing trend. If you need to upgrade to Windows 8, make sure your system meets the requirements first.
You don’t need to upgrade to win 8 since you already have 8.1 on a disc. Just format C:/ and skip D:/.
Yep. If you wanted to keep your Windows install (eg. Not have to reinstall things), you'd have to take the long path of 7 to 8 to 8.1 (and yes, there's a difference.) But, since you want to just keep your D:\ drive, you're fine to format C:\ and install it there. Once you've got Windows running again, you may need to give what 'was' D:\, a drive letter again in Disk Management, as Windows may or may not know, but your data will remain in tact. If you want to be super safe, unplug the SATA data from the D:\ drive, install Windows, and once you're in Windows, shut it down, and plug back in the D:\ drive.
I’m still unclear about this. Do I need to install Windows 8 before proceeding? Just aim to clear c:/ and retain all files in d:/
Disconnect the D:\ storage device from your computer. Restart using the Windows disc you have, clear the C:\ partition, then reinstall it. After the installation completes in Windows 8.1, power off the machine and reconnect the D:\ drive. Restart back into Windows 8.1, open Disk Management, verify that D:\ has a assigned drive letter, and assign it if necessary. The contents on D:\ should remain intact.