Yes, you can upgrade your Windows to a newer version using an ISO file without losing any data.
Yes, you can upgrade your Windows to a newer version using an ISO file without losing any data.
Hello, everyone. I’m eager to play Forza Horizon 3 but need Windows 10 Anniversary Update installed. My PC auto-installed the update, yet it froze right away when I tried to open the desktop. I switched back to Windows 10 Build 1511, which is my current version. I’m wondering if downloading the Anniversary Update ISO from the internet and installing it on a bootable USB will let me upgrade without losing any data—even from the C drive. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Upgrades shouldn't result in data loss. Since the first major update, several patches have been released to address previous problems. If you're worried about your data, it's wise to back it up somewhere. Even a temporary backup service like Google Drive or Dropbox during the upgrade can help. If budget is a concern, you can purchase an external hard drive for $50-60 on Amazon and maintain backups at all times.
To protect your data during the upgrade, employ a drive imaging or cloning tool such as P.I.N.G. (Partimage Is Not (Norton)Ghost). Back up your operating system drive before applying the upgrade to W10AU (or even W10CU now). If the upgrade fails and corrupts your OS, restore by sending the saved image of the pre-upgrade system back to the drive, effectively erasing any damaged files during the process.